SimonPDX
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I wrote this for reddit if anything sounds funny being on the Sim Settlements forums, that's why.
Sim Settlements is a great mod that changes the way we play and approach Fallout 4. It's made in a way where you could easily enjoy it with it being your only mod, or popped in last as your 254th mod. But here's my recommendations on how best to utilize Sim Settlements in your next playthrough.
When I learned about Sim Settlements I looked for a guide like the one I am about to write, and couldn't find anything. (This is everything I've learned from the Sim Settlements community between when I found out about the mod, and now.) I couldn't find anything about the mods that best supplement Sim Settlements, smooth over cracks in the engine, or similarly follow Sim Settlement's mission statement of giving you a reason to use, and keep coming back to the Settlement System in Fallout 4.
So here's ~25 mods to make your next Sim Settlements game better. This guide is targeted at players unfamiliar with Sim Settlements, but hopefully Sim-Set vets can learn a thing or two as well. I'll be going over each mod a little, talk about the install process and why I chose them specifically and why I use them over other similar mods.
This set of mods will also include semi-related mods like the Unofficial Patch, so that someone new to modding could use these and only these mods and have an optimal time, but I'll try to keep tangential mods to a minimum.
This guide will be for PC only (although I'd be more than happy someone adapt this for Xbox1 many, but not all, of these mods are also available there) and I'll be using Mod Organizer 2 to set up my mods and include steps specific to MO2, but, NMM would work 100% fine for this guide, and I'll be going over them in the correct install order, with Load Order for both NMM and MO2 last.
Useful links for this guide:
Correct Mod Organizer Version for FO4
Correct Version of LOOT for FO4 -- Use LOOT only for mods not included in this guide. I'll be going over load order for these mods at the end.
Latest Version of F4SE -- Install this now if you haven't it will be required for some mods in the list.
And without further delay, let's go over some mods!~
1.) Unofficial Patch
Everyone should always use the Unofficial Patch for all Bethesda games, include Fallout 4, the team behind these mods do great work making these games work as intended. Simple as that. Installs easily and simply.
2.) AWKCR - Armor and Weapon Keywords Community Resource
This mod doesn't do much on it's own, but is core for most Fallout 4 setups and is required for some of the mods below. Installs easily and simply.
3.) Armorsmith Extended
One of Fallout 4's biggest and best mods, works wonders with the previous mod, and some of the ones below. You could technically go without this one, but I don't see why you would. This guide isn't really about these first 3 mods, so I kind of glossed over them, but we're about to get into more detail below. Installs easily and simply.
4.) MCM - Mod Configuration Menu
A relatively new mod at the time of writing this guide, coming from FNV and then Skyrim, MCM changes the way mods are configured in game using F4SE, unlocking new possibilities, and is required for some of the mods below. A little trickier to install with Mod Organizer, I'll copy the fix from the mod's comments page below. No extra steps needed for NMM users.
5.) Homemaker
When I was first setting up Sim Settlements I didn't think I was going to still use Homemaker, I was excited and thought I was going to use Sim Settlements for EVERYTHING, all the building was going to be done my settlers and my settlers alone. I was just going to be the Mayor, and zone out the city. In gameplay that's not the case and you'll still end up using settlement objects to decorate around town. It's nice to have more options. Also plays nice with Settlement Menu Manager below. Installs easily and simply. I don't use any extra options from the FOMOD installer, but you're welcome to.
6.) Place Everywhere
Probably the number 1 most important mod for me on PC, uses F4SE to let you place things where you otherwise couldn't. Has many hotkeys and other options for interacting with objects you otherwise couldn't or placing things with finer detail than available in the base game. The power of this mod (when combined with Clean and Simple below) is one of the reasons I don't use, want to use, or recommend Scrap Everything or Spring Cleaning in this guide.
Scrap Everything/Spring Cleaning are troublesome when it comes to settler AI, navmeshing and performance, not because they're bad mods, but because they have to mess with those systems to get what they set out to do, done. But, that makes them not play very nice alongside Sim Settlements, especially over long playthroughs.
Installs easily and simply. Not even an ESP in sight.
7.) Ponytail Hairstyles
Simple mod, you don't have to use this, but you do if you plan on using Better Settlers "Community Clothing and Armor Pack" below. Which is highly recommended for a more diverse pool of Settlers in your game. This mod is really just some well made immersive hairs for you and your settlers (mostly female.) Installs easily and simply.
8.) Eli's Armor Compendium and the Armorsmith Extended Patch (if you need it)
Like the mod above this is mostly for Better Settlers CCAP, but is just a pack of well made, immersive armors for you and your settlers. If you're more familiar with Skyrim, this is basically "Immersive Armors" for FO4, but FO4 needed the verity even more imo. Installs easily and simply.
