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INTRODUCTION TO THE GUIDE

The Guide

This guide aims to help you set up a stable Fallout New Vegas experience built around DUST Survival Simulator, incorporating stability and performance improvements that have stood the test of time.

What not to expect:

  • Tacticool overhaul;
  • Slooty outfits;
  • Bazillion additional weapons;
  • Ultra-high-resolution textures for every dust speck in the Mojave.


This guide is divided into two paths:

DUSTy Roads - Base

The Base Setup establishes a stable DUST foundation, along with a selection of stability improvements and essential bug fixes. It does not include expansions or additional content, and is intended for those who want to experience the original, yet more stable, version of DUST, or use it as a base for their own mod list.

⮚ DUSTy Roads - Expanded ⮘

The Expanded Setup (and recommended setup) builds on this base, introducing additional mods that enhance gameplay and add extra content, including the major expansions DUST - Expansion Project and DUST - Ink & Ash, both of which are highly recommended! You'll be guided first through the Base setup first, with the option to continue into the Expanded section if you choose to go further.

And if that still isn’t enough, there is also an OPTIONAL SECTION with additional suggestions to further expand your setup, either by complementing the existing mod list or replacing certain installed mods. Keep in mind that inclusion in this section does not necessarily mean the mods are plug-and-play. Some optional mods may require additional patching to resolve balance issues or other conflicts.

Using the Guide

Take your time, read the guide in full and avoid skipping steps. If you need support with following the guide, or with your modded game, you can open a support ticket on the DUST Discord (#support-and-bugs-dust), but it’s expected that you’ve followed the instructions carefully and done your due diligence before asking for help. The support page at the end of the guide also includes a modest FAQ covering common issues and questions.

Each mod’s requirements and dependencies are accounted for. When a mod lists requirements on its download page, they are either already covered elsewhere in the guide or will be addressed later. Some may be recommendations rather than strict requirements, and may be omitted if not considered necessary. If a required dependency is not already included in the guide, it will be explicitly listed for download at the relevant step.

The mod manager of choice is Mod Organizer 2. Though that does not mean you cannot follow the guide as a Vortex user, but you'll have to rely on other sources of information to set up Vortex, or how to install and deploy mods, such as the Vortex Wiki.

If you choose to add additional mods, always read their descriptions, instructions, and requirements. You may need to revisit earlier installations to enable compatibility options or install additional patches.

A few mods in this guide are marked with a tag indicating that they:

  • SETTINGS | require a custom INI file that is installed later in the guide (for instance, a custom nvse_stewie_tweaks.ini)
  • DUST PATCH | require a DUST compatibility patch that is installed later in the guide.
  • REINSTALL | require reinstalling a previously installed mod to select additional installer options (primarily used in the Expanded Version).

If this process becomes overwhelming at any point, you can always switch to the WABBAJACK automated installation route.

Credits

  • Viva New Vegas, the long-standing benchmark for reliable modded FNV setups, and inspiration and example for this guide;
  • Red, for leading by example with his Below Zero guide for FROST Survival Simulator;
  • theSnort and Grimpup for support, motivation and Ink & Ash;
  • sw for their awesome Perk Planner;
  • The Council of the DUST Discord for support and ideas;
  • The active and lively user base over at the DUST Discord, and especially Stevenesque and holyjay;
  • The good people at the Wabbajack Discord for their support and help;
  • And last but not least, the storyteller extraordinaire, naugrim04, for DUST Survival Simulator, a mod that fundamentally changed what Fallout New Vegas could be!