Requirements

The information from TBoT's Introduction and Setup pages doesn't change, you obviously can ignore the parts about Fallout: New Vegas.

Once you have a clean slate, create a new MO2 instance for Fallout 3 and start installing the mods as instructed.

Root Mods

The following mods are special because they need to be installed directly into the game's Root folder, not through Mod Organizer 2.
Use the Manual Download and follow the instructions provided for each mod.

Failing to install these mods correctly will result in issues.

Fallout Script Extender (FOSE)

Extends the scripting capabilities of the game.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Fallout Script Extender (FOSE)
1. Open the downloaded archive and move everything to the game's Root folder.

If you do not know what the Root folder is, read the Key Terminology.

Fallout Anniversary Patcher

Downgrades the game for FOSE support and more.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Fallout Anniversary Patcher
1. Open the downloaded archive and move everything to the game's Root folder.
2. Double-click on Patcher.exe to run it.
3. A command prompt window will open and after processing it should say:
   Press any key to continue...
4. Close the command prompt and a file named Fallout3_backup.exe should appear in the game's Root folder.

Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher

Optimizes and fixes thousands of records across the base game and DLC plugins to increase performance and stability.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher
  1. Click the button next to the profiles bar in MO2 and select Open Mods folder.
  2. Create an empty folder called Fixed ESMs inside of the Mods folder.
  3. Copy its path.
  4. Extract the archive and run Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher.exe.
  5. The Fallout 3 path should be filled by default (Data folder). If it isn't, close the program and re-run your game launcher to generate the required registry key.

  The EGS release of the game does not create any keys! You need to select the game folder manually!

  6. Set the Patched Files path field to the one you copied earlier.
  7. Click Install, wait for the process the finish, then exit the program once finished.
  8. In Mod Organizer 2, press F5 to refresh the left pane and enable Fixed ESMs by ticking its checkbox.

FO3 BSA Decompressor

Decompresses the vanilla BSA files to reduce loading times and stuttering. Can also fix certain sound effects not playing.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - FO3 BSA Decompressor
  1. Extract the archive and run FO3 BSA Decompressor.exe.
  2. The Fallout 3 and Decompressed Archives paths should be filled by default (Root folder and Data folder respectively). If they aren't, close the program and re-run your game launcher to generate the required registry key.

  If you intend to install Tale of Two Wastelands, it is wise to redirect the Decompressed Archives path to a mod in your list like in the ESM Patcher steps.

  3. Click Decompress, wait for the process the finish, then exit the program once finished.

Ogg Vorbis Libraries

Extends the scripting capabilities of the game.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Ogg Vorbis Libraries
  1. Open the downloaded archive and move everything to the game's Root folder.
  2. Replace when prompted.

Managed

From now on, select Mod Manager Download to download mods - this will make the file appear in MO2's Downloads tab, ready to be installed according to the instructions earlier in the guide.

Creating a Separator in MO2

1. Right-click the empty space in the left pane of MO2 and select Create separator.
2. Name the separator Utilities.

Command Extender

Adds functions and engine bugfixes ported from JIP LN NVSE.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Command Extender

High FPS Physics Fix

Fixes micro-stuttering, performance and allows playing at higher framerates (up to a safe maximum of ~120).

Installation instructions

• Download the mod, then install it manually by pressing the button at the top of MO2 and selecting the file you just downloaded.

Triple Buffering (FOSE)

Enables triple buffering, fixing halved FPS and instability caused by the default double-buffer V-Sync.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Triple Buffering (FOSE)

ButcherPete FOSE

Adds functions and fixes some bugs.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - ButcherPete FOSE

zlib Updated - FOSE

Updates zlib to the latest version for faster loading and less stutter.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - zlib Updated - FOSE

Yet Another Steam Overlay Fixer

Adds Steam API integration for functional playtime tracking and Steam overlay support when launching through MO2.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Yet Another Steam Overlay Fixer - Main File
• Update Files - Supplementary Files - Fallout 3 GOTY
  1. Open the downloaded archive and move everything to the game's Root folder.
  2. Replace when prompted.

Creating a Separator in MO2

1. Right-click the empty space in the left pane of MO2 and select Create separator.
2. Name the separator Bug Fixes.

Updated Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch

Fixes bugs and fixes/restores cut content.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Updated Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch

lStewieAl's Tweaks

A collection of tweaks and fixes with an INI to configure settings.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Stewie Tweaks
• Optional Files - Stewie Tweaks INI
1. Once the mod has been installed, double-click it in the left pane of MO2.
2. In the INI-Files tab, open fose/plugins/stewie_tweaks.ini
3. Configure it to your liking.

