Fallout 2 is fun, right? Yes it is but there are plenty of fun mods out there that can add more fun, features, and replayability. And I, Natsuki Subaru, am back to tell you that you should try these mods out along with following my guide to increasing the level cap so you can get the most out of your Fallout 2 Experience.

Before you add any mods, you'll want to install the Fallout 2 Restoration Project Updated from GitHub: https://github.com/BGforgeNet/Fallout2_Restoration_Project?tab=readme-ov-file#installation
Click on the link and follow the installation instructions.
Once you've installed RPU, we can move onto the mods that I recommend for your playthrough.

Here is my list of recommended mods. I'll devote sections on installing these mods as well as the mods list txt documents:

Fallout 2 Tweaks: https://github.com/BGforgeNet/fo2tweaks
ACE-Supercomputer Enhanced: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout2/mods/38
Restoration Project - Companion Expansion: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout2/mods/70

Fallout 2 Tweaks adds a whole bunch of QoL improvements such as the ability to have virtually unlimited carry weight (making the Small Frame Trait into a buff rather than a trade-off), Unlimited Party Members (save for those companions you can get in Companion Expansion), opening doors automatically without having to interact with them (as long as they are not locked), and so much more!

ACE-SE enables you to increase all of your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats up to 10! Some stats like Charisma and Strength will still require the memory module but the modules will no longer be consumed upon use.

Companions Expansion adds new companions to the game along with enabling existing characters from Vanilla to join your party! (Under certain conditions, of course.)

New companions include:
Ceri, Metziger's over-eager slave who is essentially Miria 2.0. Exchange another slave for her or kill her precious "Metzy-Getzy" for her to join you. She can be asked what she thinks about the other companions in the party and gives unique responses depending on who you are asking her about. She absolutely hates, HATES Miria. I'm pretty sure if Ceri could kill Miria and get away with it, she would.
"Red-Knuckle" Rhea, a red-headed Melee/Unarmed female vigilante who seeks to destroy all evil in the Wasteland with her fists! You gotta be a very good boi or gurl for her to join you.
And a couple others.

Vanilla characters who have been added/tweaked include:
Lara from the Den. You have to help her finish her quest then kill Metizger in order for her to join your party. Tip: Kill Metziger shortly after finishing her quest. Don't wait around or she may never join you.
Doc Jones from Vault 15. Unable to fight but is a powerful healer. Liberate Vault 15 so he'll join you.
Angela Bishop. John and Leslie Anne Bishop's hyper-fertile daughter with powerful hormonal tendencies and "Princess" of New Reno! (if you play as a man, which I highly recommend you do.) She is the most complex party member with nearly 40 pages of script to her name so far, she’s being built up to react to almost any situation you can think of. She will join you if you're a Bishop-Made-Man/Woman (Male or Female) or you kill John Bishop in a way looks like an accident (Male only), then, pass a Charisma check (6-7, accordingly), a speech check (80-120), or have the Sex Appeal Trait/Sexpert Reputation (if Male).
Miria. No longer a useless boat anchor once you marry her! She can level up 6 times, becomes skilled in many different weapons, can be told to wait when you need to undertake certain missions alone (don't keep her waiting too long though). Also, if you have Angela in the party, be sure to give Miria plenty of "attention" or she'll get very jealous and may quit. Trust me, Miria is way, way, way more useful in this mod than Vanilla so don't get rid of her or let her die. I'm pretty sure her brother is still useless though. If Ceri is in the party and you ask her what she thinks of Miria, Ceri will shout about how much she HATES Miria. If you make-out with Angela, Miria may spout some angry dialogue bubbles but she can be made happy again if you make-out with her, Miria.

There are some other Vanilla Characters you can recruit but you'll have to check the mod page to find out more. It's a wonderful mod that I cannot recommend enough.

Here are some new mods that I can fully recommend without any reservations! For those who were here earlier, I could not recommend the Talking Heads mods as they broke my game and made it unplayable. Now, I'm here to tell you that I can fully recommend them and I found some new ones you should absolutely install!

