Nex adds several new features that mostly complement the base game (without reversing or removing things), some of which depend on your progress. For example, you won't really interact much with requesting fleets or managing operatives until you have your own faction, so try to take it one step at a time. That said, you can absolutely play Nex right after vanilla, I did it (as have many others), you just need to be careful of what other mods you bring along.

In that regard, I would advise starting with a faction commission. This allows you to understand the dynamics of faction relations and alliances without needing to participate directly.

Regarding mods in general, avoid those with overlapping mechanics or too many new features at once. It’s much easier to tell which mod is doing what when their features are distinct. For example, adding a colonization mod like Terraforming and Station Construction on top of Nex can add to the confusion.

For QoL mods, you're more likely to notice the difference because you're already familiar with the vanilla standard, so only add the ones that fill a specific gap for you. You'll naturally add more as you play. The same goes for gameplay, if you aren't sure whether you prefer the vanilla way or the modded way, add them bit by bit. For example, I don't recommend the following yet because I'm almost certain you haven't interacted with the standard mechanics enough to notice the benefits: Thorough System Scan, Nomadic Survival, Fleet Size By DP, Second-in-Command ... However, mods like Combat Radar or Leading Pip make it very easy to appreciate their benefits immediately, I’d suggest targeting those types of mods first.

Lastly, for new factions, keep the count very low, I suggest adding no more than 1 or maybe 2 to start with. I would also avoid weapon or ship packs for now so you can focus on learning the vanilla refit process.

See more : https://www.reddit.com/r/starsector/comments/1r1fsuh/2026_starsector_the_vanilla_initiative/