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Documentation & Reference

Official documentation, reference materials, and technical specifications for Fallout 4 modding.

Table of Contents

Reference Materials

This section contains official documentation, API references, and technical specifications for all aspects of Fallout 4 modding.

Official Bethesda Documentation

Comprehensive official documentation from Bethesda for all modding tools and systems.

Creation Kit Documentation

  • Creation Kit Wiki
  • Object Reference Guide
  • Quest Creation Documentation
  • World Space Editing Guide
  • NPC and Actor Documentation

Papyrus Scripting Reference

  • Papyrus Language Reference
  • Function Library Documentation
  • Event System Reference
  • Property and Variable Types
  • Best Practices Guide

File Format Documentation

Technical specifications for all file formats used in Fallout 4 modding.

Game File Formats

  • .esm/.esp: Plugin file format specification
  • .nif: NetImmerse/Gamebryo mesh format
  • .dds: DirectDraw Surface texture format
  • .bsa: Bethesda Archive format
  • .hkx: Havok animation format

Archive Formats

  • BSA Archive Structure
  • BA2 Archive Format (Fallout 4)
  • Archive2 Tool Documentation
  • Compression Methods

API References

Complete API documentation for Papyrus scripting and Creation Kit functions.

Papyrus API

  • Core Game Functions
  • Actor and Object References
  • Quest and Event Systems
  • UI and Menu Functions
  • Utility and Math Functions

Creation Kit API

  • Object Creation Functions
  • Property Modification Methods
  • Form and Reference Management
  • Editor-Specific Functions

Technical Specifications

Performance guidelines and technical limits for Fallout 4 modding.

Performance Guidelines

  • Memory Usage Limits
  • Script Performance Optimization
  • Texture Size Recommendations
  • Polygon Count Guidelines
  • LOD (Level of Detail) Requirements

Compatibility Standards

  • Form ID Management
  • Load Order Requirements
  • Dependency Management
  • Version Compatibility
  • Platform-Specific Considerations

Community Documentation

Community-created guides and tool documentation for Fallout 4 modding.

Community Guides

  • Modding Best Practices
  • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Performance Optimization
  • Asset Creation Workflows
  • Quality Assurance Checklists

Tool Documentation

Development Resources

SDKs, tools, and resources for advanced mod development.

SDK and Tools

  • Creation Kit SDK
  • Papyrus Compiler
  • Archive2 Command Line Tools
  • NifTools Suite
  • Third-Party Development Tools

Debugging and Testing

  • Papyrus Debugging Tools
  • Performance Profiling
  • Memory Leak Detection
  • Automated Testing Frameworks
  • Quality Assurance Tools

Version History

Track changes and updates across Fallout 4 and modding tools.

Game Updates

  • Fallout 4 Version History
  • Creation Kit Updates
  • Script Extender Versions
  • Breaking Changes Log
  • Migration Guides

Next Steps

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