Mods: Any "gotchas" out there I should avoid

[AlyssaFaden]

Okay; this is a dumb question and I know it. I was watching a video by KingGarth and he was talking about mods to avoid. Right away I started hiking them out of my load list. But I'm seeing signs of either instability (crashes) and too many scripts running (npcs standing around in the middle of a settlement) and I am wondering if I can ask someone here to cast an eye over my mod list and, if you could be so kind, tell me:


a) if there are mods I should avoid
b) if I have something woefully out of place. I LOOT, but I heard LOOT is only okay as a starter and things need to be tweaked.

Any advice on this list?

Spoiler: Stoopid Noob form the webernets list of mods

0 0 Fallout4.esm
1 1 DLCRobot.esm
2 2 DLCworkshop01.esm
3 3 DLCCoast.esm
4 4 DLCworkshop02.esm
5 5 DLCworkshop03.esm
6 6 DLCNukaWorld.esm
7 7 Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch.esp
8 8 ArmorKeywords.esm
9 9 HUDFramework.esm
10 a SimSettlements.esm
254 FE 0 Abertown.esl
11 b Companion Infinite Ammo.esm
254 FE 1 Yagisan_ComEng_TenpinesBluff__Pharma_Farm_.esl
254 FE 2 Yagisan_ComEng_Sanctuary__Market_City.esl
254 FE 3 Yagisan_ComEng_RedRocket__Weavers.esl
254 FE 4 Friendly Raider.esl
254 FE 5 GraveDigger.esl
254 FE 6 HandmadeAntiMaterielRifle.esl
12 c Homemaker.esm
254 FE 7 MinutemanMrGutsy.esl
254 FE 8 SimSettlements_IDEKsLogisticsStation.esl
13 d WorkshopFramework.esm
254 FE 9 Yagisan_ComEng_Abernathy__Cannery.esl
254 FE a Yagisan_SSCP_Spectacle_Island_Training_and_Supply_Centre.esl
14 e AkaSinger.esp
15 f AkaSinger-LessHappinessPatch.esp
16 10 AkaSingersWardrobe.esp
17 11 AmmoCrafting.esp
18 12 SummerOverhaul.esp
19 13 DoYourDamnJobCodsworth.esp
20 14 SOTS.esp
21 15 Armorsmith Extended.esp
22 16 AutoDoors.esp
23 17 AutomatronSecuritron.esp
24 18 AutomatronWheelLegs.esp
25 19 AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp
26 1a Barricades.esp
27 1b Better Artillery Flares (zero weight + fast cooldown version).esp
28 1c EquilibriumWeapons.esp
29 1d CraftingFramework.esp
30 1e EquilibriumWeaponsAWKCR.esp
31 1f BetterAutomatronWeapons.esp
32 20 BetterGhoulishPerk.esp
33 21 BetterJunkFences.esp
34 22 BetterSettlersNoLollygagging.esp
254 FE b Yagisan_ComEng_Sanctuary.esp
35 23 Improved Boston Airport.esp
36 24 BostonFPSFixAIO.esp
37 25 BTInteriors_Project.esp
38 26 3DNPC_FO4.esp
39 27 BusySettlers.esp
40 28 CatDecoFloors.esp
41 29 CBBE.esp
42 2a MoreSpawnsScripted.esp
43 2b SOTS_AWKCR_AS_Patch.esp
44 2c CF_AtomicWarlord.esp
45 2d EFF.esp
46 2e Companion Infinite Ammo.esp
47 2f companion_DogMetal.esp
48 30 ConceptCentaur.esp
49 31 CR_OuthouseCollection.esp
50 32 Vivid Weathers - FO4.esp
51 33 DarkerNights.esp
52 34 DarkerNightsDetection.esp
53 35 dD-Enhanced Blood Basic.esp
54 36 DD_Khassar_De_Templari_Increased_build.esp
254 FE c DeadlyHazardsTraps.esp
55 37 DESTROY_ALL_Cricket_v2_1.00.esp
56 38 DLCAmmoScrounger.esp
57 39 DLCWeaponsinCW.esp
58 3a DX_Harley_Quinn_Outfit.esp
59 3b Extended weapon mods.esp
60 3c F3metalarmor.esp
61 3d FCOM.esp
62 3e Ferals After Dark.esp
63 3f BTInt_Optimization.esp
64 40 Build High - Expanded Settlements.esp
65 41 AtomCatsSettlement.esp
66 42 nvvault1080.esp
67 43 brotherhood of steel overhaul.esp
68 44 AGNISNikaCola01.esp
69 45 FLORA - The Fungal Forest.esp
70 46 OutcastsAndRemnants.esp
254 FE d Yagisan_ComEng_RedRocket.esp
71 47 RPHSettlement.esp
72 48 FaceMaxson.esp
73 49 CombatZoneRestored.esp
74 4a TrainBar.esp
75 4b Eli_Armour_Compendium.esp
76 4c Depravity.esp
77 4d FarHarborStory.esp
78 4e RaiderOverhaul.esp
79 4f Some Assembly Required.esp
