Fallout New Vegas Merge Plugins

Creating 'merged plugins' is a great way to reduce the number of plugins in your 'load order' to keep under the 'Plugin cap' for a particular game. See the wiki article Merged Plugin Guidelines for Personal Use for advice on choosing the appropriate plugins and procedures for this purpose. Merge multiple mods in a category, easier management then just throwing them together. I never reach stage 3 for skyrim but with new vegas having half the plugin limit i often get to stage 4. If your getting to stage 5, evaluate your damn mod list because unless you have 1001 weapon plugins you probably don't need everything you have.

• Fallout New Vegas Merge Plug-ins
• Fallout New Vegas Walkthrough

This tutorial will allow you to use mods from the PC version of Fallout 3 on the Playstation 3. CUrrently the mods are limited to plugins that have no subfolders or BSA's. WHat that means is no custom content, such as armors or weapons that are not already in the game.
Requirements:
-PSFreedom
-Backup Manager
-PS3 FTP Server
-FTP Client of your choice on the PC
-A Computer (im using Windows XP in this tutorial)
-Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition backed up on the PS3 (I used an internal hard drive)
*NOTE: I used the Game of the Year Edition. I do not know how/if it would work on the Original with or without downloaded content.
-Your Mod of Choice (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/index.php)
*NOTE: For this Tut I used the 'Item Room' mod (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5478)
-Plugin Tool (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5104)
Assumptions: I am assuming you have PSFreedom installed, backup manager installed (and know how to use it) and the PS3 FTP server installed (and know how to use it as well). I am also assuming you have the PS3 game backup to an internal hdd as well as are using the plain backup manager and not 'stealth' manager.
Lets Begin
Method 1, Overwrite an existing DLC. aka the quick and easy way.
1. Run PS3 FTP Server on your PS3
2. Connect to the PS3's IP.
3. Browse to the folder 'dev_hdd0/game/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/BLUS30451/PS3_GAME/USRDIR/DATA' on your PS3 using the ftp client on your PC.
4. Decide which DLC you dont care to use anymore, then on your PC rename the .esp mod file to the name of the DLC you do not care to use. (I USED THEPITT.ESM, DO NOT USE ANY OF THE FALLOUT ESM's)
5. Overwrite the DLC with the mod you renamed.
6. If you have NEVER played FO3 on the PS3 you are doing this, then just shut down the PS3 FTP Server and play.If you have played FO3 on your PS3 it will have installed data and you will need to overwrite one more file so continue to 7.
7. Browse to 'dev_hdd0/game/BLUS30451/USRDIR/DATA/' on your PS3 with your FTP software.
8. Overwrite the DLC again with your renamed mod file.
9. Exit the PS3 FTP Server and load up the game backup. Your mod SHOULD work.
Method 2, Merge a mod with a DLC. aka the method you will use if you are fond of the expansions but would still like a mod too, and/or you want to use a few mods.
1. Create the folder path 'C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksFallout 3Data' on your PC. If you have FO3: GOTY installed on your PC it will already be there. If not, just create empty folders.
2. Run PS3 FTP Server on your PS3
3. Connect to the PS3's IP.
4. Browse to the folder 'dev_hdd0/game/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/BLUS30451/PS3_GAME/USRDIR/DATA' on your PS3 using the ftp client on your PC.
5. Decide which DLC you want to merge a mod with, Copy it over ftp to the folder we created on the PC.
6. Place your mod in the same folder on the PC.
7. Run the plugin tool, click file on the top left and then click open. Select the ESM that you copied from the PS3.
8. Then click file again and select Merge Plugins and choose your mod.
9. Upload your ESM back into the 'dev_hdd0/game/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/BLUS30451/PS3_GAME/USRDIR/DATA' folder. If you have run the game ever, you will need to upload the ESM to the 'dev_hdd0/game/BLUS30451/USRDIR/DATA/' folder as well.
10. Close the FTP Server on the PS3 and load the game from the backup manager and play. The Mod should be active.

• 1Overview

Overview

Terminology

A 'mod' is a package (archive) of related files that make some change to the 'vanilla' (unmodded; as delivered by the publisher) game. Within a 'mod' package can be a number of 'asset files' which add to or replace the existing vanilla assets (meshes, textures, sounds, animations, XML files, etc.), and one or more 'plugin files' that tell the game about the existence and use of the new assets and where they are placed in the game. The 'plugin' files are the only ones that appear in the 'load order', which determines the sequence in which the game engine loads them into the game from the 'top' (lowest numbered) to the 'bottom' (highest numbered) position in the sequence. 'Plugin' files have one of two possible file extensions: ESM and ESP. There is generally only one ESM file, but there may be any number of ESP files (including none). The ESM files are loaded first, and are considered 'masters' to the ESP files that depend upon them.

