Do I need to have origin in offline mode to play mods and if so how do I get DLC's

This seems to be a few questions at once, I'll try to answer them individually as best as I currently can.


If the game is set to automatic update, origin will eventually overwrite all the installed mods in order update of fix the game. So yes, do not that setting on when modding games.
The setting can be found under Origin -> Application Settings -> (Application Tab -> ) Client Updates -> 'Automatic Game Updates'


Putting Origin in offline mode is an entirely different setting, and will not prevent it from overwriting mods when you eventually (have to) go online. Offline mode is essentially for being able to play games without requiring an active internet connection. So everything that does require an active internet connection won't work in that setting.


If you really put Origin in offline mode, then yes buing DLC or games won't work. Origin needs to be online for that. But Origin also had severe problems yesterday (e.g., my games list refused to load all day), so it may have been that.

-On a side Note: Install all DLC you want to use before installing the mods! Some mods have requirements (mostly to extended cut or leviathan). Texture mods also can only affect DLCs and mods already present when the texture mod is installed, so the install order is Official DLC -> Content Mods -> Texture mods.