Incredibly useful mod to upgrade the mod sorting process.
The information under the Description tag is also outstandingly useful information and I feel could be valuable to have listed as a load order resource on The Midnight Ride or this mod in general.
Absolute shot in the dark for this question: Since FO and SSE use mostly the same file types and formats, would this mod work for SSE/AE? If not (and I don't expect it to for a variety of reasons), is there something like this for SSE/AE? Can the mod author make something like this for SSE/AE? Thanks in advance!
Just doing a google search for "SSE Load Order Guide", I found a few hits: https://skyrimseblog.wordpress.com/working-load-order/ https://skyrimseblog.wordpress.com/load-order-structure/ and the very throrough: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2636368499
I'm not going to make a version of the dividers for you, but you can do it yourself. Download the dividers (any version) and rename the files to the categories in the guide you like.
They're all completely blank ESPs, so it doesn't matter which ones you pick. You could even delete all but one, and copy paste that as many times as you need.
I'd recommend checking the Load Order Guide itself for a question like that.
However it's my understanding that they're exactly that. Once you complete a quest, move it up so anything like changes to locations can get overwritten by another mod (since you don't need them anymore).
Is there a general consensus on which load order is best? Perhaps some placements are better for certain use cases than others? Does everyone just have a general approach they like to build around or just stick with whatever works through trial and error?
There's some universals but there's also a lot of conflicting placements, it's difficult to discern which to follow. Lucian's is the latest, so I am inclined to follow this one and see how I fare. I have read/followed The Midnight Ride guide + ScreamingLake's video and I am now looking to learn how to slowly populate the game with mods of my taste.
Additionally, I see a lot of recommendations to steer clear from AWKCR & Valdacil's Item Sorting, so if I am not using using those mods perhaps it's best not to follow their load orders?
I haven't found a universal "Best" to be honest. With more complicated or larger mod lists I use the VagorDacil version just due to the fact that the Guide has rules for almost every complicated mod.
With a setup that has one or two finicky mods, I use Gambit's dividers and it's always worked great.
I haven't personally tried Lucian's, but it seems to be the most straightforward.
My advice is try the simplest one first, and if you run into problems try the next one up. Simplest to Most Complicated is Lucian > Gambit > VagorDacil (3, 2, 1 in my file order).
For anyone that uses this I suggest flagging them as ESL, just to be safe I've heard that even if you disable an ESP, it could still take up a spot in your load limit.
To Flag them use this amazing mod: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/48460
I can personally confirm that disabled esp's don't count, I'm not sure where you heard that. However, I'd like to post a warning pulled from page 33 of the VagorDacil/Wahker Load Order Survival Guide:
PC: You may have up to 255 data files with the ESM and ESP extension. You may have more with the ESL extension as they load differently than 'normal' data files. Modded ESL files may not be dependent upon ESM or ESP files. ESP files flagged as ESL are treated as masters but load with ESPs. Keep in mind that flagging an ESP as an ESL may corrupt the bits in the save file with no way to recover without manual hex edits (not recommended).
I can't confirm or deny that myself, as I haven't used the tool, but I trust the makers of the guide to know what they're talking about.
Don't try to fix something that isn't broke. If you install this mod and leave the plugins disabled, they will do nothing but exist as text in your mod manager. As a general rule, the more you monkey around with the components of a system, the greater the potential exists for something to go wrong. Keep it simple.
I'd follow up on this by saying that very simple mods, such as most weapon and armor mods, are good candidates for ESL conversion. However very advanced quest mods, game engine overhauls, script heavy mods, etc should NEVER be converted in this fashion (MAIM / BLD, Project Valkyrie, Crime and Punishment, Sim Settlement, etc).
I won't pretend to understand the coding and programing that goes into this warning, but rather this is advice that some of the most advanced modders on the Nexus have given on several occasions regarding ESL file conversion. If you are really curious you could google it for a more indepth "how & why" break down.
As for the load order dividers themselves, I have used them for years now and can confirm they are a permanent part of my load order. I personally use NMM to this day, and have never had an issue with them counting towards my .esp limit. They are obviously unchecked in my load order.
wow, this is great. i've been stuck for a week with load order and almost gave up. but this helps a lot. it wasn't easy at first to understand. it takes some time to understand but in the end it's totally worth it. even gave me better understanding on load order. so thank you!
and you didnt make mod of the year ? its so simple , so easy and soooo helpfull. didnt even think to do it myself , i hopped for month to find some sorting softweare that just help to do this... man you are genius , thanks a lot.
41 comments
The information under the Description tag is also outstandingly useful information and I feel could be valuable to have listed as a load order resource on The Midnight Ride or this mod in general.
Outstanding work.
https://skyrimseblog.wordpress.com/working-load-order/
https://skyrimseblog.wordpress.com/load-order-structure/
and the very throrough: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2636368499
I'm not going to make a version of the dividers for you, but you can do it yourself. Download the dividers (any version) and rename the files to the categories in the guide you like.
They're all completely blank ESPs, so it doesn't matter which ones you pick. You could even delete all but one, and copy paste that as many times as you need.
However it's my understanding that they're exactly that. Once you complete a quest, move it up so anything like changes to locations can get overwritten by another mod (since you don't need them anymore).
There's some universals but there's also a lot of conflicting placements, it's difficult to discern which to follow. Lucian's is the latest, so I am inclined to follow this one and see how I fare. I have read/followed The Midnight Ride guide + ScreamingLake's video and I am now looking to learn how to slowly populate the game with mods of my taste.
Additionally, I see a lot of recommendations to steer clear from AWKCR & Valdacil's Item Sorting, so if I am not using using those mods perhaps it's best not to follow their load orders?
With a setup that has one or two finicky mods, I use Gambit's dividers and it's always worked great.
I haven't personally tried Lucian's, but it seems to be the most straightforward.
My advice is try the simplest one first, and if you run into problems try the next one up. Simplest to Most Complicated is Lucian > Gambit > VagorDacil (3, 2, 1 in my file order).
Lucian04's Load Order for Steam Deck - Pastebin.com
To Flag them use this amazing mod: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/48460
PC: You may have up to 255 data files with the ESM and ESP extension. You may have more with the ESL extension as they load differently than 'normal' data files. Modded ESL files may not be dependent upon ESM or ESP files. ESP files flagged as ESL are treated as masters but load with ESPs. Keep in mind that flagging an ESP as an ESL may corrupt the bits in the save file with no way to recover without manual hex edits (not recommended).
I can't confirm or deny that myself, as I haven't used the tool, but I trust the makers of the guide to know what they're talking about.
Don't try to fix something that isn't broke. If you install this mod and leave the plugins disabled, they will do nothing but exist as text in your mod manager. As a general rule, the more you monkey around with the components of a system, the greater the potential exists for something to go wrong. Keep it simple.
I won't pretend to understand the coding and programing that goes into this warning, but rather this is advice that some of the most advanced modders on the Nexus have given on several occasions regarding ESL file conversion. If you are really curious you could google it for a more indepth "how & why" break down.
As for the load order dividers themselves, I have used them for years now and can confirm they are a permanent part of my load order. I personally use NMM to this day, and have never had an issue with them counting towards my .esp limit. They are obviously unchecked in my load order.
i've been stuck for a week with load order and almost gave up.
but this helps a lot. it wasn't easy at first to understand.
it takes some time to understand but in the end it's totally worth it.
even gave me better understanding on load order.
so thank you!
Thank you
its so simple , so easy and soooo helpfull.
didnt even think to do it myself , i hopped for month to find some sorting softweare that just help to do this... man you are genius , thanks a lot.