TechAngel85

Kelmych, why did you change the Baseline for this mod? It might match up with SR; however, it now longer matches up with currect STEP. Frostfall for example is not included in STEP so why install that optional? Same questions for the other optionals you've listed as Baseline. Please explain your changes for everyone. Thanks!

1.3.3 has been released. https://www.iguanadons.net/Unofficial%20Skyrim%20Patch%20Version%20History.html This was a huge release so I suggest updating. Only STEP mod that was fixed is Ancient Nord Armor Fix and I've already dealt with it. (Please don't remove it from the current release. It will be removed with 2.3's release.)

USKP has fixed the issues with the Ancient Nord Armor. Therefore, Ancient Nord Armor Fix found in the Fixes section of 2.2.6 is no longer needed and can be safely skipped. This change will be present in the 2.3 release.

You are correct. I'll be adding it to the change log for the next release since we've decided not to make removals or additions to the current release. I'm surprised it took them this long to incorporate this fix.

What do you guys/gals think? I'll open up a poll for voting. Please keep in mind the STEP Mandate when you cast your vote. My review is that Superior looks great and more natural as hair should. Vanilla hair has always been too "highlighted" and bright, not to mention blocky. Superior really is superior. On the female you can see that the Less Saturated optional is closer to vanilla color and this is even more so true on the Khajiit. Without the Less Saturated Optional, the Khajiit hair is more brown than grey. The optional corrects this. (Hair on the Khajiits has always look funky, imo, because of the hair and fur textures are different.) I took shots with Better Vanilla Hair meshes; however, I've decided this needs separate testing in its own thread because the mod only fixes some of the hairs; not all. I've put its thread in the Mod Testing forum with the other mods that are being tested if anyone wants to find the meshes the mod fixes and provide compares in that thread. (don't post them here)

STEP* >> Superior 1K** >> Superior 1K w/Less Saturation Optional STEP* >> Superior 1K** >> Superior 1K w/Less Saturation Optional STEP* >> Superior 1K** >> Superior 1K w/Less Saturation Optional *STEP is Realistic Hair and AOF Believable Hair. **Includes less shiny hair optional. ***Realistic Hair was active in all shots.

Overwhelming victory goes to HD Enhanced Terrain here. Testing complete. Moving back to MS.

You've nailed it on the head there and that's one of the reasons it's been discussed to have mod testing closed to the public (viewable but not editable). When testing is done it has to be done with STEP in mind and what fits the STEP Mandate. For personal use, you can do whatever you what; however, we want what is best for STEP here and I think that is either HRDLC or Beauty of Skyrim. Most are voting for Beauty it would seem.

Then why have the version system at all? The current setup fools people into thinking there is such a thing as STEP 2.2.6, but there isn't. If you don't keep changes and the version number in sync then other than looking all official what is the point of the number? You should just ditch the version scheme because it's totally meaningless at the moment and serves only to confuse people. Our version system makes perfect sense. As you've already been told by myself and Z, this release is a bit different than other releases from the past. Small changes will be made (which are mainly corrections to the guide); however, it has been discussed and nothing major, such as adding or removing mods, will take place until 2.3 is released. I will say this one last time and any further pushing of the topic will be considered for moderation action because you have already been told several times: 2.3 is a major shift in the way STEP will work. This means there is going to be a longer gap between releases than normal. Because of this gap, the 2.2.6 release and minor updates to it are being handled differently than in the past. Any time a minor update is done, the change is posted here and on the changelog. This is our effort to keep members informed. From that point on, it's up to the members whether to implement the minor changes or not. There will be no version changes until 2.3 is released unless we deem it is necessary. Version changes come coupled with a lot of maintenance in the background that you are unaware of; thus, constantly changing the version number is simply too much of an overhead when our time can be better spent elsewhere in working towards our 2.3 release. No further discussion on this matter needs to take place.

I've personally been keeping an eye out for mods that will go into my own personal pack after 2.3 is released. This mod will likely be included. However, for STEP to include it....only time will tell.

I experimented by replacing the wall texture from Hectrol with Beauty and Snow & Rocks HD. Unfortunately, Hectrol would be an "all or nothing" mod. Because it deviates so far from vanilla in color and style, mixing the wall textures from the other mods looks horrible. This is mainly because Hectrol is so grey. The only texture that looks good mixed is the ground textures from Beauty. Therefore, I've confirmed that the mods would be used as a whole and not mixed.

As far as I can recall, (i'm being lazy and not looking it up. :P ) there are a few behind the scenes type of stuff (new forum, new wiki development for packs, etc) that needs to be done before 2.3 can really start moving forward again. Thus far we've defined Core; however, there are still a few mods that are in question of being completely removed. That's taking place in the Anthology threads even though it's slowed down there too. SR mods are being created/have had mod pages made for them as well. So right now, testing for new mods is about all we can do. Things are being ironed out behind the scenes; however, it's slow going at the moment.

