Mod Suggestions (Incomplete!)

[mythic_fci]

Hi, everyone! I've seen many people out there asking what mods might be suitable for them, so I've decided to give you a list of recommended mods for different gameplay styles. Remember, install mods by dragging them to the GameData folder, usually found here:

C:/Program Files (x86)/Kerbal Space Program

Or here (if you have a Steam copy):

C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/SteamApps/common/Kerbal Space Program

Due to controversy in the comments section, the Essential Mods category has been removed.

These mods attempt to make parts and functions that closely emulate stock parts.

KSP eXpansion Pack - This mod gives you many parts that are balanced, modeled and textured to fill the gaps where stock parts don't go. The original modder's been hired by Squad, so this mod is being maintained by another person at the moment.

RLA Stockalike - This mod gives you even more parts that help fill the gaps where even KSPX (above) doesn't. This includes new engines, smaller adaptors, and even offset RCS for the lander cans.

Spaceplane+ - This mod adds a ton of stock-esque aircraft parts.

These mods attempt to make KSP as close to real life (or the near future) as possible.

Ferram Aerospace Research - This mod adds more realistic aerodynamics to the game, meaning that fairings, nose cones and aerodynamic designs will now give an actual benefit besides aesthetics.

Real Solar System - This mod scales up and moves around planets and moons in the Kerbol System to turn it into a very close analogue of real life. Please note that this mod has a considerably steep learning curve and that all previous rockets will have to be redesigned or scrapped.

Near Future Technologies - These mods (it's several mods made by the same author) give you new methods of propulsion and electricity (solar and nuclear) to power your spacecraft.

Kethane - This mod lets you look and drill for a resource called "Kethane", which you can then convert into all sorts of fuel.

These mods add stuff to make the game look more polished.

Procedural Fairings - This mod gives you automatically resizing fairings.

Stockalike Parts for Useful Aesthetics - This mod isn't very well known, but it helps add some nice-looking stockalike tanks and structural sections. This mod is still mostly an aesthetics mod however, so it's in the Aesthetics category.

These mods add plugins that supplement the game's normal functionality.

RCS Build Aid - This mod helps you find optimal RCS placement on your ship.

MechJeb - A controversial mod, this mod adds an autopilot for the game.

Kerbal Attachment System - This mod allows you to reattach things, link ships with struts and fuel lines, and build ships in orbit (to a limited extent) all in EVA.

Kerbal Alarm Clock - This mod helps you not miss any important dates, maneuver nodes and SOI entrances by adding alarms.

This list is incomplete. More categories will be added soon.

Edited July 1, 2014 by FCISuperGuy
New mods added, recategorized

[Javster]

Good idea for a thread. Loads of people (including me!) ask for mod suggestions.

[Mokmo]

Essential: Kerbal Alarm Clock! I definetly see a difference when i don't have it

[Pondafarr]

I currently have 63 folders in my GameData, so I'll pick my favs:

Essential:

Active Texture Management

Kerbal Alarm Clock

Docking Port Alignment

Enhanced NavBall

RCS Build Aid

TAC Fuel Balancer

Remotetech2

Good to Have

MechJeb or Engineer

Kethane

Parts Packs of choice (B9, D12, Spaceplane+, KW, KSPX, Near Future, etc etc)

ShipManifest or CLS

ScanSat

Other

Moar Boosters

[Justin Kerbice]

mmm as it's looks now, this post doesn't seems to even fit it's own purpose !

Essentials should not include gameplay modifying mod IMHO (RT2 for example, but also FAR), better to have there mods like Kerbal Alarm Clock, Enhanced Navball, KJR, ATM, ...

A new category may be added: utilities, not essential, not good for everyone, but helpful, like Goodspeed pump, KER, MJ2.

(And KAS/PF are not what I can call "essentials")

[Fingal]

I think for realism nothing is more essential than Deadly Re-entry as it plugs the single most unrealistic gap in the game.

[iZen]

Hey, nice thread! This is my current modlist (I have it in a *.txt file anyway)

It's goal is to make the game more realistic. In consequence it also becomes much harder. I only use "balanced" mods. New parts are always OP in a sense, but functionality is needed. In light of .24 I have taken Mission Controller X out. Since I livestream KSP it has to be entirely stable. Performance heavy though as I have quite a good machine.

Gameplay emphasis on avionics, SSTO's and reusable vehicles.

The list is very much catered to my specific likings; handle with care.

I am open to suggestions for any more mods to add for more functionality.

I don't like Kethane. It might be balanced but I still consider it somewhat cheating as it doesn't reflect a Real Life possibility of now. I would be very interested in Real Solar System but due to the increase in planet size I think that Kerbal's Stock Parts are not designed to work for that. I'd love a Real Solar System in Kerbal Stock Scale though (1:10 I believe).