Official game expansions ('downloadable content', known as 'DLC') typically are provided as ESM files along with other 'assets'. They may or may not include ESPs. DLC are usually sequenced in the order they were released but this is not mandatory unless they depend upon an earlier DLC. All DLC depend upon the game's original ESM file (i.e. 'FalloutNV.ESM') so it should always be first.

(For the technical distinctions between an ESM and an ESP, see this ESP vs ESM wiki article. Remember that the capabilities of 'Construction Set' tools vary by game but the concepts related to the same game engine endure.) How to unlock total wireless phone.

The Issue

A 'master file' is one which must be present for another plugin to be able to utilize it's resources. The files which require some 'master file' are known as 'dependencies', because they 'depend' upon the assets of the 'master'. Typically these 'masters' have an ESM file extension, but this is just a general guideline. A file is technically considered an 'ESM' because it has that flag enabled in the file header, which is normally not visible to the player. Thus an ESP file can have the flag enabled and be treated as if an ESM file to include loading with other ESM files at the top of your 'load order'. In addition, an ESP file from one mod may be required by another ESP, in which case it is also considered a 'master' even though in all other respects it is 'just an ESP' and may appear lower in the 'load order' .. but still should be above any dependent plugins.

The game engine requires that a 'master' be loaded before a 'dependency' or it generates an error. Usually this results in a 'Crash To Desktop' (CTD). If a 'master' file is missing when the game starts, this CTD can occur during or even before the 'loading screens' are displayed. If you get as far as the game's main menu once it has finished 'loading DLC content', you are not dealing with an actual missing file problem, but rather one that is out of proper sequence in your 'load order'. This will also cause the game engine to display that same error message.

In general, make sure all your ESM files are loaded first, with the game ESM (FalloutNV.ESM) as the very first file and those of the DLC next in the order they were released:

• FalloutNV.ESM
• DeadMoney
• HonestHearts
• OldWorldBlues
• LonesomeRoad
• GunRunnersArsenal

  and then the 'pre-order packs':

• ClassicPack
• MercenaryPack
• TribalPack
• CaravanPack

This tutorial will allow you to use mods from the PC version of Fallout 3 on the Playstation 3. CUrrently the mods are limited to plugins that have no subfolders or BSA's. WHat that means is no custom content, such as armors or weapons that are not already in the game.
Requirements:
-PSFreedom
-Backup Manager
-PS3 FTP Server
-FTP Client of your choice on the PC
-A Computer (im using Windows XP in this tutorial)
-Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition backed up on the PS3 (I used an internal hard drive)
*NOTE: I used the Game of the Year Edition. I do not know how/if it would work on the Original with or without downloaded content.
-Your Mod of Choice (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/index.php)
*NOTE: For this Tut I used the 'Item Room' mod (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5478)
-Plugin Tool (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5104)
Assumptions: I am assuming you have PSFreedom installed, backup manager installed (and know how to use it) and the PS3 FTP server installed (and know how to use it as well). I am also assuming you have the PS3 game backup to an internal hdd as well as are using the plain backup manager and not 'stealth' manager.
Lets Begin
Method 1, Overwrite an existing DLC. aka the quick and easy way.
1. Run PS3 FTP Server on your PS3
2. Connect to the PS3's IP.
3. Browse to the folder 'dev_hdd0/game/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/BLUS30451/PS3_GAME/USRDIR/DATA' on your PS3 using the ftp client on your PC.
4. Decide which DLC you dont care to use anymore, then on your PC rename the .esp mod file to the name of the DLC you do not care to use. (I USED THEPITT.ESM, DO NOT USE ANY OF THE FALLOUT ESM's)
5. Overwrite the DLC with the mod you renamed.
6. If you have NEVER played FO3 on the PS3 you are doing this, then just shut down the PS3 FTP Server and play.If you have played FO3 on your PS3 it will have installed data and you will need to overwrite one more file so continue to 7.
7. Browse to 'dev_hdd0/game/BLUS30451/USRDIR/DATA/' on your PS3 with your FTP software.
8. Overwrite the DLC again with your renamed mod file.
9. Exit the PS3 FTP Server and load up the game backup. Your mod SHOULD work.
Method 2, Merge a mod with a DLC. aka the method you will use if you are fond of the expansions but would still like a mod too, and/or you want to use a few mods.
1. Create the folder path 'C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksFallout 3Data' on your PC. If you have FO3: GOTY installed on your PC it will already be there. If not, just create empty folders.
2. Run PS3 FTP Server on your PS3
3. Connect to the PS3's IP.
4. Browse to the folder 'dev_hdd0/game/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/BLUS30451/PS3_GAME/USRDIR/DATA' on your PS3 using the ftp client on your PC.
5. Decide which DLC you want to merge a mod with, Copy it over ftp to the folder we created on the PC.
6. Place your mod in the same folder on the PC.
7. Run the plugin tool, click file on the top left and then click open. Select the ESM that you copied from the PS3.
8. Then click file again and select Merge Plugins and choose your mod.
9. Upload your ESM back into the 'dev_hdd0/game/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/BLUS30451/PS3_GAME/USRDIR/DATA' folder. If you have run the game ever, you will need to upload the ESM to the 'dev_hdd0/game/BLUS30451/USRDIR/DATA/' folder as well.
10. Close the FTP Server on the PS3 and load the game from the backup manager and play. The Mod should be active.

