Introduction

There are a number of issues within Kenshi, many of which are just how certain mechanics are coded that cause gameplay to be more frustrating than sometimes needed. In order to help promote some of the good work I have come across, I decided it would be best to create a guide for what mods I can recommend to run alongside the UPK, and how they should be installed based on what info I do have.

Before modding Kenshi, read the following article:

• Why load order matters and other FAQ about using mods
• Proper Load Order & You by Atlas
  

Consider the links above as required reading before modding the game. Failing to do so may result in frequent crashes and poor optimization for gameplay. This is especially true if you plan on using many mods and/or overhaul mods.

Modding Guide: QoL

The following mods listed below are in install order, I have tried to keep it as streamlined as possible to help improve your modding experience. Make sure to read each mods page description, as there are specific install instructions for many of these and/or known bug/compatibility issues that you might encounter. It is also strongly recommended to test one mod at a time for a while to see if you encounter any issues before installing the next mod on the list.

1) Rain Watering Crops by Cymurri
Kenshi has some scripts that allow for you to collect rain in barrels during storms. This mod expands on that function and takes it a step further by actually having rain register as watering farms. This mod should pair really well with Realistic Weather by Ruhadre. Place this under [Buildings].

3) Fixed Farm Storage by Swifvente
In Kenshi, the way farms work is you have a set storage amount of crops that can be farmed before needing to be transported by a character to storage. The
issue is that, larger farms often times have greater farming capabilities that surpass the set storage amount, causing halts in production. Since these farms share the same function groups in FCS, the set storage value is almost always the same for certain farm types.

What this mod does is it adjusts the set storage amount for each farm type to the largest farm size of that type, thereby allowing characters to continue farming until everything has been produced. This should help out with streamlining production of crops and generally making gameplay more efficient. Place this under [Buildings].

3) Automatic Grain Silo Fix by itsbooby
Due to the way automatic grain silos work, often times workers are stuck having to constantly refill them with resources. What this mod does is it provides several options for how many resources you wish to put into the silo, thereby not having to constantly man the machine. Itsbooby provides several variations of this mod file, so choose only one for use. Place this under [Buildings].

4) Better Floor Models by Forks
Replaces multiple in-game dropped models for armor and clothing, since the UPK already utilizes some of the meshes from this mod, there should be no compatibility issues if you choose to use this. Place this under [Armor/Weapons].

5) Metal Framework for Construction by RadarTruck
Replaces the out of place reddish outline when constructing buildings with a metal frame exterior, much more realistic. This mod contains a dummy FCS file for loading purposes only, it can go anywhere in your mod list. I'd recommend placing it at the very end.

6) More Names by jnbradi
Adds hundreds of random names to the spawn listings in Kenshi. Highly recommended as this should (hopefully) help reduce repeat name redundancy with NPCs, especially with the UPK adjusting certain characters to now having names. This mod contains a dummy FCS file for loading purposes only, it can go anywhere in your mod list. I'd recommend placing it at the very end.