TheAbaWTotal Overhaul
AdultAberrant Dream - A FO4 Overhaul
A carefully curated overhaul for Fallout 4 centered around creating an intense, post-apocalyptic experience while preserving the overall aesthetic of the game series.
- Revisions
- 25
- Last updated
- 2 weeks ago
- Created
- May 14, 2022
- Downloads
- 834
Media(13)
Intended for the latest Fallout 4 version (All DLCs EXCEPT High Resolution Texture Pack — Free DLC, Steam Version) and F4SE build 0.6.23
NOTE: This modlist comes with a very stringent set of installation intructions that must be followed! Failure to carefully read and perform said instructions will likely cause issues! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
- 𝘼 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧
- 𝙈𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨
- 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
- 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨/𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 (𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙮!)
- 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 1 - 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙥
- 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 2 - 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
- 𝙈𝘾𝙈 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
- 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜
𝙈𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨
Click on the image below to watch Gameplay Preview 1 where I briefly show what outdoor environments look like with this modlist!
𝙈𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚...
- Improved visuals without making the game incredibly demanding on your PC (optimized 2K/4K textures, improved particle FX, obstructive fog/haziness removed, etc.). Look at my screenshots in the "Media" section and see for yourself! (NOTE: I use my own ENB, so there is no guarantee that your game will look exactly the same as mine.)
- Countless new weapons/armor pieces that are fully implemented in the leveled lists so that they show up throughout the game
- Hardcore gameplay/survival features (player leaning, locational damage, limb blacking/crippling, bleeding, blacking-out due to head injuries, etc.) added for those looking for a challenge in such a desolate Wasteland
- New locations/dungeons to discover, plunder, and pillage! (Precombines kept intact!)
- To put it simply, MORE... IMMERSION...
- Game engine fixes/enhancements
- An actual forest (I know, right?) that DOES NOT break the game's precombines....
- Dozens of new NPCs, followers, and quests for increased replayability
- Re-imagined locations, such as Diamond City, Goodneighbor, and the Combat Zone
- New, unique animations play out when the character uses a consumable/healable, in third AND first person perspective
- Game mechanics, creatures, models, and items from previous Fallout titles make an appearance in the Commonwealth, for all those smoothskins looking for a bit of nostalgia
𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
Click on the image below to watch Gameplay Preview 2 where I show what CQC looks like with this modlist.
I was hoping to achieve a number of things by creating this modlist (over the course of 2 years)...
Firstly, I wanted to create a stronger sense of bleakness and despair that was often accentuated in the previous Fallout titles. Vanilla Fallout 4 felt as though it had ditched a lot of the post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the previous titles in favor of a more mainstream, friendlier experience. Hopefully, through using the mods that I've incorporated into this modlist, players feel like the odds are neither in their favor nor in the people they encounter.
Another goal I was hoping to achieve through making this modlist was to create an experience that any fan of survival games would enjoy. One thing that you must note before downloading this is that this modlist was created with Survival Mode in mind. I have included many mods that enhance the overall feeling of surviving in the Commonwealth. Below, you'll see some of the changes and improvements that Aberrant Dream makes to surviving:
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Fighting enemies, specifically humans, will feel more immersive and prove to be a massive undertaking for the ill-prepared. Humans will no longer be infinitely-firing bullet sponges, and the player won't be able to wipe entire groups of them out like an Eldritch god. With the addition of new combat mechanics, such as pain, bleeding, and the "blacking-out" of limbs, both the player and enemies will have to practice more caution and foresight when in combat. Also, AI has been reworked to be more logical and immersive, so don't be surprised when raiders no longer move out of cover just to charge you with pool cues. Raiders will not be able to snipe you from 400 meters away, and Gunners will need to be approached more cautiously. I have to admit, the combat changes are heavily inspired by Escape from Tarkov. After all, it's one of my favorite games!
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In addition to the aforementioned combat changes, players will need to scavenge for new items to aid in their survival. How might the player be able to stop stop bleeding or repair blacked limbs? If you answered "Stimpack", you're wrong. Players will now need to scavenge/buy splints, morphine, tourniquets, and other medical supplies to heal their wounds. In addition to these new items, the spawn-rates of many item types like ammo and medical supplies have been dramatically reduced. This can lead to a lot of interesting situations, such as slaughtering people just to find painkillers to ease your pain or addiction. Ya know... normal people things.
By creating this modlist, I was also looking to make Fallout more fledged out while maintaining the same "feel" offered by the series. This is not a "2022 MODERN WARFARE FALLOUT 4 TOTAL CONVERSION" modlist, nor is it a "FALLOUT BIBLE IS LAW" modlist. The inclusion of all mods regarding everything from textures to game mechanics in Aberrant Dream was carefully considered, and nothing added by this modlist falls too far outside the scope of Fallout reality.
As you've probably already seen from the posted screenshots, Fallout 4's landscape is not a desolate, scorched Earth anymore, but a forest teeming with life. IN MY MIND, I see no reason for the Earth to not have grown back in the 200+ years that had passed since the Great War. The mod I chose to achieve such a landscape is called Another Green Mod. AGM comes complete with a detailed LOD, and the mod does not break any precombines. I have also added new guns and armor that don't lie too far outside the realm of possibility in Fallout lore.
𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥: This modlist adds new items, armors, guns, trees, foliage, quests, new and improved locations, better visuals, survival features, new and better AI, cool things tbh. Yay.
***There are too many changes and features added to be covered in a simple description, so I encourage you to go into the "Mods" tab and browse through the modlist to gain a better understanding.
𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨/𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 (𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙮!)
This might take a bit of time to complete (roughly 20-30 minutes), depending on your familiarity with modding Fallout 4 (and your WiFi, lol). Have patience, scavver!
𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 1 - 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙥
COMPLETE EVERYTHING IN THIS FIRST PART BEFORE DOWNLOADING THE MODLIST VIA VORTEX! There are several mods, tools, plugins, and changes I am not able to include in the "Mods" tab because Nexus currently has no way of identifying them. As a result, strap yourself in and get ready to do some modding!
NOTE: Any mod/utility with " * " next to it means that it is optional.
First, we must get the game ready. Install/complete the following in order to avoid any complications:
1.) GamerPoets' Fallout 4 Clean Install Tutorial
Be sure to do a clean installation of Fallout 4 before downloading ANYTHING. I have hyperlinked a tutorial made by the amazing GamerPoets to help you in doing so.
Once you have finished installing Fallout 4, MAKE SURE you have launched the game using the game launcher and loaded the initial bathroom scene at least once!
Simply install by placing all files within the F4SE archive into your Fallout 4 game directory
NOTE: From here on out, ONLY LAUNCH THE GAME USING THE F4SE LOADER OR F4SE SHORTCUT IN VORTEX!
3.) Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables 2015-2022 (Both X86 and X64)
Download versions X86 and X64, and launch their executables.
Install it manually by placing “IpHIpAPI.dll” and “xSE PluginPreloader.xml” from the .zip folder into the Fallout 4 game directory.
𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 2 - 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
At this point, it is safe to start downloading the modlist.
The following are additional mods, utilities, and instructions, some of which are optional (again, marked with a " * "). They DO NOT need to be installed/completed in any particular order. Wait until the modlist has finished downloading in Vortex before you begin this next part...
Buffout 4 (ALREADY IN MODLIST. Make sure you do the following:)
IMPORTANT!: To make Buffout 4 compatible with the mod LooksMenu, do the following:
- Go to your Fallout 4 game folder and under Data\F4SE\Plugins, look for a file named "Buffout4.toml" and open it using a text editior. Within the file, change this line to "true":
[Compatibility]
F4EE = true
This mod is very crucial to have for anyone wanting to have shadows in their game and not be hindered by their performance issues, so basically everyone... I hope. Simply put, this mod changes the draw distance of shadows in real time based on the desired framerate of the player.
There are detailed instructions of how to install it are on the mod page (follow the set of instructions that is labeled as the "short version"). It might seem confusing at first, but it takes at most five minutes. It's not absolutely required, but it is definitely worth it.
Use this tool to easily manipulate the game's .ini files.
Once it is downloaded and booted up, start by clicking on your preferred quality preset and then on the box for "Recommended Tweaks" so that BethINI can work some much-needed magic. Then, for reasons obvious to those who have played vanilla or heavily modded Fallout 4, I have Godrays, Lens Flares, VSync, Motion Blur, Wetness, and Bokeh all disabled within the application.
Regarding VSync, MAKE SURE you disable in-game VSync and enable it within your GPU's drivers' settings. To safely play the game at a FPS higher than 60, set FPS in BethINI to your desired FPS and disable "Clamped" and "VSync". Also, I have "Shadow Resolution" set to 2048 and "Ambient Occlusion" set to None.
Uneducated Shooter (Necessary changes are listed below, but THIS MOD IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN MODLIST) *
This mod allows for players to use Q and E to peek, which is a feature common in most modern FPS games. Players who already have the Q and E keys assigned to other functions will need to assign them (VATS, Favorites, Perspective, etc.) to a different key in order for the mod to work as intended.
Additionally, if you find that the mod is too buggy in its default configuration, you can either uninstall it OR navigate to Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4\Data\F4SE\Plugins and open "UneducatedShooter.ini". This is where you can change any settings for the mod. Where it says "R6Style=0", change it to "R6Style=1". Save and close out of the .ini file.
Resident Evil Gunner Faction Armor Replacer *
This is the BEST Gunner Armor Replacer I've ever used! Although it says "Resident Evil" in the name, I don't think it looks too Resident Evil themed. This mod adds much-needed tactical gear and uniforms to the Gunner faction, and makes them look like truly formidable foes. Do yourself a favor and download this.
Once you download the archive, open it and place the "RE_Pack_4.1.zip" file into Vortex.
A small mod that replaces the pathetic grunts that NPCs make when taking damage with more gruesome ones. This mod can only be found on the mod author's Discord server in the "murder-death-scream" channel.
Pack Attack is an astounding AI overhaul that is absolutely necessary to have as it is unparalleled in immersion. At the moment, this mod can only be found on the mod author's Discord server.
