How To Mod Fallout New Vegas On Epic Games

How to Mod Fallout New Vegas on Epic Games

Ready to make your Fallout: New Vegas experience even more awesome? You’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through the steps of adding mods to your Epic Games version of Fallout: New Vegas. It might seem a little tricky at first, but it’s really not that hard once you get the hang of it. We’ll cover everything from getting the right tools to installing your first mod. Let’s dive in!

Why Mod Fallout: New Vegas?

First, let’s talk about why people love to mod this game so much. Mods can do all sorts of cool things. They can fix bugs, add new quests, make the graphics look better, change how weapons work, and even add whole new lands to explore. Basically, mods let you customize your game to be exactly how you want it. Playing with mods can make New Vegas feel like a completely fresh experience each time.

Getting Started: The Essential Tools

Before you can start adding mods, you’ll need a few essential tools. Think of these as your modding toolbox. Here’s what you should have:

The Fallout Mod Manager (FOMM) or Vortex

These are the two main programs people use to manage mods. FOMM is an older program but still works great for New Vegas. Vortex is newer and made by Nexus Mods. Both programs will help you organize, install, and manage your mods more easily.

• FOMM (Fallout Mod Manager): A classic tool, perfect for simpler setups. It might feel a little older, but it’s very reliable and lots of guides use it.
• Vortex: The modern manager, offering advanced features. It’s generally recommended for those new to modding, with an easier-to-understand user interface.

For this guide, we’ll explain steps using both FOMM and Vortex. Choose which one you like more! We encourage you to try them both to see which works best for you.

7-Zip or WinRAR

These are programs that allow you to open and extract compressed files. Many mods come in ZIP or RAR files, so you need one of these to unpack them. They’re free to download online.

The Script Extender (NVSE)

This is very important for many mods to work properly. It’s like an extra helper that expands the game’s abilities, allowing mods to do more complex things. Download the version specifically made for the Epic Games version of New Vegas. You’ll most likely find it on a modding website.

Nexus Mods Account

Many mods are hosted on a website called Nexus Mods. Creating a free account there will let you easily download the mods you want. It’s a must for anyone who wants to dive into the world of modding.

Preparing Your Fallout New Vegas Install

Before installing the tools, let’s get your game folder ready. Here’s how you should prepare your install:

Locating Your Fallout New Vegas Game Folder

You need to find where your game is installed. Here’s how to find it:

• Epic Games Default Location: Usually, Epic Games games are installed in a folder that looks something like this: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\FalloutNewVegas.
• If it’s not there: Open the Epic Games Launcher. Go to your game library and find Fallout: New Vegas. Click the three dots next to the game and select ‘Manage’. From there, you should see the install directory in the pop-up menu.

Making the Game Folder Mod-Friendly

To make sure modding works smoothly, it is usually recommended to do this step. This step is not very important, but doing it will be good. You should create a new folder, and move the game files into the newly created folder. Some of the times windows will block the mods from editing the game folder if the game folder is inside program files folder. The process is simple.

1. Create a new folder anywhere other than inside C:\Program Files\Epic Games, for example C:\Games\FalloutNewVegas
2. Copy all the files from C:\Program Files\Epic Games\FalloutNewVegas, or where ever your game directory is, to this newly created directory.

Now you have a mod friendly install directory.

Backing Up Your Game

Before we go further, let’s make a backup of the original game files. This means copying the whole folder to a different location (like C:\Games\FalloutNewVegas_Backup). If something goes wrong with modding, you can quickly restore the game to its original state.

Installing the Modding Tools

Now that our game folder is ready, let’s get those tools installed.

Installing FOMM (Fallout Mod Manager)

1. Download FOMM: You can find FOMM on websites like Nexus Mods or ModDB. Just make sure to download the latest version available.
2. Run the Installer: After downloading, open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. When asked, make sure that it is able to detect the correct install folder for the game.
3. Run FOMM: Launch FOMM, and when it prompts you for the game folder, point it to the folder you made earlier and select ‘Fallout New Vegas’. It should now load up successfully.

Installing Vortex

1. Download Vortex: Go to the Nexus Mods website and download Vortex.
2. Run the Installer: Run the installer and follow its steps.
3. Initial Setup: Vortex will likely ask you to scan for games. Make sure that it finds your Fallout New Vegas game correctly. If not, manually locate the game folder.

