Progressive Difficulty
🟠 Updated over a year ago⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.0% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #313 of 383 Gameplay Effects and Changes mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Description:
There are many mods that try to make combat better/more balance by upping/lowering damage multipliers (I even made one myself). However, static multipliers were never a perfect solution for me. Usually the increased damage multipliers made the early game particularly brutal, but then the mid-to-end game was incredibly easy because you would win a fight if you shot first. This mod aims to fix that by making damage multipliers dependent on player level. Damage by the player actually decreases as you get higher in level (to compensate for your better weapons, armor, stats, perks etc) and damage to the player increases every level. The values are configurable via the included INI file, but by default the values are lowered/raised by 10% every five levels.
Notes:
- Requires xNVSE and JIP LN NVSE
- Scaling stops at level 35 since that is what most overhaul mods cap the level at, plus that's kinda where the difficulty curve levels no matter what
- Permissions are completely open, do whatever you want and credit if you wish
Progressive Difficulty by Qolore7 scales damage multipliers with player level, configurable via an INI file. With 155 endorsements and 16,254 downloads, it's a niche gameplay tweak for players seeking a dynamic challenge that grows as they progress.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Simple concept that adds a fresh layer of challenge to long playthroughs
- Configurable INI means you can tune the scaling to your liking
- Decent community traction with 155 endorsements and 16k downloads
⚠️ Cons
- No detailed instructions or examples for the INI configuration
- Only affects damage multipliers—no other difficulty aspects are touched
- Last updated in January 2025—may not be compatible with future game patches
For players who find the base game's difficulty curve too static and want a dynamic scaling that ramps up as you level. Skip if you prefer fixed difficulty or want a comprehensive overhaul—this mod only tweaks damage multipliers.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Open the INI file in a text editor to see the default scaling values before tweaking
- Start with a small multiplier increase to avoid getting one-shot by higher-level enemies
- Test the mod in a new save or after a few levels to gauge the difficulty spike
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- New Vegas Mods
- Author
- Qolore7
- Version
- 1.1
- Downloads
- 16,254
- Endorsements
- 155
- Category
- Gameplay Effects and Changes
- Created
- 11/10/2021
- Updated
- 1/12/2025
🔧 How to Install New Vegas Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for New Vegas →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for New Vegas commands, item IDs, and more.
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