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Creation Kit - Official Modding Tool

Bethesda's official modding tool for creating and editing Fallout 4 content.

Table of Contents

What is the Creation Kit?

The Creation Kit is Bethesda's official modding tool that allows you to create, edit, and modify game content including quests, NPCs, items, and world spaces.

Creation Kit's powerful modding interface for creating game content

Installation

Get the Creation Kit installed and ready for modding.

  1. Open Steam - Launch Steam and go to your Library
  2. Find Fallout 4 - Locate "Fallout 4" in your games list
  3. Install Creation Kit - Look for "Fallout 4 Creation Kit" in the DLC section and install it (it's free)

System Requirements

  • Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
  • 8GB RAM minimum (16GB recommended)
  • DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
  • At least 10GB free disk space

Getting Started

Learn the basics of using the Creation Kit interface and workflow.

  1. First Launch - Select "Fallout4.esm" as your master file, choose "Set as Active File" to create a new plugin, or select an existing plugin to edit
  2. Interface Overview - Familiarize yourself with the key windows: Object Window, Render Window, Cell View, and Properties Window

Key Windows

  • Object Window: Browse and select game objects
  • Render Window: 3D view of the game world
  • Cell View: Navigate between different game cells
  • Properties Window: Edit object properties

Creation Kit Tutorial Video

Complete Creation Kit tutorial by Bethesda Mod School

Basic Workflow

Learn the fundamental tasks for creating and editing content in the Creation Kit.

Creating a Simple Item

  1. Open Object Window - Navigate to Items > MiscItem
  2. Create New Item - Right-click and select "New"
  3. Configure Properties - Set Editor ID, name, value, and weight
  4. Save Plugin - Save your plugin to preserve changes

Editing NPCs

  1. Find NPC - Go to Actors > Actor in Object Window
  2. Open Properties - Double-click to open the properties
  3. Modify Settings - Change stats, inventory, or appearance
  4. Save Changes - Save your plugin to preserve changes

World Editing

Navigate to Location

Use Cell View to navigate to a location

Open in Render Window

Double-click to open in Render Window

Edit Objects

Add, remove, or move objects using the toolbar

Advanced Features

Take your modding to the next level with these advanced Creation Kit features.

Quest Creation

Creating quests involves several key steps:

  1. Create New Quest - Create a new Quest in the Object Window
  2. Set Up Stages - Set up quest stages and objectives
  3. Add Dialogue - Add dialogue and NPC interactions
  4. Configure Rewards - Configure quest rewards and conditions

Scripting with Papyrus

The Creation Kit includes a built-in script editor for Papyrus:

  1. Access Script Editor - Access via File > New > Script
  2. Write Code - Write Papyrus code for custom functionality
  3. Attach Scripts - Attach scripts to objects, NPCs, or quests
  4. Compile Scripts - Compile scripts within the Kit

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to create high-quality, stable mods.

Important Tips

  • Always work on a copy of your plugin
  • Test your mod frequently
  • Use descriptive Editor IDs
  • Keep backups of your work
  • Read the Creation Kit documentation

Naming Conventions

Use consistent naming for your mods:

  • Prefix your Editor IDs with your initials
  • Use descriptive names (e.g., "MyMod_UniqueSword")
  • Avoid spaces in Editor IDs

Testing Your Mod

  1. Save Plugin - Save your plugin
  2. Launch Game - Launch Fallout 4
  3. Enable Mod - Enable your mod in the launcher
  4. Test Thoroughly - Test all functionality thoroughly
  5. Check Conflicts - Check for conflicts with other mods

Common Issues

Troubleshoot common problems you might encounter with the Creation Kit.

Creation Kit Won't Start

If the Creation Kit won't launch:

  1. Right-click and select "Run as administrator"
  2. Check Windows compatibility settings
  3. Verify game files in Steam
  4. Update graphics drivers

Render Window Issues

If the 3D view isn't working:

  1. Check your graphics card drivers
  2. Try different render settings
  3. Restart the Creation Kit

Learning Resources

Essential resources for mastering the Creation Kit and advancing your modding skills.

Official Documentation

Community Resources

  • Creation Kit tutorials on YouTube
  • Modding forums and communities
  • Example mods for reference

Next Steps

Continue your modding journey with these related topics:

Papyrus Scripting

Learn to create custom scripts for your mods

Learn More
xEdit

Master conflict resolution and mod cleaning

Learn More
Communities

Join modding communities for help and collaboration

Learn More

Ready to Create!

You now have the foundation to start creating content with the Creation Kit. Start with simple items and gradually work your way up to more complex projects like quests and world spaces.