home
Fallout 4
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2024 Robin Scott. All rights reserved.

File information

Last updated

Original upload

Created by

CyberDanz

Uploaded by

CyberDanz

Virus scan

Safe to use

Tags for this mod

View more...
Current section

About this mod

This is my continuation of the original BRB Guide offered by BiRaitBec (aka BRB). If you want a rock solid base modlist, then you have come to the right place! I will guide you through the essentials and will gradually provide you with more details for those who wishes to deviate by adding more content.

Requirements
Permissions and credits
This is my continuation of the original Fallout 4 Mod List and Load Order Guide by BiRaitBec.  This will serve as an update for both an AWKCR/AE modlist and as a No-AWKCR modlist.  I will use (AWKCR/AE) and (No-AWKCR) to identify which modlist the directions are intended.  The update will share content from the original guide as well as offer added and/or updated content to revive the old guide using more modern content! 

This Mod List is in order.  The order you see things listed is the order to install the mods and order plugins (unless specified differently).

Do not use LOOT or any Sorting feature!  For these automated tools have confirmed to instead put things upside down and not in the real correct way, at least for Fallout 4.

Read the Official Mods' Descriptions to know how a mod works in-game.  Leave an endorsement to that mod if you loved it!  Feel free to click Authors' donation links if you would like to support their work!  Please do not pay for content.  Donations and Paywalls are NOT the same!

This guide does not accommodate Xbox players and is more focused on PC versions.   I do apologize, but some mods used in this guide cannot be downloaded on Xbox.

Please ensure to possess and perform the following Requirements:
Spoiler:  
Show

  • Own a Legit, Purchased Copy of the Game!  - Running cracked versions are never completely safe and doing so will result in many things being broken!
  • Either own Game of the Year Edition (Steam or GOG) or own the Base Game with all DLC Content that was purchased separately!  - We assume that most everyone owns GotY or all of the DLC's.  The only DLC you DO NOT need, nor do we suggest using, is the Official High Resolution Texture Pack DLC.  Please disable that if you have it.  It is a bunch of upscaled textures and not worth it based on size and quality.  It also introduces the Brown Face Bug on many builds (which has solutions offered) and does not fit this modlist.
  • Start with a Clean Fallout 4 Installation! - Be sure to delete your My Documents/My Games/Fallout 4 folder and you must delete your /steamapps/common/Fallout 4 folder (wherever yours is installed).  Open your Steam Launcher/Library and right click on Fallout 4/Properties/Installed Files and click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.  A clean, fresh copy of the game will install!
  • Disable Auto-Updates in Steam - Within Steam, right click on Fallout 4 and select Properties, then click first on the Updates Tab and then on the Drop-Down Menu under Automatic Updates. Select "Only update this game when I launch it".  Close.
  • Now run the game from Steam Launcher one time (to let it set the game's initial *.ini files).  Once at Main Menu, exit the game.  Then you may use a mod manager to proceed with building your modlist.

