DROPPED WATER - Water And Terrain Enhancement Redux (by SparrowPrince)

[WilliamImm]

I bet a mod or a admin changed it for you. Not me for sure... if it was me, it would have been a reference to some random Bemani song.

[MontyMM]

 

I just updated it the 1.8 and it was quite a big update.

Good stuff. 

Apart from the awful auto correct again ;) How are you anyway? How is your writing going?

 

Also I can't ever edit posts anymore I just get this:

Sorry but you cannot edit your post. The Administrator has set it so that posts can only be edited within 60 minutes of posting.

It has been hours. Maybe a bug?

 

Oh and can I get a random funny tag change? I mean people can already see I'm a author. It's like you having STEP above the STEP lol. I just know I'm going to get "Surfin' Bird" but oh well. ;)

Hello Matey.  I see you're still doing top work - I really like the new sharper looking waves in WATER.  I'm still writing away, but I haven't had much time for Skyrim things of late.  I've just popped in to catch up, really, and dispense some drive-by opinions.:P 

 

I'm not sure what the gang has been up to with the limits on post editing.  Perhaps one of you Orange Hats can shed some light?

[TechAngel85]

I think only a Mod or Admin can change the names, and you're welcome. :P (it was the first think that popped in my head from your username lol)

[z929669]

I added a time limit to post edits to thwart certain people from erasing their posts entirely. I'll relax this again and see what happens.

 

I'll also see about user rights on tag names.

[Guest]

Hello Matey. I see you're still doing top work - I really like the new sharper looking waves in WATER. I'm still writing away, but I haven't had much time for Skyrim things of late. I've just popped in to catch up, really, and dispense some drive-by opinions.

Top men... Top men. I'm trying to do top work as I enjoy doing art and stuff, but I have to get this snow done for EDT 2 and my mind seems to being trying to avoid it (so I updated WATER instead). Z knows I keep complaining about it. ;) I'm glad you are okay and the drive by opinions are welcome.

 

I think only a Mod or Admin can change the names, and you're welcome. Tongue (it was the first think that popped in my head from your username lol)

It was you was it? Good choice! :)

 

I added a time limit to post edits to thwart certain people from erasing their posts entirely. I'll relax this again and see what happens.

Oh yeah it says up to 60 not 60. Totally misread it. Also on your answer to our Nexus PMs where I was totally useless in helping you (:() I just meant the "Change your view" tab in the top right of a folder and change it to "Extra Large" or whatever it's called. Probably mega obvious though, so sorry again. ;)

[z929669]

@Sparrow

Is there any possibility that you might consider offering up a loose files version of Water? I personally avoid BSAs whenever possible, and the new version has four BSAs in subs (but the other subs still have loose files).

 

Also, I posted about distant water LOD issues. I don't think that Water covers any of these, but I suspect that the terrain LOD mods alter these ... do you know? I'd like to get a fix for distant water so that it is more reflective, shimmering, and translucent, depending on the position of the light source.

 

Note the diff in water between vanilla (left) and modded (right). The modded is just 'blah', and it looks more like spilled paint than water. Vanilla is tiled, but at least it seems like water :P

 

 

here are the mods installed for the right image:

 

 

++ 000 - Skyrim - Animations BSA.7z (6F70599E) (Installed)

++ 001 - Skyrim - Interface BSA.7z (ED48DB4A) (Installed)

++ 002 - Skyrim - Meshes BSA.7z (36D58D55) (Installed)

++ 003 - Skyrim - Misc BSA.7z (6EC80093) (Installed)

++ 004 - Skyrim - Shaders BSA.7z (105C9B82) (Installed)

++ 005 - Skyrim - Sounds BSA.7z (C6920669) (Installed)

++ 006 - Skyrim - Voices BSA.7z (16540A13) (Installed)

++ 007 - Skyrim - VoicesExtra BSA.7z (07A59202) (Installed)

++ 008 - Dawnguard BSA.7z (606F6CF8) (Installed)

++ 009 - Hearthfires BSA.7z (3A08E731) (Installed)

++ 010 - Dragonborn BSA.7z (80AAFF72) (Installed)

++ 011 - Update BSA.7z (6DF52706) (Installed)

++ 012 - Vanilla Optimized Textures_H-H-H.7z (E1F37B8E) (Installed)

014 - == B - Utilities ==

015 - == D - Fixes ==

++ 016 - D_Ancient Nord Armor Fix_BAIN-v1-2808.7z (E600D33A) (Installed)

++ 017 - D_Appropriately Attired Jarls_BAIN-v1.1.1-23793.7z (739E27B7) (Installed)

++ 018 - D_Argonian Decapitation Fix_BAIN-v1.0-22624.7z (19B30E6C) (Installed)

++ 019 - D_Bowlegged Jump Fix_BAIN-v1.1-7416.7z (94FAF991) (Installed)

++ 020 - D_Brawl Bugs Patch_BAIN-v1.0-24020.7z (663FF8E7) (Installed)

