LOD GENERATION

LOD (Level of Detail) refers to simplified versions of distant objects in the game world, such as terrain, buildings, and trees. Instead of rendering full-detail models far away, the game uses lower-detail versions to improve performance. As you move closer, these objects gradually switch to their full-detail versions. Proper LOD ensures distant landscapes look consistent and reduces visual pop-in while keeping the game running smoothly.

1. Objects LOD: Displays simplified versions of distant structures and objects (like buildings and ruins).
2. Terrain LOD: Renders the distant landscape (hills, ground, roads) as a lower-detail mesh to create a seamless horizon.
3. Tree LOD: Primarily used for small flora (bushes, shrubs), while larger trees are often handled by objects LOD.

Why generate LOD if it’s already included in a mod or in this guide? Because LOD is static and does not account for changes made by other mods. By generating LOD yourself, you ensure the visuals accurately reflect your specific mod setup. Dust Community Fixes and Tweaks only includes terrain LOD for the Wasteland, primarily to address water LOD in the drained Colorado River and Lake Mead, but it does not provide object or tree LOD. For that reason, generating LOD yourself is always recommended.

Create a separator

Right-click in the left pane of MO2 and select Create separator. Name it LOD.

Required Resources

FNVLODGen

1. Download the main file FNVLODGen Resources
2. Hide the FNVLODGen.esp plugin

Information

You can either delete the file, hide the file, or move it away. We'll do the latter, so you can easily retrieve it when required:

1. Double click the mod in the left pane
2. Go to the Optional Plugins tab
3. Select the plugin in the right table (Available Plugins) and click on the green arrow pointing left
4. The plugin is now moved to Optional Plugins

Much Needed LOD

1. Download the main file Much Needed LOD
2. Hide the MuchNeededLOD.esp plugin

Much Needed LOD fixed rocks color

• Download the main file Much Needed LOD fixed rocks color

LOD additions and improvements

1. Download the main file LODadditions
2. Hide the tmzLODadditions.esp plugin

FNV LOD Supplementation

• Download the main file FNV LOD Supplementation
• Download the optional file Optional Overpasses

TCM's LOD Overhaul

• Download the main file TCM's LOD Overhaul

More LODs Additions and fixes

• Download the main file More LODs Additions and fixes

Wasted LOD - Cliffs of Mojave

1. Download the main file Version 1.0
2. Hide the Wasted Mojave Rock LOD.esp plugin

Different LOD mods little tweaks and additions

• Download the main file Different LOD mods little tweaks and additions

LODIFY - Level of detail improvement for your Fallout (TTW And NV Lods)

1. Download the main file LODIFY
2. Download the optional file LODIFY FNV Wall_SoGB Editon
3. Hide the TTWLods.esp and LODIFY_FNV.esp plugins

Decent LOD Kit

1. Download the main file Decent LOD Kit
2. Hide the Decent LOD Kit.esp plugin

TTW Fallout 3 LOD

1. Download the main file TTW Fallout 3 LOD. Yes, it says TTW, and yes you need it.
2. Hide the TTW Fallout 3 LOD.esp plugin

Physically Based LOD

• Download the main file Physically Based LOD

Nuclear LOD

1. Download the main file Nuclear Core
2. Download the main file Nuclear Trees - Vanilla
3. Hide the Nuclear_LOD.esp and TreeLOD_Vanilla.esp plugins

High Priority LOD

• Download the main file High Priority Core - with NVMIM
• Download the main file High Priority Trees - Vanilla

DUSTy Roads - LOD Plugin

• Download the main file DUSTy Roads - LOD Plugin. This will overwrite the LOD plugin shipped with DUST Community Fixes & Tweaks

Decision

To LOD or not to LOD?

• If you've followed this guide closely and haven't added (or don't plan to add) mods that alter textures or the game world, you can skip generating LOD and simply use the Pregenerated LOD below.
• If you didn't, or prefer to generate it yourself, skip the pregenerated LOD and proceed to Generate LOD.

DUSTy Roads - Pregenerated LOD

• Download the optional file DUSTy Road - Pregenerated Objects LOD
• Download the optional file DUSTy Road - Pregenerated Terrain LOD

You still need the installed LOD resources, but you should disable these two in the left pane of MO2:

• High Priority Core
• High Priority Trees - Vanilla

Generate LOD

xLODGen - Terrain LOD

1. Download the file xLODGen beta 132
2. Extract the 7z-archive to a folder on the same drive as FNV and MO2 (and not a default Windows folder!)
3. Add xLODGenx64.exe as an executable to MO2 (see Adding Executables)
4. Add -fnv -O:"D:\xLODGen Output" in the arguments field. Pick a location of your choice - generated LOD will be written to this folder

Warning

Do not use the FNVLODGen version on Nexus Mods. It is outdated and may produce broken LOD.

