How viable is modding this game on Steam Deck?

[Quadsword]

I'm not looking to do anything crazy. Just some quality of life improvements and a couple armor and weapon mods.

[Vassago Rain]

It's a computer, so completely viable.

[Ty Tanium]

Howdy Gamestar, 'sup?
Hey, Quad, Vass is right... completely, and might I add, awesomely, viable.

Get yourself into it, using pre-built mods from Nexus will probably get you everything you need. I haven't found the need to teach myself to make mods.

Alternatively, I understand that teaching yourself to make your own mods isn't that difficult at all, so either way ya got it covered, right?
Cheers pardner,
T

[Quadsword]

Originally posted by Vassago Rain:

It's a computer, so completely viable.

Right, but most mod management tools are made for Windows. I haven't the slightest clue where to start if I want to install a mod manager like Vortex.

[*Logan*]

Actually that is a good point how do people run mods on steam deck?
Can you install vortex for example?

[Ty Tanium]

Howdy Gamestars, 'sup?

Hey there Quad and Logan... Okay, good questions for starters...

STEP 1) Go to Nexus Mods.com @ https://www.nexusmods.com/ and open a FREE account.

STEP 2) Go to the mods list on Nexus and type in the search Vortex, or, if you prefer, MO2 which is the Skyrim based mod organiser... both good but take a little practice. As a very, very basic starter (and especially if you're running lower end equipment) you could even use FOMM Fork (Fallout Mod Manager) to get you started. It's old, it's basic but user friendly and, if I may point out, many of the older mods for the game were written to be managed by FOMM.

STEP 3) With your mod manager downloaded and installed (they come with their own installers you just click the setup icons when they are on your machine)

As I say, with the mod manager downloaded you go to Nexus and you look for what mods you want... for example, let's say you want changing weather (like real life) in your game. Click on the game panel in your Nexus start page, type "weather" (without the quotation marks) in the search box and it will give you a list of mods dealing with weather. Select the one you want and open its file on Nexus.

STEP 4) Look below the screen pictures at the top of the mod page and you will see (on the right hand side of the toolbar) buttons for downloading the mod. Choose you download method and get it into your computer.

All the download files will come in as a "zip" file, this is where you will need a program (FREE and easy to use) called "7-Zip". Right clicking on your desktop will give you the ability to select the 7-Zip program once it is installed via the drop-down menu.

STEP 5) Now, this is where the fun comes in. Depending on what Mod Manager you are using you can "Install mods" by using the appropriate command key on the Mod Manager's control panel.

If you can you should be able to select "Install Mod from Archive" which means that you can go straight to the zipped file in your downloads, click on it and select "Open" - the mod manager will do the rest automatically.

If you have chosen to start with small steps and you have downloaded/installed FOMM then you will need to use 7-Zip to extract your zipped download into a working folder. In FOMM select "PACKAGE MANAGER" from the options at the right hand side of the FOMM screen. Then select "INSTALL MOD FROM FOLDER", again on the right. Once this is down scroll down the list in the viewing pane and highlight the mod, then select "ACTIVATE" on the right hand side again. HEY PRESTO - It's done...! The Mod is now part of your game.

That's about the MOST clear and concise (and shortest) explanation I can give you. Once you have the Mod Manager working for you the rest is child's play... really.

Hope this helps..? Maybe print it out so you can follow it step by step... dunno, whatever's good for you amigos.

Cheers and welcome to the BEST DANG RPG GAME EVER...!!! :D
T

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by Quadsword:

Originally posted by Vassago Rain:

It's a computer, so completely viable.

Right, but most mod management tools are made for Windows. I haven't the slightest clue where to start if I want to install a mod manager like Vortex.

Mod Organizer 2 has a dedicated Linux version. It's also the only mod manager worth a damn for FONV, so it works out well.

[*Logan*]

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

Originally posted by Quadsword:

Right, but most mod management tools are made for Windows. I haven't the slightest clue where to start if I want to install a mod manager like Vortex.

Mod Organizer 2 has a dedicated Linux version. It's also the only mod manager worth a damn for FONV, so it works out well.

What's wrong with Vortex?
I use it everytime to launch fallout new vegas script extender and adding mods into the game is a breeze with this program.

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by *Logan*:

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

Mod Organizer 2 has a dedicated Linux version. It's also the only mod manager worth a damn for FONV, so it works out well.

What's wrong with Vortex?
I use it everytime to launch fallout new vegas script extender and adding mods into the game is a breeze with this program.

Vortex autosorts your load order with LOOT, which it basically a dice roll and cannot be completely disabled - there is no updated masterlist for FONV. This can often lead to breakage or a load order that is completely negating the changes from some mods.

Manual load order sorting is also relatively impossible - the rules system does not actually set (or import) a fixed, absolute load order, relying on a "must load before/after" relative system that is essentially useless.

It uses symlink deployment for mods, which tricks windows into thinking those files are all duplicated - it can cause strange behavior and disk size errors.

Vortex lacks native support for large-scale mods like TTW.

Vortex lacks archive parsing to better manage loose file overwrites.

Vortex does not allow per-profile ini and save management.

The Vortex implementation of Archive Invalidation is known to be extremely flaky.

Vortex does not follow basic Windows design language and layout - it's actually harder to learn than MO2. You want to change the order, change an overwrite, find something? Drag and drop, ctrl+c/v, ctrl+f, whatever you want to do works with native, standard, normal Windows hotkeys and design language in MO2. None of that is true in Vortex.

Vortex also doesn't integrate as well with other important tools like xLODGen and xEdit.

While Vortex works "fine", as it the game won't immediately ♥♥♥♥ itself. For a larger modlist, for troubleshooting, for managing more than 1-2 texture packs easily (Vortexes overwrite system for loose files is counter-intuitive and clunky to use), for fixing your load order in the way it needs to work, managing different installs and profiles, and for just behaving like any other piece of software on your PC - yeah, Vortex doesn't actually do any of that.

[*Logan*]

Hmm actually that's a good point, simple task like load order is not actually easily done and that is a lot of problems in your list.
Thanks for the info.