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Fallout New Vegas - Prepare for Modding in 2025
By Ragna_Ikari
Are you actually want to modify the game but have a lot of issues? This little guide will show you a few steps to prepare Fallout New Vegas for mods. This guide only includes preparations, tools and bug fixes, not mods.
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Ragna_Ikari
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Category: Achievements, Characters, Classes, Co-op, Crafting, Game Modes, Gameplay Basics, Loot, Maps or Levels, Modding or Configuration, Multiplayer, Secrets, Story or Lore, Trading, Walkthroughs, Weapons, Workshop
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
26 Apr @ 12:58am
1 May @ 10:19am
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Guide Index
Overview
Fallout New Vegas - Prepare for Modding in 2025 
First Step 
Archive Invalidation 
New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE xNVSE) 
Epic Games Patcher 
- For German "No Gore" version - 
4GB Patcher 
NVTF - New Vegas Tick Fix 
Yukichigai Unofficial Patch - YUP 
Unofficial Patch NVSE Plus 
lStewieAl's Tweaks and Engine Fixes 
UIO - User Interface Organizer 
JIP LN NVSE Plugin 
JohnnyGuitar NVSE 
Mod Manager 
↳ The following mods are highly recommended but not essential 
ShowOff xNVSE Plugin 
KEYWORDS 
Ammo Script Fixes 
Asterra's Many Fixes 
Critical and Effects - Fixes and Tweaks 
Gauss Impact Fix - ESPless 
Throwable Weapon Fixes 
Universal Pyromaniac Buff for Fire Effects 
Check out my other guide for Fallout New Vegas 
Changelog 
Official Ragna_Ikari Steam Guides 
Rate, Reward & Add To Favorite! 
Comments
Fallout New Vegas - Prepare for Modding in 2025
First Step
Make sure your Fallout New Vegas is fully installed and clean without other stuff like broken mods, files etc.

Click Play so it can detect your video hardware and it will automatically create ini files for you located in Documents/My Games/FalloutNV

Click Ok to both popup messages

Go to Options and configure your settings the way you want them

When you're done with your settings click Ok so it will save and exit out of that window

Then click Play (starting the game once will automatically create more files for you in Documents/My Games/FalloutNV)

Exit the game when you get to the main menu
Archive Invalidation
Tutorial to explain how to activate Archive Invalidation in MO2 or Vortex - Fixing pink body glitched sky and faulty Pip Boy interface issues.

Fallout New Vegas Archive Invalidation are obsolete.
Please use the version included in MO2 and Vortex.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3473383559
New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE xNVSE)

The New Vegas Script Extender, or NVSE for short, is a modder's resource that expands the scripting capabilities of Fallout: NV. It does so without modifying the executable files on disk, so there are no permanent side effects.

Once installed, no additional steps are needed to launch Fallout New Vegas with NVSE's added functionality. You can start the game using NVSE from nvse_loader.exe

Important Note 1:
xNVSE is compatible with the Steam and GOG versions of the game.

Not supported: German No Gore, Xbox Gamepass, Epic Games Store, and Bethesda .net versions.

Important Note 2:
For Epic Games Store version owners, consider using lStewieAl's patcher to make that version work with xNVSE.
Epic Games Patcher
  • Downgrades the game to the steam version which is widely supported by other mods, most notably NVSE.
  • Makes the game 4GB aware
  • Automatically loads NVSE when using FalloutNV.exe to start the game (if NVSE is installed)

Installation
  • Unpack the contents of the archive to 'Fallout New Vegas English' folder and run Patcher.exe.
  • You will see black console window with a log of the process. No input is required, but it will tell you if any error has occurred.
  • When it's done and you see "Patching completed successfully" printed, you can close the window and proceed to installing other mods, such as NVSE.
  • Start the game through Epic's launcher, or any supported mod manager, but don't use nvse_loader.exe. Forget it exists, it's safe to delete it.

Important Note 1:
Currently does not support playtime or achievements.
- For German "No Gore" version -
The German release uses a "No Gore" version, making it also incompatible with xNVSE. If you have it on Steam, you can use DepotDownloader to download the international EXE.
4GB Patcher
Simple patcher to make Fallout New Vegas 4GB Aware. Supports all known Steam and GoG versions.
The EPIC Games, Bethesda. net and XBOX Game pass versions are NOT supported since NVSE will not support them either.

Installation:
  • Place the exe in your Fallout New Vegas game folder and run it as administrator
  • It will patch the game and make a backup of the original executable
  • Launch the game normally through your mod manager, directly, the Default Launcher, or Steam
  • Use JIPLN NVSE so you can put any tweaks into FalloutCustom.ini instead of editing vanilla ini files

Requirements:
VC++ x86 Runtime
Download[support.microsoft.com]

Note 2:
Or you use the Version that does not require the VC++ redist. It's the same link.
NVTF - New Vegas Tick Fix
The newest generation in performance enhancement and stutter fixing. Windows 10 compatible. Featuring fixes to the dreaded micro stutter, and a high FPS Havok fix.
It's also Windows 10/11 Friendly.

