Where to start: CAM, NAM, or the rest of the plugins?

[LSU Tiger]

What order should I install things?  Does it matter if CAM is installed before NAM or all the other plugins.  Or should I install all the other plugins I'd like to use, then NAM then CAM.  I searched for this, but didn't find anything.  Thanks for the help.

[xxdita]

As far as a working order, it doesn't really matter in which order you install. Just make sure you keep what you install in the general order it installs in. Have fun, and welcome to SC4D!

[schm0]

I would install your plugins in this order:

1) CAM + all CAM dependencies
2) NAM w/ RHW v20 Beta
3) SAM + SAM Texture fix
4) All the plugins on this page that haven't already been downloaded: http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=3639.0http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=3639.0
5) Anything else you want.

I've put all my dependencies in the SC4 plugins folder in a specific folder load order (000-CAM, 111-NAM, etc.), and all lots and models in the MyDocuments plugins folder.

It took me over a week to rebuild about 2 gigs of dependencies, and there's still a bunch I have yet to install.

Has the debate ended over whether the MyDocs or SC4 plugins directory is better for one thing or the other?

[Gaston]

I'm hoping some more folks chime in on this.   I know there is a specific order that certain items must load.   But, I'll be dammed if I can remember what needs to go first or last.    I know that right now certain mods (One way arrows) I have loaded are not working because I moved them in the loading order.    Hmmm, there is a challenge for wouanagaine.    Write something that would reorder the plugins folder for optimum loading.     


---Gaston

[High5Tower]

Two months ago when I finaly started my first CAM region I did this:
Removed those mods and items that the manual said to remove.
Removed all my stage 8 commercial and residential bats.
I had already uploaded the many new bats.
Loaded CAM:
Started the game and things have worked just fine.

The new SAM and Rural highway additions have not made any adverse conditions to the game.

[SC4BOY]

The team has taken care of the load orders of items. This is an issue of high visibility over the past year or so. The NAM, CAM, etc either install in the proper order, or have specific notes in the doc's as to where to place the items.

[Tarkus]

As far as the MyDocs vs. SC4 Plugins folders go, I personally go for the all MyDocs approach.  It's easier to keep everything in one place, I find.  I do know some that will install just one or two essential mods in the SC4 Plugins folder, though.  It's really a matter of what keeps you organized, I find.

-Alex (Tarkus)

[xxdita]

Ah, but loading order is an entirely different question than DOWNloading order. 
CAM installs three seperate subfolders, A_CAM, CAM, and z_CAM, to ensure that at least the CAM files are loaded correctly. NAM files are named in the way that they should load, and the appropriate subfolders created, also named in the necessary loading order. This is the main reason that NAM should never be DatPacked.
For lots & models, the loading order isn't as important, as long as it's all there.
I keep only a limited amount in my Program Files Plugins, extracheats.dll, bldgprops1&2, and other Maxis downloads.