{"id":110,"date":"2024-11-20T16:54:48","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T16:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jasonadam.co\/mod\/?page_id=110"},"modified":"2024-11-20T16:54:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T16:54:48","slug":"tools-that-need-mo2-output-mods","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/building-your-own-mod-list\/tools-that-need-mo2-output-mods\/","title":{"rendered":"Tools that need MO2 Output Mods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Creating an empty mod for overwrite output files<\/strong> in Mod Organizer 2 (MO2)<\/strong> is essential for tools that generate game-specific files<\/strong>, like patches, logs, and other outputs. This practice keeps your MO2 instance organized and avoids clutter in the Overwrite folder<\/strong>. Below is a comprehensive list of Skyrim modding tools that typically produce overwrite output files, along with why and how to manage their outputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1. Tools Requiring Empty Mods for Outputs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These tools generate files that should be captured in an empty mod to maintain organization and ensure outputs are tied to specific profiles or load orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A. SSEEdit<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Custom patches (.esp<\/code> files), cleaned plugins, merged plugins, logs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To track patches or edited files separately for each profile or project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: SSEEdit Patches<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    B. DynDOLOD \/ xLODGen<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • LOD data files (Meshes<\/code>, Textures<\/code>, Scripts<\/code>, .esm<\/code>, .esp<\/code>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • TexGen outputs (e.g., optimized textures).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Prevents LOD files from mixing with other outputs or overwrites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • DynDOLOD_Output<\/code> for DynDOLOD files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • TexGen_Output<\/code> for TexGen files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      C. LOOT<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Load order and metadata adjustments (loadorder.txt<\/code>, plugins.txt<\/code>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Although LOOT changes files directly in the MO2 configuration folder, some mods using LOOT can generate logs or metadata outputs. Capturing these can be useful in debugging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: Optional\u2014rarely needed for LOOT outputs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n

        D. Wrye Bash<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Bashed Patch (Bashed Patch.esp<\/code>), leveled list merges, tweaks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Keeps your Bashed Patch<\/strong> tied to a specific profile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: Bashed Patch<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \n\n\n\n

          E. xEdit Scripts (Merge Plugins, etc.)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Merged plugins (Merged.esp<\/code>) or other custom .esp<\/code> files created via xEdit scripts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • To manage merged plugins independently of the source plugins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: Merged Plugins<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            \n\n\n\n

            F. FNIS \/ Nemesis<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Behavior files, animations, and patches (Meshes<\/code>, Animations<\/code>, scripts<\/code>, FNIS.esp<\/code>, Nemesis.esp<\/code>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Keeps generated animation behavior files separate from the Overwrite folder<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • FNIS_Output<\/code> for FNIS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Nemesis_Output<\/code> for Nemesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              \n\n\n\n

              G. BodySlide and Outfit Studio<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Custom meshes or morphs generated for armors and outfits (Meshes<\/code> and CalienteTools<\/code> folders).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Helps manage and switch between body types or preset outputs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: BodySlide Output<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                \n\n\n\n

                H. Creation Kit<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Edited .esp<\/code> files, scripts, or other mod-related files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Keeps CK-created files linked to a specific project or profile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: CK Edits<\/code> or My Mod Work<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                  \n\n\n\n

                  I. Crash Logger Tools<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Crash logs generated by tools like Crash Logger SSE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Keeps logs organized and accessible for debugging purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: Crash Logs<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                    \n\n\n\n

                    J. ENB Local Settings<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Outputs<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Logs (enbseries.log<\/code>) or configuration files adjusted for a specific ENB preset.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Why Create an Empty Mod<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Useful if customizing ENB settings per profile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Empty Mod Example<\/strong>: Optional\u2014name it after the ENB preset.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                      \n\n\n\n

                      2. How to Create an Empty Mod for Outputs in MO2<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      1. In MO2<\/strong>, click the Tools icon (wrench and screwdriver)<\/strong> > Create Empty Mod<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      2. Name the mod based on the tool it corresponds to (e.g., DynDOLOD_Output<\/code>, FNIS_Output<\/code>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      3. After running the tool, drag the files from the Overwrite folder<\/strong> into the new mod:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                          \n
                        • Right-click Overwrite<\/strong> in the left-hand pane of MO2.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Select Move to Mod\u2026<\/strong>, then choose your empty mod.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                          \n\n\n\n

                          3. Tools That Don\u2019t Need Empty Mods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                          Some tools don\u2019t produce outputs tied to the game files or MO2 instance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          • LOOT<\/strong> (if only sorting load order).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Nexus Mod Manager\/Vortex<\/strong> (used separately from MO2).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • TexConv<\/strong> or other standalone utilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                            \n\n\n\n

                            Final Recommendation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                            You don\u2019t have to create an empty mod for every tool unless it produces outputs that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              \n
                            1. Affect the game directly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            2. Need to be profile-specific for MO2.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                              By keeping outputs cleanly organized, you can easily troubleshoot, switch profiles, and back up your mods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              Would you like help setting up any specific tool\u2019s output paths or organizing your MO2 instance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                              Creating an empty mod for overwrite output files in Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) is essential for tools that generate game-specific files, like patches, logs, and other outputs. This practice keeps your MO2 instance organized and avoids clutter in the Overwrite folder. Below is a comprehensive list of Skyrim modding tools that typically produce overwrite output […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":122,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-110","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/110\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upstairsempire.xyz\/dii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}