Best Mod Manager?

[Cris]

Hello guys I want to play some Fallout 4 and try new mods. But Nexus had a new launcher "Vortex" and I don't really like it. The reason is that if wanna try mods like "Better locational damage" with a lot of esp Vortex go crazy and his load order is just a mess. I can't finde a way to order my mods witout doing a LOT OF WORK...

What mod manager are you using right now? Should I give another opportunity to Vortex?

[fauxpas]

For SE I use Wyre, but for FO(4) I'm using Vortex simply to give it a shot and the only issue I had is not being able to make AAF work for *ahem* kind of mods. (And honestly, I had to ask myself if I REALLY needed to turn FO(4) into a porn simulator when Skyrim has a much nicer extended skeleton and mod support for those kind of mods.)

Alot of people still love MO(2), but I was never able to get into it personally.

...

I have it on excellent authority that the king of the modders only uses xEdit and manual installation, but he's willing to put in ALOT more effort than any of us are.

[Jack Greedy]

I was the same used to NMM for years BUT now i can't live without Vortex anymore.
It's fast, easy and have LOOT and many conflict solving things integrated and automated. Far less to care of than NMM and far less mod conflicts. Easy to update hundreds of mods per game, and above all it is stable as hell. Worth a try. Told You so.

[Cris]

Thx guys I'll give another try!

[Mr_Faorry]

Mod Organiser 2 is the best mod manager.

[Randox]

I still use NMM, but I wouldn't call it the best. Simple fact is I built my mod load out years back and doubt I can duplicate it into a new manager. Not without putting more time into it than I'd like. As a rule, if you're 2+ year old (updated) mod load out works perfectly and you don't want to change it, then you don't touch it at all.

You give silent thanks to the modding gods every time you launch. Oh, and past you who spent hours making custom merged patches that allow your mods to work together. Thank them too.

[hawkeye]

MO2. I like the way it allows for different mod configs running off the same mod library, and allows for user-entered notes about mods. It's a bit clunky in places.

[Cris]

Do you guys have an easy tutorial for MO2? just set up and mod installing? Because on youtube looks pretty hard and time consuming...

[Ilja]

Originally posted by Crysis:

Do you guys have an easy tutorial for MO2? just set up and mod installing? Because on youtube looks pretty hard and time consuming...

How to Use Mod Organizer 2 by GamerPoets
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlN8weLk86Xh3ue76x2ibqtmMramwQmHB

There is some amount of learning with MO2. It is not hard or time consuming, but it does require that you understand what you are doing. Once you figure it out, managing load orders and mod lists is (IMO) far easier and faster than with other tools. It is learning that takes most time.

Quick instructions

Download and install MO2. I would recommend using Portable option, but Instance does work.

MO2 installs all mods as separate mod folders, under it's own installation. Nothing goes in to Data folder. MO2 uses virtual Data folder for active profile.

Mods set active in profile you are using are active in the game. You can create multiply profiles, with different mod combinations, for separate games. Each profile uses their own set of INI-files and save files.

All applications need to be run through MO2. There are two types of them.

1. External applications: installed to hard drive. (LOOT, F4SE, xEdit, WryeBas etc.) These ones you will have to add as MO2 applications from right panel application list (big dropdown list.) You can use <Edit...> option to do this.
   
   • Select Binary and browse to target application executable in your hard drive.
     
   • Give the tool a name.
     
   • Save tool. It is now set as MO2 application, with correct path.
     
   
   
2. Modlike applications: installed as mods through MO2. (BodySlide. Not much else right now for FO4.)
   
   • Right panel Data tab.
     
   • Browse to folder in tree.
     
   • Right click application executable and select option Add as Executable...
     
   • Tool now appears in your MO2 application list, with correct path.
     

Left panel manages loose file conflicts. As always (with any tool), loose files will win all conflicts against archived ones (in BA2 files.) You will need to sort conflicts in left panel, if you have any loose file mods. This can be a bit time consuming at first, but it is far easier method than with NMM, where loose file conflicts were always managed by order of installation.

That should clear most misconceptions about how MO2 works. If you have any questions after watching Michael's videos, or you if you need any practical advice, then feel free to ask.

[Cris]

Thx for that explanation I think I understand better how MO2 works. This afternoon I'll give a try, but looks way batter than Vortex if MO2 don't edit the data folder. You can try things safe with that!

[Eminem]

Vortex is good. You can freeze load order by double clicking mod and assigning load number. I blew Vortex off for months and finally got around to configuring it last night

[Ilja]

Vortex doesn't actually install any files in to Data folder either. It only looks that way, while Vortex is active. It uses symlinks, where MO2 uses virtual Data folder.

[HunterOfPinkBunnyWabbits]

Originally posted by Ilja:

Vortex doesn't actually install any files in to Data folder either. It only looks that way, while Vortex is active. It uses symlinks, where MO2 uses virtual Data folder.

Weird I just TRY Vortex, I did not uninstall mods but I uninstalled Vortex. Most mods was still in DAta Folder......

[Sabaithal]

If you've stuck with a Mod manager you like, and there are no issues with it, stick with it. Simple as that. I still use NMM because it allows me to see and sort my mods (not ESPs) into their own catagories and sections I can use to find them and figure out which ones need to be activated more easily.

[Cris]

I'm in love with MO2 right now 😊

[Ilja]

Originally posted by HunterOfPinkBunnyWabbits:

Originally posted by Ilja:

Vortex doesn't actually install any files in to Data folder either. It only looks that way, while Vortex is active. It uses symlinks, where MO2 uses virtual Data folder.

Weird I just TRY Vortex, I did not uninstall mods but I uninstalled Vortex. Most mods was still in DAta Folder......

That is weird. Vortex uses symlink profiles. Data should be clear, unless Windows is still reading links. It is possible that Windows did not clear them, if you did not kill the profile from Vortex.

Originally posted by Crysis:

I'm in love with MO2 right now 😊

Good to hear.