2023 review: So, initially I was very interested in this little project, even though there are already few Deathclaw companion mods that you can find on Nexus. But in this case, It looked a bit more different by providing actual reason and small adventure to actually meet "your new friend". But the end result is a major disappointment. Project Jackson consists of one new dungeon type location (aka Enclave Research Bunker) without any background story or any notes/logs to better understand story behind new Enclave experiments. And it's not a big deal, you can find some dungeon mods without any story/narrative, but which give you engaging gameplay experience or useful new gear (just look at amazing "Chaotic Sun" for example). But with Project Jackson you'll only get bugs upon bugs. By that I should tell you honestly - it is one of the most unfinished "quest mods" that I have ever played. Half of new interior cell is missing floor and wall meshes (I even dropped into the "void" few times), some of Enclave soldiers miss textures of their helmets, all loot in the bunker is "owned" by NPCs (so you can't even grab some stimpacks or ammo from crates and lockers without reducing your karma level). Also, as a rule for this kind of mods, some problems with navmeshing and NPCs path-finding included. And, after dealing with enemies and struggling through invisible obstacles in floor, I couldn't activate Deathclaw companion at all. From the description on this mod page, I don't see any hint about whether you can or can't acquire new follower in final released mod file. So, maybe it was another bug which prevented me from joining new creature friend. Because, even though (looking through FO3Edit), in the files there's actually the key to activate Deathclaw, there's none placed in the actual game, huh. And as a cherry on top of this pie - two CtDs in interiors within 10 minutes (total time to see all new content). Overall, it was a really good concept to start with, but the amount of bugs and unpolished aspects of this "dungeon" killed all my optimism in the end. Should you try this mod in 2023? Nah, Fallout 3 modding scene has enormous amount of, technically speaking, unfinished projects, but at least they have big chunks of polished, unique or playable content. Not this time, "Project Jackson" can't be recommended even if you just need new little dungeon to clear. Look for other mods in this subgenre, nothing to see here. No endorsement this time (only because of frustrating technical state of the mod), but the conceptual part was good. It just needed more love, patience and time.
Does this require any particular expansion? Description doesn't say and I get an immediate ctd when I try to start.(same as when it can't find listed master files) so just thought I'd ask.Thanks
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But the end result is a major disappointment.
Project Jackson consists of one new dungeon type location (aka Enclave Research Bunker) without any background story or any notes/logs to better understand story behind new Enclave experiments.
And it's not a big deal, you can find some dungeon mods without any story/narrative, but which give you engaging gameplay experience or useful new gear (just look at amazing "Chaotic Sun" for example). But with Project Jackson you'll only get bugs upon bugs.
By that I should tell you honestly - it is one of the most unfinished "quest mods" that I have ever played. Half of new interior cell is missing floor and wall meshes (I even dropped into the "void" few times), some of Enclave soldiers miss textures of their helmets, all loot in the bunker is "owned" by NPCs (so you can't even grab some stimpacks or ammo from crates and lockers without reducing your karma level).
Also, as a rule for this kind of mods, some problems with navmeshing and NPCs path-finding included. And, after dealing with enemies and struggling through invisible obstacles in floor, I couldn't activate Deathclaw companion at all. From the description on this mod page, I don't see any hint about whether you can or can't acquire new follower in final released mod file. So, maybe it was another bug which prevented me from joining new creature friend. Because, even though (looking through FO3Edit), in the files there's actually the key to activate Deathclaw, there's none placed in the actual game, huh.
And as a cherry on top of this pie - two CtDs in interiors within 10 minutes (total time to see all new content).
Overall, it was a really good concept to start with, but the amount of bugs and unpolished aspects of this "dungeon" killed all my optimism in the end.
Should you try this mod in 2023? Nah, Fallout 3 modding scene has enormous amount of, technically speaking, unfinished projects, but at least they have big chunks of polished, unique or playable content. Not this time, "Project Jackson" can't be recommended even if you just need new little dungeon to clear. Look for other mods in this subgenre, nothing to see here.
No endorsement this time (only because of frustrating technical state of the mod), but the conceptual part was good. It just needed more love, patience and time.
profnewbie--new but growing
2. Looks like a great mod.
3. Keep up the good work.
4. Have a good day.