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Tale of Two Wastelands (TTW) lets you play Fallout 3 and its DLC, then travel to Fallout: New Vegas and continue with the same character. It combines the games inside New Vegas rather than simply switching between two untouched installations: New Vegas systems, TTW changes and its fixes also affect the Fallout 3 portion. To set it up, you need complete supported copies of both games, a clean installation, and the steps in the maintained The Best of Times guide. Start a new TTW character and use the in-game train to travel between the wastelands.
What is Tale of Two Wastelands?
Tale of Two Wastelands is a conversion project that brings Fallout 3 and its downloadable content into Fallout: New Vegas. It makes the Capital Wasteland and the Mojave part of one modded New Vegas playthrough, with one character able to travel between them. It is not a way to launch two separate games from a shared menu, nor does it leave Fallout 3 completely unchanged: the experience uses New Vegas as its host and incorporates TTW’s own changes and balancing.
The TTW project page displays version 3.4.0 in the source material dated October 30, 2026. Check the project page for the version currently offered, since a page update date alone does not establish a release version. Installation instructions and dependencies can change, so use the guide’s current chapters rather than treating an old video, modlist or copied set of steps as authoritative.
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What do I need before installing TTW?
You need English copies of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, with all DLC for each game. The guide supports copies from Steam, GOG and Epic Games, and permits mixing those stores; Microsoft Store copies are not supported. Language and regional exceptions can matter, so confirm your specific editions against the guide’s Introduction before purchasing or beginning setup.
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- Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10 or newer, as specified by the guide.
- Free storage: At least 40 GB free for the games and setup. The guide says the generated TTW output is approximately 17 GB; actual space needs depend on where you keep the source games and mod files.
- Memory and processor: The guide’s recommended target for its chosen settings is a quad-core CPU at 2.5 GHz or faster and at least 8 GB of RAM. These are guide recommendations, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate on every system.
- Storage type: An SSD is recommended, not mandatory. Make sure the selected drive has enough free space for the game installations and the generated mod output.
- Accounts: A Nexus Mods account and a MOD:PUB account are needed for the guide’s downloads. Nexus Premium is optional; it is not required to install TTW.
The guide’s 1080p/60 FPS target should not be read as a universal performance promise. Your system, settings and other installed mods can affect performance. Likewise, its installation-time example—about 40 minutes on a Ryzen 5 5600X—is an estimate from the guide, not a benchmark; it warns that slower CPUs can take hours. See the guide’s requirements and setup overview for current details.
How do I install Tale of Two Wastelands?
Follow The Best of Times in order. It covers clean game preparation, a dedicated Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) instance, the TTW installer, supporting mods and a launch check. The outline below explains what each stage is for; use the guide’s current page for the exact files, settings and sequence.
1. Prepare clean game installations
Use the guide’s Initial Setup directions to prepare both games. Install outside Windows’ protected default folders, such as Program Files; the guide suggests a location such as C:Games. Protected folders can cause permissions problems for modding tools that need to read or write game files.
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Run each game once through its launcher so it creates fresh INI configuration files, then follow the guide’s clean-install instructions. Fallout 3 must remain installed while TTW is being converted; after the installer finishes, it can be uninstalled if you no longer need the source installation. New Vegas remains the host game. A clean-install procedure concerns game files and configuration: do not delete personal saves without considering whether you want to back them up.
2. Create a dedicated MO2 instance
Install Mod Organizer 2 outside both the game directory and protected Windows folders. The guide uses a portable instance dedicated to TTW. During setup, select Tale of Two Wastelands, apply the profile settings specified by the guide and connect MO2 to Nexus when prompted. Follow its MO2 chapter rather than assuming settings from a different modlist are interchangeable.
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MO2’s virtual filesystem lets it manage mods separately from the original game files. In MO2, the left pane controls whether a mod is enabled; the right pane displays plugins. This distinction is useful later: a mod can be present in the left pane but disabled, or active while its plugin order needs attention. Keep the TTW setup in its own profile and instance instead of merging it into an existing, heavily modified New Vegas configuration.
