It's been almost six and a half years since New Vegas was released...

[Keye_]

You definetly should. It's really a game that you can play over and over again. New Vegas also has a great modding community for when you are done with the vanilla experience.

 

[Drax]

This reminds me that I really need to play F:NV. It came out when I was busy being a new dad and didn't have much time to play any games (and my PC at the time was too crappy to run it). I bought it on a Steam sale, so I really should get around to playing it one of these days...

Remember to at least add the mandatory unofficial patches, NVAC, NVSR, etc...

 

[2house2fly]

Even if you want to go into it "pure" there's no real reason not to install the JSawyer mod; it's a balance mod which was made by the game's lead designer, so it basically constitutes a director's cut.

 

[Athos]

Even if you want to go into it "pure" there's no real reason not to install the JSawyer mod; it's a balance mod which was made by the game's lead designer, so it basically constitutes a director's cut.

Not quite, it's basically a full gameplay rebalance mod meant to make New Vegas closer to Sawyer personal preferences.

 

[Drax]

You can always sperg and made your own rebalance mod with the geck. Quite an educational experience.

 

[Keldryn]

So what's the general consensus on which unofficial mods are the must-haves?

 

[Jaesun]

So what's the general consensus on which unofficial mods are the must-haves?

Other than the Darnified UI (it literally fixes the complete shit UI for this game), personally you don't really need any mods. I'd honestly just play it with just that one mod, and just see how the entire game was designed by Obsidian.

 

[thesoup]

I used MTUI. I'd also include the mod that removes skillcheck tags in conversations like [intelligence]. In case someone is misunderstanding, the convo options stay, just the tags get removed so they're less of an obvious win option indicator.

 

[2house2fly]

Outside Bets, Freeside Open and Strip Open are top of the list, all restore cut content to the original "vision". Fellout gets rid of the orange filter and True Faction Allegiance fixes the faction alignment system in Lonesome Road, which in the release version tracks ONLY your reputation to see who you're aligned with, resulting in stuff like the game thinking you're aligned with a character you just killed.

I also like DLC Weapon Integration, or DLC WITM; not essential by any means but it feels weird to only be able to find automatic rifles in Dead Money, or nailguns in Lonesome Road.

 

[Sigourn]

If everything goes well after my final tomorrow, I'll post a sort of detailed list of very recommended mods to have a fairly vanilla yet overhauled New Vegas experience.

 

[Black Angel]

So what's the general consensus on which unofficial mods are the must-haves?

According to the Hivemind Consensus™ from this thread,

Gentlemen -

As previously discussed, please find below my finalized mod list, sorted by type. Please be sure to read and follow the instructions provided by the mod authors; however, I am happy to help address any specific issues you may have.

Base Game Files / Script Extenders
1) Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition (i.e. New Vegas, Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, Lonesome Road, Gun Runners Arsenal, Classic Pack, Mercenary Pack, Tribal Pack and Caravan Pack)
2) New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE); http://nvse.silverlock.org/
3) JIP NVSE Plugin; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/58277/?
4) Lutana NVSE Plugin; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/55399/?

Notes:
- NVSE, JIP and Lutana are required for the mods below to work.

Bug Fixes / Utilities
1) Yukichigai Unofficial Patch - YUP; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/51664/?
2) NVAC - New Vegas Anti Crash; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/53635/?
3) New Vegas Stutter Remover; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/34832/?
4) 4GB Fallout New Vegas Updated; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/55061/?
5) The Mod Configuration Menu; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/42507/?
6) FNVEdit; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/34703/?

Notes:
- YUP is hands-down the gold standard for New Vegas bug fixes and JSawyer Ultimate Edition is designed to be used with YUP.
- There is a known issue with Windows 10 Anniversary Edition and the most recent NVIDIA drivers. To properly use 4GB Fallout New Vegas Updated, you will need to revert back to NVIDIA driver version 368.81. Let me know whether you need any assistance navigating this incredibly frustrating issue. It will hopefully be fixed in the next round of NVIDIA driver updates.