Installing NVSE (New Vegas Script Extender)

1. Download NVSE: Head to a modding website (like Nexus Mods) to download the Epic Games-compatible version of NVSE.
2. Extract the Files: Use 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the files from the downloaded archive into your Fallout New Vegas install folder. This folder should be C:\Games\FalloutNewVegas or where ever you decided to move it. You should extract the contents of the zip file to the base directory for your game. The .exe files should be in the same location as your original FalloutNV.exe file.
3. Run the game with NVSE: You will now need to use nvse_loader.exe to run your game for your mods to work.

Finding and Installing Your First Mod

Now that you have all the tools ready, let’s find and install your first mod! It’s simpler than you think.

Choosing a Mod

For a first mod, let’s pick something simple. A good first mod to start with is a bug fix mod or a user interface mod. For this guide we’ll go with a bug fix mod.

For example: a mod called “Yukichigai Unofficial Patch – YUP” is a well-known mod that fixes many in-game bugs and improves the overall gameplay experience. Go to the Nexus Mod website and search for ‘Yukichigai Unofficial Patch’. Download the manual download version of this mod.

When downloading a mod, always look at the ‘Requirements’ section on the mod page. Some mods need other mods to work, so keep this in mind.

Installing Using FOMM

1. Download the Mod: Find the mod you want, go to the files tab, and download it.
2. Open FOMM: Start FOMM.
3. Add the mod: Locate the ‘Package Manager’ window in FOMM, and then click the add button. Select the ZIP or RAR file that you downloaded. FOMM will ask you to confirm the import process.
4. Install the mod: Select the mod and click ‘Activate’.
5. Launch the game: Now run the game with nvse_loader.exe, you should see a notification of mods being detected.

Installing Using Vortex

1. Download the Mod: Find the mod you want, go to the files tab, and download it.
2. Add the mod in Vortex: Open Vortex, and navigate to the ‘Mods’ tab. Then drag the mod file into the main part of the window. It will start the mod installation automatically.
3. Activate the Mod: After Vortex installs the mod, enable the mod.
4. Launch the Game: Start your game through Vortex.

Modding Tips and Tricks

Here are some extra tips to help you on your modding journey.

Reading Mod Descriptions Carefully

Always, always read the mod description carefully before you download a mod. The mod author will tell you if there are any specific installation requirements. You’ll want to make sure the mod is compatible with your game version. This will save you headaches down the road.

Dealing with Mod Conflicts

Sometimes, two or more mods try to change the same thing. This is called a mod conflict. Here’s how to handle it:

• Load Order: The order mods load in is very important. Most mod managers will help with this by sorting plugins based on best practices. Try to let your mod manager do this for you.
• Check the Mod Pages: Check the mod pages for conflict information and compatibility patches.
• Disable Mods: If a mod doesn’t want to work, you might have to disable other mods.

Starting Small

When you’re new to modding, it’s a good idea to start with just a few mods. Test them to make sure that everything is working correctly. This will help you figure out if there is any issue, and be able to tell which mod is causing the problem.

Using LOOT (Load Order Optimization Tool)

LOOT is a tool that can automatically sort your mods. It helps you make sure that your game is running smoothly and that you don’t get conflicts. Vortex has this feature built in.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, modding can be a little tricky. Here are some common issues and how to fix them:

Game Crashes

If your game crashes after installing a mod, it could be due to mod conflicts or missing requirements. Go through these troubleshooting steps.

• Check Mod Requirements: Ensure that you have all the required mods for the mod you installed.
• Disable Mods: Try disabling your recently installed mods. If the game stops crashing, you know that one of the recently disabled mods was the issue.
• Load Order: Make sure your mod load order is correct by using LOOT or the automated load order tools in your mod manager.

Missing Textures or Models

If you see textures or models missing, that can be a sign that a mod is not installed correctly. Here’s how to fix it:

• Re-install the Mod: Try to re-install the mod from your mod manager. Make sure that everything has installed correctly.
• Check Archive Invalidation: Make sure that your mod manager has archive invalidation enabled.

Mod Not Working

If the mod you installed is not doing anything, try these steps.

• Check for Requirements: Make sure that you have the correct version of the game, or required mods installed for your mod to work.
• Check Installation: Make sure that the mod has been correctly installed.
• Run Game with NVSE: Remember that you have to launch your game using nvse_loader.exe for mods to work.