254 FE e Yagisan_ComEng_AbernathyFarm.esp
80 50 AA FusionCityRising.esp
81 51 GunnerConq.esp
82 52 ClassicShacks.esp
83 53 SimSettlements_XPAC_Conqueror.esp
84 54 Backpacks of the Commonwealth.esp
85 55 Firelance2.5.esp
254 FE f Yagisan_ComEng_Tenpines_Bluff.esp
86 56 DCGuard_Overhaul.esp
87 57 AnotherBrickInTheWall.esp
88 58 Build High - Builder's Patch.esp
89 59 CorpusPraesidium.esp
90 5a SkibsWeapons-REDUX.esp
91 5b CusMarkMacTurret.esp
92 5c DansesWearableHolotags_v01-2.esp
93 5d Vivid Waters.esp
94 5e MilitarizedMinutemen.esp
95 5f 3DNPC_FO4Settler.esp
96 60 JibsResidentialAddOnPack.esp
97 61 Mk41GyrojetHMG.esp
98 62 DiamondCityMoreSecurity.esp
99 63 Minuteman Watchtowers.esp
100 64 cat_wildlands.esp
101 65 B84sThemedResidentials.esp
102 66 Liberator.esp
103 67 Faction Addon Minutemen.esp
104 68 SS_AddOn_CbC_AIO.esp
105 69 AA HotC - Standalone WE.esp
106 6a SimSettlements_AddOnPack_Defences_Brae.esp
107 6b AR_DLC01.esp
108 6c Rangergearnew.esp
109 6d WattzLaserGun.esp
110 6e FO4 NPCs Travel.esp
111 6f Heavy BoS.esp
112 70 NeighborWatch.esp
113 71 llamaCompanionHeather.esp
114 72 EvilViking13_PatchworkSanctuaryBridge.esp
115 73 DYDJC_ScrappyBridgePatch.esp
116 74 SimSettlements_AddOnPack_UltimateDefenses_SirLach.esp
117 75 AtomicRadio.esp
118 76 home_improvement_all.esp
119 77 ruined_simsettlement_addonpack.esp
120 78 MJC_Sim_Settlements_Addon.esp
121 79 tkzBOS_FactionPack.esp
122 7a WoodenPrefabsExtended.esp
123 7b WV2_SimSAddon.esp
124 7c WVSimSAddon.esp
125 7d Altairp's Animal Farm.esp
126 7e BasementLiving.esp
127 7f UitFJ.esp
128 80 BloodMoonRaiders.esp
129 81 Campsite.esp
254 FE 10 CROSS_BreakActionLaser.esp
130 82 Homemaker - Streetlights Use Passive Power.esp
131 83 ImmersiveVendors.esp
132 84 Insignificant Object Remover.esp
133 85 Jabbos Hangman.esp
134 86 JunkTown.esp
135 87 K9TacticalHarness.esp
136 88 KrissVector.esp
137 89 WastelandGladiators - MeleeCages.esp
138 8a Lanista of the Commonwealth.esp
139 8b LongerPowerLines3x.esp
140 8c LooksMenu Customization Compendium.esp
141 8d MercenaryOutfits.esp
142 8e MiscOutfitPackv2.esp
143 8f More Where That Came From - Classic.esp
144 90 More Where That Came From Diamond City.esp
145 91 Northland Diggers New.esp
146 92 PD_LowerWeapon.esp
147 93 PipeShotgun.esp
148 94 PipeShotgun-AWKCR.esp
149 95 RailroadPerksCut.esp
150 96 ruined_handmadeturrets.esp
151 97 SalvageBeacons.esp
152 98 SalvageRobotParts.esp
153 99 Settler Sandbox Overhaul.esp
154 9a Sim_Settlements_Mayors.esp
155 9b SimSettlements_AddOnPack_Utilities_JtBryant.esp
156 9c SimSettlements_CityPlanPack_ContestEntries.esp
157 9d SimSettlements_CityPlanPack_ContestEntries_Season2.esp
158 9e SKKFastBOS.esp
159 9f SKKSettlementAttackSystem.esp
160 a0 ss_addon_pbpp.esp
161 a1 Stingwing barb is Junk.esp
162 a2 Tactical Flashlights.esp
163 a3 Tactical Flashlights - Settings.esp
164 a4 Tactical Thinking.esp
254 FE 11 TheKite_Railroad_Handmaiden.esp
254 FE 12 UsefulCrank.esp
165 a5 VerticalConduits.esp
166 a6 Vivid Fallout - All in One - Best Choice.esp
167 a7 Vivid Weathers - FO4 - Far Harbor.esp
168 a8 Vivid Weathers - Nuka World.esp
169 a9 LooksMenu.esp
170 aa Scrap Everything - Ultimate Edition.esp
171 ab BetterSettlers.esp
172 ac BetterSettlersCleanFacePack.esp
173 ad BetterSettlersCCAPack2.0.esp
174 ae BetterSettlersMortalPack.esp
175 af StartMeUp.esp
176 b0 A Sensible Prydwen Overhaul.esp
177 b1 Stm_DiamondCityExpansion.esp

 

[NDCowdy]

It's generally recommended that you don't remove mods part way through a play. As it can cause the kinds of problems which you're experiencing.

