we need another way to mod the game

[thatkittenmother]

yes i'm not the best with tech but i would like some mods in my game but no matter how many hours i try how many videos i watch videos i can't do it it's the reason i don't play the game anymore .

edit yes i know people find it easy to mod this game but a lot of people don't know how to and at first it can be really overwhelming if you haven't done it before thank you so much for helping me it helped a lot

[MonkehMaster]

whats is so hard about downloading and putting mods in a mod folder?

[WildKhaine]

https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Modding:Player_Guide/Getting_Started

Not sure what videos you've been watching or how helpful they may or may not have been but that link should have all the info you need to get started.

[CosmoDale]

It literally takes like ten minutes to set up modding, if that.

After doing that it's just a matter of dragging and dropping mods into a folder.

[kaitou1011]

Steps:
1) Google "SMAPI", download the latest version by clicking the big green button. Extract the files. Run the file labelled as "install [your OS]". Follow instructions in the black box. (Off the top of my head, it's just hitting 1 and enter.)

2) Download mods. The easiest place to find working mods is from the 'mod compatibility list' on the Stardew Valley wiki.

3) Extract mods into this folder: programfilesx86/steam/steamapps/common/StardewValley/Mods

4) If a mod indicates it has dependencies, make sure you grab all of those mods too.

5) Run game from the SMAPI exe located in programfilesx86/steam/steamapps/common/StardewValley.

5a) For ease, you can pin that exe to the taskbar when it runs the first time, or create a shortcut to it and throw that on your desktop.

5b) Optionally, when you install SMAPI, you can follow the instructions in the black box to make the game launch from Steam.

Let me know which step is tripping you up and I can give more detailed instructions on how to do it.

As a sidenote, though... if you're so mod-dependant that you can't mod this easy to mod game, how have you ever modded any game ever? Not to be condescending, because everyone is a beginner mod user at some point, but as someone who is not particularily tech savvy but mods most of the games I play... outside of paid mods or the steam workshop, the steps here are pretty much the very basics.

[blueskyangel]

first You must install SMAPI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHN60sWc22o. I think this video is very cool and show you step by step what to do.

[JayneLayne]

I feel your pain man, I downloaded smapi and followed all the instructions but continually get an "missing executables" error. According to the instructions I'm not doing anything wrong yet it still doesn't work.

[Captain Canada]

There is another way. Listen up Kings and Queens. I'm a simple man and use a program called Vortex for all my modding. It is much easier than going just through SMAPI. So if just using SMAPI did not work, try using Vortex. [https://www.nexusmods.com/about/vortex/]. Made by the guys that host the site where you should get all your mods from. [https://www.nexusmods.com/stardewvalley?tab=popular+%28all+time%29].

Biggest things to remember are the mods you download need to work for your current version of Stardew Valley. Just because it is on there does not mean the mod author has it updated to the current version. Also some mods can potentially conflict with each other, the mods authors will usually put conflicts with other mods in the mod descriptions.

Download and install Vortex. I can't remember it might ask for a Nexus account, you will need this to download mods so make one. Open Vortex and go to "Games" and find Stardew Valley. Click the game to start managing it, Vortex should auto find the game in your Steam folders. If not select it yourself. Now Vortex knows you have Stardew Valley. You browse through the page I linked for Stardew Valley mods. You think to yourself that "Stardew Valley Expanded" mod looks cool. (Personally I am really enjoying it.) Read over the mods description. Go to the Files and Download using Mod Manager Download. A popup will appear telling you it wants to download through Vortex and what other mods you need for that one to function. You can view all these dependencies in the description of the mod by clicking Requirements. So you do have to download them all using Mod Manager. Do it all at once or one at a time, it won't matter. You can go to the Vortex program and see it should be downloading the mod in the Mods tab. Once its done you click install. After install you click it again to enable. Two simple clicks for every mod you download.

Vortex manages the load order of everything for you. As long as the mods you download are for your game version they will work without you having to do anything extra. Launch Stardew Valley through Vortex. Little play button at the top left. You can not launch through Steam, it will not work with mods installed.

Not for sure on this but I can see potential for conflicts to occur using Vortex if you were already messing around with SMAPI and your mods folder. Possibly delete those before hand or just reinstall the game.

Note: I'll be watching this thread so if anyone still got issues post and maybe I can help.

[JayneLayne]

Hey Captain Canada, really appreciate the response and not insinuating that we must be stupid because "mOdDiNg SD is SoOoOo EaSy". I've read the wiki on the error I'm getting but there is literally no extra info. Vortex was going to be my next try. Does Vortex count your achievements and stuff? Thanks again CC!