Terrain LOD

When generating LOD, you always start with terrain LOD. Whenever a new mod is installed that modifies terrain, or terrain textures, terrain LOD needs regenerating.

Warning

Before starting, make sure the output folder is empty!

1. Select xLODGen from the executables drop-down in MO2 and run it
2. Right click in the worldspaces pane and choose Select All
3. In the right pane make sure only Terrain LOD is enabled
4. There are 4 quality levels: LOD4, LOD8, LOD16, and LOD32. By toggling the Settings for drop-down, you can set settings per quality level. Use the same settings as in the screenshots below.
5. Click Generate and wait until you get notified LOD generation done. Close xLODGen
6. Click the Open list options... button on top of the left pane in MO2 (not the toolbar!), and select Create empty mod
7. Name the newly created mod FNVLODGen Output - Terrain, and make sure it is placed last in the left pane
8. Navigate to the output folder (the one set in the xLODGen arguments), and move both folders (Meshes and Textures) to the FNVLODGen Output - Terrain mod
9. Make sure the mod is enabled by clicking the checkbox

Objects LOD

As with terrain LOD, any mod that alters world objects or textures requires regenerating Objects LOD.

Warning

Before starting, make sure the output folder is empty!

1. Select xLODGen from the executables drop-down in MO2 and run it
2. Right click in the worlspaces pane and choose Select All
3. In the right pane make sure only Objects LOD and Trees LOD are enabled
4. Use the same settings as the screenshot on the right
5. Click Generate and wait until you get notified LOD generation done. Close xLODGen
6. Click the Open list options... button on top of the left pane in MO2 (not the toolbar!), and select Create empty mod
7. Name the newly created mod FNVLODGen Output - Objects, and make sure it is placed last in the left pane
8. Navigate to the output folder (the one set in the xLODGen arguments), and move both folders (Meshes and Textures) to the FNVLODGen Output - Objects mod
9. Make sure the mod is enabled by clicking the checkbox

Disabling Mods

Once LOD generation is complete, some mods that are only needed during the generation process can be disabled. Leaving them enabled may cause visual issues. But don’t forget to re-enable them before generating LOD again!

• High Priority Core
• High Priority Trees - Vanilla

Packing LOD in bsa Archives

This step is optional, but strongly recommended. This will positively affect the loading times of LOD assets in-game. There are a few caveats however:

• bsa archives require a plugin to be loaded. So the name of the archive should equal that of the plugin, with the suffix - Objects and - Terrain
• Loose files will always override archived files! Check MO2's left pane for conflicts and act accordingly to ensure the right file is conflict winner
• An .override file is necessary to allow archived files to override other archived files (a JIP LN feature)

Decision

When to pack:

• I want an optimized game and avoid potential stuttering when loading new areas in-game
• I am able to resolve asset conflicts and get rid of LOD included in other mods as loose files

When not to pack:

• I don’t want to deal with checking file conflicts

BSArchPro

A tool for packing and unpacking Bethesda archives.

1. Download the optional file BSArchPro
2. Extract the zip-archive to a folder of your choice and run BSArchPro.exe

Packing Object LOD

1. In MO2, right click on FNVLODGen Output - Objects and select Open in Explorer
2. Drag the Textures folder into BSArchPro
3. Object textures should be compressed (and only objects textures). In BSArchPro's main window, press Ctrl + a to select all files, use right click and select Set Compressed Where Applicable
4. Drag now the Meshes folder into BSArchPro, and click the Pack button
5. In the new window, make sure same options are selected as on the screenshot to the right
6. Use the ... to select the FNVLODGen Output - Objects folder, and use DUST LOD - Objects.bsa as file name
7. Click OK to pack
8. When done, a new window will appear. Click on the Create .override file(s) for New Vegas button, not the OK button
9. In BSArchPro's main window, click now the Clear Listbutton
10. Delete now both Meshes and Textures folders

Packing Terrain LOD

1. In MO2, right click on FNVLODGen Output - Terrain and select Open in Explorer
2. Drag both Meshes and Textures folder into BSArchPro. Terrain textures should not be compressed!
3. Click the Pack button
4. In the new window, make sure same options are selected as on the screenshot to the right
5. Use the ... to select the FNVLODGen Output - Terrain folder, and use DUST LOD - Terrain.bsa as file name
6. Click OK to pack
7. When done, a new window will appear. Click on the Create .override file(s) for New Vegas button, not the OK button
8. In BSArchPro's main window, click now the Clear Listbutton
9. Delete now both Meshes and Textures folders
10. This archive will overwrite the terrain LOD archive included in DUST Community Fixes & Tweaks