++ 021 - D_Consistent Older People_BAIN-v1.6-19730.7z (18B8A9BD) (Installed)

++ 022 - D_Cursor Fix_BAIN-v1.3-36125.7z (DBB394B5) (Installed)

++ 023 - D_Dead Body Collision Fix_BAIN-v2.4-30947.7z (90EA6685) (Installed)

++ 024 - D_Fast Travel Timescale Fix_BAIN-v1.0-19389.7z (CC1A0B4E) (Installed)

++ 025 - D_Fuz_Ro_Doh_BAIN-v6.0-14884.7z (E5C7ACC9) (Installed)

++ 026 - D_Guard Dialogue Overhaul_BAIN-v1.3-23390.7z (605731AD) (Installed)

++ 027 - D_Nitpick_6.0-19556-4-0.7z (9E668EC5) (Installed)

++ 028 - D_Skyrim Project Optimization_BAIN-v1.51-32505.7z (AA6C9659) (Installed)

++ 029 - D_Tail Twist Fix_BAIN-v1.1-32949.7z (6F9C513F) (Installed)

++ 030 - D_Trade & Barter_BAIN-v1.2-34612.7z (C72201D3) (Installed)

++ 031 - D_Unofficial Dawnguard Patch_BAIN-v1.2.4-23491.7z (AF4099A2) (Installed)

++ 032 - D_Unofficial Hearthfire Patch_BAIN-v1.1.2-25127.7z (699DE1BF) (Installed)

++ 033 - D_Unofficial Dragonborn Patch_BAIN-v1.0.5-31083.7z (6D0BBB83) (Installed)

++ 034 - D_Unofficial High Resolution Patch_BAIN-v1.1.2-31255.7z (0407B844) (Installed)

++ 035 - D_Unofficial Skyrim Patch_BAIN-v1.3.3c-19.7z (425C9154) (Installed)

++ 036 - D_Weapon & Armor Fixes_BAIN-v3.1-34093.7z (26739BF5) (Installed)

++ 037 - D_Acquisitive Soul Gems_BAIN-v2.4-5312.7z (61E5EAB3) (Installed)

046 - == E - Interface ==

++ 047 - E_Better Dialogue Controls_BAIN-v1.2-27371.7z (25A02B05) (Installed)

++ 048 - E_Better MessageBox Controls_BAIN-v1._2-28170.7z (A52D4AF0) (Installed)

++ 049 - E_Lockpicking Interface_BAIN-v1.2-2845.7z (95212C76) (Installed)

++ 051 - E_Skill Interface_BAIN-v6.0-7308.7z (F454E5B6) (Installed)

++ 052 - E_Skill Interface (Dawnguard)_BAIN-v5.0-7308.7z (54E28D4E) (Installed)

++ 053 - E_SkyUI_BAIN-v4.1-3863.7z (C8272DAC) (Installed)

++ 054 - E_STATUS_BAIN-v1.96-32657.7z (720D32CB) (Installed)

078 - == F - Conflicting Graphics ==

++ 079 - F_Ruins Clutter Improved_BAIN-v2.5-14227.7z (5A086E20) (Installed)

++ 080 - F_No stretching Full_BAIN-v2.1-26126.7z (5A790FEA) (Installed)

++ 081 - F_Realistic Smoke & Embers_BAIN-v1.4-836.7z (F63B5EA4) (Installed)

++ 082 - F_Ultimate HD Fire Effects_BAIN-v1.9-28642.7z (98E849F8) (Installed)

++ 083 - F_SMIM_BAIN-v1.521-8655.7z (99C558EA) (Installed)

++ 084 - F_SRO_BAIN-v1.6.7z (F0ADB825) (Installed)

++ 085 - F_HD Misc_BAIN-v1.0-3595.7z (EA03B6B0) (Installed)

++ 086 - F_Food & Ingredients - Performance_BAIN-v1.6-1192.7z (DB3DAF3B) (Installed)

++ 087 - F_Tobes Highres Textures_BAIN-v1.2-1123.7z (306A9306) (Installed)

++ 087.3 - F_Enhanced Distant Terrain 2

++ 087.6 - F_Quality World Map_BAIN-v8.0-4929.7z (22334214) (Installed)

092 - == G - Landscapes & Environment ==

++ 093 - G_AOF Detailed Mountains_BAIN-v2.1-4805.7z (BDA6E9F7) (Installed)

++ 094 - G_Skyrim Flora Overhaul_BAIN-141.7z (2CC26958) (Installed)

++ 095 - G_Detailed Terrain & Tree LOD_BAIN-v2.1-17984.7z (C0BAD4E3) (Installed)

++ 096 - G_Dragon Glyphs-Fixed_BAIN-v2.1-27095.7z (61C42102) (Installed)

++ 097 - G_Enhanced Night Skyrim - Medium Stars_BAIN-v0.4-85.7z (20028A3E) (Installed)

++ 098 - G_HQ LODs_BAIN-v2.1-4834.7z (AA65BB67) (Installed)