• 1Overview

Overview

Terminology

A 'mod' is a package (archive) of related files that make some change to the 'vanilla' (unmodded; as delivered by the publisher) game. Within a 'mod' package can be a number of 'asset files' which add to or replace the existing vanilla assets (meshes, textures, sounds, animations, XML files, etc.), and one or more 'plugin files' that tell the game about the existence and use of the new assets and where they are placed in the game. The 'plugin' files are the only ones that appear in the 'load order', which determines the sequence in which the game engine loads them into the game from the 'top' (lowest numbered) to the 'bottom' (highest numbered) position in the sequence. 'Plugin' files have one of two possible file extensions: ESM and ESP. There is generally only one ESM file, but there may be any number of ESP files (including none). The ESM files are loaded first, and are considered 'masters' to the ESP files that depend upon them.

Official game expansions ('downloadable content', known as 'DLC') typically are provided as ESM files along with other 'assets'. They may or may not include ESPs. DLC are usually sequenced in the order they were released but this is not mandatory unless they depend upon an earlier DLC. All DLC depend upon the game's original ESM file (i.e. 'FalloutNV.ESM') so it should always be first.

(For the technical distinctions between an ESM and an ESP, see this ESP vs ESM wiki article. Remember that the capabilities of 'Construction Set' tools vary by game but the concepts related to the same game engine endure.) How to unlock total wireless phone.

The Issue

A 'master file' is one which must be present for another plugin to be able to utilize it's resources. The files which require some 'master file' are known as 'dependencies', because they 'depend' upon the assets of the 'master'. Typically these 'masters' have an ESM file extension, but this is just a general guideline. A file is technically considered an 'ESM' because it has that flag enabled in the file header, which is normally not visible to the player. Thus an ESP file can have the flag enabled and be treated as if an ESM file to include loading with other ESM files at the top of your 'load order'. In addition, an ESP file from one mod may be required by another ESP, in which case it is also considered a 'master' even though in all other respects it is 'just an ESP' and may appear lower in the 'load order' .. but still should be above any dependent plugins.

The game engine requires that a 'master' be loaded before a 'dependency' or it generates an error. Usually this results in a 'Crash To Desktop' (CTD). If a 'master' file is missing when the game starts, this CTD can occur during or even before the 'loading screens' are displayed. If you get as far as the game's main menu once it has finished 'loading DLC content', you are not dealing with an actual missing file problem, but rather one that is out of proper sequence in your 'load order'. This will also cause the game engine to display that same error message.

In general, make sure all your ESM files are loaded first, with the game ESM (FalloutNV.ESM) as the very first file and those of the DLC next in the order they were released:

• FalloutNV.ESM
• DeadMoney
• HonestHearts
• OldWorldBlues
• LonesomeRoad
• GunRunnersArsenal

  and then the 'pre-order packs':

• ClassicPack
• MercenaryPack
• TribalPack
• CaravanPack

Mod EMS files should follow.

'Dependency' files are supposed to include a list of their 'master' files in the file header. This list can then be read in turn by tools for sorting the 'load order', such as LOOT. Some plugins are 'patch files' which modify other plugins. They depend upon the presence of the other plugins to effect their changes, yet may not have them as 'direct masters' or otherwise included in their list of 'masters'. These 'indirect masters' may need to be manually identified and either added to the plugin's list or that information provided to the sorting tool. (LOOT uses the 'required' metadata field for this purpose only. It can find all listed masters by following the chain in the header of the file. See it's included documentation on the use of metadata.) If they are not included, the sorting tool cannot determine the proper file relationships, which leads to CTDs and plugin conflicts.

