NOTICE


I deeply apologize for not being able to update my mods. I have been quite sick to a point where it is very hard to use the computer.

Thank you for all who supported my work and I hope to return to participate more ASAP.

This tutorial is quite outdated now but it might still be useful for some, specially the discussion Forum area where some questions have been answered.

There are now plenty other tutorials around with better descriptions, more updated information and so on...



I keep the page up for reference and historic reasons (first Fo4 Tutorial) but I will flag the downloads as old because now we have better tools for modding.




Open for contributions

This tutorial is open for contribution from different mod authors.

At this early stages/steps of modding Fallout 4, different people came out with special solutions to create mods.

This Page will be Updated often so I suggest you click the TRACK button above if you want to get the new updates.




If you mod, use any special technique, have any suggestions and would like to participate pls PM me.

If you are just a user, a beginner starting modding and you would like some explanations just use the "Posts" area/tab above and leave a comment (can't promise to answer or resolve your problem but will do what is possible ATM - also there is great chance someone will answer your question).



Intro


Some people asked me how I created some of my early mods, I am modding FO4 even before it was released.



Most are workarounds until we have better tools but so far it works.

Just download the info and don't forget to endorse if it's useful for you (that file is basically just a way for endorsement - most of the good stuff is already here on this page).

I uploaded an empty Fallout4.esm so you can use as a master (not so much needed now that we can use FO4Edit).


UPDATE (24,NOV 2015)

See more on the comments area - as I am explained some things in detail and we can talk about it here. There are plenty of questions already answered there too.



UPDATE (20,NOV 2015)

Added new downloads with Empty Fallout4.esm and Fallout4.esp.

Added  Fallout4.esp (just rename it to whatever you like before loading it for editing)  as separate download for those that have already Fallout4.esm.


This page will be often updated with more info. The files for downloading are just for helping you out with something to start with.



We are on a very experimental phase where things are still a lot abstract because Beth's changed a lot in this new engine. All we can do is "shoot into the dark" and hope for the best results. There are no tools yet available capable of doing much, apart from changing textures or a few game settings. All the rest is really unknown territory. But we can always try....

UPDATE (3, DEC 2015)

I am working on a huge mod (overhaul) and that has kept me pretty busy so the time to help or answer questions is quite limited.The good news about this is I will release a mod that will overhaul a great part of the good possibilities that this game has to offer, simplifying a lot from crafting, settlements, game settings, combat strategies, bug fixes. etc.

I can't spoil you yet with what's coming but from my tests it's already looking and feeling great.



The mod is already up (hidden for testing) it's called FO4 Lab XT.

With so many mods changing the same (maybe in different ways), settlements you count it, crafting you count it, etc, we need to get a bit of "things together".

People download this and that mod because of some cool features and after they end up with a lot of conflicts, that some have no idea how to solve.

I would like to unify some of the cool features already existent together with ideas I had from the beginning. So this project is a WIP (Work In Progress) that is being tested already.

It is huge and takes time to track all possible bugs so I am not releasing it until is relatively stable.



Anyhow, modders interested in this project and that are willing to participate, feel free to contact me privately and I will let you know the details and eventually participate.

See some images from my tests (building in the Vault 111 area - no console commands, unlimited budget) below:

Update 9 Feb 2016

The project is on standby due to my health problems.







Warning

Be careful not to mess your game, keep backups of the game folder plus your saves and configurations that worked before you introduce new changes.
Some of the old tools might corrupt your data and new plugins/esps/esms might create a chaos.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't try to mod even if you are new to it. Just be responsible enough and it will save you a lot of time that might be wasted other wise.

I am NOT the greatest expert around and I am quite new to this modding community. I made mods for other Fallout series and now I am just trying to discover how this new engine work, what I think is responsible to share I will, also from feedback gathered from the different mod pages, forums, etc, I will try to update this page ASAP.

Working Together

One of the good thinks about modding is that you are sharing your creativity with others.

Before you publish your mod it's a good idea to search for already available mods that could do the same or are similar to yours.
This way you can avoid mod conflicts and OFC having people telling you that you copied some else work.

Not everyone is willing to actually work together but it's no harm in asking, this way mods can be even better with less problematic conflicts.



Mod Managers

Now the NMM team as release a compatible version that works with FO4. It's great as it makes it easier/simpler to install mods.

