Mod manager vs manual...

[Luminary]

Hi. I have about 150 mods in use ATM... and they were all added manually. (Data, meshes, textures, etc.) and because of this I avoid a lot of mods.

But I wanted to use the UNP body... nd it seems like a manual install is difficult if not impossible. (As many of the sub folders basically have the same file name.) So hopefully I can ask some questions.

Has anyone gone from manual to a mod manager? what happens to the existing files?
Would a mod manager resolve the fact that something like UNP has multiple mods files with the same name?
And if I wanted to stay manual, I suppose, I could just pick one set of files, has anyone else done this?

thank you!

[SpeedFreak1972]

Indeed personally I use MO2 yes I have used Vortex, however I find Vortex patronizing in a way. That said I run large load orders (often well over 1000 plugins) and have to tweak a lot which is for me simpler in MO2 than in Vortex.

[Vlad 254]

I use Vortex for 1,000+ mod load orders and it's as simple as can be, but with both MO2 and Vortex mod managers you must know what you are doing. When it comes to choosing between MO2 and Vortex you should choose whichever is most comfortable for you as both are excellent mod managers but everyone is different. And btw MO2 and Vortex were created by the same person.

[Lyff]

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

[ĿIFE oƒ ƤIE]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

Sounds like you are just lazy.

[Ilja]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

With this you must refer to collections, right? Because MO2 loads and updates from Nexus pages as Vortex does. It is just a matter where nxmhanlder.exe points to.

If both managers are set to default to it, then either will swap as main handler on application launch.

Most of us don't care about collections - at all. I rather build my own mod lists than let someone else to do it for me. If you rather use ready made lists, then yes: Vortex is your mod manager.

I really doubt that anyone in Nexus would create a list that I am using right now - and I am extremely happy with it.

[xybolt]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

...

Is it difficult for you to accept that there are people that prefers using MO2 over Vortex when modding this game?

Both are competent mod managers. It is true that Vortex supports Nexus' collections better, but that's not the solely reason why a person should choose for Vortex. As some people here has pointed out, it all boils down to your preference. Both mod managers works differently and require a different approach.

Personally, I use MO2 because of its flexibility and use of a virtual file system. The latter is really helpful to manage and/or remove conflicting mods. This comes with a price: it's slower than Vortex yes. But at the end of line, I did not have noticed lots of time difference between Vortex and MO2. Similarly for the number of plugins; you have mentioned earlier (post #15) that it's painful when you go over 150 mods. In contrast to that, I've experienced that Vortex started to crash when I want to shift around my mod priorities in a bunch. I do not have these kind of troubles in MO2. I have to agree that its learning curve is higher than Vortex but once you get familiar with it, it becomes a - imo - superior mod manager. That you have a preference for Vortex is a choice you have made.

I am not interested in collections. It is not much different than curating your mods together. Although people has to be careful with Nexus Collections. The mods in such a collection is usually version (from a mod itself, not game's executable!) specific, as being "fixed". If one of the mods in a collection has gotten an update that includes bug fixes, these are not "forwarded" to the collection unless the author of the collection takes time to correct it. End result; your game is using a plugin that may be missing various bug fixes.

[Vlad 254]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

I have to disagree and I use Vortex. But I use Vortex so I can better write guides for those who choose to use it. Both and I mean both Mod managers are excellent, some would argue Wrye Bash is every bit as good and some long time mod users still use Nexus Mod Manager. There is no right or wrong answer because as i said everyone is different.

That said imho if you are new to modding you should choose between MO2 and Vortex.

[Lyff]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Ilja:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

With this you must refer to collections, right? Because MO2 loads and updates from Nexus pages as Vortex does. It is just a matter where nxmhanlder.exe points to.

If both managers are set to default to it, then either will swap as main handler on application launch.

Most of us don't care about collections - at all. I rather build my own mod lists than let someone else to do it for me. If you rather use ready made lists, then yes: Vortex is your mod manager.

I really doubt that anyone in Nexus would create a list that I am using right now - and I am extremely happy with it.

Not only collection. You can download instantly the mod into vortex from nexus website which will then install it while you have to manually do it for MO2.