User Interfaces
1) Vanilla UI Plus; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/62108/?
2) JIP Improved Recipe Menu; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/59638/?
3) MTUI; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/34902/?
4) UIO - User Interface Organizer; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/57174/?
5) One HUD - oHUD; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/44757/?

Notes:
- You may need to fiddle with the installation order for these, but the order that worked for me was: Project Nevada, UIO, Vanilla UI Plus, JIP Improved Recipe Menu, MTUI, oHUD; let each one overwrite the prior if requested (i.e. "Yes to All"). Let me know whether you need assistance configuring this, but a few rounds of trial and error should suffice (you will know if there is a problem if the text in-game is replaced with orange squares - can see this immediately when starting a new game).

Gameplay Changes
1) Project Nevada - Core / Equipment / Cyberware (not Rebalance); http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/40040/?
2) Project Nevada Patches - DLC Support and WMX Support; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/42363/?
3) JSawyer Ultimate Edition; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/61592/?
4) 1st Person Weapon Animation Overhaul; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/61501/?
5) Real Recoil; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/62153/?
6) More Realistic Aiming; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/40652/?
7) Weapon Mods Expanded (WMX); http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/39651/?
8) WMX Patches - WMX-DLC; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/39651/?

Notes:
- Project Nevada's Rebalance module conflicts with JSawyer Ultimate Edition and the purpose of this mod list is to enhance the JSawyer Ultimate Edition mod.
- The gunplay mods listed above are excellent (relatively speaking, based on the Gamebryo engine's capabilities) and very stable.
- For stability and game balance purposes I did not want to add a plethora of new weapon mods, as I believe Project Nevada's additions are more than enough.
- There are a number of recommended mods from the JSawyer Ultimate Edition mod author that I reviewed in detail, but ultimately did not utilize. I just didn't feel they added enough value to warrant the additional mod load. For example, the potential incompatibilities created by adding Wasteland Uncut and / or NVCE - New Vegas Character Expansions to the mod list were not worth the aesthetic additions in my opinion.

Graphics / Environment
1) Interior Lighting Overhaul - Ultimate Edition; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/35794/?
2) Nights are Darker - Ultimate Edition; http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/44834/?

Notes:
- I excluded the popular weather-related mods (e.g., Nevada Skies, Realistic Wasteland Lighting Enhancement) as they are extremely taxing on the Gamebryo engine, which as the mod authors themselves have stated is simply not designed for weather. I feel the ILO and NaD mods do enough to add to the atmosphere (no pun intended) and are well within the Gamebryo engine's capabilities, thus keeping with the stability-focused theme of this mod list.

Stable load order per LOOT and tested through several hours of continuous gameplay without any crashes:

Show Spoiler


You shouldn't need to use FNVEdit to clean up anything with this mod list (Note: LOOT will indicate that the official DLCs can be cleaned, but this is neither needed nor recommended).

Apologies again for the delay in getting this posted. Thanks for your patience.

 

[Athos]

Even if you want to go into it "pure" there's no real reason not to install the JSawyer mod; it's a balance mod which was made by the game's lead designer, so it basically constitutes a director's cut.

Not quite, it's basically a full gameplay rebalance mod meant to make New Vegas closer to Sawyer personal preferences.

Which is what the game would've been had the developers not been forced to pander to the expectations of Fallout 3 fans.

Yeah, but that is not a Director's Cut, since New Vegas was designed from the start within the Bethesda frame. It's more like a redesign.

 

[udm]

So what's the general consensus on which unofficial mods are the must-haves?

Other than the Darnified UI (it literally fixes the complete shit UI for this game), personally you don't really need any mods. I'd honestly just play it with just that one mod, and just see how the entire game was designed by Obsidian.

Combine Darnified UI with Revelation UI. Don't forget the compatability patches.

 

[Sigourn]

If everything goes well after my final tomorrow, I'll post a sort of detailed list of very recommended mods to have a fairly vanilla yet overhauled New Vegas experience.

So I passed the exam with an A+. But I'm not going to post a list today, 'cause I'm a lazy bastard.

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Good night!

 

[ERYFKRAD]

If everything goes well after my final tomorrow, I'll post a sort of detailed list of very recommended mods to have a fairly vanilla yet overhauled New Vegas experience.