[MonkehMaster]

Originally posted by JayneLayne:

Hey Captain Canada, really appreciate the response and not insinuating that we must be stupid because "mOdDiNg SD is SoOoOo EaSy". I've read the wiki on the error I'm getting but there is literally no extra info. Vortex was going to be my next try. Does Vortex count your achievements and stuff? Thanks again CC!

what was the error smapi was showing you?

you can use this link https://smapi.io/log/ to find and parse your log file, then past the new link here for it to be viewed.

also, assuming you have discord, i suggest you join the stardew valley discord https://discord.gg/stardewvalley tons of people can help with any kind of issues.

i use vortex as well, didnt know you could just use vortex instead of smapi... tho without smapi, you wont get achievements, playtime, ect.. for steam.

i installed vortex, used vortex to download and auto install smapi and all my other stardew valley mods, it can also notify you of mod updates , download and keep mods up to date, ect..

not just for stardew valley, but many many other games as well, when using vortex to download and install mods, you simply click the download button that says "vortex", you will need a nexusmods account to download everything as well.

[Captain Canada]

I am still getting achievements using Vortex. Have to get them for the clout. SMAPI is a framework mod, which a lot of other mods depend on so it is still installed using Vortex. Not from their webpage but from Nexusmods [https://www.nexusmods.com/stardewvalley/mods/2400]. Sorry if that was unclear. If you have issues modding like your "missing executables" it probably has nothing to do with the framework mods themselves. Using Vortex should fix that issue because Vortex will do the launching of the game through the play button.

I have not read the SMAPI instructions but "missing executables" does sound like a fixable issue and may not need Vortex. You should be able to launch with mods by clicking "StardewModdingAPI.exe" in your Stardew Valley Steam folder. That itself is the executable that would be missing. If it is not there then something is wrong with the installation, use Vortex. I assume you were trying to launch through Steam launch options. Perhaps those are wrong. What should be there is this including the quotations. Adjusted if you downloaded the game to a D: or different program files.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley\StardewModdingAPI.exe" %command%

[🐺Blue Wolf]

One of the main things, especially if you still want achievements is to follow this after installing SMAPI: https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Modding:Installing_SMAPI_on_Windows#Launch_SMAPI_through_Steam_or_GOG_Galaxy

That will launch SMAPI through Steam when you click Play allowing for achievements still.

After that, I use Vortex. The majority of mods will install through that, although there is the occasional mod you might come across that you have to manually install, but mod creators usually add instructions. And as long as you followed the above wiki for launching the game with SMAPI, achievements are still enabled when using vortex.

I'd also suggest starting small, with only a few mods at first to make sure you have things working.

[Captain Canada]

That is either old or just always has been incorrect information. Perhaps I'm also just duller than I think but, Nothing extra needs to be done to get achievements. You can lauch the game with mods straight from the Steam folder using "StardewModdingAPI.exe", launch from Vortex, add and launch as a Non-Steam Game, or launch by editing the original games launch options. They all go through Steam. The game is on Steam, to run it has to go through your Steam library and Steam ID no matter where you launch from. Editing the launch options just allows you to run with mods on the original executable and enables the Steam Overlay.

I just added "StardewModdingAPI.exe" as a Non-Steam Game so it comes with none specific Steam Overlay and is easier to launch with mods. I get achievements just fine. This allows the actual Stardew Valley game executable to have blank launch options so I can launch that version if I wanted to play on a Vanilla save or multiplayer with no mods.

[JayneLayne]

I ended up using Vortex and found I needed a .Net update. So, if you are trying to use mods using just smapi then check. None of the videos or guides talk about .Net so check if you're getting the "missing executables" error.

[Elaisren2020]

Originally posted by blueskyangel:

first You must install SMAPI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHN60sWc22o. I think this video is very cool and show you step by step what to do.

Between the video in Blueskyangel's post and Kaitou1011's instructions I'd say you're covered, especially if you've read/followed the info on the community wiki as well. The only thing i would add is to be careful of mod conflicts/out of date mods (i.e ones which are not compatible with the current version of the game) - that might be where you are experiencing problems.

Also, if you're using Windows and want an easier time, avoid any mods which files are .RAR or .rar. - Windows seems to hate them. Also, if you are using Windows smart screen it will auto-block smapi and nexus mods, you'll need to adjust your settings for smart screen to allow the mods to download/extract/install/run without issues. Personally I switch it off while I update my mods then switch back on once done, less hassle than trying to navigate the mess known as smart screen or seeking help from MS.

Other than that, if you are using multi-player make sure everyone has the same mod set-up or you'll encounter problems. And obviously mods do not work on console (Switch etc.) versions of the game.

Oh, and yes Vortex is rather good too.

[Elaisren2020]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, The Dark Tyger. It might have been a bit blunt/to the point in it's wording but not insulting, at least IMO. It's never easy to be blunt with others online especially if they are not familiar with you/your personality - it happens all the time to me.

Back on topic, though has the mod issue been fixed? Or does the OP still need help/advice?