Preparation - Tools Needed:
Spoiler:  
Show

  • 7Zip - Install the latest (64bit Version Recommended)
  • Mod Organizer 2 - (This guide is using Mod Organizer 2 for directions!)  I strongly recommend that you use Windows Explorer and create a Game Tools folder on the drive in which you have installed your game and mod manager on.  I will refer to this often during setup.  I recommend that when you first run MO2, you will need to consider a few things:  1)  Are you installing FO4 on another drive?  2)   Do you want one location for all games to share data (Not Recommended unless storage space is an issue)?  When installing MO2, I recommend that you install it to the root directory on the drive in which you have the Game installed on and on a drive that is not your system drive, and preferably on a SSD drive.  Next, MO2 will want you to create an Instance to get started.  Portable Instance is one shared location for all profiles - Global Instances are separate profile for each instance and can have custom locations - You may create more than one Instance per game as long as you customize the name and location for each.  I will be recommending a Global Instance and suggest you make a new folder called MO2 Profiles at the same location you selected to create your Game Tools folder.  Then download my MO2 Starter Profile and extract it to your MO2 Profiles folder.  Run MO2 - Select Fallout 4 as your game - Next, you need to give your Fallout 4 Instance a name (e.g. BRB Guide - Tribute Edition) - Next will be the location of the profile.  Click on the icon with 3 dots and navigate to your MO2 Profiles folder and select (Fallout4) BRB-Tribute Edition (Modlist), if you chose to use my starter, or select your profile name's folder.  Then click the Finish button and your new profile will open and be ready for use!  Last, look at the upper left within MO2.  Next to the Profiles line - Select Manage.  I recommend you check both Use Profile Specific Save Games AND Use Profile Specific Game INI Files.  Then click Close.  This will keep your My Documents/My Games/Fallout 4 ini's as the original ini's for backup and allows you to edit copies of the ini's MO2 uses when running the game from within MO2.
  • F4SE - Unpack the archive and copy everything from within (including the Data folder) - except f4se_readme.txt and f4se_whatsnew.txt to your game's root directory (where the game's *.exe's are found).  If MO2 is open, close and restart it.  MO2 should automatically detect F4SE and provide it in the Run command's drop-down list.  Moving forward, start your game with this F4SE command in MO2.
  • XSE Pre-Loader - In addition to this download, you can download my XSE Pre-Loader XML Edit in Files.  I have made the XML Edit for "OnThreadAttach" (which works on my end).  You may need to refer to XSE's Description page to see the XML edit choices.  You will need the correct edit for your system to work as desired.  If you test your game now and it crashes, checking this should be your first option.  You should be able to reach the Main Menu and start a new game before the Weapon Debris Crash (explained further in the following steps).
  • FO4Edit (aka xEdit) - Download the latest release (not experimental!) - Create a folder within your Game Tools folder and call it xEdit v4.0.4.  Extract your xedit archive and cut/copy the contents and paste it into your xEdit v4.0.4 folder.  Create an empty mod in MO2 and call it FO4Edit Backups.  Next, activate FO4Edit Backups on left panel and move it into your Patches section.  Click on the Configure Executables Icon in MO2 and click on the Plus sign to Add an Executable and select Add From File.  Navigate to your Game Tools\xEdit v4.0.4 folder and select FO4Edit64.exe as the executable.  Edit the Title (or not).  I name mine as FO4 Edit.  Be sure that the box is checked in front of Force Load Libraries, check the box Use application's icon for desktop shortcuts, and check the box that says Create files in mod instead of overwrite (*) and select your FO4Edit Backups folder from the drop-down list.  Then click OK.
