Installation

Installation

PandaWorks AutoLoot installs like a normal Starfield plugin/mod package.

If you are using a mod manager, install it with your mod manager. If you are installing manually, put the files where Starfield expects them.

PWAL includes plugin records and Papyrus scripts. Both matter.

If you install only the plugin and not the scripts, things will break.

If you install only the scripts and not the plugin, congratulations, you have installed a ghost.

Requirements

PWAL is built for Starfield.

You need:

• Starfield
• A working mod setup
• The PWAL plugin file
• The PWAL script files
• Archive invalidation / loose file support if installing loose files
• A mod manager, Creations install, or manual install knowledge

PWAL is designed as a vanilla Creation Kit / Papyrus framework.

It is not intended to require SFSE for core functionality.

Install Methods

PWAL may be installed through different distribution paths depending on where you downloaded it.

Common install methods include:

• Creations
• Vortex
• Mod Organizer 2
• Manual installation

Use the method that matches the version you downloaded.

Do not mix files from different releases unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Creations Installation

If you are installing through Creations:

1. Subscribe/install the correct PandaWorks AutoLoot file.
2. Make sure the content is enabled.
3. Launch Starfield.
4. Load your save.
5. Confirm the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal appears in your inventory.
6. Open the terminal and configure PWAL.

The PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal should appear in the Weapons section of your inventory.

Use that terminal to configure PWAL.

If the terminal does not appear, check that the Creation is installed, enabled, and loaded correctly.

Vortex Installation

1. Download the latest PWAL release.
2. Install the archive through Vortex.
3. Enable the mod.
4. Deploy your mods.
5. Launch Starfield.
6. Load your save.
7. Confirm the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal appears in your inventory.

The PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal should appear in the Weapons section of your inventory.

Use that terminal to configure PWAL.

Mod Organizer 2 Installation

MO2 can be used if you understand how your Starfield setup is configured.

1. Install the PWAL archive through MO2.
2. Enable the mod in MO2.
3. Make sure the plugin is enabled.
4. Confirm scripts and any included files are active in the virtual file system.
5. Launch Starfield through MO2.
6. Load your save.
7. Confirm the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal appears in your inventory.

MO2 users are responsible for making sure the game is launched through the correct profile and that the virtual file system is active.

If you install with MO2 but launch the game outside MO2, do not be surprised when things are missing.

The panda cannot fix an install path you bypassed.

Manual Installation

Manual installation is only recommended if you understand Starfield’s mod folder structure.

Install the included files into the correct Starfield Data folder.

Typical files include:

• The PWAL plugin file
• Compiled Papyrus scripts
• Any included archive/asset files

After installing, make sure the plugin is enabled in your load order.

If you manually install this wrong, PWAL will not work correctly.

That is not the panda’s fault.

Optional Add-Ons

PWAL may use optional add-on plugins for supported additional content.

Only install the add-ons that match the content you actually have installed.

Do not install optional PWAL add-ons for content you do not own or do not have enabled.

If you report an issue, include which PWAL files and optional add-ons you installed.

First Launch

After installing:

1. Start Starfield.
2. Load your save.
3. Open your inventory.
4. Go to the Weapons section.
5. Find and use the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal.
6. Configure your loot categories.
7. Configure destinations.
8. Enable looting.

PWAL does not loot everything by default just because it exists.

You need to enable the categories you want.

You also need to check the destination where you told PWAL to send the loot.

Updating PWAL

When updating:

1. Exit the game completely.
2. Install the new version over the old version.
3. Let your mod manager, Creations, or install method replace old files.
4. Make sure the plugin is still enabled.
5. Launch the game.
6. Load your save.
7. Test the terminal and utility device.
8. Test one small ground loot source.
9. Test supported space salvage separately, if needed.

Do not update while the game is running.

Do not hot-swap scripts mid-session and expect reality to remain intact.

Papyrus remembers.

Papyrus always remembers.

Updating From Older Versions

After updating from an older PWAL version, test small.

Recommended update test:

1. Open the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal.
2. Confirm looting can be toggled.
3. Confirm PandaWorks Inventory opens.
4. Confirm Player Ship Cargo opens, if you have a valid home ship.
5. Confirm Lodge Safe opens, if available.
6. Enable one or two categories.
7. Test a small amount of ground loot.
8. Check the destination where the loot should have gone.
9. Test supported space salvage separately with one source.

Do not update and immediately throw the entire Settled Systems into the panda’s mouth.

That is how you get confusing results.

Uninstalling

PWAL uses quests, scripts, persistent references, globals, terminal records, and storage systems.

That means uninstalling mid-save may leave behind script state or stored references.

