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crossover_chickSeriously, I spent the majority of my afternoon watching various tutorial videos on Vortex and FO4Edit (a mod editing program) because:
1. The Unofficial FO4 Patch has updated (a minor update to provide support for that "data loss monitor" mod), and I wasn't sure how one updated a mod after it was installed, as uninstalling mods like the Patch from Fallout 4 is repeatedly said to be a bad idea. Didn't actually find out about that, though I did learn a lot more about load orders, and how to handle mod conflicts and the like. So I guess that was good information, at least.
2. When I finally opened up Vortex to see about maybe just having it check for updates and do its thing, I discovered on the "plugins" page that it was saying all of my DLC files needed to be "cleaned." Cue me trying to figure out what the hell that meant, and running into a few weird dead ends due to the fact that FO4Edit (the program I needed to do the cleaning -- it basically updates files and removes duplicate stuff, a process that BETHESDA THEMSELVES should be handling for the DLC, but because they're Bethesda and make money no matter what they've said "fuck it let the players do it") made a major update at some point in the recent past and the videos and tutorials I initially found on the subject referenced the old way of doing it (which involved making a copy of the program and renaming it to do cleaning functions, rather than having a separate cleaning program). I eventually found a playlist by GamerPoets with the most recent information (made in 2020, yay), and was able to install the programs and clean all my DLC.
So yeah, I guess I technically did something with modding Fallout 4 today, just not what I expected to do. It's just -- it's frustrating, because there are all these little steps and things you need to know, and it's just -- it's not intuitive to someone who is used to things like The Sims 4, where you just throw your custom content in a special "Mods" folder, and make sure certain "script" mods go no further than one subfolder deep. There's no other special organization or whatnot necessary! Even installing the Unofficial Patch for Vampire: the Masquerade -- Bloodlines wasn't this difficult -- that was "pick up the file from Wesps' place, run the installer, and make sure that you click on the right game icon to play!" I don't think I've played Fallout 4 properly -- that is, beyond the whole "making sure the game still runs" bit of running around I did a couple of days ago after putting in the first three mods I downloaded -- since I started this whole mess! I'm starting to think I was much better off living in ignorance and just playing the stupid game vanilla. . .maybe I should forget all the other mods I was thinking of, just keep things as they are, and go from there. Would make life a lot simpler. . .we'll see how I feel the next time I get a chance to play.
At least on the "more fun" side of YouTube, I got to watch four videos from GrayStillPlays:
A) Another episode of Episode – this one set on a ship being sent to a far-away planet with the biggest idiots on the world! Which, of course, includes Gray's favorite intergalactic troublemaker, Floridamars! Also includes a murderer and cannibal, TWO galactic strippers (the woman who speaks many alien languages, and the man who will murder anyone who even gets NEAR Floridamars), a goth, and one smart woman who knows how to fly the ship and who ends up dead because of Male Galactic Stripper. You know, just your typical Episode!
B) Two rounds with Be A Man, a mobile game where the goal is to do the right thing in various situations. Most of them are relationship-based, like taking bags for your girlfriend, or buying the right present for said girlfriend. But there's weird ones like choosing the right urinal in the bathroom, or figuring out how to wipe your butt moments before you have to go graduate. (Hint: don't use your diploma!) Gray of course got as many awkward and horrible moments as possible, because he is GrayStillPlays, and that is what he does. Best moment was when he had to censor some guy's naked butt, and ended up doing so with Spleens's (his cat from his ongoing Sims experiments) face. XD
C) Mischief to Love 4 – or, uh, something like that. Apparently Gray's not really sure what the title was because Google Translate. XD At any rate, it was another set of minigames, this one all about spending time with your girlfriend in various situations and doing what you can to either get her to like you more, or piss her off. Of course, Gray always went for the "piss her off" option. XD Highlights included dressing like a terrifying bear mascot; putting on a creepy costume to surprise her when she came through a door (and getting both smashed in the face AND kicked in the stomach for his trouble); and using a harmonica to lull her to sleep to try and get away with texting another girl – but giving them both water meant they both needed to use the bathroom, and she found the phone while he was using it. Classic Gray moments~
In addition:
-->Mom's virtual Mother's Day card was a hit, yay~ I was very glad to hear that, as I felt bad I couldn't get her a physical gift. But now that the weather's starting to warm up again (apparently this afternoon it was warmer than expected -- my parents ended up taking a walk outside), there's talk of going out and getting plants for a belated gift. I may or may not be able to come due to work commitments, depending on which day it happens -- we'll see!
-->I got some more done on Chapter 8 of "Secundus 2" -- fixed a continuity error I just noticed (Maggie both being with the group and waiting for the group at the checkpoint), and introduced Marshall Strickland as a reasonable man willing to let Richard keep his hand after ascertaining the tranq gun was indeed not loaded. And establishing that Buford Tannen CAN get into the party if he wants, which of course helps set up his appearance later. (For anyone not familiar with BTTF Part III anyway!) Time to start actual festival shenanigans!
-->Got in a workout after skipping two days without really meaning to -- new video, so that kept me on my toes at least!
-->I got my Valice Multiverse queue sorted, so that's all good -- another small one, but that's okay, since I do need to get to bed earlier.
And that's about it for my Sunday! Tomorrow is the big Monday where I go back into the office for four hours and do -- well, I guess we'll find out. I've got masks, hand sanitizer, and a few granola bars (I'll be out at 1, so I wasn't sure if I should even take lunch -- and then Mom said that yeah, if I'm unlikely to have any sort of lunch break I might as well wait and eat at home; safer), so hopefully it'll go by fast. And then I won't have to worry about going in again until Wednesday. Wish me luck, folks! Night all!
