1. Preparing Game Installation

Thanks to the method that is used within this Modlist, there’s not much you need to do to prepare your game other than having a clean game installation.

The way this Modlist manages direct root game files and mod files is by implementing a plugin for Mod Organizer called Root Builder, which directly injects any files that are meant to be inside of the Root folder such as ENBSeries. Further instructions can be found down below.

Cleaning Game Files

1. Begin by (re)installing Fallout: New Vegas, with all of the DLC.
2. After that, locate your MyGames Fallout: New Vegas folder and delete all of the provided INIs inside of there.
   • You can ignore this if you have other Modlists and instead make the INIs profile-specific
3. Launch the game via the Steam launcher to generate new INI files.
4. Now, repeat the same steps for Fallout 3.

Concerns for Default Game Files

As many of you may be aware, many Wabbajack Modlists utilize a feature called Stock Game that prevents Modlists from overwriting the main directory of your game installation so you can simultaneously install multiple Modlists at once. This Modlist does not do that, instead it uses a plugin called Root Builder.

What Root Builder is, is it’s a plugin that allows root directed files such as NVSE, ENBSeries, etc. to be directly or virtually implemented into the game folder without actually having to install it directly.

The benefits of this are as follows:

• Seamlessly integrate root files, such as NVSE, ENBseries and Presets directly into the game directory
• Installation of root mods like any other normal mod installation through Mod Organizer
• Simple enabling/disabling of root mods for further compatibility amongst other Modlists

Patching Game Executables

Before beginning any sort of modding, patching your games executables to 4GB is necessary, that way the game can run properly with certain mods.

To begin:

1. Download and extract 4GB Patcher from Nexus anywhere on your computer.
2. Drag and drop the executable in the extracted contents to your games folder.
3. In your games folder, right-click the FNVpatch.exe and Run as administrator

Installing NVHR

New Vegas Heap Replacer is a quintessential mod for accomplishing a properly modded Fallout: New Vegas experience. Note that, while this is a great mod to use, DXVK is a significant improvement if your PC has the support for it.

DXVK and NVHR installed at the same time may cause crashes and instability. However, you may be able to get away with using the compatibility version provided in the modlist. Install NVHR over DXVK in any instance where crashes are present. Refer to the 2. DXVK and Special K section in the configuration page for more information.

To perform this, began by:

1. Download and extract NVHR anywhere on your computer.
2. In your Fallout: New Vegas game folder, drag and drop the contents of NVHR into it.
3. On game boot-up you should notice a command prompt pop-up, that indicates it is now properly loaded.

2. Modlist Installation

Download and install the Modlist via the Nexus Mods main file through the Wabbajack installer program.

It is recommended to use a folder structure similar to this:

Wabbajack (Make This)
┗ Downloads (Make This)
┗ Modlists (Make This)
  ┗ The Badlands (Make This and Specify to This Folder) 
    ┗ (Wabbajack Files Will Download Here)

Note that the installation of the Wabbajack Modlist REQUIRES to be installed on the same drive as your Fallout: New Vegas installation, otherwise things will fail.

It is also highly recommended to ensure that your Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 3 installation is outside of any Windows Protected folders, I.E. Program Files (x86) and Program Files. Ideally, just simply install your games outside of your Windows installation drive.

Optionally, once you’ve got the Modlist installed, you can add a shortcut to the executable file inside of the Mod Organizer installation to directly launch the Modlist every time.

Building Root Files

The Modlist contains all of the necessary files for Fallout: New Vegas to function with root files, such as NVSE, ENBSeries, etc.

While building root files manually is not necessary, it helps prevents any hiccups with Root Builder that may cause files to linger after closing the game. This way, it recognizes what needs to be removed when closing the game.

3. Installing TTW

Installing TTW, Tale of Two Wastelands, is pretty straightforward and requires no more than a few inputs on the installer.

Download and install 3.3.2a from this website anywhere onto your PC, then run the program. Once it has opened, specify the download path to a folder called [NoDelete] Tale of Two Wastelands in the MO2 installation of the modlist.

If you followed the folder structure from earlier, it should look a bit something like this:
C:\Wabbajack\Modlists\The Badlands\mods\[NoDelete] Tale of Two Wastelands

4. Verifying the Modlist

Let’s verify that the modlist and game are setup properly. Firstly, check to see if your load order looks like this:

If so, good you can move on. If not, make sure you’ve installed TTW into the empty mod folder at the very top in MO2 called [NoDelete] Tale of Two Wastelands.

Check your mod count and make sure it equals around 466 total mods, along with 205 total plugins enabled. Ignore any other plugin that is disabled, as all of this is intentional in order to ensure that the plugin count doesn’t go above 254.

After that, you are ready to play The Badlands. Enjoy!