*headdesk*

[bellaknoti]

hlep! i'm totally lost!

i just got the pc version (thanks to 1smut_princess's awesome generosity), and i have all these downloads, and now wtf do i do with them? all the instructions make NO SENSE.

i'm not a total n00b; i know how to navigate my file trees and stuff, as i've modded the crap out of my sims - all three of them. it's not my first time with this stuff, i just don't know where to put the files.

*flail*

Comments

[darkrose]

If you don't already have it, I highly recommend DAModder. It allows you to install .dazip files, and more importantly, to uninstall them. Almost all downloads will either be .dazip files, or they'll go into (My)Documents/Bioware/Dragon Age/packages/core/override. Within that folder, the game can see stuff that's nested; I've found that having folders for mods makes it easier to clean up.

ETA1: I don't know if that made any sense.

ETA2: I LOVE YOUR ICON! I got the DVD set of Daria for Christmas, and I've finally gotten around to watching it.

[bellaknoti]

that made perfect sense; it's similar to the way one installs third party content to the sims. i have da modder, but it's confusing.

my best friend and i, frighteningly enough, were shocked by the daria show, because we thought someone had been spying on us. you've seen the picture of 'falcon' from wings of the storm crow - that was me, and my best friend had straight brown hair with glasses and bangs, and often wore a hoodie. i was always in boots. i was the artsy one, she was the over-achiever. the way they talk, everything. it was/is us. so, she made me a jane icon. apparently jane says things that i randomly say. i don't know, though, 'cause i've only seen a couple of the episodes, even though i thought it was funny.

[darkrose]

Oh, one very important thing:

Mods will show up on Main Menu > Downloadable Content > Installed Content. Anything installed as a .dazip will show up there. If you have any armor mods, you must have them disabled when you start the game, otherwise they'll never show up. Once you've saved for the first time, you can go back and check the armor to enable it, and it'll either show up in a shop (usually Bodhan's) or be added directly to your inventory.

I've just started a game three times because I didn't uncheck all of the armor mods. Grr.

[scarylady]

AND, most of them need to be unchecked before starting a new char, and then you can re-check them anytime after your first save. Otherwise you never get them on that char.

[1smut_princess]

....Okay man I have not modded shite since Baldur's Gate. Oh ObiWan help me: I see my packages/core but no override folder. Also, I have two core folders in the packages section.

[sakuratea]

I'm sorry I'm not posting to help I just love your icon forever.

[bellaknoti]

thanks! :D my best friend made it for me.

[jannifer]

To handle .dazip with either DAModder or the DAUpdater (located in Program Files/Dragon Age/bin_ship), open the program (duh! *giggle*). Then, just drag and drop the .dazip files into the program. They will automatically show up on the list ready to be installed. Then, just select the files and click Install.

Oh, and in organizing my mods, I keep a separate folder for DA mods in My Documents. One folder is for installed mods, and the other is for mods I haven't installed. It's also a handy place to store extras for mods that have more than one option. For example, I have an underwear mod that offers different colors and patterns. I have each color and pattern in its own folder, and I just swap them in and out as my fancy takes me. It's also useful for using mods like Natural Bodies. I have one folder for erect members and one for flaccid ones. It's a little disturbing to see nakey corpses with erections. *snicker* I'm so thankful that the file system for DA mods is so sensible. It's dead easy.

Oh, and if you're adding mods to a game that's already in progress, then you don't have to worry about the above admonitions to unclick stuff. Actually, mods aren't consistent about whether or not they need to be unclicked. I've blithely (and because I didn't know any differently until just now) started a new game with all my armor mods enabled and had everything show up anyway. If you want to take a chance, just be prepared to start over. *grin*

[leilana]

I luvs your icon x10! The folks who've already commented here have some fab advice especially WRT using DAModder and organizing your mods into folders AND don't forget to uncheck installed mods before you create a brand-new character (uncheck mods, start new game, save, re-check mods, load game, viola!). Happy gaming, b!

[tmcgeesdca]

I actually use DAO-Modmanager v1.9d and like it much more than DAModder. You can launch the game normally or with the console directly from this program, as well as the toolset if you have it loaded. It works just like the others with drag and drop but has tons more functionality.

You can find it here:
http://social.bioware.com/project/1215/
and here:
http://www.dragonagenexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=277

Hope that helps.