How worth it is modding a game?

[Grimezy]

One of the main appeals of coming back to PC gaming for me was the ability to mod games that you'd already got your moneys worth out of. I mainly had things like Skyrim and Fallout in mind and now about 7 months down the line I still haven't touched any mods even though I own both games. I don't even want to play the vanilla games because I know that I'll be missing out with the wide range of mods out there to enhance your experience. So I was looking earlier at Fallout 3 mods and I downloaded Nexus Mod Manager but it all just seemed to be a pain in the bum from there. I didn't really have a clue what I was doing and it all sounded like a lot of hassle i.e. "Download our brilliant mod, it's so easy, just make sure you have these 3 separate other mods already installed, move some files over here, tweak that files directory there, etc etc and your mod will work! Easy as that!" By that point my eyes have glazed over.

Basically what I want to know is is it really worth all the effort? Will it refuel my love for the games if I put the effort in or are they more hassle than they're worth? And if they are worth it, does anybody have any pointers as to how they started off modding their games. It's probably really simple if I put my mind to it but everything they want me to do seems to just be screwing up my game files more than I'd like to

 

[SlimCini]

I have an exceptionally complicated equation that allows me to work out if it's worthwhile installing a mod for a game.

It is thus: (how long it takes to download the mod) + (working out how the hell you install the mod) + (getting the game up and running with the mod active) < 20 minutes

If the mod doesn't fit this equation then I can't be arsed with it and I give up with it.

 

[Grimezy]

That could prove even more difficult for me... As you can see by what I just posted in the internet speed thread, mods may take me slightly longer to download than you! Haha!

 

[SlimCini]

Just to be clear... my internet speed image was fake, I'm not sure anyone on the planet can get internet that fast apart from people in Kansas because of google!

 

[Grimezy]

Just to be clear... my internet speed image was fake, I'm not sure anyone on the planet can get internet that fast apart from people in Kansas because of google!

Hah! I have hill billy internet, I'd beleive anything!

 

[Yamikotai]

Just to be clear... my internet speed image was fake, I'm not sure anyone on the planet can get internet that fast apart from people in Kansas because of google!

Nah, anyone can get gigabit connections for the right price For <£10k you could get a direct fibre line installed from your home to the exchange, with a guaranteed gigabit contract for say £500/mo. Most medium-sized businesses will have gigabit lines - things like game developers, for example, as well as universities.
I get a full gigabit at my uni in the library, from my laptop (just need to unplug a library computer). It's nice but I get shut off after a minute or two of downloading via SFTP (a quick change of MAC address would deal with that but I don't want them to actually come after me )

Anyway, back on topic - I actually rather like that algorithm, Cini. Puts it rather succinctly, and seems rather accurate of my mindset toward installing mods. Downloading Skyrim mods from the Steam workshop easily fits in the parameters of it. Finding and installing Minecraft mods, however...

 

[tom_gr7]

I think it depends upon the game, I installed a sound mod for Arma II/dayz took awhile but it was certainly worth it.

 

[sted]

It's easier than it seems, really. Or so it was for me (given I've barely downloaded anything with the Mod manager, for Skyrim alone - Before that, I only ever used nexus mods for Oblivion, which I set manually).




I only got a couple of God of War mods, myself. Normally I just check the endorsements count, and read a few of the posts about it. If the screenshots are good, along with the other two, I'd download it normally. The way you download things, they seem to explain it in a more complicated way than necessary, I was lead to believe you open the Mod Manager, and search for mods via that + internet connection, when really, you go on the Nexus mod site, and hit the download button than indicates it will download via the manager.


From what I've seen, it's normally character mods that take another mod or multiple alongside it, like some different war paints apparently require different character model things, or something like that.


I think mods are worth it to breathe some life back in to games you've basically beaten with an old stick. I'd probably say start off with more simple, or subtle mods, like additional armours/weapons, then go on to more elaborate mods. If a mod is particularly big, may be best just downloading it when you've got free time to do so, but not too much bothered of leaving it to download at the time, or throw on a game in the mean time.


I was considering some mods for the first Dragon Age last night, and I'm sure it has a complete separate mod manager or something. So I ended up just closing the site and playing the game, but planning on looking in to it further when I can find the will to read any instructions for anything further.

 

[Wozza63]

I like mods, I wasn't really interested at first, but I use a lot of texture packs etc, also I recommend SweetFX which works on just about anything and can really brighten up the game and sharpen textures etc

 

[James Mirran]

It took me a while before adding in a few mods (looked complicated with all the multiple files, move these here, those over there etc) but some can really improve games. What’s nice to see is that certain programmes are being made to simplify modding for those starting out (Sweetfx & Texmod for example)

The first game I really added a lot of graphical mods to was Mass Effect 1, via Texmod, which now looks massively improved over the basic version in my eyes.

 

[Grimezy]

Thanks for the input guys, I may have to give it another go then. I suppose it can be daunting at first but there's only one way to learn! Just out of curiosity, would it be wise for me to backup my game file to my external hard drive or something? Obviously not sure how easy it is to screw up your game through modding but I'm sure if there's a way I'd find it!

I'm finally starting to plough through some of my games and have completed a couple in the last week or two so I think I'm ready to get sucked into a good old FPS RPG again!

 

[sted]

It's always the same for me with various things, finding it a bit daunting. New games that seem to have hundreds of systems to use within and so on (Neverwinter nights was a big culprit, the whole level up, skills/attributes/feats selection seemed so much worse than it actually is amongst other things, especially considering it was the first game like that which I had ever played up to that point).


