About this mod
A little helper for those who manually sort their load order, this helps you find grouped mods by category.
- Permissions and credits
LOOT only helped so much, and problems and crashes remained. Eventually, what I found really effective was manually sorting my load order according to guides by people way smarter than myself. But when I installed and uninstalled mods from that point forward, I had to go back and look at the guides again and then guess where the categories were by the mods I thought I put in them.
Necessity being the mother of invention, I made this for myself and found it really helpful. No reason not to share it.
What it Does
Adds a specified number of completely empty esp and esm files that can be placed in your load order to divide up the mods you ever-so-carefully grouped into categories to smooth out your game. That way if you need to add or remove something, you can pick out your mod groups at a glance.
Installation
Install using your favorite mod manager (or manually if you're a masochist) and arrange them in your load order as needed. They're completely empty esps and esms so having them checked won't do anything to your game, but you should probably just leave them unchecked to save the plugin spots.
Three Versions:
- The VagorDacil (author of AWKCR, Valdacil's Item Sorting and DEF_UI) guide is easily the most comprehensive, giving pages upon pages of guidance for individual mods and overall guidelines for perfecting your load order. It's a lot to take in, but you'd be hard pressed to find a topic that it doesn't cover.
- And another by Gambit77 (author of Armorsmith/Weaponsmith Extended and a bunch of other big mods) and later tweaked to perfection by wax2k. It's a basic categorized list, without any of the detail of the VagorDacil guide, and is best used by those who already have some experience with Bethesda modding.
- There's also a "Simple Load Order Guide" by Lucian04 that was directed towards Steam Deck users or those who are newer to modding Bethesda games. It's not as exhaustive as the other two, but should work just fine if your setup isn't too complicated. All credit goes to lazloarcadia for the divider file and bringing the list to this page. Go drop them a kudo if you like it!

I've included files that contain dividers for all three so as not to make any decisions for you. These can be customized to add any categories you see fit, or feel were left out. Just duplicate any of the existing esp/esm's and rename.
For convenience, I've copied some details and linked to all three guides below. All credit goes to the original authors, my labels are just tools for their system.
VagorDacil - Wahker (Load Order Survival Guide):
An extremely comprehensive list, sorted into categories that I have listed below for ease of following. Although the document seems primarily concerned with console, there's no fundimental difference,and this one has a lot of knowledge about individual mods within the categories. I believe the guide is still being constantly updated as well. Find it HERE starting on page 29 (though I suggest at least skimming the stuff above if you're not a veteran modder), or click on any of the categories below.
1. Master Files
2. Faction and AI Overhauls
3. New Quests (Completed)
4. New Landmasses
5. New Factions
6. Bug Fixes, Unofficial Patches
7. Settlement Building Mods (Mods that add to your menu, not including sorting mods)
8. Settlement Building Mods (Mods that add to your menu via Script Injection; not including sorting mods)
9. Settlement Building Mods (Mods that alter the items in the menu)
10. Game-Play Changes and Tweaks
11. New Companion Mods
12. NPC and Companion Changes
13. Radio and Audio Mods
14. Visual, Texture, Atmospheric Improvements
15. Lighting Changes
16. Vanilla Settlement Changes and Tweaks
17. Sorting and Menu Changes
18. HUD and DEF_UI Mods
19. Character Model Replacers/Enhancers
20. Pip-boy and Map Mods
21. New Weapons, Armor, Clothing, etc. (non-craftable)
22. Craft Your Own (Mods that add craft-able items to a Chemistry Station or other Workbench; includes new workbenches)
23. New Settlements and Other Buildings Changes and Tweaks (includes new player homes)
24. New Quests (Active)
25. Weapon and Armor Modifications
26. Scrapping Mods
27. Everything That Says to Place at the Bottom (*)
Gambit77 - wax2k:
Pulled from HERE since I can't find the original post anymore. Give the author of that page some love, it's a very well-made guide. While not as staggeringly comprehensive as the VagorDacil/Wahker guide, I think this is better for experienced modders who already know their stuff and want a guide that won't drown them in pages and pages of information.