++ 099 - G_Hybrids Plants & Herbs_BAIN-v4.0-1546.7z (024CC733) (Installed)

++ 100 - G_Moss Rocks_BAIN-v1.31-31856.7z (44FEF2E2) (Installed)

++ 101 - G_Moss Rocks DB_BAIN-v1.0-40944.7z (E6DCF129) (Installed)

++ 102 - G_Point The Way_BAIN-v1.0.1a-33393.7z (1A3349EE) (Installed)

++ 103 - G_Real Ice_BAIN-v3.0-5388.7z (C58B182D) (Installed)

++ 104 - G_Realistic Mushrooms_BAIN-v1.1-29935.7z (5003C8C2) (Installed)

++ 105 - G_Realistic Tundra Moss_BAIN-v1.4-28292.7z (B38C23E1) (Installed)

++ 106 - G_SkyFalls plus SkyMills_BAIN-v2.0-40564.7z (FE39CF8A) (Installed)

++ 107 - G_Terrain Bump_BAIN-1.4b-4964.7z (2D2F398C) (Installed)

++ 108 - G_TreesHD_BAIN-v1.6-3812.7z (3955F833) (Installed)

++ 109 - G_Visible Windows_BAIN-v1.2-6971.7z (8BE9D275) (Installed)

++ 111 - G_WATER_BAIN-v1.75b-13268.7z (30ED8B7E) (Installed)

++ 112 - G_Whitrun Trellis_BAIN-v1.1-1647.7z (26940A5D) (Installed)

++ 113 - G_Windmills Resized_BAIN-v1.1-30026.7z (49942AE7) (Installed)

++ 251 - K_Detailed Chests_BAIN-v1.2-4457.7z (55D42BF9) (Installed)

 

 

[Guest]

Tamriel uses one water type for the LOD (sea water) which I think you may know. I assume because I have tweaked the sparkle and reduced the reflection values it proably alters the distant LOD too. Vanilla shines so much because it was originally horribly shiny. I don't see anyway around this. It's either better looking water up close and less so in the distance or vice versa.

 

On loose files... I like to keep it tidy where I can. I think people who manually install appreciate it.

[Garfink]

@z929669

 

Use Mod Organizer to install mods, all BSA are automatically unzipped to become loose files on install, so it doesn't matter what the author upload.

[z929669]

Tamriel uses one water type for the LOD (sea water) which I think you may know. I assume because I have tweaked the sparkle and reduced the reflection values it proably alters the distant LOD too. Vanilla shines so much because it was originally horribly shiny. I don't see anyway around this. It's either better looking water up close and less so in the distance or vice versa.

 

On loose files... I like to keep it tidy where I can. I think people who manually install appreciate it.

Hmmm. Is the specularity governed by the plugin then? I actually like the look of vanilla water, minus the behavior in many physical circumstances. If there were an option to use the default versus a more moderately or highly specular version, I think that it would be worth it. Otherwise, I think less opacity and more sky reflection would also work. The LODs look a bit like milky-greenish-gray paint, so a bit of reflectivity ...? I unfortunately don't know anything about these settings ow how to manipulate them.

[phazer11]

Yeah the Non-Vanilla water lods make me think I'm playing a game... imagine that. 

[EssArrBee]

All the shimmering on the left looks like straight lines. It's like water sparkles are forced and unnatural, plus you can't really see that type of shine from the top of a mountain (source: I live next to a mountain). SP's water may seem a bit flat in regards to shine, but I bet that is preferable than predetermined specularity, especially with all the cloud cover in Skyrim.

[z929669]

All the shimmering on the left looks like straight lines. It's like water sparkles are forced and unnatural' date=' plus you can't really see that type of shine from the top of a mountain (source: I live next to a mountain). SP's water may seem a bit flat in regards to shine, but I bet that is preferable than predetermined specularity, especially with all the cloud cover in Skyrim.[/quote']

Forget specularity then. It needs more reflectivity of the sky. Water reflects light, even at great height. Vanilla LODs do a better job of reflecting skylight.

[Aiyen]

On a semi related note.

Due to this thread I went in and tested the RWT 2 waters LOD... and on my system it looks nice. Has the right amount of specularity, and there is no checker pattern... there is a line pattern but its still better imo.

 

Also I noticed zooming around with free camera that the sky only reflects in a small area around where your avatar is located, while the sun is reflecting from its angle regardless of how you look. (the reflectivity)

 

As for the water looking like spilled paint, then that has more to do with the land water interface then how the specularity and reflectivity is.

If there was a way to make a gradient transition between land and water then it would look a lot better.

[DoYouEvenModBro]

Hey SparrowPrince, is there any way you could post a comparison between the 4 (or 5?) different wave types in this thread here? It's incredibly confusing on the Nexus Page.

 

Thanks!

[Guest]

There is a gif in the fomod section of the mod (normals.gif). I'm not on my PC at the moment so I can't pluck it out. :)