About The Guide
The goal of this modlist is to provide a base to build upon with mods of your own choosing, whilst providing a perfectly good experience on its own, should you choose to not go any further. Initially a remake of EXPIDITION with less crashes, more vanilla assets, less overkill ReShades, and modularity, it’s quickly become it’s own modlist.
First, Important, and Final Warning Before Starting
Support will NOT be given towards people who have modified the modlist further than what’s provided within the guide. Although this modlist is designed to give you the essentials for a smooth and relatively fun experience to build on with mods you want to use, I simply cannot and will not provide support for everyone’s modlist setups.
Pre-Requisites
- Visual C++ Runtimes
- DirectX Runtime Libraries
- A decent internet connection
- A computer that can run S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Anomaly, in the words of seargedp:
“I recommend at least 16 GB of RAM, a recent quad-core CPU and a graphics card with at least 4 GB of VRAM, ideally at least something as powerful as a GTX 970 or higher. It’s also only tested on Windows 10 and requires a 64 bit version of Windows.”
Initial Setup
This section was completely ripped off and converted from Viva New Vegas. All credits to the ModdingLinked team.
Uninstalling the Game
If you do not have the game installed yet, skip this step.
- Find where you installed
STALKER Anomaly
and delete it completely.
Installing the Game
- Download STALKER Anomaly 1.5.1
- Download STALKER Anomaly 1.5.2
- Extract it to any location outside of any default Window folders (like
Program Files x86
)
Post-Installation
Key Terminology
Now that the game is installed, there are two folders from it that will be referred to in the guide often:
- Root folder: Where the game is installed.
Example:
D:\STALKER Anomaly\
.
- gamedata folder: Where all of the game’s assets are located.
Example:
D:\STALKER Anomaly\gamedata
.
- bin folder: Where the executables and engine modifications are installed.
Example:
D:\STALKER Anomaly\bin
.
Quickly Running The Game
- Run
AnomalyLauncher.exe
from the game’sRoot
folder.
- If you do not know what the game’s
Root
folder is, read the Key Terminology section above.
- Select DirectX 10 or DirectX 11.
- If you have a lower-end PC, or want to squeeze as much performance out of the game as possible, you can select the I’d recommend DirectX 10. It offers pretty similar lighting quality for performance improvement, especially on older hardware. Using a lower DirectX version will result in crashes. Another great way to improve performance is tweaking the visuals/graphics in-game and lowering the shadow map to 1536.
- Tick the
Reset graphics settings
box. - Set the
Resolution
option to your preference. - Click the drop-down box and choose either
Borderless Windowed
orFullscreen
.
Enabling File Extensions
By default, Windows Explorer will not show file extensions (such as .exe, .dll, or .esp). These extensions are very important when going through the guide, so it is highly recommended to enable file extensions:
- Open Windows Explorer.
- Select the View tab at the top.
- Check the box next to File name extensions.
Mod Organizer 2 Setup
This section was completely ripped off and converted from Viva New Vegas. All credits to the ModdingLinked team.
Installing Mod Organizer 2
- Download the latest
Mod Organizer 2
file from here. - Once downloaded, extract it to any location outside of any default Window folders (like
Program Files x86
) and outside of the game’sRoot
folder (the installer’s default location will work).
Initial Setup
- Run
ModOrganizer.exe
. - You will be prompted with a pop-up called
Creating an instance
, in which you should just selectNext
. - On the next page, select
Create a portable instance
. - On the next page, select
STALKER Anomaly
. - On the next page, keep the
Location
file path default.
If you have MO2 installed on an SSD or a HDD with little space, you can check the Show advanced options box and change the Downloads file path to a different drive with more space. This will not affect download/game performance, and the downloads can be deleted after the mods have been installed.
- On the last page, select
Finish
. - MO2 will launch and prompt you with a pop-up called
Show tutorial?
, in which you should selectNo
. - From the pop-up called
Register?
, selectYes
.
- This pop-up will not show up if you have already registered a different instance of MO2.
Configuring Settings
- Select the
X
in the bottom right of MO2 to close the log window. - Select the
Settings
button at the top of MO2 to open the settings. - In the Theme tab, you can select a different style from the drop-down menu at the top.
- I use the
1809 Dark Mode
theme.
- In the
Nexus
tab, selectConnect to Nexus
.
- This option will not show up if you have already connected your Nexus account on a different MO2 instance.
- MO2 will open your browser and prompt you to authorize the connection.
- Once you authorize it, you can close out of your browser and of the MO2 settings.
- Allow MO2 to restart if it asks.
Creating Profiles
Mod Organizer 2’s “Profiles” feature allows for easy switching between different mod configurations. In this step, we will create a profile for the guide while keeping a strictly-vanilla profile for testing/de-bugging. Profiles can be selected via the drop-down menu above the left pane.
- Select the
Profiles
button at the top of MO2 to open the profiles menu. - Select the
Default
profile, then selectCopy
. - Name the new profile
JOURNEY
. - Select the
JOURNEY
profile and make sure bothUse profile-specific Game INI Files
is checked at the bottom.
You may get a pop-up called
INI file is read-only
when attempting to make/select a new profile. If so then selectRemember my choice
from the drop-down at the bottom then clickClear the read-only flag
.
- Exit out of the profiles menu and select the
JOURNEY
profile from the drop-down above the left pane.
Mod Installation Advice
- Click the
Download
button (or whatever the download button is for the respective site).
I recommend moving the downloaded files to your JOURNEY MO2
downloads
(i.e.JOURNEY\downloads
) folder.