Fallout4.esm
_____________________________________________________SHARED RESOURCES
SettlementKeywords.esm
ArmorKeywords.esm
_____________________________________________________SETTLEMENT BUILDING MOD ESM FILES
Robot Home Defence.esm
Snap'n Build.esm
Homemaker.esm
_____________________________________________________OTHER ESM FILES
SpringCleaning.esm=1
_____________________________________________________BUG FIXES
ValdacilBugFixes.esm
Big Leagues Rank 5 Fix.esp
Ninja Perk Fix.esp
SleekFix.esp
Worsins-T60-Headlamp-Fix.esp
_____________________________________________________SETTLEMENT BUILDING MODS
Simple Intersection.esp
ABP Paintings.esp
ABP Paintings - Sets =01=G=P.esp
AdvSettleTurretSet-Real.esp=1
AlternateSettlements.esp
AlternateFurniture.esp
BetterGenerators.esp
Business Settlements.esp
Colored Workshop Lights.esp
DD_AIO_I_Hate_You_All.esp
DD_Power_armor_option.esp
DDP_BAB_M1.esp
DD_I_Ran_Out_Of_Funny_Names.esp
LadyKillerBed.esp
LongerPowerLines3x.esp
MOAR Turrets.esp=1
MOAR Turrets - Hard Mode.esp=1
NX Pro - Farm Core.esp
NX Pro - Harvest Overhaul.esp
NX Pro - Farm Core - No Requirements.esp
OCDispenser.esp
OCDecorator.esp
SelectMarkMacTurret.esp=1
Snap'n Build - Modules.esp
Snap'n Build - Capsule Paints.esp
TurretBallEN.esp
WeaponRacks.esp
WeaponRacks-Tools-Vanilla.esp
WeaponRacks-Weapons-Vanilla.esp
_____________________________________________________SETTLEMENT BUILDING MOD-PATCHES
AdvSettleTurretSet-Real-SKPatch.esp
BusinessSettlements-SKPatch.esp
Homemaker - SK Integration Patch.esp
Homemaker - Greenhouse and Bunker Disabler SK.esp
Homemaker - Unlocked Institute Objects SK.esp
NX Pro - Farm Core - Homemaker.esp
NX Pro - Farm Core - Valdacil's Item Sorting.esp
NX Pro - Farm Core - Spring Cleaning.esp
Robot Home Defence - Settlement Keywords.esp
SelectMarkMacTurret-SKPatch.esp
_____________________________________________________SCRAPPING MODS
SC_ExpandedAnimation.esp
SC_ExpandedBuildings.esp
SC_ExpandedConcrete.esp
SC_ExpandedDirtGrass.esp
SC_ExpandedHedges.esp
SC_ExpandedLanterns.esp
ScrapDeadThings.esp
_____________________________________________________GAMEPLAY TWEAKS
CarryWeight100Strength.esp
CarryWeight1000.esp
10% Fusion Core Drain.esp
CHKJunk.esp
_____________________________________________________FOLLOWER TWEAKS
DogmeatDistance.esp
UnlimitedFollowers.esp
_____________________________________________________AESTHETIC TWEAKS
DarkerNights.esp
DarkerNightsDetection.esp
dD-Enhanced Blood.esp
Cuts and Blunts 3.0.esp
DeadBodyCollision.esp
TrueStormsFO4.esp
TrueStormsFO4-LITE-Audio.esp
TrueStormsFO4-ClimateSettings.esp
DarkerNights-TrueStorms-LITE-Audio.esp
PipBoyShadows.esp
Dynamic Weapon Shadows.esp
extendedLightsWS - No shadows.esp
Scrapper Corpse Highlighting.esp
CTHColoredFriendliesSneakingAndOrWeaponDrawn-NSL.esp
RainofBrassPetals.esp
LongRangeBulletHoles.esp
_____________________________________________________SETTLEMENT TWEAKS
NoObjectLimit.esp
IncreasedSettlerPopulation50.esp
BetterSettlers.esp
NewFace_Settlers.esp
ShaikujinSettlementAttacked.esp
ShaikujinRadiantAlerts.esp
_____________________________________________________ ITEM SORTING
ValdacilsItemSorting-ArmorByClass.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-CosmeticsByClass.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-ExplosivesSortBottom.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-Perks.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-ValsPicks.esp
_____________________________________________________BODY REPLACER
CBBE.esp
Dirty Raiders Standalone for CBBE.esp
UniquePlayer.esp
UniqueFollowers.esp
_____________________________________________________WEAPONS
Heroic Shishkebab.esp
_____________________________________________________ARMOR - CLOTHING
PA_Materials_Paints.esp
Worsins-Paint-Garage-lite-no-bonus.esp
combat_PA.esp
combat_PA - AWKCR - VIS AbC.esp
Brotherhood of Steel Kit.esp
cutoffs-calyps.esp
Harness-calyps.esp
Helmless Hazmat.esp
Clean Drifter Outfit.esp
Dark Drifter.esp
Dark Hats.esp
CuteYenOutfit.esp
DX Adventurer Outfit.esp
DX Chem I Care Outfit.esp
DX Commonwealth Mini Dresses.esp
DX Commonwealth Shorts.esp
DX Vault Girl Shorts.esp
BostonJacketFatiguesMod.esp
LongCoatVaultSuit.esp
Eli_ArmourCollection.esp
Eli_Sleeveless Outfits.esp
Eli_Utility Jumpsuits.esp
Jacket.esp
Kerrigan.esp
KerriganColorChange.esp
Vasstek_Vaultsuit.esp
Nanohelmet.esp
NanoArmor.esp
B-90.esp
StealthSuit.esp
Rangergearnew.esp
NukaRadBans.esp
PreWarDressSA.esp
ProtoLining.esp
squireoutfit.esp
Boston Looter.esp
zWGirlClothMina.esp