9.) Better Settlers
And here's the aforementioned "Better Settlers", a great mod that adds a bit more variety to Bethesda's pool of vanilla settlers. With the CCAP you probably won't see 2 similar looking people in the same Settlement ever again. With some of the next mods, giving names, more voice lines and Sim Settlement giving them some personality via Clutter and the VIP system, it'll be a lot easier/more fun to spend time around them. This mod has a pretty elaborate FOMOD installer. Here are the options I recommend, although you could use any combination of them pretty easily.
Fallout's world is supposed to be cruel and unforgiving but in the base game, nothing bad can happen to the settlers, unless you do it yourself (protected npcs.)
10.) What's Your Name?
There are a few mods that handle renaming settlers after the death of Don't Call Me Settler. This one is my current favorite, and I'd say hands down best, unless you use Quick Trade, which this mod isn't compatible with at all, which in that case, I recommend Immersive Settlers, a mod kinggath himself had a hand in. I like What's Your Name better because Immersive Settlers has some lag before naming people, due to how the scripts work (working as intended to keep a lite load on your game) and this mod gets around that by having an activation button.
This mod installs simply, but, has an MCM menu, so if you're using MO2 follow the steps above for this mod.
Post too long, continued in comments.
Sim Settlements is a great mod that changes the way we play and approach Fallout 4. It's made in a way where you could easily enjoy it with it being your only mod, or popped in last as your 254th mod. But here's my recommendations on how best to utilize Sim Settlements in your next playthrough.
When I learned about Sim Settlements I looked for a guide like the one I am about to write, and couldn't find anything. (This is everything I've learned from the Sim Settlements community between when I found out about the mod, and now.) I couldn't find anything about the mods that best supplement Sim Settlements, smooth over cracks in the engine, or similarly follow Sim Settlement's mission statement of giving you a reason to use, and keep coming back to the Settlement System in Fallout 4.
So here's ~25 mods to make your next Sim Settlements game better. This guide is targeted at players unfamiliar with Sim Settlements, but hopefully Sim-Set vets can learn a thing or two as well. I'll be going over each mod a little, talk about the install process and why I chose them specifically and why I use them over other similar mods.
This set of mods will also include semi-related mods like the Unofficial Patch, so that someone new to modding could use these and only these mods and have an optimal time, but I'll try to keep tangential mods to a minimum.
This guide will be for PC only (although I'd be more than happy someone adapt this for Xbox1 many, but not all, of these mods are also available there) and I'll be using Mod Organizer 2 to set up my mods and include steps specific to MO2, but, NMM would work 100% fine for this guide, and I'll be going over them in the correct install order, with Load Order for both NMM and MO2 last.
Useful links for this guide:
Correct Mod Organizer Version for FO4
Correct Version of LOOT for FO4 -- Use LOOT only for mods not included in this guide. I'll be going over load order for these mods at the end.
Latest Version of F4SE -- Install this now if you haven't it will be required for some mods in the list.
And without further delay, let's go over some mods!~
1.) Unofficial Patch
Everyone should always use the Unofficial Patch for all Bethesda games, include Fallout 4, the team behind these mods do great work making these games work as intended. Simple as that. Installs easily and simply.
2.) AWKCR - Armor and Weapon Keywords Community Resource
This mod doesn't do much on it's own, but is core for most Fallout 4 setups and is required for some of the mods below. Installs easily and simply.
3.) Armorsmith Extended
One of Fallout 4's biggest and best mods, works wonders with the previous mod, and some of the ones below. You could technically go without this one, but I don't see why you would. This guide isn't really about these first 3 mods, so I kind of glossed over them, but we're about to get into more detail below. Installs easily and simply.
4.) MCM - Mod Configuration Menu
A relatively new mod at the time of writing this guide, coming from FNV and then Skyrim, MCM changes the way mods are configured in game using F4SE, unlocking new possibilities, and is required for some of the mods below. A little trickier to install with Mod Organizer, I'll copy the fix from the mod's comments page below. No extra steps needed for NMM users.
The trouble with Mod Organizer 2 is that it stops mods generating new files. This is what is stopping settings being saved once people get the mods recognized by MCM.
Step 1:
Move the MCM folder from ModOrg 2\Fallout 4\Mods\<MCM based mod>
to
Fallout 4\ Data
Step 2:
Copy the name of the mods ESP file e.g. MCM_Demo.esp or QuickTrade.esp
Go to Fallout 4\ Data\MCM and generate a folder labeled "Settings" if needed.
Inside the Settings folder right click and make a new txt file.
