Fallout4 Modding

From wikinotes

Documentation

fallout 4 INI guide https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/articles/163/

Locations

${STEAMAPPS}/compatdata/377160/pfx/ wine/proton prefix
drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/Fallout4/
* Fallout4.ini(default settings)
* Fallout4Prefs.ini(game set settings)
* Fallout4Custom.ini (manual ini settings)
overrides to Fallout4.ini settings
${STEAMAPPS}/common/Fallout 4/Fallout4/Fallout4.ini default settings values
drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Fallout4/DLCList.txt available plugins? (.esp, .esm)
drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Fallout4/Plugins.txt enabled plugins (.esp, .esm)
${STEAMAPPS}/common/Fallout 4/Data mods installed here

Starting Game

protontricks -c 'wine f4se_loader.exe' 377160

Enable Mods

Allow custom Assets

Enable loading assets for mods:

# ${STEAMAPPS}/compatdata/377160/pfx/\
#   drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/Fallout4/Fallout4Custom.ini

[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

Load Each Plugin

Mods with .esp, or .esm files must be activated/ordered

  • this can be done in-game from the settings
  • this can be done manually in Plugins.txt

This example enables M9.esp

# C:/Users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Fallout4/Plugins.txt

*M9.esp

Quick Test

The M9 pistol mod is a really good test since:

  • it has custom assets (invisible if not loaded properly)
  • it use a .esp (won't be listed in console if not enabled)
  • it can be added from the console, in a new game before reaching the vault

Install Mods

Overlayfs

Manually install mods, layered read-only overtop of the install using overlayfs.
Gives you the most control, and scriptable without fussing with a UI.

Don't forget to enable mods with plugins your Plugins.txt!!

Mod Organizer 2

NOTE:

installed on proton-experimental, 2021-11

NOTE:

MO2 is a very nice tool, and works by building a virtual in-memory filesystem.
The VFS is slow in wine-proton.
You can extract FMOD mods (have gui) using it and copy it's extracted mods to use with overlayfs. You could also do all file conflict resolution within MO2, and refer overlayfs it's extracted mods directly.

- download:
- run: protontricks -c 'wineconsole cmd' 377160
- run: |
    cd Z:\home\will\Downloads
    Mod.Organizer-2.4.2.exe
- install:
  - perform a 'portable install' of MO2
  - skip nexus link

Run game

protontricks  \
  -c 'wine /mnt/storage/games/steamapps/compatdata/377160/pfx/drive_c/Modding/MO2/ModOrganizer.exe'  \
  377160

Changing Plugins

If you've added or removed mods with plugins (.esl, .esm, .esp)
you may need to change your DLCList.txt and your Plugins.txt.

You can reload (discarding your load order) in game by choosing mods from the title screen.

Forbid Game Updates

Steam likes to auto update programs. This is problematic for mods that make use of F4SE (which is tied to a specific release of fallout4).

Configure Steam Updates

Set steam to update on run, or limit updates to hours computer will not be in use (ex. 4-5am).

Keep Previous Updates

  1. Find what version of Fallout 4 you are currently running.
  2. Copy and paste a copy of Fallout4.exe and then rename the new copy to Fallout4-<version>.exe
  3. Whenever Steam updates Fallout 4, simply rename the new Fallout4.exe and then change your older copy to Fallout4.exe.
  4. When the F4SE team is able to release an update, download the new F4SE version and rename the new patched executable back to Fallout4.exe.

https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/3381095-how-to-stop-steam-updating-fallout-4-and-why-you-need-to/

NOTE:

This is true, but Fallout changes more than just the .exe in updates (but less than the whole application).

Download old Fallout Versions from Steam

The Depots you are interested in seem to be:

  • Fallout.exe
  • Fallout 4 content_b


See steam page.