 

[MrCJohn]

It's generally recommended that you don't remove mods part way through a play. As it can cause the kinds of problems which you're experiencing.

First of the 12 step program for recovery....

So, where to start? Honestly... you asked.
Better Settlers - gone outdated (use New Settlers)
Scrap Everything - gone
Insignificant Object - gone
Diamond Security upgrades / More Guards / Diamond City Expansion - qualified gone (all 3 alter DC... if they all work for you, great. My experience is the combo is problematic. One or the other is okay)
Some Assembly Required - mixed - heard outdated, heard okay - I use Lore Based Power Armor Changes - similar but up to date.
Build High - gone
Vivid Weathers - qualified - if I remember, Vivid provides a player home/settlement - problematic
BIG ONE - Workshop Framework ABOVE sim settlements

I was thinking Yagisan Eng (at one time) had g2m, Workshop Rearranged, etc. as requirments. Maybe not now. But even one of those would clean up a lot of your build mods. (example: better junk/snapping walls - pretty much in homemaker, etc... redundant)

Start with a fresh install when you are thinking/ready to do a new long haul game. Seriously, legacy scripting of mods you may have uninstalled, even in a new game, is problematic.

Use xEdit to clean your master files after a fresh install.

Load order is important - honestly, yours is all over the place, though I don't think an issue. Just from an engineer's mind (logical sequence thinking), my soul was dying lol.

Take a look at this for load order organization and fluidity:
https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/23556

Checkout the files download and get the ini tweaks I posted - you can get rid of multiple smaller mods like longer power lines, etc.
https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/38520

OH, AND ONE BIG RECOMMENDATION FOR EVERYONE. Get rid of DEF_UI/VIS-G

Play the game - not Inventory Management.

Sorry, I know this will hurt feelings and cause dogs to turn away in shame.

I have done so about 3+ months ago and absolutely do not regret it. No CTD's now for me.... and if I did, I can't remember when. I only say this as an absolute STABILITY win for you. Period. Full stop.

Oh, and one more, multiple companions and companion network - run away from AFT. Run Forest, Run. It adds scripting that breaks the vanilla companion system.

Use Unlimited Companion Framework. (which by the by, includes a holotape that lets you select unlimited ammo for NPC/Companions, PA never breaks, etc)

 

[AlyssaFaden]

It's generally recommended that you don't remove mods part way through a play. As it can cause the kinds of problems which you're experiencing.

I appreciate the advice, although I am familiar with this already and it wasn't the question. I am starting a new game this weekend and am therefore taking it as an opportunity to clean up mods and sort order.

 

[AlyssaFaden]

First of the 12 step program for recovery....

So, where to start? Honestly... you asked.

Yup, I did! Honestly, I love getting advice from people with more wisdom on the subject than I. I have been leaning heavily on LOOT, hence the mess you see, and I don't want to make uninformed adjustments; hence now trying to "elevate" my game and onboarding some good solid advice. I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to help.

<snip>
I was thinking Yagisan Eng (at one time) had g2m, Workshop Rearranged, etc. as requirments. Maybe not now. But even one of those would clean up a lot of your build mods. (example: better junk/snapping walls - pretty much in homemaker, etc... redundant)

Can I ask about this one; homemaker has snapping walls? I was honestly thinking of dropping some of these items, maybe wasteland diggers as a start, but you are saying what here exactly? I wasn't quite following.

Use xEdit to clean your master files after a fresh install.

Not familiar. I'll have to look into it

OH, AND ONE BIG RECOMMENDATION FOR EVERYONE. Get rid of DEF_UI/VIS-G

Oh, and one more, multiple companions and companion network - run away from AFT. Run Forest, Run. It adds scripting that breaks the vanilla companion system.

Use Unlimited Companion Framework. (which by the by, includes a holotape that lets you select unlimited ammo for NPC/Companions, PA never breaks, etc)

I thought I had already ditched these ... you know, I notice that sometimes I delete a mod in vortex, go to loot and refresh, sort, and the mod doesn't actually disappear ... I will look for these and replace as you have suggested. Thanks for the links, too.

Your time is very much appreciated.

 

[Bored Peon]

Try to avoid multiple mods that affect the same thing.

For example, do not try putting in Clean Sanctuary, Scrap Everything, Place Everywhere, Sanctuary bridge, Sanctuary roads, and bigger Sanctuary all in the same game and then wonder where the crashes are coming from.

The weather mods, ENBs and Interior mods (Beantown, Tales, etc) have some known conflicts when they try to do the same thing.

If you do find multiple mods affecting the same thing read the forum posts and bug reports on the mod. See if there is a known compatability or incompatability.