zWGirlClothSimply.esp
zWInsanity.esp
AnS Wearable Backpacks and Pouches.esp
AnV Camo Backpacks.esp
FieldScribeBackpack.esp
EferasShoulderBag.esp
HubrisShoulderBags[Chemistry].esp
_____________________________________________________CRAFTING
Crafting Workbench.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Ammo.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Ammo Expanded.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Ammo Special.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Faction and Quest Requirements.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Power Armor.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Pre War and Manufactured.esp
Build Crafting Stations in Player Home.esp
_____________________________________________________WEAPON MODDING
Weaponsmith Extended.esp
Extended weapon mods.esp
_____________________________________________________ARMOR - CLOTHING MODDING
EndorsCustomCombatArmor.esp
Craftable Armor Size.esp
MoreWeaves.esp
LegendaryModification.esp
ChineseStealthArmorLegendaryMod.esp
LegendaryModificationMisc.esp
Armorsmith Extended.esp
Armorsmith Calyps Extended.esp
Armorsmith cat_woman1989 Extended.esp
Armorsmith DeserterX Extended.esp
Armorsmith Eferas Extended.esp
Armorsmith Elianora Extended.esp
Armorsmith Invalidfate Extended.esp
Armorsmith Okido Extended.esp
Armorsmith Pack It Up Pack It In.esp
Armorsmith Proto Vault Suit Extended.esp
Armorsmith Prototypes Extended.esp
Armorsmith Siraxx Extended.esp
Armorsmith Unoctium Extended.esp
Armorsmith Unique Followers One Rings.esp
Armorsmith Extended ilordg helmet pack.esp
Spartan-Calyps.esp
rxl_collars.esp
EndorsCustomCombatArmor_AE.esp
Combat Armor Illumination 1.1 ARMRSMTHEXT_CCCA.esp
Lucian04
Pulled from HERE, and if you like it go drop a like on the list page. It's short and doesn't give guidance on any exceptions, so it might be best for newer modders or those that don't have a lot of complicated, fussy mods in their load order.
Author's Description:
For Steam Deck users who may only wish to use the Bethesda Mod Portal or who are not very experienced with modding Bethesda games, but who are looking for a generalized load order that should, hopefully, minimize conflicts. Please note that this is not some exhaustive, definitive load order guide and I have no desire to create one. However, this brief overview should help you run a stable game, provided you understand what you're doing, and you know how to create patches specific to your load order.
1. Master Files
2. Framework & ESL Mods
3. Fast Start Mods (including SKK Fast Start Series, etc.)
4. Faction Overhaul Mods
5. AI Overhaul Mods
6. New Worldspace Mods
7. New Faction Mods
8. Vanilla Quest Edits (including Survival Mode, Workshops, Companion Overhauls, etc.)
9. Settlement Building Mods (including powered objects, assignable objects, decorations, etc.)
10. Settlement Building Mods (including new menus, pre-smm scripting, requires Settlement Menu Manager, etc.)
11. Gameplay Changing Mods (including Game Settings, Survival Mode, Perks, Spells, Value Tweaks, etc.)
12. New NPC Mods (including Pets and followers)
13. New NPC Mods (including Settlers and other types of NPCs)
14. Audio Mods (including Ambient Soundtrack, Combat Soundtrack, Radio Stations, etc.)
15. Visual Mods (including Weathers, Foliage, Textures, etc.)
16. Vanilla Settlement Mods (including Settlement Border Extensions, No Combat Borders, etc.)
17. Sorting Mods
18. HUD Mods (including Camera Tweaks, HUD Framework, FallUI, Scopes, Ini changes, etc.)
19. Character Model Replacers (including Player Character, NPCs, Creatures, etc.)
20. PIP-BOY Replacers
21. Map Mods (including Map Replacers, Colored Maps, etc.)
22. Weapons, Armor & Clothing Mods
23. Crafting Mods (including Crafting Frameworks, Crafting Benches, AWKCR, etc.)
24. New Settlement Mods
25. New Player Homes
26. New Quests and World Edits
27. Weapon, Armor & Clothing Frameworks or Overhauls (including Equilibrium, New Ammos, Unique Replacers, etc.)
28. Landscape Overhauls
29. Precombines (including Previsbines Repair Pack, Boston FPS Fix, etc.)
30. Gameplay Overhauls (including Sim Settlements, Damn Apocalypse, MAIM, Start Me Up, etc.)
31. Patches (including leveled list merges, value adjustments, etc.)
Note: Do not load anything which affects Precombines below #29 except for Precombine patches.
Bug Reports
If you somehow manage to find a way to curse me for putting a bug in this or breaking your game, you will have officially impressed me.