3. Run the TTW conversion installer
Get the installer from the guide’s MOD:PUB project link and use the guide’s TTW installation chapter. Extract the downloaded archive outside protected folders before running it. In MO2, create a folder named Tale of Two Wastelands under its mods directory so the converted files have a clear output location.
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- Run the extracted installer according to the chapter’s instructions.
- Check that the installer points to the correct Fallout 3 and New Vegas source folders.
- Set the output to the
Tale of Two Wastelandsfolder created under MO2’s mods directory. - When conversion completes, reopen MO2, enable the TTW output in the left pane and follow the guide’s separate instructions for YUPTTW.
The output should be approximately 17 GB according to the guide. If it is missing or substantially undersized, do not carry on as if conversion succeeded: verify the paths and follow the guide’s recovery instructions. The installer needs the complete source games and their DLC; deleting Fallout 3 before the conversion finishes will prevent the required source files from being read.
4. Install the current dependencies and check the setup
Use the guide’s Essential Mods chapter for the required supporting files and settings. The setup includes xNVSE in the New Vegas root, a patcher selected for your storefront, other listed dependencies and the supplied FalloutCustom.ini configuration. Steam and GOG users follow the guide’s 4GB Patcher instructions; Epic Games users have a separate Epic Games Patcher. Do not use one storefront’s patcher steps for another just because the game files look similar.
Run the chapter’s ML Utilities Checker and resolve reported failures before moving on. Disable the checker afterward as directed. Then select Tale of Two Wastelands from MO2’s executable menu to start the game. Launching through MO2 is part of this setup: it loads the managed mods and the configuration associated with the TTW profile.
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Because dependencies and installation directions can change, avoid relying on a static list copied from an older guide. Check the current Essential Mods chapter for the right versions and instructions at the time you install.
How do I start the combined campaign and travel between the wastelands?
Start a new TTW character, then choose which wasteland to begin in when the game offers the choice. The starting prompt depends on the guide’s configuration, including its FalloutCustom.ini setup. If the option is missing, check the guide’s FAQ and configuration directions instead of assuming the installation has to be repeated.
Travel between the Capital Wasteland and the Mojave using the in-game train. The maintained FAQ identifies the DC-side Union Station as being in TTW’s Columbus Circle worldspace and the other station as being in Freeside. Take the train in either direction; the transition is designed to handle the game’s travel-related variables and quests.
Do not substitute a console teleport or an old travel mod for the train. The TTW FAQ warns that console travel may fail to set the game variables and quest state required for a proper transition, and outdated travel mods can cause similar problems. A forum post from November 25, 2018 describes one wayfinding route from The Mall toward the National Archives, through Penn. Ave/The Mall Metro and Judiciary Square Metro to the station; it is old guidance, not a substitute for the current FAQ. The forum post also describes finding the return station from Freeside North, past the Mormon Fort. Check the maintained FAQ for the travel mechanic and use that older post only as optional route help.
Should I begin in the Capital Wasteland or the Mojave?
Neither starting order is technically required. Choose based on the story order you prefer, whether you want to begin with Fallout 3’s opening, and how you want to handle character progression as you move through both campaigns. The start choice is a preference, not a prerequisite that locks out the other wasteland.
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If no choice appears, verify the custom INI configuration described above. Do not confuse a missing prompt with a need to start over until you have checked the guide’s documented fix. Whichever route you choose, the train is the supported way to cross over, and the same character continues through the combined playthrough.
Can I use an old save or add my existing mods?
No: start fresh for a stable TTW game. The guide’s FAQ says, “You cannot use an existing Fallout: New Vegas save to play TTW.” It also rejects saves from a different mod setup, and changing between TTW major or minor versions requires a fresh game. MO2’s profile-specific saves help keep this campaign separate from other New Vegas characters, but they do not make an incompatible old save safe to reuse.
