Guide/Modding Horizon

Last updated for version `1.8.0-BETA-7`

*Main article:* Horizon Wiki

**Horizon is an extremely large overhaul of Fallout 4**. It's almost a standalone version of Fallout 4. Using some mods with it may break or ruin Horizon's balance or gameplay features. Special care must be taken! This article provides information on what can be modded and what will not work.

For common problems and solutions about Horizon read the FAQ and Troubleshooting articles.

The simple answer is this: If you want to play Horizon and don't want to jump through a lot of hoops, keep your installed mods to a small and manageable list. Focus on the mods you absolutely want to use with Horizon, and not just install 100 random mods.

Horizon *by itself* is literally plug-and-play. Your Fallout 4 may only become problematic if you choose to add a bunch of incompatible or unbalanced mods together at the same time. Players need to realize that Fallout 4 mods are **not** DLC's. They're independently created plugins by numerous authors, which can edit the **same** data or create features that clash.

## General

### Make a clear decision

When choosing to play Horizon you have to make a clear decision..

* **Option A – "**I want to play Fallout 4 with perfectly balanced gameplay and meaningful character progression."
* **Option B – "**I just want to casually play Fallout 4 for fun, as an open sandbox to try random things."

You *have* to choose one. There's no "middle ground" on this. Either your game has strict gameplay balancing, or it doesn't.

If you decide option A, you must make sure all mods you use are compatible, patched, and balanced. Otherwise, you may get unintended results, which could make the game too easy, or too hard, or broken, or play poorly.

If you decide option B, balance patching may or may not matter to you. It depends if you're just goofing around in Fallout 4, and don't care if half of the mods are broken. While this is **never** recommended, it's your choice how you want to mod your game. You need to understand that Horizon isn't going to magically fix all your broken mods.

### Mods that are compatible

* "*HUDFramework*" is a highly recommended mod (Do NOT use the patcher - Horizon's version of DEF\_UI is already compatible)
* "*Everyone's Best Friend*" is a highly recommended mod (Dogmeat + Companion - Load this above Horizon)
* Cosmetic environmental mods are usually compatible. This includes weathers, environmental textures, music replacers and the like. It does not include cosmetic changes to items or NPCs, which require patching.
* [Previsibines Repair Pack Lite - PRPFX https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/64405]: Improves FPS in some areas. Load just before Home Plate plugin.

📝 **Note:** Some otherwise cosmetic mods add or alter items, in which case see below.

### Mods that require patching

* Alter existing objects in any way, such as sorting mods, weightless junk mods, texture/model replacement for equipment and NPCs, faction overhauls and many others. Without a patch, these mods will often break Horizon or vice versa.
* Adding new things, such as new weapons and armor, new systems, quest mods and new companions usually brakes balance. These mods will usually work as-is, but they will not be integrated into Horizon's special systems and because of the altered balance will often be horrifically over/underpowered.
* Companions mods, such as mods that edit companions, absolutely require patch even if they only edit the appearance. The data for NPCs in FO4 is all grouped in 1 single record (stats, perks, appearance, etc.)

### Mods that are incompatible

*See: Guide/Mod Incompatibility*

These mods are completly incompatible, already integrated or fulfill the same purpose (overhaul) and thus are superfluous by itself.

* "*Armorsmith Extended*", this is not compatible at all with Horizon, as they both edit armor and armor functionality.
* "*Armor Keywords*", this is not necessary for any mods which are properly patched with Horizon.
* Major overhauls, like total-conversion mods such as *FROST* and *Immersive Gameplay*. While it's theoretically possible to patch them together, it would be almost as much work as making your own overhaul from scratch.
* Load order guides, on all except Horizon.
* Mod lists made for vanilla Fallout 4, that don't include mods compatible and/or patched for Horizon.

### Mods that are redundant

*See: Guide/Mod Incompatibility*

Horizon includes a lot of mods. The upcomming version of Horizon will include even more; #next-updates-teaser channel @ Discord. Thus most common mods are incompatible, redundant, unnecessary.

### Mods to avoid

* Mods that break (alter) pre-combines, e.i. mods which add objects to (exterior) cells. These mods can break the game to some extent and lead to problems.
* How To Install Buffout 4 And Resolve Most Common Crashes
* Mods to Avoid

## Mods that work by default

Mods that harmonize with Horizon by default are rare and those that work without a patch are not sufficiently balanced. Thus, strictly speaking, these mods are also incompatible.

The following overview show mod categories from nexusmods.com that are very unlikely (❌) to be compatible and which are compatible (☑️). While very few categories (❎) might require further proofing. As always, there is no guarantee and if you have any questions, it is advisable to ask in the **#mod-compatibility** channel @ Horizon Discord.

## Enabling Mods in Fallout 4

Modding Fallout 4 **requires** that the `Fallout4Custom.ini` is edited by a text editor or a third party tool like Mod Organizer 2.

Navigate to `📁...\Documents\My Games\Fallout 4` and add:

```
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

```

## Mods from Bethesda

How to download mods from bethesda.net and manage them with your mod manager of choice:

* Favorite the mod on the website
* Launch the game and open "mods", connect your beth.net account and download the mod you favorited (don't quit the mods menu yet)
* Go to your data (or MO2 overwrite) folder, copy and paste the ESP and BA2 archives from the mod to a directory of your choice (Desktop, Downloads, ...)
* Go back to the game and delete the mod (to keep your data folder clean and avoid beth.net weird updates)
* Zip the files you copied and install the ZIP with your mod manager
* Enjoy your favorite beth.net mod managed by your mod manager

## Troubleshooting

### Mod breaking prevention

Although Horizon is open to other mods, Zaw's work changed the entire structure of the game data itself. Which leads to the fact that many mods don't work anymore, need a patch, or are redundant. Basically, people new to Horizon simply should play it raw and clean. After the game principle is understood, if needed, begin to redesign the game itself on preference.

* **Load Order** – Horizon requires a precise load order, it is advisable to take a quick look at the load order guide.
* **Mod Manager** – To sort mods, see conflicts, etc. (see load order). Focus on a mod manager which doesn't override the game folder.
* **Redundant mods** – Don't install redundant mods with Horizon. It is recommended to not use any mods in your first playthrough.
* **Sorting mods** – Don't install sorting mods, it can break Horizon. A custom DEF UI is included in the installation.
* **Merging** – Don't merge `Horizon.esp` files into a new ESP file.
* **Gameplay changes** – Mods that change gameplay of Horizon aren't supported.
* **INI Settings** – Enable "loose files" in `Fallout4Custom.ini` to load meshes and scripts, e.g. sorting names.
* **Proper installation** – Make sure Horizon and any other mod is fully installed and successfully loaded (see mod manager and load order).

### Cleaning mod plugins

You should **NEVER** "clean" any of Horizon's plugins. Do **NOT** edit Horizon's plugins directly. If you want to tweak or change something in Horizon, create a new ESP (i.e. a patch) in FO4EDIT and load it after the appropriate Horizon plugins. This way you can manage your own Horizon addon separately, and it won't impact the base game.

### Frequently asked questions

*See: FAQ*

Frequently asked questions can be found in the FAQ article.

## Mod collections and unofficial addons

The following sections add mod content from Horizon modders and/or mod collectors.

### Horizon Discord Patch Repository

**HDPR** – Link to Horizon Discord Patch Repository. Content contains patches found on the Horizon Discord and Nexus Mods. For the most up-to-date Nexus patches it is recommended to searching Nexus using "Horizon" and sorting by "Last Updated". Patches updated after January 7, 2020 should be safe to use.

### Individual patched mods

* **Chrislor** – Link to Chrislor's Weapons Horizon Patches and Chrislor's Armors and Clothes Horizon Patches
* **Greb** – Link to bunch of patches updated for Horizon 1.8.
* **LiKun** – Link to user files
* **Sowerjuice** – Link to Horizon Patch Collection
* **Starguard** – Link to random patches.
* **sushicid3** – Link to v1.88 Horizon Weapon Patches
* **The Illusion** – Link to patch repo.

### Unofficial addons

* **Immersive Survival System** – aims to improve Survival and Desolation Mode and injects a complex crafting system.

## See Also

* Guide/Installation – How-to install Horizon.
* Guide/INI Settings – All INI settings with notes.
* Guide/Load Order – How-to load mods with Horizon
* DEF\_UI – New icons explained and visually presented.
* Guide/Patching Weapons – Patching Guide for Weapons.
* Guide/Patching Keywords –
* Guide/Mod Compatibility – Inactive until 1.9
* Guide/Launcher Options Menu – The effects of `Fallout4Launcher.exe` explained.
* How To Install Buffout 4 And Resolve Most Common Crashes
* Mods to Avoid
* FO4 Mod and Patch Creation Guides – An external site (docs.google) explaining how-to patch mods for Horizon.
* Modding Guides by sowerjuice

## References

1. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/436824471295361025/436840778635935754/973843739984416768