So I passed the exam with an A+. But I'm not going to post a list today, 'cause I'm a lazy bastard.

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Good night!

Oh noes, my 5th playthrough of NV is denied, whatever shall I do?

 

[Sigourn]

Oh noes, my 5th playthrough of NV is denied, whatever shall I do?

You can kys.

 

[Excidium II]

Last time I finished FNV I had a p. conservative modlist:

+Riot Gear Helmet Sneak Sight Disabler
+Authentic Burned Man
+Lonesome Road True Faction Allegiance
+Removeable Pip-Boy Glove
+Follower Tweaks
+Glowing Star Bottle Cap
+Old World Blues - Path Lighting
+Worn-Out Scope Crosshair Replacers
+Vanilla UI Plus
+Clarity - An Orange Tint Remover
+Tops Casino Neon Restored
+Simple Reputation and Disguises
+Laser Detonator Misc. Model Fixes
+Dead Money Fireworks Fix
+Gun Runners Arsenal Merged
+JSawyer Ultimate Edition
+The Mod Configuration Menu
+No more giant manhole covers
+Uncut Wasteland plus NPCs
+Strip Wall Billboards
+Yukichigai Unofficial Patch - YUP
+Explosives Immunity Fix
+Reload Speed Game Start Fix
+New Vegas Stutter Remover
+NVAC - New Vegas Anti Crash
+Lutana's NVSE Plugin
+JIP NVSE Plugin

I'm not a big fan of most FNV mods. Specially visual ones since they clash a lot.

 

[Ismaul]

Conservative list of 30 mods lol
Is that what it takes to play that PoS?
Typical Bethesda shit, mod it until you realize you spent all your time choosing and evaluating mods instead of enjoying the game, which you can't without them mods. That is, if it even fucking runs right. True story.



Btw my dick is that long (conservative estimate):
()=================================================================================D

+No more giant manhole covers

Who doesn't like their manholes to be fully open, am i right?

 

[Excidium II]

Almost all of them are cosmetic stuff though. Only Vanilla UI, YUP, JSawyer and their dependecies are a must.

 

[Ismaul]

Yeah...
I'm just bitter about my experience trying to get Morrowind to a playable level, and trying to get NV to run without the worst fucked up sound/performance glitches I have ever seen.
Both tentatives turned out to be a huge waste of time. Never could play NV at all.
Them fucking engines...

Those games have so many annoying issues that you can't help but try to fix them by finding mods for each thing, until you realize it's the game that needs changing. Else, modding becomes the game. Ughhh

 

[The Dutch Ghost]

Damn, all this talk about Fallout New Vegas makes me really tempted to play it again.
But I already know how the game will play out and most of the item stashes to exploit, and it only reminds me that this is the series' swansong.

Most of the mods I would suggest have already been mentioned but I am not sure if it includes all of the mods that restore missing content:

http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/users/3010984/?tb=mods

A lot of it is just "flavor" or "atmosphere" content, restoring some small cut elements.

Hmm and there are these mods that can make the Fiends friendly under certain conditions but perhaps it is game breaking;

http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/58324/?
http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/38374/?

 

[Junmarko]

Loved New Vegas. The progression was completely fucked though. It didn't take long before you felt like a walking god.

Vanilla UI, YUP, JSawyer and their dependecies are a must.

Second this. Definitely adds to the replay value/eases headaches.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Jsawyer is good, if only for how much it delays the inevitable feeling of becoming a walking God.

 

[Carrion]

Jsawyer is good, if only for how much it delays the inevitable feeling of becoming a walking God.

From my experience it still happens the moment you pick up your first companion. They never really managed to find the right balance for them. Going solo is much more challenging with JSawyer, of course, and at least some enemies will be able to give you some trouble even with companions, but the refreshing increase in challenge doesn't last much past Primm.

 

[Sigourn]

Any mod list that lacks Vicious Wastes and Cirosan's Classic Overhaul companions is shit.

One makes the game considerably tougher, far more than jsawyer, and the other actually balances companions so that they don't die all the fucking time with Vicious Wastes, but also so that they are really just "extras" and not murderous machines on their own.