Programs and Tools

• FNVEdit or the 'xEdit' equivalent tool for another Bethesda game using the Gamebryo engine (i.e. TES3Edit, TES4Edit, TES5Edit, etc.).
• Tome of xEdit Current online manual for all games
• FNVEdit Training Manual (PDF)
• list of 'xEdit' repositories and related scripts
  • LOOT (optional but recommended)

Procedure

Finding which masters that a plugin depends upon are missing is fairly simple. However, first you must disable your 'bashed' or 'merged' patch file and enable any plugins they deactivated. (See the S.T.E.P. Guide to Merging Plugins which covers both the 'bashed' and 'merged' approaches to 'patch files'.) Otherwise you may get much of your 'load order' considered as 'masters' simply because part of the plugin you are concerned with is in that patch file, and indirectly requiring all the other plugins included in it. Super street fighter 4 arcade edition pc keyboard fix hp.

1. Open your 'xEdit' tool (i.e. FNVEdit). A 'Master/Plugin Selection' window will be displayed.
2. Right-click in any blank space of that window and a 'context menu' will be displayed, overlaying the list of plugins.
3. Choose the 'Select none' option. This will 'uncheck' all of the displayed plugins in your 'load order'. The context menu window will close, and the 'Master/Plugin Selection' window will refresh with all the check-boxes 'empty'.
4. Now scroll down the list of plugins and enable (Left-click in) the checkbox of the plugin you wish to check.

   Note that ONLY one plugin should be checked.

5. Left-click on the 'OK' button at the bottom right of the window.
6. 'xEdit' will automatically load all the required masters of that selected plugin, and will report an error if one is missing from your 'load order'.

When the 'background loader' is finished (message in the right-hand pane at the bottom of the 'Messages' tab), in the left-hand pane you should see all the masters referenced by the plugin, along with the plugin name itself (which will be listed last).

You can also see the listed masters in the 'View' tab of the right-hand pane when you select the 'File Header' record of the plugin file in question in the left-hand pane.

Notice that an ESM file can have other ESM files as masters as well. An ESP plugin may require other ESP files in addition to ESM files as masters. This is especially true where a 'patch file' is concerned.

When a 'missing master' error is reported, it can mean one of two things. Either the file is not active/installed, or the name is not what is expected by the plugin. In the first instance, you must install or activate the missing plugin. In the latter instance, you may need to add or change the new name of the 'missing' master.

Fallout New Vegas Merge Plug-ins

Changing the name of a 'missing master' most often occurs when a 'merged' version of the master plugin has been created to reduce the number of active plugins required. The content is now in one instead of several files. Pc study bible 5 software, free download. A typical example of this is an 'All DLC' version using one merged file instead of one for each of the individual DLCs. The plugin is still looking for the individual DLC files as masters.

• Select the plugin file. A 'context menu' will be displayed.
• Right-click on 'Add Masters', and check the boxes of all the plugins listed. If a merged plugin is replacing a number of individual plugin files, then uncheck those it replaces instead.
• Left-click on the 'OK' button.
• Select the plugin again. A 'context menu' will be displayed.
• Right-click on 'Sort Masters'. This will sort them to match their current sequence in your 'load order'. Generally experienced mod authors have their 'patches' for other plugins with the correct/expected load order in them already, so consider their sequence carefully before you override their expectations. Record their load order and carefully test the result of resorting.
• Exit the tool and save. When you exit the tool if there were any changes made to the plugin it will automatically display a 'Save Files' window and list those plugins that changed. Select (highlight) the ones you wish to save and Left-click on the 'OK' button.
• Reload the plugin following steps 1-6 above, and check it for errors.

If there are unresolved references then the plugin was made badly and cannot be fixed automatically. Perhaps you can get this kind of missing information added. GECK/CKIT will do this exact same error checking if you load and save the plugin in it (though possibly only with the tool's 'Powerup' addon).

Fallout New Vegas Walkthrough

References

• FNVEdit or the 'xEdit' equivalent tool for another Bethesda game using the Gamebryo engine (i.e. TES3Edit, TES4Edit, TES5Edit, etc.).
• Tome of xEdit Current online manual for all games
• FNVEdit Training Manual (PDF) generally applies to all 'xEdit' versions for other games.

Nexus Wiki articles referred to by this article:

Nexus Wiki articles that refer to this article: