Overview
In this guide we cover how to install Tale of Two Wastelands (TTW) 2.9.4b using Fallout Mod Manager. TTW is a mod that combines Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas in the New Vegas engine, featuring game play improvements and bug fixes that improve the overall experience in both games. If you want to Play Fallout 3, I would suggest TTW if at all possible.
Video Guide
Part 1: What Is TTW?
To put it simply TTW is a mod that Combines NV and FO3 in the NV engine. You start the game as normal in FO3 but with the improved mechanics from New Vegas such as doctors bags and hardcore mode implemented. Later in the game you can find a train which takes you to the Mojave Wasteland where you start out NV as normal, but keeping your existing character, stats, skills and gear intact.
After that, you can freely travel between the two wastelands without any forced intros/cutscenes, as long as you can afford the ticket.
But not only is it both games in one it is also the BETTER way to play fallout 3 because a huge number of bug fixes and improvements have been made making it more stable, and just overall a better experience. If you want more info I am sure someone has a better write up you can find online. But all I can say is that it is an amazing feat of modding and the team deserves every ounce of respect we have for what they have done.
Part 2: Requirements
To install TTW you need to have the following items. If you do not have all the things listed below there is a good chance things won’t work, so just get everything you need first so no one’s time is wasted trying to troubleshoot an incorrect install.
- A LEGAL English version Copy of Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition (Or All the DLCs)
- A LEGAL English versions Copy of Fallout 3 GOTY Edition (Or all the DLCs)
- Fallout 4GB Enabler [link]
- New Vegas Script Extender [link]
- Fallout Mod Manager (FOMM) 0.14
- .7zip or other archiving tool
- About 40GB of free space to allow the installer to run.
- the latest version of .NET Framework (4.5 for Windows 7 and up, 4.0 for Windows XP)
To find out which version of Windows you are using, open the Start menu, right-click on “Computer” and select “Properties”. In the center, look for “System Type”.
Make sure you have none of your Fallout 3 files set to “read only” in their properties.
You MUST NOT be using any of the following mods:
- Mission Mojave Ultimate Edition (MMUE)
- New Vegas Error Corrections (NVEC)
- Better Game Performance (BGP)
Part 3: Mod Manager Setup
In this guide we are going to be using Fallout Mod Manager to install TTW and the associated mods.
To begin with we are going to Download and install Fallout Mod Manager.
Go to the file section of FOMM. Please note that you will need at least version 0.14.11.12 in order to install TTW.
Do not download a legacy version of this mod, Please not the link in the descriptions mod number and read the description of the file you intend to download.
Once the file is downloaded, run the FOMM installer.
Select a directory to install FOMM into.
After that hit next, and next again. Check the box to create a desktop shortcut and then hit next.
Finally hit install.
After the installation is complete you can hit finish and launch FOMM.
Part 4: Setup
To begin with we need to start off with a fresh slate. This way any issues that may arise will not be a result of other mods or outdated files.
Navigate to Steam, and uninstall both Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas.
Navigate to Steam/Steamapps/Common/ and find and delete both the “Fallout 3” and “Fallout New Vegas” Folders.
This will remove any mods/ lingering files that may have been present even after removal. If there is no folders then you are ok.
Once both games are purged, Install both Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas.
After the games have been installed, Launch Fallout 3. This is done to generate ini files and ensure the game is detected by your PC. After the game starts you may then quit.
Do the same process for New Vegas, while this time setting any needed options in the launcher.
Once we have done that, we can go ahead and downloaded the needed files from TaleoftwoWastelands.com.
[link]Navigate to the Installation Instructions page for Version 2.9.4b and scroll to the bottom.
Click on the link and Download the Latest TTW installer.
, located at the bottom of the post.
Once these files are downloaded Drag them to your desktop for ease of installation.
Now that we have all of our main files downloaded, and the games installed, we can begin the work of setting up the mod.
