Included in the files category are a mod and a set of instructions. The mod will work under some conditions, and fail under others, as explained below. In the case of failure, an console fix is required.

Here now are the instructions on how to remove the Gore and Dismemberment effects of the Bloody Mess perk without losing the 5% damage boost, either by mod or by console.

First, an explanation of how the Bloody Mess perk works. If you have no interest in the explanation, simply skip down to the bottom for the instructions.

The Bloody Mess perk, when taken, changes an already present Actor Value called “BloodyMess”, raising it from 0 to 1. So, why do the mods which eliminate this fail to function when used on save games where the character already has the Bloody Mess perk?

The explanation turned out to be surprisingly simple.

If you are using Vanilla Fallout 3, when you take the Bloody Mess perk, it adds a Value of 1 to the Actor Value called BloodyMess. However, the 1 is added to the permanent value rather than the temporary value. What this means is that if you were to remove the Bloody Mess perk via the console (player.removeperk 94eba), you would lose the 1.05 damage multiplier, but the Bloody Mess effect itself, i.e. the part which adds excess gore and dismemberments, would remain.

However, if, when you took the Bloody Mess perk, you were using the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch, the Actor Value of 1 would be added to the temporary value rather than the permanent value. What this means is that removing the Bloody Mess perk via the console will remove both the damage and the excess gore and dismemberments. This has the added effect of allowing the rather easy-to-make Bloodless Mess mod, which removes the excess gore and dismemberment, to function regardless of whether you already have the Bloody Mess perk or not.

So, to reiterate: If you do not use the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch, or were not using it when you originally picked up the Bloody Mess perk, the Bloodless Mess mod will not help you. If you were using the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch when you acquired the Bloody Mess perk, the Bloodless Mess mod should work as intended without having to mess around with the console.







THE FIX

The Bloodless Mess mod will work if:

1) The mod was activated before you acquired the Bloody Mess perk, or...
2) You were using the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch when you originally acquired the Bloody Mess perk.

The Bloodless Mess mod will not work if:

1) The mod was activated after you acquired the Bloody Mess perk, and you were not using the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch when you originally acquired the Bloody Mess perk.

If the Bloodless Mess mod will not work for you, there is, thankfully, a very simple solution using the console. Just follow these simple instructions.

Load up a save game.

Open up the console.

Type in, without parenthesis, (player.setav bloodymess -1)

If you check the effect of this command with "player.getavinfo bloodymess", you will note that this will not change the Permanent Actor Value of 1. It will offset it, however, and thus negate its effect.

That's all it takes. Once done, it will be permanent as long as you save the game. However, all earlier saves will need the console command to be re-entered. This will not effect the 5% damage boost, which will still be active.


I've also uploaded an alternative solution. This optional mod alters the Lead Belly perk, which is unlocked at lvl 6, the same time as Bloody Mess. Lead Belly no longer effects radiation from drinking water (and lets be honest, who ever picked up the Lead Belly perk deliberately?), instead increasing your damage output by 5%. The Lead Belly text has been changed to reflect this.

For those who have already picked up the Bloody Mess perk, here are some instructions for switching to the Lead Belly perk (this will be common knowledge to anyone who has used the console before)

After loading a save, press the ~ key (The tilde key, typically located below the escape key). This will open the console.

Type, without quotations, "player.removeperk 94eba" and press Enter.
Now type, without quotations, "player.addperk 44ca9" and press Enter.
Finally, type without quotations, "player.setav bloodymess -1"

If you performed this correctly, your Pipboy will no longer show the Bloody Mess perk, and the Lead Belly perk should now be listed.

Note that this alternative is intended to be used instead of the Bloodless Mess perk. Use either one or the other, but not both.

For those of you who already took the Lead Belly perk when leveling up... what the hell's the matter with you? *smack!* :)