Yes, I use it, 50 mods currently. Works best for anything going in the override folder, texture packs in particular, but I have also unpacked .dazip files and loaded them as overrides with success. Helps to study up on DAO mods and file locations so you really understand what going on with each mod. There are some exceptions that MO2 might not be able to handle. I'm not convinced MO2 is the best way to go but I have used it for years for all my games so for me it's kind of second nature. I use lots of textures and find the MO2 tools for comparing and prioritizing to be invaluable. Someone new to MO2 though it's going to be harder, maybe harder than just doing it manually. The nice thing about MO2 though is that as a virtual file system you can't really screw things up, since you are not modifying the actual game installation directory. Might hose an in progress game save though so best to play with a new starter game just to get things running smoothly before diving in too deep.
P.S. I have not used MO2 to install this mod. It's a .dazip and so may or may not be able to work through MO2 - no way to know with unpacking it and seeing if it will work as an override. Most .dazips will but not all. But was just here looking and saw your question.
I wouldn't recommend using MO2 for DAO, since it appears it cannot correctly install DAzip mods, one of the three types of mods for the game (DAzip, manual overrride, .override packages).
DAO-ModManager can be used for DAzip and .override mods. DAModder can be used for DAzips and manual overrides, but not .override packages. (DAO-MM is the only way to install and configure .overrides.)
The official Nexus mod manager, Vortex, has a inconsistent record of working for DAO.
So MO2 isn't any good in your opinion then? What's the best way to install mods then other than .dazip? I'm using DAModder for those few, it's just trying to get every other mod working right that's driving me mad (both literally and figuratively). I can get some working some of the time but then the game randomly bugs out, blackscreens or crashes, or a mod I want isn't playing ball. And every time I have a mod issue then it's back to new game and starting the whole process over again. I've tried manually downloading the mod and extracting, going through winrar, using DAO-MM, DAM, NMM. Oh yeah, I don't have a bin_ship folder either. Sorry for the barrage of problems but I'm really close to saying screw it, giving up on PC and going back to console. I want to get mods working but it isn't worth making myself loath the game and everything associated with it. I've spent 30 hours in game and I haven't even got to Ostagar bar once when it promptly crashed. Am I doing something massively wrong or am I just dumb? Feels like both at this point.
If the game is installed, you have a bin_ship folder. That's the subfolder under 'Dragon Age' where the program executable is installed.
There are two installer created 'Dragon Age' folders for the game. One is where the actual game program is located, which will be dependent on wherever you opted to install the game. (That's where the bin_ship folder is.) The second is a subfolder under 'Documents'; that's where the game stores save files and settings, and where mods are installed.
ModOrganizer 2 is a fine choice for modding some games - I've personally used it for to mod Fallout4 and Skyrim - but if it cannot correctly install DAzip mods, then it doesn't work for Dragon Age: Origins.
DAModder is fine, at least for installing DAzips and manual overrides, but it can't handle .override mods like NBaio. It also has a random bug with uninstalling mods, and can leave behind some files, causing issues. (Installing mods for DAO can be a bit confusing at first, since there are three kinds of mod for the game, each with it's own install method.)
DAO-ModManager can install DAzip mods and .override mods, but not manual overrides. DAO-MM is more reliable when uninstalling DAzip mods.
I've never used Vortex (or the predecessor NMM), but I do know that initially at least, Vortex had a horrible bug with regard to DAzip mods, where it would ruin the entire install by deleting every DAzip (including official DLC) from the AddIns.XML file except the last mod added.
I've been modding DAO since 2010, and my setup is
install DAzip mods with either daupdater.exe or DAO-ModManager
install manual override by copy/pasting files into override folder
install .override mods with DAO-ModManager
As for crashing/blackscreens, the game has a memory leak bug which was never addressed, and so certain kinds of mods can cause problems... high resolution textures and heavily scripted mods will strain the game's engine and should be avoided if any performance issues exist. And crashing, blackscreens, etc. can be caused by things other than mods, and will even occur in a vanilla, unmodded install.
Is the game patched to use more than 2GB of memory? (The method differs according to the source of the game. EA download or physical media can use either 4GB patch or LAA. The Steam version of the game requires a special procedure to patch, due to the encrypted executable; search on something like 'dragon age origins steam 4gb patch'. The GOG version of the game is pre-patched, and should not be re=patched.)
Have you tried running the game using a Windows compatibility mode, to 'emulate' an OS environment closer to what the game was originally intended to run under?
Are all overlay programs, like Steam/EA/GOG 'in-game' features disabled? Even screen or video capture overlay programs can cause issues with the game.
FYI to everyone here: This mod introduces a bug during the rescue at Fort Drakon. No matter which party members you choose for the rescue, one member will disappear right at the beginning after you pick which two members to come rescue to the PC. I disabled and removed this mod then the quest worked as expected. I know the mod author probably won't read this comment and has long since moved on from modding DA:O, but I figured I'd let everyone here know about the bug.
