What mods should I get?

[ejimsmith]

I've posted a similar post today, forgive my repetitiveness.  I just want a bit of a jumpstart to get what I think would give me the most fun with KSP.   What parts and add-ons are people most into now?  I trust there's a similar thread I can be referred to?

Thanks!

[Hysterrics]

Honestly, browse Kerbal Stuff and CKAN. There are many mods and you can't really say what you will find the most fun.

[War Eagle 1]

If you are into military stuff try BD Armory by BahamotoD. Its a weapons pack that also lets you fight enemy AIs and soon™ he will be adding an ability to fly in formations like actually fighter squadrons.

Two mods I would defiantly recommend though hyper edit, and vessel mover as they are great for moving crafts around and testing them without having to do all the time consuming work to get ready to test them (ex….want to test shuttle reentry? hyper edit puts the craft in orbit so you don't have to do all the launching)

if none of those sound interesting check out this guy on youtube as he does mod reviews
https://www.youtube.com/user/KottabosGames/featured

[Apollo13]

Mech Jeb 2.  Real space missions fly with a flight computer.  MJ2 provides the flight computer KSP failed to incorporate.  Even if you don't use MJ2 to fly your vessel, it's real value is planning flight maneuvers; the Maneuver Editor is excellent.  Also, I suggest Kerbal Alarm Clock (KAC), KDATA, and EditorExdtensionsRedux.  Finally, to extend your Science experience, go with StationScience.  Add Misson Controller 2 as well for more missions, including historical missions.

MJ2, KAC, and KDATA are my personal MUST HAVE.  Otherwise, I don't play.  YMMV

Finally, Scott Manley does a lot of reviews on YouTube.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Apollo13

[tg626]

My List:

• Blizzy's Toolbar (used by mods)
• Evironmental Visual Enhancements (Clouds, Citylights)
• Chatterer (Adds Radio traffic and other sound fx)
• *Docking Sounds (Adds docking / undocking sounds)
• Engine Lighting (Engines now cast light when firing)
• *Docking Target (Adds docking crosshairs to standard docking ports, handy when used with the next mod)
• Hull Camera VDS (adds camera parts AND a camera view to all docking ports)
• Mechjeb (Flight controller / Autopilot)
• Docking Port Alignment Indicator (Popup window with docking alignment)
• RCS Sounds (does what you think)
• StageRecovery (allows recovery of parts that "disappear" before reaching the surface)
• Stock Bug Fix (Lots of tweaks, fully configurable in game)
• Stock Clamshell Fairings (Makes the stock fairings split off in vertical strips rather then blowing into a cloud of "confetti")
• Texture Replacer (Does alot, I have colored spacesuits and head textures.  Engineers are Red, Pilots are Yellow, Scientists are Blue - Jeb and Val have stock heads, everyone else is different.  This mod also adds reflections to helmet visors and removes the helmets when kerbals are in safe situations)
  • I think these are the suits
  • Female Kerbal Variety (Head Textures) - Diverse Kerbal Heads (I had to pull the male heads from Diverse Kerbal Heads and combine them with the Female Kerbal Variety.

I also use Kronal Vessel Viewer for "diagram" shots of my better craft, but it has memory issues so I ONLY load it when I want to do a photoshoot, and leave it unloaded when playing the game.

* Mods of my own creation

Edited December 10, 2015 by tg626

[Ehco Corrallo]

BDArmory is awesome and totally worth checking out. It can be distracting however; you don't go into space for a while after installing it. 

Hyperedit is incredibly helpful for testing landers and rovers and suchlike on other planets before you bother dragging them there. 

Kerbal Joint Reinforcement is good if you're tired of wobbly craft. 

Chatterer adds a very nice audio layer to your missions, and it's totally customizable. 

I played with KIS (Kerbal Inventory System) and KAS (Kerbal Attachment System) for a short time; they're definitely worth a look. 

KER (Kerbal Engineer Redux) is a godsend if you don't feel like doing math. It basically gives you more information than you could ever need or want about your rocket and your orbit.

[Gojira1000]

For me:

• MechJeb for the data (and for when I feel lazy)
• KW Rocketry, because it adds lots of heavy lift parts that amuse me
• Kerbal Joint Reinforcement if you make excessively big things
• Chatterer for atmosphere
• Planetshine for looks
• Kopernicus and Outer Planets Mod to have more places to go

That's really it.

[JedTech]

If you are looking for part mods I suggest:

• Near Future Technologies: Construction, Solar, & Spacecraft (I use the whole package, but I don't recommend electrical and propulsion to new players)
• Fuel Tanks Plus: lots of tank sizes for your custom construction needs.
• Lithobrake Exploration Technologies: To make bigger landers
• SpaceY: Has heavy lifter parts and also some useful regular size parts.

 

[Nemeko]

I use this:

• Tac life suport
• Dmagic Science
• KW roquetry
• Space Y
• MechJeb
• Chatterer
• Docking Port Alignment
• KIS
• Remotech
• Scansat

[nobodyhasthis2]

I believe everyone failed to mention the most interesting and useful career mod ever!

(Hey i am big fan of it sue me )

Contract configure

 

[Clear Air Turbulence]

FWIW for a complete noob 

I played around with a lot of mods for a while, both cosmetic ones (EVE) and part ones (e.g.  the Near Future series).  

In the end I have chosen to select my mods so I have the least performance hit & the least buggy experience.  I basically just use my mods to do the math and heklp design rockets. Also, my current game is based around orbital refineries and resource mining.

So:

• PlanetShine - because it moar beautiful
• Mechjeb -  at the moment, just for the automatic node execution and the built-in maneuver node editor
• KER. Can't d without it
• Docking Port Alignment Indicator - essential
• SCANSAT - because I just can't buy into instant resource scanning
• RCS BuildAid - because docking.

I have also just decided to install TriggerAU's Transfer Window Planner.

 

P S And KAC, of course. 

 

Edited December 17, 2015 by Clear Air Turbulence

[Atlas2342]

If you want a bit of flair, try visual enhancer mods. I personally use PlanetShine. For MOAR BOOSTERS, try SpaceY........