The only real difference in that setup (Hectrol overwriting Beauty) is the ground textures from Beauty which I will say does look better. However, the issue of this texture/pattern: from Hectrol being overused is still present. To me it really stands out because of the texture and I notice it everywhere which is borderline annoying. It's breaking me out of the immersion of the game because it just simply stands out too much. It seriously looks like a human went in there and carved out the wall and then carved out a line at the top to complete some sort of "design". It's looks unnatural to me, especially with that line across the top of the vertical texture and the "normal" rocks sticking out from it that aren't carved. I even spent some time on Google Images trying to find any cave walls that looked similar and couldn't. The only ones I came across were "slime" looking or in small sections. Sorry, but no cave is going to look like this in my opinion.

Vanilla >> Snow & Rock HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol >> Hectrol overwrite Beauty* Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol >> Hectrol overwrite Beauty* *Beauty of Skyrim installed and Hectrol instaledl after it; thus, overwriting some of Beauty's textures

Texture wise (shape), Beauty of Skyrim is closer to vanilla. Color wise, Snow & Rock HD is closer. Mix the two and you'd probably have a near perfect vanilla replacement. I look at both shape and color equally when doing my evaluations. You're also right what you say about cave formation, but I'm not about to sit here and debate what minerals are present in the textures in Skyrim. I will say that the closest you'll get to finding that out is to think about the ores that are found in the caves and then think about what material is generally found around those ores in RL (if they exist). For our purposes, most caves in Skyrim are either simply rock or ice and that's as technical as I'm willing to get or we'll be debating forever without reaching results.

Thanks and I noted above that Snow & Rock HD nor Hectrol changes anything in the mines that I could find.

Anyone else who wishes to vote should do it soon. I'll be finalizing this mod soon.

Fixed GDO. I don't know about the BCFs though. I have nothing to do with them and personally, I don't use them. :happy:

Since we now have a lot of compares up, I'm reopening the poll. I've also reset it so if you voted before you'll need to vote again. Check out the OP and the two posts above for all the compares. My official review is this: Snow and Rocks HD is probably the closest to vanilla in color and style; however, I find it too "blocky" to be natural and would nearly just prefer to use vanilla instead. Beauty of Skyrim wins my votes for a couple different reasons. First, I like that the textures are smoother. Caves are naturally formed by erosion, usually by water, and thus should have smoother surfaces. Beauty of Skyim gets this right. Secondly, I also like that the textures are just a bit darker. This gives the cave more of a "cave ambiance" in my opinion. And finally, the textures look more "wet and damp" as you would expect to find in a cave. As for the mines, I like them just as much. The shot I provided is a big change; however, while playing in-game the mine feels more "mine-like" as if it was carved and dug out. Hectrol, I don't care for at all. The color is too greyish and too far from vanilla for my liking. Also, the "caved out" texture looks out of place and unnatural, in my opinion, because even though some places in a cave might form textures like that from water dripping down the wall, it's not going to be everywhere you look. It's just been way overused. Hectrol might be good for users whom prefer "bleak" style textures and lighting; however, it's not for me and not for STEP in my opinion.

Mines Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Snow & Rock HD and Hectrol does not edit the mine texture files.

Mines Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Snow & Rock HD and Hectrol does not edit the mine texture files.

Caves Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Vanilla is with all the HRDLCs; optimized textures and normals.

Caves Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Vanilla >> Snow & Rocks HD >> Beauty of Skyrim >> Hectrol Vanilla is with all the HRDLCs; optimized textures and normals.

I don't think I agree. The important point is not whether it's true to Bethesda's intent or not but rather whether the result (in context in game) is better or worse at conveying the style the user wants. If I want a shiny clean high fantasy look and these textures provide it then I should use it no matter what Bethesda's intent was, similarly if i want a dark brooding decrepit look and the textures provide that. Of course users all have different desires, so to be effective a mod review should point out how well the mod goes in achieving a particular atmosphere, not just how true to to Bethesda's original intent a mod it. (Remember if reviews for mods for consideration in SR and SEP packs are to be included here then judging how well a mod fits to the most restrictive definition of STEP is not the principal point of mod reviews here.)right, but im not talking about any user, im talking about STEP. I thought ive read many times how STEP is about enhancing the game without deviating too far from the game's original intent. perhaps i misinterpreted the goals. I only can give my 2 cents as a 'member' of this community.. whether or not my opinion is considered by those in charge is up to them EDIT: and by no means was i suggesting that this mod was too far from vanilla. i was merely pointing out that, in general, we try to find a balance, thats all. And in fact, if anything i was advocating FOR this pack in response to the post before mine that was indicating the textures looked too 'new looking' or something along those lines Michaelrw is right in this case. STEP is about enhancing vanilla Skyrim and that means that staying as true to the "vanilla style" in all aspects is one of the main goals for STEP. Therefore, you can expect to see most reviews by the official STEP Team to be geared toward this direction and not towards any other "user style" other than vanilla Skyrim. However, that doesn't mean you won't find reviews geared towards other directions by non-team members or even STEP Team members. This is the great thing about the STEP forums. They're open to all public and community review. Any member can gear their review how they wish. I just wanted to simply point out that when you see a review by one of the official STEP Team members it will generally take into consideration the needs and requirements of STEP and not much more.