Installation
Install with a mod manager, or manual install by dumping the ini file and dll file into your nvse/plugins folder.

Requirements
You need New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE xNVSE)
Link in my Guide.
Yukichigai Unofficial Patch - YUP
A compilation of vital bug fixes for Fallout: New Vegas and its DLC, all combined into one ESM. The only pure bug fix compilation available on the Nexus: no new features, no balance tweaks, no restored content. Just bug fixes and nothing but bug fixes.

Note:
Available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.
Unofficial Patch NVSE Plus
An updated and refined selection of bugfixes (mostly) requiring NVSE.

Requirements:
  • All Official DLC
  • JIP LN NVSE Plugin (Link in Guide)
  • JohnnyGuitar NVSE Plugin (Link in Guide)
lStewieAl's Tweaks and Engine Fixes
Engine bugfixes, optional tweaks and new features with no performance impact. Fully customisable via in-game menu and INIs.
Adds support for Inventory Searching, Cookable Grenades, Manual Reload, Smooth Aiming, WASD Menu Support and more.
Fully compatible with TTW and The Frontier.


Installation:
Use Mod Organizer 2/Nexus Mod Manager/FOMM, or manually extract the main and menuconfig .zip files into your Fallout New Vegas 'Data' folder.
First time users should download the INI file from the optional files section.

Requirements:
UIO - User Interface Organizer (Link in Guide)
JIP LN NVSE Plugin (Link in Guide)
UIO - User Interface Organizer
An NVSE-powered plugin that is designed to manage and maintain all UI/HUD extensions added to the game by various mods. Once installed, UIO will ensure UI extensions are always properly installed and, when necessary, properly removed; it will automatically detect, resolve and prevent UI-related issues, and will help keep the game's UI intact.

Requirements:
New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE xNVSE) (Link in Guide)

Installation:
Simply download and install it using NMM/FOMM, or manually extract (use 7-Zip) the 7z archive into the game's 'Data' folder. Please note that this is an NVSE plugin, not a standard mod - it doesn't include an ESP/ESM file and will therefore not show in your load-order.
JIP LN NVSE Plugin
This plugin is an extension of the New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE). It adds 1000+ new functions, which can be used in GECK scripting and (in some cases) as conditions.
Additionally, this mod includes numerous engine bug fixes/tweaks, and restores several broken game features.

Requirements:
New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE xNVSE) (Link in Guide)

Installation:
Use the Nexus Mod Manager/Fallout Mod Manager/Mod Organizer, or manually extract the .7z file into your Fallout: New Vegas 'Data' folder.
JohnnyGuitar NVSE
JohnnyGuitar NVSE is an extender plugin for xNVSE that adds new script functions, features and engine bug fixes.

Requirements:
xNVSE 6.3.0 or newer
Mod Manager
Vortex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9ZT49X9fvQ

Mod Organizer 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07-JVWDn7LA

Fallout Mod Manager - FOMM
↳ The following mods are highly recommended but not essential
ShowOff xNVSE Plugin
Adds new scripting/condition functions, as well as some engine-level tweaks.

Requirements:
Requires xNVSE v6.3.0 or greater. (Link in Guide)

Installation
ShowOffNVSE.dll
and ShowOffNVSE.ini
must end up under Fallout New Vegas/Data/nvse/plugins/.. (in the plugins folder).

Installing
ShowOffNVSE.pdb
is optional, but it is recommended to install it alongside the other files, as it will make crash loggers give more precise information about how a crash happened.

Installing the primary .zip file from a mod manager should also work.

ShowOffNVSE_INI.zip need only be installed once; new INI options are automatically added to the file.
KEYWORDS
JIP LN NVSE Plugin in version 57.21 introduced KEYWORDS functionality
that allows quick and easy way to apply custom metadata to any game form,
which can then be referenced by any mod, with several scripting commands.


Requirements:
JIP LN NVSE Plugin
JohnnyGuitar NVSE
xNVSE version 6.3.3 or higher

INSTALLATION:
Install all required mods first, then this one. Or the mod will not work.
Install it with mod manager or manually by copying files into data folder
Uninstallation: do the same with mod manager (or manually) but in reverse
Ammo Script Fixes
An attempt to fix how ammo effects and scripts are handled by the game.

Requirements:
Gun Runners' Arsenal
JIP LN NVSE Plugin
JohnnyGuitar NVSE
KEYWORDS
ShowOff xNVSE Plugin
xNVSE
Asterra's Many Fixes
Fixes a lot of things not covered by Yukichigai Unofficial Patch.