Restoration Project - Talking Heads Addon: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout2/mods/45
Restoration Project - Talking Heads Actually Talk (THAT) Mod: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout2/mods/67
A Perk Every (Two) Level(s): https://www.nma-fallout.com/threads/get-a-perk-at-each-level.215408/
FALCHE 2: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout2/mods/71
Inventory Filter: https://github.com/rotators/InventoryFilter?tab=readme-ov-file

Talking Heads Addon provides hundreds of new portraits for NPCs who don't have one which adds a new level of immersion to all playthorughs! And its counterpart, Talking Heads Actually Talk (THAT) Mod, adds voices to many (but not all) of the new portraits. THA is also compatible with the Companions Expansion mod which is even more exciting! Follow the installation instructions on the web page but also make sure that the mod_load_order file has the mods in the correct order or you will suffer like I did.


Here is GoatBoy11's Mod Load Order List:
rpu.dat
party_orders.dat
npc_armor.dat
rpu_enhanced_worldmap.dat
rpu_extended_flamer.dat
rpu_rifle_animations.dat
rpu_wakizashi_animations.dat
cassidy_head.dat
cassidy_voice_joey_bracken_hq.dat
rpu_improved_mysterious_stranger.dat
walk_speed_fix_low_fps.dat
goris_fast_derobing_low_fps.dat
talking_heads.dat
talking_heads_audio.dat
x_rpu_companion_expansion.dat
x_rpu_companion_expansion_v50_hotfix.dat
fo2tweaks.dat
InventoryFilter.dat

And here is mine:
rpu.dat
party_orders.dat
npc_armor.dat
rpu_enhanced_worldmap.dat
rpu_extended_flamer.dat
rpu_rifle_animations.dat
rpu_wakizashi_animations.dat
cassidy_head.dat
cassidy_voice_joey_bracken_hq.dat
f2_res.dat
rpu_improved_mysterious_stranger.dat
talking_heads.dat
talking_heads_audio.dat
ZACEEnhanced.dat
ZACEQSC.dat
x_rpu_companion_expansion.dat
x_rpu_companion_expansion_v50_hotfix.dat
fo2tweaks.dat
InventoryFilter.dat


Now onto the new mods!

A Perk Every (Two) Level(s):
In my playthroughs, I started getting frustrated with only being limited to a certain number of perks every 3-4 levels and wanted more without a Character Editor (coming soon) but it seemed hopeless. Eventually, I looked it up and discovered that there was a site called "No Mutants Allowed" and one of the members had made a new Scripting file that dished out a perk every level! I was thrilled at this discovery! Now, this is not a true "mod" and you can't install it like any other mod. You must follow these steps to add it to your game:

Requirements:
Any Fallout 2 installation (incl. RP) with SFall enabled.

Installation:
Extract GL_PerkFreq.int into Fallout 2\data\scripts\ folder.

And, Ta-Da! You can now gain a perk at every single level! Addendum: You won't gain a perk at the first two levels though.

Now for a Fallout Character Editor! This is for those who wish to experiment or just rule the wasteland as it burns. How to install? Simple: Just show it the location of your fallout 2 directory and go.

Last mod! Don't you just hate how messy your inventory can get at times? Especially when you use the "infinite inventory" tweak with Fallout 2 Tweaks? Well, "Inventory Filter" provides tabs to filter out whatever you're looking for without having to scroll for so long. It also works on merchants and party members too so you can have a less stressful experience! While it is on NexusMods, I can't recommend it as its in Russia and NexusMods is very anti-Russian at the mo' so download it off of GitHub here: https://github.com/rotators/InventoryFilter?tab=readme-ov-file

Once you have RPU installed, install Fallout 2 Tweaks first.

Step 1: Download fo2tweaks_v*.zip from the latest release page
Step 2: Unzip the archive into main game directory. FO2tweaks requires sfall (ddraw.dll) version 4.1.3+, it's shipped with the mod. If you have RPU installed, DO NOT overwrite the ddraw.dll when extracting the archive! IT WILL BREAK THE GAME AND YOU WILL HAVE TO RE-INSTALL RPU!!!!!
Step 3: Edit mods/fo2tweaks.ini to enable, disable or fine tune components as you desire. I will provide a list of things I enabled/disabled if you want to know what I like to tweak.
Step 4: If mods/mods_order.txt file exists, ensure that fo2tweaks.dat line is present in it. Make sure that there is no semi-colon in front of it or the mod will be disabled.

