Why load order matters and other FAQ about using mods (2024)

  • 1 Why load order matters?
    • 1.1 The primary issue
  • 2 Mod Terminology
    • 2.1 Safe mods
    • 2.2 Addition/ Child mods
    • 2.3 Collection / Package mods
    • 2.4 Mod collections/Mod lists
    • 2.5 Patches
  • 3 How to avoid loading order issues?

Why load order matters?[]

The primary issue[]

Kenshi can only be modded by using the Forgotten Construction set, which contains several hundred values and files from the game. It does not contain everything tho, so some things remain outside the mod maker's reach, like editing character inventory size.

This means naturally, being only limited amount of values to change, there is a possibility two mods affect the same values. And only one mod at a time can affect one value at a time. fe. katana reach, mod A can make it a 100 but if mod B makes it 20, it will be 20 as B is loaded later.

So, primary issue: if two mods edit the same (fe. vanilla) value, then the mod loaded AFTER, will override the value above it.

Consider this: I have subscribed to six 'more names' mods on workshop. The game only takes one name list. How many name mods should I keep? Answer; one. Either one of the six, or you need a patch that fuses all six into one.

Mod Terminology[]

Safe mods[]

Mods, that only add new content and do not touch a single vanilla value, are safe to be loaded anywhere in the load order ( if a mod edits a value of another mod, then these are called patches, see below). This does not make them safe as in no bugs or corrupted files (any digital value can get corrupter it just is nature's law), but they are safe in the meaning they won't be overriding your other mods.

Addition/ Child mods[]

These are not patches, IF they only build upon someone else's mod, to add content to that mod, but do not CHANGE anything about the original mod. These require the original mod to function. They must be loaded after their parent mod.

Collection / Package mods[]

These are different from mod collections. A collection mod is one single mod, that contains several other mods inside it. These are usually huge overhaul mods( like Genesis, Project Kathun or UWE) and do not necessarily play well with other mods. Safe mods may be fine, but it is recommended to take caution when adding mods on top of a Collection mod. Collection mods usually function best if loaded the very last, just before the 256 recruitment limit. But, if you wanted to play with all those mods in a Collection mod, you best bet is to use the Collection mod, as those are play tested and patched to work on the go.

Mod collections/Mod lists[]

Mod list is usually the mods.cfg file in your installation folder, that saves your mods and their load order. You can edit it with a notepad. Just copy and paste to change order. A Mod collection is a list of mods someone has curated on Steam workshop and deemed to function together. Just do not trust that blindly. If the mod collection does not come with a pre-made mod list or load order, you need to order them yourself, manually. They never come working as is in the alphabetical order Steam puts them in.

Patches[]

Patches are usually made to fix an error on someone else's mod. Or just to fuse two mods together, avoiding the primary issue. Meaning a patch selects the best value of the two mods, or edits the value so both mods work. Patches need to be loaded after all mods it affects.

How to avoid loading order issues?[]

  • Know what you are subscribing to, do not sub to every mod on a mod list without checking if there is a loading order suggested. Steam puts all mod list in alphabetical order and loading them in that order is a bad idea at best, at worst you cannot launch the game.
  • When evaluating whether you should sub or not, do not be afraid to err! Fixing it is just a disabling away. You cannot destroy your base game with mods. No, really you cannot.
  • If you sub to a mod, always sub to its prerequisite mods too. Some mod makers forget to mention prerequisite mods on the Steam page. This is often due a language barrier. Be kind.

Click here to see the community load order guide

Why load order matters and other FAQ about using mods (2024)

FAQs

Does mod load order matter? ›

Mods at the top of the list are loaded first. They are considered higher in the mod load order. Some mods will say they require to be the highest mod, or at the top of the load order. On the other hand, mods at the bottom of the list are loaded last.

Why mods are important? ›

Mods have arguably become an increasingly important factor in the commercial success of some games, as they add depth to the original work, and can be both fun for players playing the mods and as a means of self-expression for mod developers.