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Vlad 254:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

I have to disagree and I use Vortex.

Then you just misunderstood something, nothing else. I couldn't be clearer.

[Bad Distraction Carnifex]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Vlad 254:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

I have to disagree and I use Vortex. But I use Vortex so I can better write guides for those who choose to use it. Both and I mean both Mod managers are excellent, some would argue Wrye Bash is every bit as good and some long time mod users still use Nexus Mod Manager. There is no right or wrong answer because as i said everyone is different.

That said imho if you are new to modding you should choose between MO2 and Vortex.

To add onto this the only mod manager one should 100% avoid is Nexus Mod Manager. Even the community version is...not great and at some point it will brick your install.

Wrye Bash also isn't for installing mods, it's just for managing load orders (redundant) and creating a Bashed patch (auto-combines records from mods to resolve conflicts - Smashed is technically better but I run bashed then smashed with no problems, records that conflict in either will be overridden or be forwarded to the patch with priority).

[Sep]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

Not only collection. You can download instantly the mod into vortex from nexus website which will then install it while you have to manually do it for MO2.

You can link MO2 to Nexus site and download it straight to your MO2 directory like how Vortex does.

Go to Tools > Settings > Nexus > Connect to Nexus.

I don't know where you get the idea that MO2 cannot do it. The only thing MO2 cannot do is directly download collection from Nexus. You can even use both mod manager at same time if you want to.

Some people use Vortex strictly only for collection and MO2 for their own preferences, there is even some who use Vortex to download collection and use MO2 to run the collection.

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/articles/3856

All collection does is following the setting the curator have set it up for you and it isn't always necessary mean good as some of the setting the curator set up is meant for a specific spec.

And some mod from collection would still require labor work to do, such as moving them to correct folder because mod manager have no idea where to store it or the curator itself have no idea about it.

[SgtScum]

A combination of vortex and loot has my 150+ mods working near flawlessly. The odd crash on fast travel now and then but thats a common enough thing even in unmodded skyrim. I just save before trying to travel as a 'fix'.

[Ilja]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

Not only collection. You can download instantly the mod into vortex from nexus website which will then install it while you have to manually do it for MO2.

You can download mods into MO2 as well. If site would be more clear, then NXM-links should say "Download with Manager."

That is the difference between two links.
Manual -> runs browser download.
Manager -> is NXM-link, running which ever application (Vortex, MO2, NMM CE etc.) you have currently set to handle NXM links through either browser settings or nxmhandler.exe.

Nexus API isn't closed, or reserved for Vortex. Any mod manager can link to it. The original Mod Organizer (1.x) already linked to it, while NMM was still the main manager.

I am unsure why someone would think that only Vortex could connect to API. I hope this explanation cleared the situation.

I am using both Vortex and MO2 myself and I am very familiar with both of them. I was using original Mod Organizer back in the day and I was also in Vortex closed Alpha testing team, when it came available.

Vortex is for Cyberpunk 2077, because CET is not playing nicely with MO2 at the moment.
MO2 is being used for Skyrim SE, FO4 and Witcher 3.

Edit
I just checked and Nexus actually says "Mod Manager Download" for NXM-links.

I have missed that, because I always use manual download option, with both Vortex and MO2. I hate the disorganized and non-categorized Downloads folder, so I am using my own Downloads folder system instead.

[Lieutenant ClapDatAss]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

You are DarkSydePhil of modding Bethesda games. Complete & utter re+ard. You literally have no idea what you're talking about. You confirmed it yourself.

[SpeedFreak1972]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lieutenant ClapDatAss:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Lyff:

As already said all over. One will do everything for you from the website downloading page to installation, while the other one you have to do everything yourself since nothing is automated and it doesn't support the website auto-download-install.

Vortex = fast & automatic, almost nothing to do yourself
MO2 = slower since manual, everything as to be done yourself, tho obviously easier to configure "the way you want it" but only if you have tons of hours free since everything about it will be subject to time-consuming

Every experience might differ but nothing can change those facts.

You are DarkSydePhil of modding Bethesda games. Complete & utter re+ard. You literally have no idea what you're talking about. You confirmed it yourself.

It's more retarded to bump a year old thread for this ....