; Ignore target AC when attacking with a grenade, allow to toss grenades into empty hexes. Refer to the corresponding section for fine tuning.
improved_grenades=1

; Molotov does fire damage
molotov_fire=1

; enable bottomless trunk
trunk_space=1

; automatically open/walk through unlocked doors when not in combat
autodoors=1

; (virtually) unlimited carry weight
carry_weight=1

; level 5 after completing temple of trials
level5=1
(If you are using Subaru's Leveling System with this tweak enabled, you'll finish ToT at either level 15 or 16 depending on how much XP you've grinded for in ToT.)

; display current ammo type in an infobox during combat
ammobox=1

; expanded highlighting mod. Disable default sfall highlighting is you're using this (delete data/scripts/gl_highlighting.int if present).
highlighting=1
(It will let you know which containers/corpses are locked/have loot/have no loot, etc.)

; dude automatically reloads both weapons at the end of combat
auto_reload=1

; party npc level will match player level more closely
party_level_match=1
(Does not apply to Companions Expansion Mod. You will still need to grind for XP so your new companions from the mod can level up or make a change to the code so the new companions from CEM will auto level-up to match your level more closely.)

; don't check *charisma* limit when joining the party. All other checks (karma, quests, etc) are intact!
unlimited_party=1
(Does not apply to Companions Expansion Mod. You will have to figure this out yourself as you experiment in your playthroughs. Miria will be still join regardless of how many companions.)

; enable if you find some areas too dark. Map light level will never go below this percentage. Recommended value is 49.

; Increase run speed for PC (when wearing armor) and/or party members. Helps with Marcus/Lenny/Skynet lagging behind. You must set UseFileSystemOverride=1 in ddraw.ini for this to work.
run_speed=1

; Critters getting melted, exploded, burned to ashes won't drop their whole inventory to the ground, instead allowing to loot the remains normally.
no_drop_items_on_death=1

Make other changes as you please.
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Now onto ACE-Supercompuer Enhanced!
Step 1: Download ACEQSC1.0.
Step 2: Unzip it into the mods folder.
Step 3: Make sure that ZACEQSC.dat is at the very bottom of the mods_order.txt file and that there is no semi-colon in front of it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now onto Companions Expansion!
Step 1: Download RPU - Companion Expansion
Step 2: Extract all files into the "Mods" folder in the main Fallout 2 directory. Replace "npcarmor.ini" if asked to.
Step 3: If "mods_order.txt" is present in the "Mods" folder open it and, if not present, add the line "x_rpu_companion_expansion.dat" (no quotes) towards the bottom. It MUST be underneath "RPU.dat" and "talking_heads.dat", the latter if using RPU - Talking Heads Addon.

Now here is a tip that ONLY works if you are using the Companions Expansion Mod/CEM. Say you want the companions in CEM to auto-level-up when they join your party. Follow these steps after you've installed CEM:
Step 1: Open fo2tweaks.ini
Step 2: Scroll down to [party_level_match]
Step 3: Make a space underneath "; Goris
16777368=10,3"
Step 4: Paste the following:
"; Miria
16777380=6,3
; Lara
16777767=6,3
; Ceri
16777766=6,3
;Lil Jesus
16777785=9,3
;Chris Wright
16777797=9,3
;Angela Bishop
16777790=9,3
;Mason
16777802=9,3
;Rhea
16777772=10,3"
Step 5: It should look like this:
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Finally, your mods_order should look something like this:

Trying to sort out the best mods for me was a lot of trial, error, and even heartbreak. Still, I'm glad that I was able to bring you this list and I hope that it will motivate you to give Fallout 2 another try. Just be sure to install my Leveling System (Link: https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3109736504) before you install the mods so you can make the most of the fun you will have from these mods. If I find any other mods which pique my interest, I shall add them to this guide for you to see.

Now get out there and conquer the Wasteland! DEUS VULT!
Natsuki Subaru Signing Off!