  • Apocrypher xEdit Scripts - SimpleESLify - Extract the archive and copy the SimpleESLify.pas file and paste it into your FO4Edit\Edit Scripts folder.  You will want to run this OFTEN by running FO4Edit from within MO2 and load all plugins.  Once loaded, right click on any plugin on the left side, select Apply Script, and select SimpleESLify from the drop-down menu (alphabetically listed).  It will flag all ESP's with the ESL Header it finds can be.  When done, exit FO4Edit leaving all plugins checked EXCEPT XDI.ESM - saving this as flagged will destroy dialogue in-game!  You have been warned!
  • nVidia DDS Viewer Plugin for Explorer - To better assist viewing thumbnails of .dds/textures plugins while in Windows Explorer.
  • nVidia Profile Inspector - (Nvidia GPU Users Only)(Recommended)(BRB Original)(Optional) - Extract the archive.  Next - download BRB's first Miscellaneous File (1. Nvidia Inpector Profile - FO4) and extract this archive.  Copy/Paste the extracted content from BRB's Nvidia Inspector Profile on top of where you have your Github version files extracted (select yes to overwrites, if asked).  Then copy the contents of that folder into your Game's Root Directory (where exe's are found).  Now run the nvidiaProfileInspector.exe file.  On the Profiles Search Bar in the top left corner type and select Fallout 4. Between the Icons line on the Middle Top Select on the one with a green arrow pointing down, then select the Import Profile(s) option and find my profile you downloaded.  Now if in the Green Bar on top of the Nvidia Inspector window the f4se_loader.exe you can Apply Changes on the top right corner and close the window. If it's not there, select on the Middle Top icon with a little green plus and find the f4se_loader.exe file that should be in your fallout 4 main folder, then Apply Changes on the top right corner and close the window.
  • ENB Series and BRB ENB Preset v2.0 - (Highly Recommended)(Optional) - Download ENB Series v0.489 from the download link at the bottom of the info.  Extract the archive into a work folder.  Now download BRB ENB Preset (v2.0) from the Files tab here and extract it into another work folder.  Now copy the contents of the BRB ENB Preset (or from any ENB Preset of choice) and paste into your extracted enbseries Wrapper Version folder (select yes to any overwrites).  Now copy the content of everything in the Wrapper Version folder and paste directly into your Game's Root folder (where the .exe's are located)(say yes to any overwrites, especially when replacing)
  • Luxor's ENB HQ Raindrops 2 - (Highly Recommended)(Optional) - Extract the archive and copy the contents within and paste into your Game's Root Directory (where the .exe's are found).  Say yes to overwrite (if asked).
  • BethINI Performance INI Editor (PIE) - (Highly Recommended) - I recommend that you create a folder within your Game Tools folder, and name it BethINI PIE.  Extract the archive and copy the contents and paste into your BethINI PIE folder you just created for it.  Now create a shortcut for it and send the shortcut to your desktop.  MO2 MUST BE CLOSED when running BethINI PIE!  Double-click on your BethINI PIE Shortcut and select Fallout 4 as the game you want to manage.  Next, you want to ensure that the Game Path is correct.  For the INI Path, leave default if you are NOT using the Use Profile Specific Files options (in the MO2 Setup above).  If you are using Use Profile Specific Files options, you will need to click on the browse option and select you MO2's copy of the ini files (Profile Name)/Profiles/Default location by clicking on the Fallout4.ini and click Open.  Next, click OK on the BethINI PIE setup tool.