Combat Lag Fix (FOSE)

Improves framerate in combat by fixing an engine bug that lowered framerate while attacking an enemy with a health-bar visible.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Fast Weapon Lag Fix

ActorCause Save Bloat Fix (FOSE)

Fixes a save bloating issue related to actors detecting the player, improving save/load speed and decreasing save size 10-30% depending on playthrough length.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - ActorCause Save Bloat Fix (FOSE)

Sunlight Fix - FOSE

Fixes incorrect sunlight position.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Sunlight Fix - FOSE

Viewmodel Shading Fix - FOSE

Fixes totally wrong specular lighting, and lack of muzzle flash lights on viewmodel.

Installation instructions

• Main Files - Viewmodel Shading Fix - FOSE

Custom INI

In this step we will take advantage of Command Extender's FalloutCustom.ini feature to improve performance and stability without affecting the main INIs.

1. Click the button at the top of MO2 and select INI Editor.
2. Select the FalloutCustom.ini tab, which should be blank. In case it's not, clear the file.

If you don't see the FalloutCustom.ini tab:

1. Click the button at the top of MO2.
2. Enable all options.

3. Paste in the following:
; Value types (prefixes): ; i = integer (whole number) ; f = float (decimal number) ; s = string (text) ; b = boolean (0 = Off, 1 = On) [Audio] ; Enables additional worker thread for minor performance improvement bMultiThreadAudio=1 ; Disables debug logging to save memory and CPU time bUseAudioDebugInformation=0 ; Increase audio file cache size to reduce loading stutter iAudioCacheSize=16384 iMaxSizeForCachedSound=2048 [BackgroundLoad] ; Forces cell unload on fast travel to lessen memory usage bSelectivePurgeUnusedOnFastTravel=1 ; Reduces stutter when loading multiple NPCs bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1 [Controls] ; Disables mouse acceleration in menus ; Game does not have mouse acceleration for the camera fForegroundMouseAccelBase=0 fForegroundMouseAccelTop=0 fForegroundMouseBase=0 fForegroundMouseMult=0 [Display] ; Enables Fullscreen mode for the best performance in D3D9 ; Refer to the Performance Guide for more info bFull Screen=1 ; Use this for V-Sync control (the Launcher setting doesn't work) ; 0 = Off, 1 = On, Higher values toggle fractional V-Sync (not recommended, very laggy and disables Variable Refresh Rate) iPresentInterval=1 ; Forces highest texture quality so textures won't break if you had it set to anything lower iTexMipMapSkip=0 ; Disables actor shadows due to their low visual impact and high performance cost bDrawShadows=0 iActorShadowCountInt=0 iActorShadowCountExt=0 ; Camera FOV fDefaultWorldFOV=75.0000 ; Viewmodel FOV fDefault1stPersonFOV=55.0000 ; Pip-Boy and terminal FOV fPipboy1stPersonFOV=47.0 [General] ; Forces faster cell unload to lessen memory usage bPreemptivelyUnloadCells=1 ; Spreads AI and game logic updates across 2 threads for better performance ; Values above 3 don't change anything, and the setting has nothing to do with the number of CPU cores iNumHWThreads=3 [Grass] ; Increases grass draw distance fGrassStartFadeDistance=11200 ; Ensures that 3.0 Vertex Shader is used. ; Allows drawing more grass with better performance b30GrassVS=1 [Water] ; Disables full scene reflections for a massive performance boost ; Water will use reflect LOD instead of drawing the entire world twice bForceHighDetailReflections=0 [PipBoy] ; Fixes flicker when opening Pip-Boy when its light is on fLightEffectFadeDuration=400

Performance Guide

In-depth guide on how to fix the game's lackluster performance, display issues and alt-tabbing. Covers topics such as DXVK, framerate limiting, display modes, lag and HDR.

Resources

The VNV LOD Guide works for Fallout 3 as well, with the exception of resource mods required.
Ignore the whole Installing LOD Resources section from VNV and install the ones below instead, then keep following the guide as normal.

• FO3LODGen Resources
  • Main Files - FO3LODGen Resources
  • Hide FO3LODGen.esp.

  How to hide files and folders:

  1. Open the mod in Mod Organizer 2 by double-clicking it on the left pane.
  2. Go to the Filetree tab.
  3. Right-click the file or folder you want to hide and click Hide.

• Improved LOD Noise Texture
  • Main Files - Improved LOD Noise Texture
• Wasted LOD - Cliffs
  • Main Files - Wasted DC Cliffs
• LODIFY - Fallout 3 Conversion
  • Main Files - Lodify FO3
• Red Rocket - LOD Improved
  • Main Files - Red Rocket - LOD Improved
• Arefu LOD FO3
  • Main Files - Arefu LOD