I'm not sure how badly a mod can go, but I've read/heard about the chance of it making the game go wonky. I mostly only ever downloaded armours and weapons, and maybe the odd other thing in Oblivion - The most major I think was a flying ship that could fast travel anywhere, and be used offensively, but I never experienced the game being broken, and if I found any mod to be glitchy, I just deactivated them.


In the case of modded armour/weapons, it simply removes them and warns you the next time you load the game that it isn't there (I think), it even worked for the flying ship. Beyond that, not sure how far deactivating a mod will take you in terms of it being detrimental to the base game, and restoring it to what it was prior to the mod(s) being active, if they cause any problems.

 

[moosEh]

Mods for Skyrim really enhance the experience if you get the right ones. I downloaded several on reinstalling skyrim a month ago and it was epic.
Installed a new race.
All visual updates required for that race.
another life mod, letting you skip the long winded starting area (Helgen), you can go back to a modded version of it to start the empire or stormcloaks quest.
new craftable weapons and new areas.

 

[Grimezy]

Mods for Skyrim really enhance the experience if you get the right ones. I downloaded several on reinstalling skyrim a month ago and it was epic.
Installed a new race.
All visual updates required for that race.
another life mod, letting you skip the long winded starting area (Helgen), you can go back to a modded version of it to start the empire or stormcloaks quest.
new craftable weapons and new areas.

I actually gave Skyrim a go last night, I didn't have long so couldn't download any of the texture mods or anything but got SKSE and SkyUI sorted to start with. Started playing it... horse carts were glitching all over the place on the way to helgen, I carried on and got into the town and made my character and then got stupidly bored. I think it's because I realised I was probably going to make an identical character to my xbox version and didn't really think I'd do things that much different because of the level up system being a bit dumbed down...

I do however have Fallout 3: GOTY that I bought for about £3.74 6 months ago and I've never really got down to playing it. I started a new character last night and it was actually pretty interesting and I'm planning to get quite a few mods going. I think the main appeal is I never got to play the expansions on the xbox and the leveling up system is a bit more indepth. I'm fairly sure I completed it without doing 90% of the side quests and as I didn't have the DLC I couldn't carry on. The Fallout mods seem a little less user friendly than the skyrim ones but I'll hoping they'll make more sense once I get into them!

 

[Blackdog]

You're missing out on some developer class content for absolutely nothing, so would be foolish not to dive in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SAeXsA6Nt8

That will get you start on Matt's Mutant Mod & FWE. He goes through really slow on Nexus and that should be your starting point. I played the vanilla game on ps3 with no mods, and then like you got GOTY and modded it out of its mind. Now I'm happily enjoying the visual FX mods while chugging heroin, lsd, and jet and wading through laser-gatling-gun-wielding death claws. I also play Fallout sometimes.

 

[moosEh]

I actually gave Skyrim a go last night, I didn't have long so couldn't download any of the texture mods or anything but got SKSE and SkyUI sorted to start with. Started playing it... horse carts were glitching all over the place on the way to helgen, I carried on and got into the town and made my character and then got stupidly bored. I think it's because I realised I was probably going to make an identical character to my xbox version and didn't really think I'd do things that much different because of the level up system being a bit dumbed down...

I do however have Fallout 3: GOTY that I bought for about £3.74 6 months ago and I've never really got down to playing it. I started a new character last night and it was actually pretty interesting and I'm planning to get quite a few mods going. I think the main appeal is I never got to play the expansions on the xbox and the leveling up system is a bit more indepth. I'm fairly sure I completed it without doing 90% of the side quests and as I didn't have the DLC I couldn't carry on. The Fallout mods seem a little less user friendly than the skyrim ones but I'll hoping they'll make more sense once I get into them!

Boooo! Sounds like you got a bad mod. I use SKSE and SkyUI without issues. I thought id be bored as i made an assassin thief last time i played but with the Another Life mod i didnt bother with any of the main quests until I was LvL39 (I only learned RO and DAH and level 40). Kind of funny doing all the Vampire quests, learning to summon a dragon and still not knowing the full Unrelenting Force shout and the most Iconic shout ever.

 

[Grimezy]

Boooo! Sounds like you got a bad mod. I use SKSE and SkyUI without issues. I thought id be bored as i made an assassin thief last time i played but with the Another Life mod i didnt bother with any of the main quests until I was LvL39 (I only learned RO and DAH and level 40). Kind of funny doing all the Vampire quests, learning to summon a dragon and still not knowing the full Unrelenting Force shout and the most Iconic shout ever.

Haha I don't know if it was just a general skyrim bug to be honest! And your game sounds like my old one on Oblivion. Spent something like 200 hours on it and hadn't even taken the amulet to that bloke to start the main quest, Oblivion gates used to ruin my game with their uglyness!

I do feel if Skyrim had oblivions/fallouts leveling system I may enjoy it more. There's probably a mod for that though!

 

[Blackdog]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_4RotEtks0&list=SP96C073B0B8BFC01D&index=1 Here's gopher's vid on modding skyrim using nexus mate, hope this is helpful.

 

[moosEh]

Haha I don't know if it was just a general skyrim bug to be honest! And your game sounds like my old one on Oblivion. Spent something like 200 hours on it and hadn't even taken the amulet to that bloke to start the main quest, Oblivion gates used to ruin my game with their uglyness!

I do feel if Skyrim had oblivions/fallouts leveling system I may enjoy it more. There's probably a mod for that though!

Ive still got the DragonBorn DLC to play and all the extra areas. Then I can grind the story lines for the finish. Already the Guild Master, Dark Brotherhood Listener, Head Vampire Killer, Stormcloak Champion and all that in time for tea.