But even if it doesn't explicitly say so, it's just common sense to assume so, simply because this "Extra Dog slot" mod uses the summon ability from the game to add Dog as a 4th companion.
honestly i mostly made this comment so anyone looking around could easily see it without having to test themselves. i need things said pretty clearly for me or i won't understand, so i figured it would be helpful. i wasn't expecting to upset a couple people lol
I came here because the mod page was unclear and I wanted to check to see if it interfered with ranger summons. So this actually was incredibly helpful, thanks. You should feel vindicated
It seems like my dog died? He's lying in camp like I can loot him and I can't interact with him at all. I can't call him with the dog whistle either but I can add him to the party still
So i had a really strange issue i downloaded this mod before i made my character and basically it broke my game. when i met alistair he was invisible and all his cutscenbes with dialogue in the wilds he was invisible. then when i got to Lothering i couldnt recruit any of the allies. even the dog when i met it on the road the game would repeat the same dialogue over and over as if i was trying to recruit them. they never showed up in the party screen or at camp. deleted everything with a fresh install and downloaded every mod i had but this one and a specialization mod and now im successfully able to recruit leliana (started a new game and used console commands to get to lothering to save time to see if it was still bugged) dont know if its because i added the mod too early or what but yeah pretty damn sure this broke my game
I mean,, you don't get the dogs party banter, and if you dont disable the mod during certain quests, it bugs the game and prevents progress. I'd give it maybe a 7/10 at the most.
Make sure to NOT summon the dog before the final battle,or at least for me,I experienced a bug where I couldnt go on to the next area due to duplicate of your hound.
I had to load up a save file from before the last battle to despawn the dog and it worked,otherwise there was no way to finish the game.
886 comments
P.S. I have not used MO2 to install this mod. It's a .dazip and so may or may not be able to work through MO2 - no way to know with unpacking it and seeing if it will work as an override. Most .dazips will but not all. But was just here looking and saw your question.
I wouldn't recommend using MO2 for DAO, since it appears it cannot correctly install DAzip mods, one of the three types of mods for the game (DAzip, manual overrride, .override packages).
DAO-ModManager can be used for DAzip and .override mods. DAModder can be used for DAzips and manual overrides, but not .override packages. (DAO-MM is the only way to install and configure .overrides.)
The official Nexus mod manager, Vortex, has a inconsistent record of working for DAO.
Suggested reading:
Installing Dragon Age mods
Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies
Installing cosmetic mods for Dragon Age
Oh yeah, I don't have a bin_ship folder either.
Sorry for the barrage of problems but I'm really close to saying screw it, giving up on PC and going back to console. I want to get mods working but it isn't worth making myself loath the game and everything associated with it. I've spent 30 hours in game and I haven't even got to Ostagar bar once when it promptly crashed. Am I doing something massively wrong or am I just dumb? Feels like both at this point.
There are two installer created 'Dragon Age' folders for the game. One is where the actual game program is located, which will be dependent on wherever you opted to install the game. (That's where the bin_ship folder is.) The second is a subfolder under 'Documents'; that's where the game stores save files and settings, and where mods are installed.
ModOrganizer 2 is a fine choice for modding some games - I've personally used it for to mod Fallout4 and Skyrim - but if it cannot correctly install DAzip mods, then it doesn't work for Dragon Age: Origins.
DAModder is fine, at least for installing DAzips and manual overrides, but it can't handle .override mods like NBaio. It also has a random bug with uninstalling mods, and can leave behind some files, causing issues. (Installing mods for DAO can be a bit confusing at first, since there are three kinds of mod for the game, each with it's own install method.)
DAO-ModManager can install DAzip mods and .override mods, but not manual overrides. DAO-MM is more reliable when uninstalling DAzip mods.
I've never used Vortex (or the predecessor NMM), but I do know that initially at least, Vortex had a horrible bug with regard to DAzip mods, where it would ruin the entire install by deleting every DAzip (including official DLC) from the AddIns.XML file except the last mod added.
I've been modding DAO since 2010, and my setup is
As for crashing/blackscreens, the game has a memory leak bug which was never addressed, and so certain kinds of mods can cause problems... high resolution textures and heavily scripted mods will strain the game's engine and should be avoided if any performance issues exist. And crashing, blackscreens, etc. can be caused by things other than mods, and will even occur in a vanilla, unmodded install.
Is the game patched to use more than 2GB of memory? (The method differs according to the source of the game. EA download or physical media can use either 4GB patch or LAA. The Steam version of the game requires a special procedure to patch, due to the encrypted executable; search on something like 'dragon age origins steam 4gb patch'. The GOG version of the game is pre-patched, and should not be re=patched.)
Have you tried running the game using a Windows compatibility mode, to 'emulate' an OS environment closer to what the game was originally intended to run under?
Are all overlay programs, like Steam/EA/GOG 'in-game' features disabled? Even screen or video capture overlay programs can cause issues with the game.
This mod introduces a bug during the rescue at Fort Drakon. No matter which party members you choose for the rescue, one member will disappear right at the beginning after you pick which two members to come rescue to the PC. I disabled and removed this mod then the quest worked as expected. I know the mod author probably won't read this comment and has long since moved on from modding DA:O, but I figured I'd let everyone here know about the bug.
same
Always make Dog is still alive after a battle, and before travelling. If the party zones with him dead, there's no way to revive him.
10/10
I didn't have any of these problems
I had to load up a save file from before the last battle to despawn the dog and it worked,otherwise there was no way to finish the game.