    I will update and provide more information use PIE once I have confirmed all of it's changes.  I just recently switched from the BethINI found on Nexus within FO4 downloads.  Much has changed between the two!

Either find the following settings in BethINI PIE -OR- Inside Mod Organizer 2, select the Tools Icon (Puzzle Pieces) and select INI Editor and click on the Fallout4Custom.ini tab and perform the following:

Replace the lines in the file with the ones you find below in case they already exist within your ini's, or add them to the bottom of the section if they are not. You can simply copy/paste the section/lines below. Keep in mind that the NVFlex value below is to be used in case you own a nVidia GTX/RTX graphic card and wish to disable Weapons Debris altogether (and it MUST be done in the Fallout4Prefs.ini) or use the Weapons Debris Crash Fix mentioned in the following Utilities section.  Otherwise, do not copy/paste it from here or make sure it is set to 1 (1 is also for AMD/Non-nVidia GPU's.  GTX/RTX nVidia users MUST select a Weapon Debris fix option - by either disabling it in the ini or using the Weapon Debris Crash Fix!  Or you will experience CTD's!!  Now save the file and close it.

[Display]
bMultiThreadedRendering=1
fBlendSplitDirShadow=96
iDirShadowSplits=3
iMaxFocusShadows=3
iMaxFocusShadowsDialogue=3
uiOrthoShadowFilter=2

[Imagespace]
bDoRadialBlur=0

[Gameplay]
iDifficulty=5

[General]
bForceUpdateDiffuseOnly=0
iNumHWThreads=4 (Change this 4 to equal the number of Cores your CPU has)
iTextureDegradeDistance0=1600
iTextureDegradeDistance1=3000
iTextureUpgradeDistance0=1200
iTextureUpgradeDistance1=2400
sStarting Console Command=bat BRB (Nexus geeks this line out if I show it proper here.. there should be no spaces in command line)

[NVFlex]
bNVFlexEnable=0

[Papyrus]
fExtraTaskletBudgetMS=2.4
fUpdateBudgetMS=2.4
iMaxAllocatedMemoryBytes=307200
iMaxMemoryPageSize=1024
iMinMemoryPageSize=256

[Pipboy]
bPipboyDisableFX=1

While we are into ini settings, I would like to point a few ini changes that you either need or should make:

Be sure to have Archive Invalidation set in your Fallout4.ini file.  Find the following lines and make the changes to these lines only, leaving other existing settings there untouched.  (Note:  If these same lines exist in any of your other .ini files, please, change those as well):

Fallout4.ini - Archive Invalidation Settings

[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=                                         (<-- Leave Blank after the = sign, this is intentional)

[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection=1

Fallout4Prefs.ini - Display Settings

[Display]
iSize H=1080
iSize W=1920

If these values exist in your Fallout4Prefs.ini, change the lines to match your display's values.  If they do not exist, copy/paste these and add to your [Display] section and edit the values to match your display's values.

Fallout4Custom.ini - My Additions

Please Note:  Any of the Pipboy settings in my Fallout4Custom.ini are set for controller use to avoid the cursor lock in map and other minor issues, these are my settings.  If you do not use a controller, disregard any of the uPipboy settings mentioned:

[General]
bAllowTextureFallback=0
bForceUpdateDiffuseOnly=0
fUpdateTextureTime=1.0000
iTextureUpgradeDistance1=7500
iTextureUpgradeDistance0=5000
iTextureDegradeDistance1=7500
iTextureDegradeDistance0=5000
bUsePrecombinedOjbects=1
bUsePreCulledObjects=1
sLocalSavePath=__MO_Saves\
bUseMyGamesDirectory=1

[Display]
fTreeLoadDistance=150000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=500000.0000
fBlockLevel2Distance=220000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=180000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=120000.0000
fSunShadowUpdateTime=0.9
fSunUpdateThreshold=0.01
iLocation X=0
iLocation Y=0
iTexMipMapSkip=0
uPipboyTargetHeight=700
uPipboyTargetWidth=876

[Pipboy]
uPipboyConstraintWidth=725
uPipboyConstraintWidth_PowerArmor=555
uPipboyConstraintHeight=510
uPipboyConstraintHeight_PowerArmor=380
uPipboyConstraintTLX_PowerArmor=160
uPipboyConstraintTLX=75
uPipboyConstraintTLY=95
uPipboyConstraintTLY_PowerArmor=160

Preparation - BRB Text: Our batch file for the Starting Console Command with recommended game settings to load automatcially at each game start.
Spoiler:  
Show

Now, using Windows File Explorer, inside the Fallout 4 Main Directory folder (where the game .exe's are found) create a text document by right clicking and selecting New, then Text Document. Rename it to just BRB.txt and then open it. Copy/paste the following lines inside, then save the file and close it.

gr quality 3
gr grid 8
gr scale .4
gr maxcascade 2
cl rim .002
fov 90 90
setgs iTerminalDisplayRate 1200
setgs fWorkshopWireMaxLength 2200
setgs fGunShellLifetime 150
setgs fGunShellCameraDistance 12800
setgs iDebrisMaxCount 375
setgs iHoursToRespawnCell 720
setgs iHoursToRespawnCellCleared 2160
setgs iHoursToClearCorpses 10
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadComplexCount 50
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadCount 50
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadComplexTotalActorCount 65
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadTotalActorCount 50
taa on
taa sharp 0
taa lf 0
taa hf 0.7
taa ps 0
taa po 0.3
fxaa off

What exactly do these lines do, you ask?