Ranger Ghost has a couple of lines with bad acoustics (some echo), as can be heard when she begins the dialogue, "You a courier?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bew3Ui-HyPI

This video showcases some of the dialogue restored by this mod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcf_UpJD7ko


Critical and Effects - Fixes and Tweaks
Fixes the damage dealing critical effects of most vanilla weapons so that they cannot cause you to miss "killcounts" and other proc effects such as crime responsibility.

In the game, many weapons cause additional effects in the event of a critical hit. The most straightforward example is the laser and plasma disintegrations, but there are a few others. You're probably familiar with them.

What's not so familiar is the way the game applies these effects. As far as the game is concerned, they are not caused by you, the attacker, to be applied on your target. They are caused by the target onto itself, which as dumb as it sounds is for the most part harmless, as long as the critical effect itself doesn't cause HP damage. Disintegrations happen only when the target is already dead and there's a killer to blame, knockdowns are a bit iffy but for the most part they do the same no matter who's really "responsible" for them, etc. This also applies to special VATS effects from melee weapons that have them.

But there are a few critical effects from weapons which do actually cause HP damage, and in the event they end up being the cause for the target's demise, you won't be recognized as the party responsible of their death. Which is not much of a big deal as you can imagine, but it's still not ideal.

This is what I've set out to fix in this mod. Amazingly enough, the functions to get a hit's parameters in an attack can also work from these critical effect's scripts, so that way I can correctly gather who's really responsible for causing them, and redirect them to use some custom damaging effects that will trigger crime and killcounts if they end up killing the target.

Some effects I've buffed from their vanilla versions because frankly they are quite underwhelming. Purists beware of the TWEAKED notices where I've (definitely) deviated from the vanilla parameters.
Gauss Impact Fix - ESPless
Fixes the Gauss Rifle bug in VATS once and for all, without having to sacrifice ANYTHING. Correct damage in VATS, and explosion effects right on point.
Throwable Weapon Fixes
A collection of fixes for throwable weapons. Mainly its projectiles.
This mod is a collection of fixes (and some cosmetic tweaks) I made over the time concerning throwable weapons. Those include all types of throwable explosive devices, throwable knives, hatchets, tomahawks, inversal/proton axes, etc....

Changes were NOT made to weapon stats, so no damage increase or anything. Only stat change is a slightly bigger Fire Bomb blast radius.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG5Wod8BZbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF0391LXC6g

Installation:
Use your favorite mod manager to install it. Manual installation is not recommended.

Note:
MOD IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY MOD THAT CHANGES THE PROJECTILES FOR THROWN WEAPONS.
THIS IS INTENDED FOR VANILLA GAME.
Universal Pyromaniac Buff for Fire Effects

As you might know, the Pyromaniac perk adds 50% weapon damage to fire-related weapons like the Flamer, etc. But the latest trend in the block is to consider the lingering fire effects these weapons also apply. Shouldn't those also be affected?

This mod does just so. It scans all fire effects in your game, and setups a system for them to apply EXTRA fire DIP when you have the Pyromaniac perk.
Changelog
01.05.2025 Added Guide: Fallout New Vegas - Remaster & QoL Mod's 2025
01.05.2025 Added Guide: Fallout New Vegas - Archive Invalidation in MO2 or Vortex
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11 Comments
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clarkeveritas 31 Aug @ 9:40am 
TTW is a different deal. For TTW there are a few good step-by-step guides and the good ones are literally STEP BY STEP, they won't assume you know some random fact here or there.

BestofTimes used to have a good up-to-date one, I personally have left my TTW install locked as-is for a year or three now so not sure if things changed recently- but as of 3.2.2 or 3.3.2 or whatnot all my stuff worked great.

TTW is a few more steps but if you find a good guide it's SO much easier than it was. It used to involved a lot more steps that were easier to mess up- now it's more just what order to install things in rather than having to modify and repackage and do all sorts of crazy stuff.
Aghoric Visions 4 Jun @ 9:56pm 
Nexus is cucked. Based Mods, DEG Mods, or RPGHQ.
zcktylr 1 Jun @ 7:34am 
I'd recommend using MO2 over Vortex for modding FNV.
Ragna_Ikari  [author] 29 May @ 10:59pm 
@abkorman some mods yes but i never tested / played with ToTW.
abkorman 29 May @ 7:17pm 
is this guide (and Remaster & QoL 2025 guide) compatible with Tale of Two Wasteland?
z 25 May @ 7:36am 
Is 4GB patcher really required for GOG version? They typically already have LAA flag checked as with most of the games from the people who actually care about game preservation
eb934053 5 May @ 2:56pm 
Thank you for the guide! Absolutely helpful and links all mods necessary for modding Fallout: New Vegas.This is a great convenience for anybody interested in modding Fallout: New Vegas, and I would wager a great resource to have if you need to do a redownload these crucial mods after a fresh install.
Ragna_Ikari  [author] 5 May @ 4:32am 
why?
John Q MERICA 4 May @ 5:27pm 
You should not be including Vortex in a guide for 2025.
Hinokami 3 May @ 8:19am 
Thank you for the guide