First-Time Modding Help Needed

[F5_Hero]

Hello all! This is my first post to the forums.

I've been playing vanilla KSP for a long time now, and I would like to install some mods to spice things up a bit. I've had mods in the past, but a friend had installed them for me; I have no idea how to do this myself.

Specifically, I think I would like to put the following mods into a 1.3.1 x64 KSP install:

- Kerbal Attachment System

- Kerbal Inventory System

- Kerbal Engineer

- Easy Vessel Switch

- Surface Mounted Stock-Alike Lights for Self-Illumination

- Kerbal Planetary Base Systems

I at least need some general guidelines on how to get these mods installed and working together. I'd really appreciate any help I can get!

[Snark]

Hello, and welcome to the forums! 

Installing mods is generally pretty straightforward.  When you want to install a mod, it generally goes like this:

1. Download the mod.  This will generally be a .zip file.  Depending on where the mod author decided to put it, there are various places you might find the download:
   • Typically you'll go to the mod's thread in the Add-on Releases forum.  There will generally be a download link there.  It may point you to another site for download, such as CurseForge or SpaceDock.
   • To take just one example from your list, here's the thread for Kerbal Attachment System.
2. Follow the mod's instructions for installing (this will generally be found in the thread).

Most mods are really simple to install and don't have any special instructions.  Almost all of them install in the same way:  when you open the downloaded .zip file, there will be a "GameData" folder in it.  Take whatever is inside the GameData folder from the zip file, and copy it as-is into the GameData folder in your KSP install.

There.  That's it.  You're done.    The mod will take effect the next time you start KSP.  (Note:  Don't rename any folders or files, that can break stuff.  Just copy stuff exactly as is from zip-file-GameData to your-KSP-install-GameData.)

The above instructions are for installing and managing mods yourself.  If you don't like mucking around with files and folders and such, there are third-party tools that are aimed at simplifying the task.  The advantage is that it's less hassle for you, if you find manually installing to be a hassle.  The disadvantage is that if anything goes wrong, you have less control and knowledge about how it works and how to fix things, so you'd be more dependent on trying to find help from someone to fix it.

The most popular mod-management tool is called CKAN; a bit of googling will no doubt turn up lots of info.    Lots of people use it and like it.  Also, lots of people (myself included) don't use it, and get along fine without it.  It's mainly a matter of your personal style.

Hope this helps!

[F5_Hero]

Ok, thanks! I'll give it a try shortly and see what happens.

[F5_Hero]

Ok, so I was just looking at the CurseForge page for Kerbal Planetary Base Systems and it tells me there that "You need ModuleManager to use the supported mods." These supported mods are the others I mentioned, like KAS, KIS, etc. How do I make that work? Do I really need ModuleManager, or can I just plug in each mod individually using the general approach you described?

[harrisjosh2711]

1 hour ago, F5_Hero said:

Ok, so I was just looking at the CurseForge page for Kerbal Planetary Base Systems and it tells me there that "You need ModuleManager to use the supported mods." These supported mods are the others I mentioned, like KAS, KIS, etc. How do I make that work? Do I really need ModuleManager, or can I just plug in each mod individually using the general approach you described?

Yes you need module manager. Just install the mods like @Snark told you. If they need module manager it will already be included in the mod. Its just a single .dll file that you will find in you Gamedata folder. 

[F5_Hero]

Actually, I ended up figuring out the ModuleManager thing and I've got everything working. Thanks!