These lines modify Godrays (Similar to Ultra Quality Godrays Performance Fix, but more quality, good looking, and more performance friendly than that)
gr quality 3
gr grid 8
gr scale .4
gr maxcascade 2

For more Quality Godrays:
gr quality 3
gr grid 12
gr scale .4
gr maxcascade 1

For more Performance Godrays:
gr quality 2
gr grid 7
gr scale .4
gr maxcascade 3

This line controls the lighting on your Character
cl rim .002

This line will make the terminals load the screen faster. (Similar to Faster Terminal Displays, but with no plugin)
setgs iTerminalDisplayRate 1200

This line will make power lines longer. (Similar to Longer Power Lines,  but with no plugin)
setgs fWorkshopWireMaxLength 2200

These lines will make bullets visible for long times after shooting. (Similar to Shell Rain, but with no plugin)
setgs fGunShellLifetime 150
setgs fGunShellCameraDistance 12800
setgs iDebrisMaxCount 375

These lines increase length of area and corpses respawn time. (Similar to Longer Area Respawn, but with no plugin)
setgs iHoursToRespawnCell >> 720
setgs iHoursToRespawnCellCleared >> 2160

These lines limit the number of dead actors in the same scene, to add a more stable experience.
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadComplexCount 50
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadCount 50
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadComplexTotalActorCount 65
setgs iRemoveExcessDeadTotalActorCount 50

These lines modify TAA game effect in order to try and prevent the shimmering or intense sharpening when moving camera around. Although on my end fixes the problem doesn't mean it does it for you in case you have great fast timing monitors or so. So we need feedback on it and let me know if it makes the whole image worse or better.
taa on
taa sharp 0
taa lf 0
taa hf 0.8
taa ps 0
taa po 0.3
fxaa off

[Step 01] Textures Optimization (Optional Choice) - This can be done at any time or choose not do it at all!
Spoiler:  
Show

The first thing you may want to do is decide which textures you want for a base setup (Vanilla, Luxor's HD Overhaul 4k, Luxor's HD Overhaul 2k, PhyOp's Textures, or Performout (all of which are supported with the new installer)).  Next, you will want to decide on which textures (re-textures - only mods that has a textures folder only) to replace the original game's textures ba2 files with.  If you are not sure, we can still work with the original guide's Repacks and Fixes.. or you can choose to wait and perform this step later after you have taken some time to gather all of your re-textures to use.

If you want retextures without performing anything new in this step, you can choose one of the texture packs mentioned above.. For performance reasons, I highly recommend Luxor's Fallout 4 HD Overhaul 2k.  Download and extract all 15 ba2 files he shares (for he has already done the work to repack his textures into the original ba2 files) and extract each, then copy and paste the extracted .ba2 files back into your \steamapps\common\Fallout 4\Data directory and say yes to overwrites when asked.  If his textures are all you want, then this step is done for you.  If you wish to customize your own retextures on top of his, then continue with this step.

[Step 01] Textures Customization (Optional Choice) - This can be done at any time or choose not do it at all!
Spoiler:  
Show

For now this is just a Place Holder for the instructions until I update this part

[Step 02] Utilities:
Spoiler:  
Show

For the bulk of what I consider Utility mods are F4SE mods.. many of which will NOT have plugins.  Also, keep in mind, there may be other F4SE type of mods installed later within the guide for aesthetics/where to visually install it, in the modlist which I consider not as essential to be placed in this step.  Using MO2 - Please install the following in this order:


[Step 03] Core and BugFix Mods:
Spoiler:  
Show

This step is for Core Mods which are BugFixes, Framework, and Resource Mods.  Please in the following in this order:


[Step 04] User Interface - HUD - Item Sorting - Camera Mods:
Spoiler:  
Show

This step will be focused on getting your primary HUD set up with how things will look while in game when viewing HUD elements (Map, Icons, Colors, etc).  Please install the following in this order: