The alchemy of choosing

[alodude]

I'm going to start a new TSL game (first time played in years). Fortunately there are so many great MODs out there, but unfortunately I don't know how to enjoy them all without there being conflicts.

 

Should I use the MOD manager, in concurrence with the jrl merger? Or should I stick with the installers which some MODs include? Should I install certain MODs at certain times, and when I'm done with those added quests and areas, uninstall them, and install other MODs that conflicted?

 

It might be impossible to avoid conflicts all together, but I want to experience all the new areas and content which is available on filefront, in one play through.

 

So what is the most intelligent way to use as many MODs as you can, while minimalizing conflicts? What should my strategy be?

 

thanks for your help,

-Alodude

[vanir]

Ah, the question of ages. Mod conflicts are definite if you aren't carefully choosing your additions because there are so very many mods out there now. Some of the restored content has been done is spurts, so you have individual restorations and then little packs combining restorations, which may conflict being they attempt to do some of the same things.

Similarly some of the restorations contain bug fixes which may conflict with certain custom mods, especially if these are attempting similar bug fixes. A restoration for the Telos Academy for example, when combined with the Handmaidens bug fix, and the custom Handmaiden look mod are likely to conflict, you may choose to install parts of these mods or select the one you want (I have the bug fix, part of Stoffe's Handmaiden look mod and a Atris-Exile give lightsabre back mod, but there were two or three other Handmaiden/Academy mods I had to leave out).

 

What you find is some mods will try to replace the same files. The best bet is to have a look at the file content of your mod selection, and try to make an install which spreads the mods around so that you aren't installing mods using the same files. It's tedious but not difficult. Mostly try not to let any two mods use the same Modules files or scripting files (ncs files), because inherently you can only use one or the other unless proficient at script editing (which won't always be possible anyway).

 

Also it is a good idea to keep to the mods using the Patcher where possible, if you only have a couple of mods without the Patcher it's no trouble doing manual edits, but doing a lot of manual edits increases the chances something will go wrong. Very many mods require an edit of the appearance.2da and a few other 2da's (baseitems, itemcreate, etc.) so the Patcher for these is best.

 

If you're going to install a large mod pack, like the TSLRCM that is recent, it's best to have a clean install and do a playthrough. You could add some visual enhancements like lightsabre hilts but use simple ones that just replace the individual hilt files rather than adding another custom pack with extra features.

 

Or you can do what I did and select individual restoration mods, as well as add a wide series of other mod packs and individual mods, but what you should do with any mod pack with a lot of features is test the game before and after the individual mod install to make sure it works fine. Then move on to the next mod. That way if you get a conflict you'll know which mod exactly is conflicting, and you can compare its files (or the Patcher's install log) to see exactly why. You might be able to edit it, or you can just skip that particular mod and go on to the next.

 

I have a very modded install atm for TSL which plays with no problems, has movie mandalorians and weapons models, improved AI, bugfixes, custom armour and heaps of restored content, plus a few other custom additions, my Override folder is very filled, I'm really happy with it and have no troubles.

 

Personally I found with this type of install it was best to avoid the large mod packs like USM and TSLRCM even though these are very popular, I basically achieve the same effect by careful management of many small mods.

 

For most it is much easier however just to install two or three large mod packs which have been made not to conflict (lots of mod packs are made to be compatable with USM for example), and you get a nice modded install, so I guess it's up to what you prefer and how many choices you want with your mods.

[alodude]

Thanks for the tips. I think I'm going to do what you did, and avoid the large MOD packs. I want to pick and choose some smaller ones.

 

cheers