Some New Vegas mods may work, but compatibility is not automatic. Fallout 3 content and New Vegas share records and scripts that mods can change, so an old Fallout 3 or New Vegas mod can conflict with TTW even if it once worked in its original game. Check each mod for TTW-specific compatibility and whether its patch supports the TTW version you installed. The FAQ specifically names Fallout New California and other mods as incompatible examples. Establish that the guide’s baseline installation launches and plays correctly before adding optional overhauls, and keep changes limited so a conflict is easier to identify.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I check if the installation fails?
Start with the stage that failed and compare your setup with the current guide FAQ. The common errors below usually point to missing source files, an incorrect output path, a storefront mismatch or a missing dependency—not a need for a generic PC-cleaner utility.
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
Installer reports BASS Init or XD3 Input |
Confirm that both English game installations include all DLC, run each game once, and verify the game files if needed. Recheck that the installer is pointed at the actual source folders. |
Installer says xdelta3.dll is missing |
Extract the installer archive before running it. Do not run the installer from inside the compressed archive. |
| TTW does not appear in MO2 | Confirm the installer output is in MO2’s modsTale of Two Wastelands folder, then enable it in the left pane. If the output is missing or too small, follow the guide’s reinstall steps. |
| The game crashes on launch | Use the FAQ’s checks for Visual C++ dependencies, the correct patcher for Steam/GOG or Epic, xNVSE and incompatible leftovers. Confirm you launch the TTW executable from MO2. |
| The game launches but there is no starting-wasteland choice | Check the guide’s FalloutCustom.ini configuration and the FAQ’s procedure for the missing prompt. |
| Travel between worlds behaves incorrectly | Use the in-game train in both directions. Remove reliance on console teleporting or outdated travel mods, which may not set the required quest and world variables. |
The official TTW installation FAQ is the place to verify the precise recovery steps for your error. Avoid changing several files or adding several mods at once while troubleshooting: doing so makes it harder to identify whether the issue is the source installation, conversion output, dependency setup or an added mod.
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Does TTW support Linux or Steam Deck?
The maintained installation guide specifies Windows, and its FAQ says full Linux support is not yet available. Third-party Linux or Steam Deck procedures should not be presented as officially supported by the guide. If you need a supported installation path, follow its stated Windows requirements rather than assuming a compatibility layer reproduces the guide’s steps.
What should Hardcore players know about Project Purity?
Spoiler warning for Fallout 3’s ending: the TTW FAQ warns that personally activating Project Purity while in Hardcore Mode can end the game rather than proceed into Broken Steel. It suggests having someone else perform that action or turning Hardcore Mode off first. This is an in-game decision to know about if you reach that point; it is not an installation requirement.
Which guide pages should I keep open?
Use the maintained guide as the source of truth for the sequence and its latest downloads. These pages map to the decisions and stages in this article:
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- Initial Setup: clean game installation and first-run configuration.
- MO2: the dedicated instance and profile setup.
- TTW: installer, source paths and output folder.
- Essential Mods: current dependencies, patcher choice, INI settings and launch check.
- FAQ: saves, travel, compatibility and troubleshooting.
The payoff is a connected playthrough, but the reliable path is deliberate: confirm both complete games are supported, build TTW in a clean MO2 setup, follow the current dependency chapter, begin a new character and use the train when changing wastelands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall Fallout 3 after installing Tale of Two Wastelands?
The installation guide says Fallout 3 can be removed after the TTW installer has finished converting its files. Keep New Vegas installed as the host game, and retain backups of anything personal before removing or changing game installations.
Does TTW include Fallout 3 DLC?
TTW brings Fallout 3 and its DLC into New Vegas, but you still need a complete Fallout 3 installation with all DLC as source material. You also need New Vegas with all DLC for the supported setup described in the guide.
Will installing TTW overwrite my original game files?
The guide’s MO2 setup manages mods through a virtual filesystem, keeping managed mod files separate from the original game files. Its clean-install and profile recommendations are intended to keep the TTW setup organized rather than folding it into an unrelated mod configuration.
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Can I switch between TTW versions and keep progressing on the same character?
The guide’s FAQ says a change between TTW major or minor versions requires starting a fresh game. Treat a new TTW version as a separate campaign rather than updating an in-progress character and assuming its save remains compatible.
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