Recommended uninstall method:

1. Move any important items out of PandaWorks Inventory.
2. Move any important items out of other PWAL-managed storage if needed.
3. Disable PWAL looting in the terminal.
4. Save the game.
5. Exit Starfield.
6. Disable/remove the mod.
7. Load the save and verify there are no immediate issues.
8. Make a new clean save.

Uninstalling a script-heavy mod from an active save is always a risk.

Backup your save first.

Load Order

PWAL should generally load after mods that add new loot/item records if you expect PWAL to detect or interact with those records through lists or keywords.

For normal users:

• Install PWAL normally.
• Make sure the plugin is enabled.
• Do not randomly move it all over your load order unless something is actually broken.

For heavy mod lists, test PWAL with a small set of categories first.

If you use multiple auto-looters, asteroid looters, ship debris looters, inventory overhauls, ship cargo mods, contraband mods, or storage mods, test carefully.

If two mods try to process the same inventory source, whichever one runs first may drain the loot before the other one sees it.

After Installation: Basic Ground Test

Before turning everything on, do a small test:

1. Open the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal.
2. Enable one or two loot categories.
3. Set their destinations.
4. Enable looting.
5. Stand near a small amount of loot.
6. Confirm the items move correctly.
7. Open PandaWorks Inventory, Player Ship Cargo, or Lodge Safe to verify routing.

Do not start your first test by enabling every category in a loot-filled dungeon and then wonder why your inventory looks like a raccoon exploded.

After Installation: Space Salvage Test

Supported space salvage is confirmed working in version 1.1.2.

Supported space salvage includes:

• Asteroid deposits
• Space cargo
• Destroyed hostile ship debris

Recommended space salvage test:

1. Make sure looting is enabled.
2. Make sure you have a valid home ship.
3. Enter space.
4. Test one supported source at a time.
5. Mine one asteroid deposit, collect one supported space cargo source, or destroy one hostile ship.
6. Wait briefly for PWAL to process the salvage.
7. Open Player Ship Cargo.
8. Confirm the recovered items are there.

Supported space salvage routes into Player Ship Cargo.

Do not check only player inventory and assume the loot vanished.

The panda put it in the ship.

Contraband Note

Current PWAL behavior routes contraband to the Lodge Safe.

This is intentional for the current release.

PandaWorks Inventory is being reviewed because it became visible to the contraband scanner unexpectedly.

Until that behavior is fully understood and corrected, Lodge Safe routing is the safer current behavior.

If you are testing contraband, check the Lodge Safe first unless you manually moved it somewhere else.

Troubleshooting Install Problems

The terminal is missing

Check:

• Is the plugin enabled?
• Did the scripts install?
• Did the quest initialize?
• Did you install the full release archive?
• Are you looking in the Weapons section?
• Are you using the correct install method for your version?

If the terminal is missing, fix that first.

Category and routing troubleshooting does not matter until the terminal exists.

Nothing is looting

Check:

• Is looting enabled?
• Are loot categories enabled?
• Are you near valid loot?
• Are you in a restricted location?
• Is the scan radius too low, if range applies?
• Did you route loot somewhere other than the player?
• Is the source type supported?

PWAL routes loot.

That means items may go to PandaWorks Inventory, Player Ship Cargo, Lodge Safe, or another supported destination instead of player inventory.

Utility device does not open

Check:

• Did the utility device get added?
• Is the terminal working from the main PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal?
• Did the scripts install?
• Are you using the current release?
• Did you test after a clean game launch?

If the main terminal works but the Utility Device does not, report it as a Utility Device issue.

If neither works, the problem is probably installation or quest initialization.

Ship cargo does not work

Ship cargo requires a valid player home ship.

Check:

• Do you have a valid home ship?
• Are you past the point where the game gives you ship access?
• Is ship cargo available?
• Are you checking the correct ship?
• Did the action fail safely because no valid ship exists?

If you do not have access to your home ship yet, ship cargo utilities may fail or redirect safely.

This is expected behavior, not a bug.

Space salvage does not work

Check:

• Are you using PWAL version 1.1.2 or newer?
• Is looting enabled?
• Is space salvage support included in the installed version/plugin?
• Is the target actually a supported space salvage source?
• Do you have a valid home ship?
• Are you checking Player Ship Cargo?
• Are you using another asteroid looter, ship debris looter, or auto-looter at the same time?

Space salvage is not normal ground looting.

Do not troubleshoot destroyed hostile ship debris like a crate sitting on a table.

Contraband is missing

Check:

• Did you check the Lodge Safe?
• Did you check player inventory?
• Did you check ship cargo?
• Did another mod affect contraband, scans, storage, or cargo?
• Did you manually move the contraband after PWAL collected it?

Current contraband routing uses the Lodge Safe.

Do not expect contraband to appear in PandaWorks Inventory by default in the current release.

Support

Support, bug reports, testing feedback, and general discussion are handled through the PandaWorks Discord.

https://discord.gg/aGJhkYb4