1. The Unofficial FO4 Patch has updated (a minor update to provide support for that "data loss monitor" mod), and I wasn't sure how one updated a mod after it was installed, as uninstalling mods like the Patch from Fallout 4 is repeatedly said to be a bad idea. Didn't actually find out about that, though I did learn a lot more about load orders, and how to handle mod conflicts and the like. So I guess that was good information, at least.
2. When I finally opened up Vortex to see about maybe just having it check for updates and do its thing, I discovered on the "plugins" page that it was saying all of my DLC files needed to be "cleaned." Cue me trying to figure out what the hell that meant, and running into a few weird dead ends due to the fact that FO4Edit (the program I needed to do the cleaning -- it basically updates files and removes duplicate stuff, a process that BETHESDA THEMSELVES should be handling for the DLC, but because they're Bethesda and make money no matter what they've said "fuck it let the players do it") made a major update at some point in the recent past and the videos and tutorials I initially found on the subject referenced the old way of doing it (which involved making a copy of the program and renaming it to do cleaning functions, rather than having a separate cleaning program). I eventually found a playlist by GamerPoets with the most recent information (made in 2020, yay), and was able to install the programs and clean all my DLC.
So yeah, I guess I technically did something with modding Fallout 4 today, just not what I expected to do. It's just -- it's frustrating, because there are all these little steps and things you need to know, and it's just -- it's not intuitive to someone who is used to things like The Sims 4, where you just throw your custom content in a special "Mods" folder, and make sure certain "script" mods go no further than one subfolder deep. There's no other special organization or whatnot necessary! Even installing the Unofficial Patch for Vampire: the Masquerade -- Bloodlines wasn't this difficult -- that was "pick up the file from Wesps' place, run the installer, and make sure that you click on the right game icon to play!" I don't think I've played Fallout 4 properly -- that is, beyond the whole "making sure the game still runs" bit of running around I did a couple of days ago after putting in the first three mods I downloaded -- since I started this whole mess! I'm starting to think I was much better off living in ignorance and just playing the stupid game vanilla. . .maybe I should forget all the other mods I was thinking of, just keep things as they are, and go from there. Would make life a lot simpler. . .we'll see how I feel the next time I get a chance to play.
At least on the "more fun" side of YouTube, I got to watch four videos from GrayStillPlays:
A) Another episode of Episode – this one set on a ship being sent to a far-away planet with the biggest idiots on the world! Which, of course, includes Gray's favorite intergalactic troublemaker, Floridamars! Also includes a murderer and cannibal, TWO galactic strippers (the woman who speaks many alien languages, and the man who will murder anyone who even gets NEAR Floridamars), a goth, and one smart woman who knows how to fly the ship and who ends up dead because of Male Galactic Stripper. You know, just your typical Episode!
B) Two rounds with Be A Man, a mobile game where the goal is to do the right thing in various situations. Most of them are relationship-based, like taking bags for your girlfriend, or buying the right present for said girlfriend. But there's weird ones like choosing the right urinal in the bathroom, or figuring out how to wipe your butt moments before you have to go graduate. (Hint: don't use your diploma!) Gray of course got as many awkward and horrible moments as possible, because he is GrayStillPlays, and that is what he does. Best moment was when he had to censor some guy's naked butt, and ended up doing so with Spleens's (his cat from his ongoing Sims experiments) face. XD
C) Mischief to Love 4 – or, uh, something like that. Apparently Gray's not really sure what the title was because Google Translate. XD At any rate, it was another set of minigames, this one all about spending time with your girlfriend in various situations and doing what you can to either get her to like you more, or piss her off. Of course, Gray always went for the "piss her off" option. XD Highlights included dressing like a terrifying bear mascot; putting on a creepy costume to surprise her when she came through a door (and getting both smashed in the face AND kicked in the stomach for his trouble); and using a harmonica to lull her to sleep to try and get away with texting another girl – but giving them both water meant they both needed to use the bathroom, and she found the phone while he was using it. Classic Gray moments~
In addition:
-->Mom's virtual Mother's Day card was a hit, yay~ I was very glad to hear that, as I felt bad I couldn't get her a physical gift. But now that the weather's starting to warm up again (apparently this afternoon it was warmer than expected -- my parents ended up taking a walk outside), there's talk of going out and getting plants for a belated gift. I may or may not be able to come due to work commitments, depending on which day it happens -- we'll see!
-->I got some more done on Chapter 8 of "Secundus 2" -- fixed a continuity error I just noticed (Maggie both being with the group and waiting for the group at the checkpoint), and introduced Marshall Strickland as a reasonable man willing to let Richard keep his hand after ascertaining the tranq gun was indeed not loaded. And establishing that Buford Tannen CAN get into the party if he wants, which of course helps set up his appearance later. (For anyone not familiar with BTTF Part III anyway!) Time to start actual festival shenanigans!
-->Got in a workout after skipping two days without really meaning to -- new video, so that kept me on my toes at least!
-->I got my Valice Multiverse queue sorted, so that's all good -- another small one, but that's okay, since I do need to get to bed earlier.
And that's about it for my Sunday! Tomorrow is the big Monday where I go back into the office for four hours and do -- well, I guess we'll find out. I've got masks, hand sanitizer, and a few granola bars (I'll be out at 1, so I wasn't sure if I should even take lunch -- and then Mom said that yeah, if I'm unlikely to have any sort of lunch break I might as well wait and eat at home; safer), so hopefully it'll go by fast. And then I won't have to worry about going in again until Wednesday. Wish me luck, folks! Night all!