Right click on the taleoftwowastelands2.9.4b.7z and unzip to a folder using 7zip.
Open up this folder right click on the Tale of Two Wastelands Installer and Select RUN as ADMINISTRATOR.
This is not optional, and if you fail to do this step you may experience errors.
Once the file is open it will look like
[i.imgur.com].
If everything goes to plan it should automatically pick up the locations to the Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas Folders, as well as a folder where TTW will be installed. If for some reason the folders are not selected them, you can either manually navigate to them by clicking browse, or try closing the TTW launcher, and then launching either FO3 or New Vegas, as suggested before in order to ensure your PC knows the location of the game files.
It is also very important to keep SEXY checkmarked. This is probably the most important step in the guide so heed it.
Once everything in the installer is set up, click install. Depending on the power of your PC this process could take long time, so be prepared for a wait.
At some point during the installation it’ll ask you if you want to make this a .fomod, click yes when prompted.
Once the Fomod is ready, and the installer is finished you will need to navigate to the Tale of Two Wastelands folder (created by the installer).
In my case that will be SteamSteamappscommonFallout TTW
Part 5: Installing the mod.
At this point our FOMOD is ready, FOMM is installed and we have everything ready to go.
The first step is to add the FOMODs that were created to FOMM. We will be manually placing these in the mods folder for FOMM because adding the package with the software will crash the manager.
Navigate to the location where Fallout New Vegas is installed.
In my case this is steamsteamappscommonFallout New Vegas
From here there should be a folder called Mods. (if not you can create one)
Take the .Fomod files from SteamSteamappscommonFallout TTW and place them inside the Mods folder.
Next launch FOMM and open the package manager. You should see two new entries the left pane.
Select the main file, then hit the activate button on the right.
This process may take a long time. If your FOMM becomes “Not Responding” do not worry. Let the mod do its thing.
After a period of time the mod will be successfully installed.
Now we can install the optional files. By doing the same process- click the file and click activate.
This time we will get a new window that will allow us to select the different optional files.
Select the files you want to use, and then hit install.
Finally. We need to install the hotfixes.
While in the package manager, click the Add FOMOD button
From this menu locate where you downloaded the hotfixes and select the file.
After a short period of time it should add the hotfixes to the left pane of the package manager. From here we can activate the package to install the hotfixes.
Part 6: .ini File editing.
The mod is now installed but our work is not done yet. Before we go any further we need to edit the ini files.
Navigate to C:Users<USERNAME>Documentsmy gamesfalloutnv
You will find two files Fallout.ini and
FalloutPrefs.ini
If you do not see the .ini then you need to enable extensions for known filetypes.
- Click the Start menu. This is the round icon that is on the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Type “folder options” (without the quotes). Click the line “Folder Options” that appears at the top of the Start menu.
- A dialog box with the title “Folder Options” will appear. Click the “View” tab at the top of the window.
- Click to uncheck the box for “Hide extensions for known file types”.
- Click OK
Once that is done, Right click on Fallout.ini and hit edit.
You want to edit with notepad.
Then make sure the following entries match. If a line is missing you can add it under the listed header.
Click ctrl+f to search to make things go faster.
TTW Required changes (these should have been done automatically)
[General]
SCharGenQuest = 001FFFF8 (Sets the start quest to FO3)
sIntroMovie = (yes this one is blank on purpose, it needs to be blank)
bLoadFaceGenHeadEGTFiles = 1
Remove Mouse Acceleration
[Controls]
fForegroundMouseAccelBase=0
fForegroundMouseAccelTop=0
fForegroundMouseBase=0
fForegroundMouseMult=0
AIThreading
[General]
bUseThreadedAI=1
iNumHWThreads=2 (Add this line)
For the next tweaks, we will be modifying the Falloutprefs.ini
[General]
bLoadFaceGenHeadEGTFiles = 1
[General]
bUseThreadedAI=1 (Change from 0->1)
iNumHWThreads=2 (Add this line)