- Once the download has finished, click the
Archive
button at the top of MO2. - From the new window, navigate to where the file was downloaded to and double-click it.
When downloading multiple files from the same page, you will be prompted with a box in Mod Organizer 2 with the options Merge
, Replace
, and Rename
. You should select the Rename
option and rename the mod to its respective file name. This will make MO2 install them as separate files for easier management. If you are updating from an old version of a mod, you should select Replace
. This will delete all the files from the old version of the mod and replace them,with the ones from the new version. This is the only time you should use the Replace
option, otherwise always use Rename
.
This guide will assume that from here on out you’ll know how to install the mods, and will provide mostly image-based help if the installation requires a special process. Otherwise, install as stated above.
Modlist Setup
Modded EXE Files Setup
To begin, you will need to download the Anomaly Modded EXE Files and extract the files into your root STALKER Anomaly game folder.
User Interface
Anomaly Mod Configuration Menu
Crispy Options UI
When prompted for install, select whichever options you want, but
Sliders
is the most important option.
DLTX’d Persistent MCM Configuration
Hunger, Thirst, Sleep UI
When prompted for install, select
00. UI Main
, thenOK
.
Crook’s Faction Identification UI
When prompted for install, select
00. Crook's Faction Identification UI
, thenOK
.
Unification - Patch Replacer for Crook’s Faction Identification
Instant Tooltip
Cost In Tooltip
Battery Warning
Visuals
Fixed Artefact Collision and Visuals
When prompted for install, select all options.
When prompted for install, select
Beef's NVGs
, thenOK
.
Fixed Vanilla Models & Textures
Dux’s Innumerable Character Kit
When prompted for install, select
Next
, thenInstall
.
When prompted for install, right click on
T.H.A.P. Rework 2.1.1
and set it as the directory, thenOK
.
Audio
When prompted for install, select
JSRS P.1 - Main Addon
andJSRS P.2 - Cracks + Impacts Patch - NEW
, thenOK
.
When prompted for install, select
SCO3 Addon - Anomaly Sounds
,SCO3 Addon - New Footsteps
,SCO3 Addon - New Object Sounds
,SCO3 P.1 Real Mutant Sounds
,SCO3 P.2 New Outdoor Sounds
, andSCO3 P.3 New Underground Sounds
, thenOK
.
Soundscape Overhaul - Quieter Rain
Low Health & Geiger Ticking Sounds Lowered
When prompted for install, select
GeigerVolume10dbLowered
andNoLowHealthSound
, thenOK
.
Noodlesmile’s Better Controller Tinnitus
Gunplay
Simple Unjam Animation
Lowered Sprinting Animations Optimized
Private’s Gun Reposition
When prompted for install, hit
Next
through the installer, selecthud fov 0.65
, any and all weapons, thenInstall
.
Vanilla Weapons Resmoothed & Relensed
Sights Without Dirt/Clean Sights
Better Red Dots For Default Weapons
Parallax Reflex Sights
Overheat Gunsmoke
When prompted for install, select
Modded Exes version
, thenOK
.
Gameplay
Renegade Recreation Mod
Sin Upgrade Software
Sin Upgrade Software - DICK Patch
Trader Overhaul Complete
When prompted for install, don’t do a BAIN install. Instead, do a manual and right click on
1.5.2 Update Version\Optional files\Trader Overhaul - Outfit Version\
and set it as the directory.
RF Receiver Hidden Package Sidequests
Bounty Squads Expanded
Stealth
When prompted for install, select
Stealth_2.3
, thenOK
. Machine Pistols & Sawn Off in Sidearm Slot
When prompted for install, select00 Vanilla DLTX
, thenOK
.
Tweaks
When prompted for install, select
Install
.
When prompted for install, select all options, then
Install
.
Crafting With Multi-Use Items Fix
When prompted for install, right click on
Main
and set it as the directory, thenOK
.
UNISG Hollow Boundaries Fixes
Fixed Player Thermal Resistance
He Is With Me
Angry Chimera Growls
Coordinate Based Safe Zones
Fairer Thermal Anomalies
Companions Deactivate Headlamps When In Stealth
475 New Stash Locations
Bugged Stashes Fix
Transition Between Locations Without Confirmation
Animations
Torch Animation Fixed
Camera Reanimation Project - I.N.E.R.T.I.A.
Damien’s Animation Compendium
When prompted for install, select
OK
.
Food, Drug and Drinks Animations
When prompted for install, select
Install
.
FDDA Enhanced Animations - Food and Drinks
When prompted for install, hit
Next
through the installer, thenInstall
.
FDDA Enhanced animations - Medical / Exo Anims
Cooking Animation System
When prompted for install, hit
Next
through the installer, thenInstall
.
Final Steps
All the tweaks to make the game just a little more playable. Increases your FOV, disables unnecessary animations, disables crosshair, and unlocks the rest of the factions from the start.
Additional Notes
- Glossy Surfaces and Water SSR and Enhanced Shaders were removed for compatibility reasons, ease of installation, and more performance. You are free to install these mods as long as you understand that this NULLS the support you’ll receive for the mod list. It is a simple addition and you will need to reinstall Beef’s NVGs for it to work properly.
Optional Mods
Azazel Mods [OPTIONAL]
Warfare Mods [OPTIONAL]
When prompted for install, select
OK
. Hawkie’s Warfare Mechanic Fix
ReShade [OPTIONAL]
- Download ReShade
- Install ReShade by going into your S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Anomaly
bin
folder and choosing the DX version you use. - Install any of these presets into your
bin
folder.
For a classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. feel.
For the Misery feel. (Disable the border.fx)