Download the main PC file plus the hotfix and slap them into Vortex. I don't care what anyone says, this mod is fucking amazing!
Crash Log Auto-Scanner (for Buffout 4) *
Don't even bother with this step if you don't want to. All this tool does is evaluate crash logs.
This is a useful tool to use with Buffout to help you interpret any crash logs Buffout generates. Make sure you download the required utilities stated on the mod page, such as the latest version of Python. Follow the installation instructions given on the mod page.
Latest ENB Binaries and an ENB Preset compatible with True Storms (the weather mod used in Aberrant Dream)
Installing ENB binaries is pretty simple. Just download the latest version, open the .zip file, open the "Wrapper Version" folder, and place "d3d11.dll" and "d3dcompiler_46e.dll" into your Fallout 4 game directory.
In regards to an ENB preset, any preset that is compatible with True Storms will do. Personally, I made my own touches on the Ghost ENB preset by Ghost818, and I recommend you give his preset a try.
Wrye Bash (DO THIS PART LAST!!!)
This is a tool that is used to create a Bashed Patch for your load order. Use it to create a Bashed Patch for leveled lists so that mods affecting the same leveled lists no longer conflict.
This should be the last thing you use when finalizing your load order. If you choose to add/remove mods that affect leveled lists, you MUST rebuild your Bashed Patch.
Shimmer Fix For NVIDIA Users (This is NOT A MOD but, rather, instructions!)
The author in this post details how to fix the annoying distant shimmering that NVIDIA users will encounter when using in-game anti-aliasing.
𝙈𝘾𝙈 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
Below, I have hyperlinked several images containing MCM settings for various mods that I STRONGLY recommend you use...
NOTE: I play Fallout 4 on a 1440p/16:9 ratio monitor. If you use an ultrawide monitor or play in a resolution other than 1440p, you might have to play around with the config a bit more.
Survival Options - "Toggleable Options" Tab
Survival Options - "Hunger Options" Tab
Survival Options - "Thirst Options" Tab
Survival Options - "Sleep Options" Tab
Survival Options - "Combat Options" Tab
Survival Options - "Save Options" Tab
𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜
Pip-Boy Flashlight Not Working?
If the Pip-Boy flashlight isn't working, place the Pip-Boy Flashlight mod at (or near) the bottom of your load order so that the mod's changes can take precedence over others.
No Power Armor HUD
Upon entering a suit of power armor, you might notice that most of the HUD elements are disabled. This is by design. If you would rather have the power armor HUD enabled, simply delete the mod named "No Power Armor HUD" (or a mod with a similar name to that... I can't remember the name of it lol).
Bugs Regarding Uneducated Shooter
One of the mods included in Aberrant Dream is called Uneducated Shooter. It allows the player to use the Q and E keys to peek, just like in modern FPS games. However, the mod is somewhat experimental in its current state and has quite a few bugs. Players not accustomed to the mod or have functions already assigned to Q and E will accidentally lean quite often. So, it is perfectly fine if you disable the mod.
If you are wanting to use the mod, there is something that you need to do to make it function properly. For reasons beyond my understanding, if "R6Style=0" in the mod's F4SE .ini file, the game bugs out severely. To fix this, go to Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4\Data\F4SE\Plugins and open "UneducatedShooter.ini". This is where you can change any settings for the mod. Where it says "R6Style=0", change it to "R6Style=1". Save and close out of the .ini file. Problem solved!
Game Freezing/Not Loading After Leaving Bathroom Scene?
A common issue that players might encounter when using the Start Me Up mod is that the game might fail to load after leaving the initial bathroom section. This is likely due to the immense amount of scripts being carried out in the background that can cause the game to fall behind. The solution is pretty simple: GIVE THE GAME TIME! Wait a minute or two before walking towards the bathroom door so that the game can catch up.
Annoying Bottlecap Pickup Sound?
If you find the cap pickup sound that is introduced by this modlist annoying or distracting, there is a fix. The mod that changes the audio file for cap pickup sounds is called Immersive Pickup Sounds FO4, and to fix the issue, simply go into the file path Fallout 4\Data\Sound\FX\PickUp Sounds\Coin and delete the sound files located there.
Encountering Issues In Your Game?
Are you encountering issues with your game, and you feel like you're helpless to solve them? Take a step back and ask to yourself, "Have I done ample research in trying to deduce the cause of my problem?" Remember that it is very unlikely you're the only person who has encountered the issue/bug. Honestly, Reddit is one of the best places to go when trying to fix issues with your game.
Experiencing Random CTDs?
NOTE: Some people using NVIDIA GPU drivers newer than v442.92 will likely experience infrequent CTDs due to the fact that certain .dll files that NVIDIA has updated no longer "play nicely" with Fallout 4's game engine.
That's it! I hope you have fun playing this modlist! This took ages to setup, and I am sure there are plenty of flaws that still need to be worked out. Any feedback you might have would be greatly appreciated so that I know what things need to be improved and fixed.
I truly hope you enjoy!
Now, here's a random screenshot I took in Skyrim to confuse tf out of people...