Rename file to the name of the ESP file and change file extension to "ini" e.g. MCM_Demo.ini or QuickTrade.ini
That's it. The mod will now appear in the MCM menu and settings will be persistent.
Step 1:
Move the MCM folder from ModOrg 2\Fallout 4\Mods\<MCM based mod>
to
Fallout 4\ Data
Step 2:
Copy the name of the mods ESP file e.g. MCM_Demo.esp or QuickTrade.esp
Go to Fallout 4\ Data\MCM and generate a folder labeled "Settings" if needed.
Inside the Settings folder right click and make a new txt file.
Rename file to the name of the ESP file and change file extension to "ini" e.g. MCM_Demo.ini or QuickTrade.ini
That's it. The mod will now appear in the MCM menu and settings will be persistent.
5.) Homemaker
When I was first setting up Sim Settlements I didn't think I was going to still use Homemaker, I was excited and thought I was going to use Sim Settlements for EVERYTHING, all the building was going to be done my settlers and my settlers alone. I was just going to be the Mayor, and zone out the city. In gameplay that's not the case and you'll still end up using settlement objects to decorate around town. It's nice to have more options. Also plays nice with Settlement Menu Manager below. Installs easily and simply. I don't use any extra options from the FOMOD installer, but you're welcome to.
6.) Place Everywhere
Probably the number 1 most important mod for me on PC, uses F4SE to let you place things where you otherwise couldn't. Has many hotkeys and other options for interacting with objects you otherwise couldn't or placing things with finer detail than available in the base game. The power of this mod (when combined with Clean and Simple below) is one of the reasons I don't use, want to use, or recommend Scrap Everything or Spring Cleaning in this guide.
Scrap Everything/Spring Cleaning are troublesome when it comes to settler AI, navmeshing and performance, not because they're bad mods, but because they have to mess with those systems to get what they set out to do, done. But, that makes them not play very nice alongside Sim Settlements, especially over long playthroughs.
Installs easily and simply. Not even an ESP in sight.
7.) Ponytail Hairstyles
Simple mod, you don't have to use this, but you do if you plan on using Better Settlers "Community Clothing and Armor Pack" below. Which is highly recommended for a more diverse pool of Settlers in your game. This mod is really just some well made immersive hairs for you and your settlers (mostly female.) Installs easily and simply.
8.) Eli's Armor Compendium and the Armorsmith Extended Patch (if you need it)
Like the mod above this is mostly for Better Settlers CCAP, but is just a pack of well made, immersive armors for you and your settlers. If you're more familiar with Skyrim, this is basically "Immersive Armors" for FO4, but FO4 needed the verity even more imo. Installs easily and simply.
9.) Better Settlers
And here's the aforementioned "Better Settlers", a great mod that adds a bit more variety to Bethesda's pool of vanilla settlers. With the CCAP you probably won't see 2 similar looking people in the same Settlement ever again. With some of the next mods, giving names, more voice lines and Sim Settlement giving them some personality via Clutter and the VIP system, it'll be a lot easier/more fun to spend time around them. This mod has a pretty elaborate FOMOD installer. Here are the options I recommend, although you could use any combination of them pretty easily.
- No Lollygagging -- makes Settlers run to the bell, I still use the Bell in Sim Settlements although with the "Town Meeting" tool in the holotape you might not, and then could skip this module.
- Clean Face Pack -- I feel like they look better clean, especially with the CCAP adding cleaner/more modern hair and clothing. Your call.
- "Community Clothing and Armor Pack" or CCAP -- add more hair and clothing to the system, I like it. Still very immersive.
- Mortal Settlers -- makes your Settlers be able to die, from anything, but mainly in attacks. There are some upcoming mods in this guide about improving Settlement attacks, and I really like having this mod with them, although it's not for everyone. If you find your Settlers are dying too often, you can also try Mortal Soldiers instead. (in the Better Settlers installer.)
Fallout's world is supposed to be cruel and unforgiving but in the base game, nothing bad can happen to the settlers, unless you do it yourself (protected npcs.)
10.) What's Your Name?
There are a few mods that handle renaming settlers after the death of Don't Call Me Settler. This one is my current favorite, and I'd say hands down best, unless you use Quick Trade, which this mod isn't compatible with at all, which in that case, I recommend Immersive Settlers, a mod kinggath himself had a hand in. I like What's Your Name better because Immersive Settlers has some lag before naming people, due to how the scripts work (working as intended to keep a lite load on your game) and this mod gets around that by having an activation button.
This mod installs simply, but, has an MCM menu, so if you're using MO2 follow the steps above for this mod.
Post too long, continued in comments.