question about merging with gecko

[l0new0lf331]

hello again!

i was wondering about merging plugins with gecko.

when i tried merging all my armor mods,i merged them all with success,removed the .esp's from my data folder to make room,and when i went into game it said "this game relies on content no loger present"and none of the aromor's were there.so my question is this....do i remove the .esp's,hide them with wrye bash,or should i leave them in but inactive.thank you!

[InsanitySorrow]

Moved to the Study Hall

[Arthmoor]

Any time you do a merge with Gecko, that's going to happen. The way the game works you can't expect to take several distinct mods, combine them together, and have everything work. Your save tracks everything in it by the names of the mods they came from, and in turn, each mod has a list of ID values that go with it. When you merged, all those IDs got consolidated into a single file under a new name. So the game has no choice but to treat it as an entirely different mod.

This is of course fine as long as you do the merge BEFORE you've started using the data. You can merge all you like there, with limits, and not have these kinds of problems. The second you begin doing so after having played with them for awhile, all bets are off and as you found, merging can end up being hazardous to your collection.

[Khettienna]

You can actually use Wrye Bash to redirect the plugin dependencies of your saves. It's hit or miss with merges, as you don't get to pick whether or not the FormID's are preserved or re-assigned, but it's worth a shot.

First, back up your saves just in case.

From the Saves tab, right-click on your most recent save. There will be a plugin list on the right. Right-click any that you merged, choose "Change to..." and point to the merged .esp. Then save your changes after each. That may rescue some of your items.

[Hanaisse]

This is an interesting question and something I've been wondering myself.

Even if the 'existing' armour is gone, would it not be in random chest somewhere again, same as it was in each old esp, due to the new esp? One would just have to go get it again?

[Arthmoor]

Yes, if that Wrye Bash trick doesn't work ( wasn't aware it was that powerful ) then all you'd have to do is go back to where the item was originally to get it again.

[l0new0lf331]

allright i'll try it again.need to clear up some slots now......267 mods total,33 merged(wrye bash)and about 25-30 of the mods armor mods.will first attempt merging and going into game to see if i just have to get it all back,if not i'll do the wyre bash thing,which is what i should probably do to preserve my save game.thanks guys!

edit.but what about the old(original)

.esp's?leave them,hide them,or remove from data folder?

Edited November 19, 2010 by l0new0lf331

[Khettienna]

Remove them from the Data folder if they're just duplicating stuff that you've merged already. Just drop 'em in a temp folder for safekeeping till you've got it all figured out.