Ferram Aerospace Research - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/20451-0-23-Ferram-Aerospace-Research-v0-13x1-experimental-out-3-15-14

B9 Aerospace - http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-20-2-b9-aerospace-pack-r3-1/

KAS - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/53134-Kerbal-Attachment-System-%28KAS%29-0-4-7-Pipes-as-fuel-lines-and-even-fewer-explosions%21

Kerbal Joint Reinforcement - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55657-0-23-5-Kerbal-Joint-Reinforcement-v2-2-3-7-14

KWRocketry - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51037-0-23-KW-Rocketry-v2-5-6B-Avaliable-working-3m-Docking%21-31-12-2013?p=1057617&viewfull=1#post1057617

Mechjeb 2 - http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/mechjeb/

Modular Fuel Tanks - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/31706-0-20-Modular-Fuel-System-1-3-realistic-fuels-reconfigurable-fuel-tanks-and-engines

ShipManifest - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/62270-0-23-Ship-Manifest-%28Manage-Crew-Science-Resources%29-v0-23-3-1-5-26-Feb-14

Targetron - http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/targetron/

TAC Life Support - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/40667-0-23-WIP-TAC-Life-Support-0-8-22Dec

Kerbal Stock Parts X - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/30472-0-23-x-KSPX-Kerbal-Stock-Part-eXpansion-mod-reposted-v0-2-6-1-04-14

Deadly Reentry Continued - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/54954-0-23-Deadly-Reentry-Continued-v4-5-3-10-14

Simple Part Organizer - http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-23-simple-part-organizer-v1-0/

OR Part Catalog - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/35018-0-23-5-PartCatalog-3-0-RC4-%282014-06-09%29 (not tested yet)

Active Texture Management - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/59005-0-23-Release-2-15-Active-Texture-Management-Save-RAM-without-reduction-packs!

TAC Fuel Balancer - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/25823-0-23-TAC-Fuel-Balancer-v2-3-22Dec

Astronomer's Visual Pack - http://www.curse.com/ksp-mods/kerbal/220335-astronomers-visual-pack-v3-beta

Firespitter propeller plane and helicopter parts - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/24551-Firespitter-propeller-plane-and-helicopter-parts-v6-3-%28May-6th%29-for-KSP-0-23-5

RemoteTech 2 - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/56399-0-23-RemoteTech-2-0-23-5-Not-supported%21-Wait-for-0-24%21-Busy%21?p=1056897&viewfull=1#post1056897

SCANSat - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55832-PLUGIN-PARTS-0-23-SCANsat-terrain-mapping?p=1057071&viewfull=1#post1057071

RasterPropMonitor - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57603-0-23-RasterPropMonitor-make-your-IVA-a-glass-pit-%28v0-14%29-24-Jan

[BudgetHedgehog]

So wait, Procedural Fairings is 'essential', but something to calculate your dV, Kerbal Alarm Clock, Editor Extensions, Improved Chase Cam, MapShowNavBall, RCS BuildAid, Enhanced Navball, TweakableEverything, SurfaceNodes, SelectRoot, StripSymmetry, FloorIt, NavHud, ProceduralParts, PreciseNode and ModuleManager aren't? What kind of list is this?!

For clarification, those are the mods I think no player should play without - they either (re-)enable/change on-the-fly stock functions that are only available to change in the configs (like vertical snapping in editors for EE, conic patch mode for PN, changing the surface attach nodes for SN), make no sense not to be stock (dV calculator, Enhanced Navball, MapShowNavBall and FloorIt) and others further the stock game functionality where it is lacking (EE, NavHud, TweakableEverything, RCS Build Aid, Improved Chase Cam).

People can do without pFairings because A, in stock, they only add to your weight and B, KWR has some for people who actually like a challenge. I would hardly call cheaty things that serve no practical use 'essential'.

Personally, my 'essential' list is all the above plus FAR, Toolbar, RPM, AntennaRange, KWR, HotRockets, CoolRockets, KerbQuake, EVE, IR, MJ, RLA, SP+, SCANsat and TweakScale (and of course, ATM because my 'essential' list is so damn big).

P.S. I hate hate hate the current version of B9. I will most likely hate the next, too.

P.P.S I think recategorisation is needed in the form of lists of Essential, Good-To-Haves, Gameplay Utilities (like KAC, PreciseNode, Toolbar etc) Realistic..

Edited July 1, 2014 by ObsessedWithKSP

[Thesonicgalaxy]

Wow

Bet this guy did not expect everybody to hate his list simply because his list is not everyone's personal picks.