Some mods might still need manual installation as alternative to NMM there are a few other managers available as you can see below.


For ready  mods Installation, the Fallout 4 Plugins Manager, the Yet Another Fallout 4 Mod Manager (YAFOMM) and the Fallout 4 Mod Manager. 





INI Settings


To mod or install mods is necessary to let some of the archives being overwritten.

As Gopher explains on his video.





 
You will need to add the following line to Fallout4Prefs.ini file below the section  [Launcher]:

bEnableFileSelection=1

You will need also to change the following line in Fallout4.ini:

sResourceDataDirsFinal=

These settings will allow you to install mods already available or create your own, also the launcher will let you change load order by clicking on the helmet as you can see below (NEWS).

I created a simple utility to access all related folders and files, you can get it here. 



Softpatching*

As mentioned in he comments area  I introduced a way of loading the INI values without editing Fallout4.ini.
This is not new and it as been used in previous games like Skyrim.

It is still experimental but it seems to work with some values, I used in my mod Zoom.

It's a great opportunity for experimentation and to avoid messing so much the original INIs

You can download Zoom and see how it's done.

I also used new Game Settings in this mod, not sure if they make a difference yet, it needs further testing, I tried to introduce the floats from the ini in the esp. feedback on this welcome. Vazeron1 reported those values don't seem to make a difference but there is probably a way of doing it directly once we know the right way.

* Softpaching or Soft-Patching - I looked/googled it and mostly this term as to do with dimmers and electronic components but can be useful as a definition for this technique.


I just released a new mod for SoftPatching INIPatch

The main reason for this is to avoid messing your inis and to have a better control on mod conflict, as more and more mods are coming out with INI changes, you'll end up with conflicts, everybody says copy this, copy that, paste it in your Fallout4.ini. I had this happening with some of my mods and I don't have the all day to just answer questions on how to solve the problem of someone who download another mod that was conflicting with mine.Some people end up having to delete the Original INI because they don't know what is causing issues anymore. After they become frustrated because they lost some nice feature that was working previously.Not everybody is an expert on these settings and having a way for more control is just a bonus.About the  Fallout4Custom.Ini I haven't had the time to test it to be able to say it can be an alternative solution.
Texturing

Textures in FO4 are relatively different from previous games.
I suggest you start by looking into the already release mods and see how it was done.
For beginners the diffuse DDS is probably the best one to start with (the ones that ends with "_d.dds").

It will be good to have a basic Idea how these files work (plenty of info around the web from previous games like e.g. Skyrim)

You will need a texture Editor like Photoshop (payed) or the free one Gimp.
You will also need plugins that can handle the FO4 DDS format.


Intel® Texture Works Plugin for Photoshop*

Intel is working to extend Photoshop* to take advantage of the latest image compression methods (BCn/DXT) via plugin.

The purpose of this plugin is to provide a tool for artists to access superior compression results at optimized compression speeds within Photoshop*.

BETA Test Page 

Recommended by Nightasy 



Re-Texture - Metal Textures (diffuse specular and palette) by Pachy87 



Great video about texturing by devon hartman  xxdeathknight72xx on the Nexus




3D Meshes

An interesting video from Phils Htcphone showing how he can open the new nif format In "Elder Scrolls Explorer". 




NIF Tools in ALPHA

Photoshop Normal Maps Converter
2 PhotoShop Actions that convert DX9 Normal Maps to DX10+ and DX10+ Normal Maps to DX9 



Standalone Power Armor Paint Compiler - Usage Tutorial by jamie1992


Shadow Boosting

Video by Gopher

FPS dynamic shadows - Shadow Boost by Alexander Blade 



NEWS

F4SE

The new Script Extender F4SE is out with minimal functionality, ATM only key-maping is supported but the team is  very busy and a few mods were already made.



Stutter


Video by Gopher







Credits

Tes5Edit by Sharlikran
FOMM by kaburke
Gopher
krongfah 
Nightasy 
FO4Edit by zilav

All people that provided feedback since I started this tutorial

Legal

This file is provided as is and the author holds no responsiblity for anything that may come to happen from using this file.

Use this file as you wish in any mod with some credit, just drop me a pm about it.






I also want to thank everyone for the awesome support!

Feel free to add images. 

If you like the mod please endorse or vote it so other people can find it that will encourage me to  make more.




My FO4 Mods

Check my profile for more