Why are mods legal? ›

This means that mods are “legal” only insofar as game developers suffer them to be so; the moment a developer finds a mod distasteful, it can be found to infringe copyright. Mods, no matter how well-respected or validated by developers, can also be found to infringe copyright through statute.

What are mod orders? ›

It is the order in which your mods are loaded. For example if you get one armor mod, then a different texture for it, you need to load the custom texture later so it actually overwrites properly. So bottom of the list loads last. Complex mods will often say "place at the bottom of your load order".

Do mods matter for ships? ›

The only aspects of mods that affect ship stats are the level (1-15) and the number of "dots" (ranks MK I to MK VI). Hope this helps.

What are the rules for Sims mods? ›

Mods must be non-commercial and distributed free-of-charge. Mods cannot be sold, licensed, or rented for a fee, nor can Mods contain features that would support monetary transactions of any type. Note, The Sims recognizes that creating Mods takes time and resources.

What are the disadvantages of mods? ›

There are some disadvantages of modded apks:
  • Reliability. You should always check whether the modded apk is from a reliable website or an unreliable one, since that's also how viruses can get on your phone.
  • Lack of updates. ...
  • Anti-cheats. ...
  • Offline only.
Feb 28, 2024

What is the purpose of modding? ›

Modding (from modifying) is the act of modifying hardware, software, or anything else to perform a function not originally intended by the designer, or to achieve bespoke specification or appearance.

What is the significance of mod? ›

Modulus Function Significance

The result of the modulus function is always a positive value of any variable or a number. It's also called the absolute value function since it returns a non-negative result for any independent variable, positive or negative.

Are using mods illegal? ›

About Cheating. The use of MODs can become illegal when they are used in a way that constitutes a crime under the Penal Code, including the so-called “cheating” behavior. Cheating, in general, refers to the act of tampering with game data or programs to enable actions that would not be possible under normal use.

Do mods infringe copyright? ›

Under US copyright law, copyright holders have the exclusive right to create derivative works, which automatically makes modding an infringement of copyright.

What is an illegal mod? ›

Whether subtle or drastic, some vehicle modifications are illegal. Certain modifications are less obvious, like a window tint. Other customizations, such as a loud exhaust system or custom lighting, are hard to miss and can be easily heard or seen on public roads.

What is the purpose of the mod? ›

We will protect our people, territories, values and interests at home and overseas, through strong armed forces and in partnership with allies, to ensure our security, support our national interests and safeguard our prosperity.

What is a mod and what do they do? ›

Moderators (also known as mods) ensure that the chat meets the behavior and content standards set by the broadcaster by removing offensive posts and spam that detracts from conversations.

What is considered mod? ›

The mod subculture embodied excitement, newness, fashion, and lavishness. Mods dressed in costly tailor-made suits and rode Italian-made scooters to and from coffee shops and clubs where they listened to jazz, blues, and R&B, and partied while on amphetamines.

Does order matter in overloading? ›

Declaration order of overloads does not matter in the sense that following are equivalent: // 1. void foo(int); void foo(double); foo(42); // 2. void foo(double); void foo(int); foo(42);

Does mod placement matter in Warframe? ›

When modding anything in WARFRAME, the order in which bonuses are applied follows a pattern. With the exception of mods that provide elemental damage bonuses, the order in which mods are installed does not matter; the resultant stats will always be the same regardless of the mod configuration.

How does load order affect mods in Skyrim? ›

Since they need to load last. The earlier a mod loads, the more oppty exists for other mods to overwrite all/parts of it. The last mod loaded, will have absolutely nothing overwritten, so that is the "highest priority" mod.

What order do mods load in NMS? ›

No Man's Sky does not have configurable load order to decide which mod will load after another. It relies on some sort of alphabetical order: when more than one mods modify the same files, the mod that loads last wins. Files that started with these characters will be sorted with this order.

References

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