I mean, sure those mods may seem extremely essential to you, but not everybody does. Stop acting like you have some superiority and your opinion is god-like. It isn't, and the sooner you realize that, the better.

Even then, it says incomplete in the bloody title. Don't expect him to have every bloody mod you oh so love The first time.

C'mon KSP community, I thought better of you.

Edited July 1, 2014 by Thesonicgalaxy

[BudgetHedgehog]

Wow

Bet this guy did not expect everybody to hate his list simply because his list is not everyone's personal picks.

I mean, sure those mods may seem extremely essential to you, but not everybody does. Stop acting like you have some superiority and your opinion is god-like. It isn't, and the sooner you realize that, the better.

I didn't say that my opinion is right and superior, I'm just saying that it's a bit of an odd list to have pFairings as essential, but mods that most, if not all, players actually do find essential (such as dV calculator and KAC) are nowhere to be found. I know it says incomplete, but I made my list of mods no player should be without in like 3 minutes. And I don't even use half of them.

[Thesonicgalaxy]

I didn't say that my opinion is right and superior, I'm just saying that it's a bit of an odd list to have pFairings as essential, but mods that most, if not all, players actually do find essential (such as dV calculator and KAC) are nowhere to be found. I know it says incomplete, but I made my list of mods no player should be without in like 3 minutes. And I don't even use half of them.

You were directly insulting the list because it didn't fit your opinion of what's essential. You're even doing it again in this post. If he thinks PF is essential, then good for him. No need to be an arse about it. Just kindly suggest what you think would be essential, instead of trying to act like you even know what you're typing about.

[BudgetHedgehog]

You were directly insulting the list because it didn't fit your opinion of what's essential. You're even doing it again in this post.

Please point out where I insulted the list. I asked what kind of list this is (I didn't mean that to come across in a harsh way, imagine there's a at the end of that sentence and you'll get what I was aiming for. Something something text emotion) and then I said it was 'a bit of an odd list' - both were because it is missing mods that most, if not all, players actually find essential. That is the aim of the list after all - recommended mods for players. Personal preference (such as "If he thinks PF is essential, then good for him.") should play no part in this. And no, before you say anything, my first list was not personal preferences - it's a list of mods that most, if not all, players would agree to recommend as essential.

Just kindly suggest what you think would be essential, instead of trying to act like you even know what you're typing about.

Granted, it may have come across a little harsher than I expected, but I did indeed do that.

[Thesonicgalaxy]

Please point out where I insulted the list. I asked what kind of list this is (I didn't mean that to come across in a harsh way, imagine there's a at the end of that sentence and you'll get what I was aiming for. Something something text emotion) and then I said it was 'a bit of an odd list' - both were because it is missing mods that most, if not all, players actually find essential. That is the aim of the list after all - recommended mods for players. Personal preference (such as "If he thinks PF is essential, then good for him.") should play no part in this. And no, before you say anything, my first list was not personal preferences - it's a list of mods that most, if not all, players would agree to recommend as essential.

Granted, it may have come across a little harsher than I expected, but I did indeed do that.

If you're trying to be nice, don't be passive aggressive. That gets you no where. IMO, I don't get why it's called essential anyway, there isn't a mod that's essential unless it actually fixes a game breaking bug. It's more like "mods that improve my experience with the game" or something. Let's just stop this argument here too before we derail the thread.

[BudgetHedgehog]

Let's just stop this argument here too before we derail the thread.

Agreed. OP, you have my list of mods that I would put in the Essential list.

[Superfluous J]

The problem with calling Procedural Fairings "Essential" is that they're not essential. They make your rockets heavier and prettier for the first few minutes of flight. That's it. People like them and that's cool. I'm not saying you're wrong for liking them. I'm saying they're not "essential."

In fact, no mod ever created is "Essential" and for that reason I think the term should not be used. The mods should be split up into categories for what they do, not how likely you are to use them. "Utility" "Visual" "Informative" and the like. Maybe within the categories you could sort them by how "essential" they are but that will always be an opinion and subject to critiques.

[mythic_fci]

New mods have been added to the list and the entire thing has been reorganized. Due to controversy in the comments section, the Essentials category has been removed and all the mods in them relocated to their respective categories. This thread has been renamed "Mod Library" because in my opinion, that fits the goal of this thread better than "Recommended Mods".

Edited July 1, 2014 by FCISuperGuy

[BudgetHedgehog]

This thread has been renamed "Mod Library" because in my opinion, that fits the goal of this thread better than "Recommended Mods".

Community Mods and Plugins Library.

[mythic_fci]

Community Mods and Plugins Library.

Derp. Changed to "Mod Suggestions" as this isn't so much of a "List every mod anyone's ever released and put it into a list of plugins/part mods/whatever" as it is a "These mods do this function" thread.