User:Hishutup/OblivionGuideNotes

ALL USERS IGNORE THIS

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Unless you want a peak at what were thinking. This will probably become outdated over time.

water lag -> restart

weird ini tweaks

bUseWaterReflections=0

Increase in Bravil from 15->24 fps

Disables reflections

bUseWaterShader=0

increase 17->27 fps

Disables water and replaces it with purple texture.

Red

The last one surely goes on to my 'What to do if bored'-list o.o might fun bathing in purple water - wonder if it spares me a haircolor-bottle?!

Other stuff

[Click this]
Select this
"Name this"
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Instructions

Example

Of Notes.

No Space

Space

Double space

Triple Space

Space constant:

"     "

Hishutup: The space constant won't save in my macros and is annoying to count. I am looking for a clear replacement.

Mod Format:

[<url> <mod name>]

• Author:
• Version:
• Description:
• Requirements:
• Download:
• Download BCF:
• Notes:
• Installation:

My Marker:

"FIX LATER"

https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/User:DoubleYou#tab=Useful_Wiki_Templates

wiki format and stuff

changed the setting below when I was a little bit into the guide

     

     

     

     

Mods Discussion Area

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Oblivion Character Overhaul v2 and Comprehensive Cosmetic Compilation Merge

• Author: r2d5
• Version: 1.1
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

Red

Fancy pantsy this one... Extended? like, dear user, choose one or the other and since you're at it, test this one, thank you =) Reckon, this here adds some little strain on the system/engine

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Skyrimized waters

• Author: Hexaae
• Version: 1.8
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

Red

Trying this one out. Has 2 options (normal & blue tinted waters) and covers SI. Performance friendly.

hishutup

performance doesn't matter for oblivion... Its the engine limitation I am worried about... To prove it I'll try it on My MBPr later... It has a mobility processors so it preforms about 25% of the equivalent. i7 @2.7Ghz, 16GB @1600MHz, GT 650M 1GB, HDD is a usb 3.0 2TB portable. I may take a close look at VRAM

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Hishutup

Various Patches

Arthmoors Mod Patches

• Author:
• Version:
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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Hishutup

AI mod... I like it... I dont know where to put it though but as for the difficulty, there is an ingame slider

Smarter Bandits Version 1_1

• Author: David Brasher
• Version: 1.0
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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Hishutup

I want a good list of music additions to the game so that the users and I can follow the list to get the largest variety of music

[<url> <mod name>]

• Author:
• Version:
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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Hishutup

Here is a copy/paste from temp.

Bank of Cyrodiil

• Author:
• Version:
• Installation: "FIX LATER"EXE installer
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

Clocks of Cyrodiil

• Author: WilliamSea
• Version: v1.00
• Installation: Clocks of Cyrodiil
• Notes: Needs Cleaning

After installing, I found it looked pretty natural.

Let the People Drink

• Author: Khornate and Qazaaq
• Version: 2.6
• Installation: Main file.

Sub-Packages:

    Check: 00, 01 Plain Cobl.

Esp/m Filter:

    Check: LetThePeopleDrink.esp

Mythic Creatures

• Author: themythofstrider
• Version: 1.0
• Installation: Mainfile

Retextures for creatures. I would like to add more.

Reznod Mannequins

• Author: reznod
• Version: 3.0
• Installation: Reznod Mannequins

Esp/m Filter:

    Reznod_Mannequins.esp

One of the mods recommended this mod. I figured, why not.

Hishutup

Here are some more movement mods... I don't know which though. One said it worked well with realistic gravity.

Universal Movement Speed

• Author: ZekAonar
• Version: 1.1
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

Improved movement physics

• Author: Altimor
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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Hishutup

Music always seemed clunk, especially combat music. Currently looking for a better system.

[<url> <mod name>]

• Author:
• Version:
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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Hishutup

Looks promising. Maybe override other ALL other texture packs.

     Swampier Swamp Complete Set

• Author: yoplatz
• Version: 1.2
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

Red

Conflicts with Enhanced Vegetation. May use these packages only: Glowing Bog Beacons - HarvestFlora Bog Beacons (patch) - Swamp dirt - Swamp Grass. However, needs to be carefully placed since needs to be installed after Harvest Flora but also after UL Compilation (affects UL Blackwood Forest). Next, after Grass Overhaul too, and either before or after Natural Environment (Natural Habitat.esp) - not sure there.

Hishutup

swamp dirt, tress are only textures, grass has esp(unsure of records), no bog beacons because they're weird

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Hishutup

I think this whole series will be good to look into

     ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts

• Author: SilentResident - prettyfly - Xtudo - mhahn123
• Version: V2.6.1
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

     ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Castles

• Author: SilentResident
• Version: 2.0
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

Hishutup

This might have issues with Better Cities but take a look. Im sure there is a patch.

     ImpeREAL City - Unique Districts

• Author: SilentResident
• Version: 3.0
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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     Alive Series

• Author: Drahenne
• Version: Diverse
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

Red

I like her improvements of the places - conflicts with Slof's horses though, may be only a loadorder/install order problem. Has patches for UL compilation.

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Dynamic Foot Position

• Author:
• Version:
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description> Comment by Soire: I've read a bit, I liked it in my build back then, but it requires Universal Skeleton NIF at Oblivion which seems not to be compatible with "Deadly Reflex 6" (which I didn't use). From the readme (v1.81): Unfortunately it seems to be impossible to adapt Sky Captains 1st person skeleton for "Deadly Reflex 6" (extremely deformed view axis in 1st person view).

Hishutup

HI, yeah, I saw that, this mod will probably stay here for awhile. Good catch.

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SI-FIXED Realistic Ragdolls and Force v3

• Author:
• Version:
• Description: (if needed)
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: Either Core or Extended - Not compatible with Dynamic Foot Position & Universal Skeleton NIF (unfortunately) - don't know about compability with Idle Animations & Deadly Reflex

Hishutup

I like the one below. It might be irritating for people. Try it and jump off something. + it can be configured.

Elz - Realistic Gravity

• Author: Elzee
• Version: 1.4e
• Installation: (if needed)
• Notes: (if needed)

<short description>

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Cave textures at Oblivion (Skyrim imp.)

• Author:
• Version:
• Description: (if needed)
• Installation: (if needed)

Hishutup

I like the one above but then again I have never seen either in game.

Amps Cavern Retexture

• Author:
• Version:
• Description: (if needed) makes the caverns alot darker, slippery looking. May too dark for some users.
• Installation: (if needed)

• I can't decide which of the two cave retextures. And, Extended or Core?

Hishutup

People can turn up gamma. I am one of the few that do with enb's. Hmm... I'll take a closer look soon.

Red

I've gone into a cavern and checked them out - I do like AmpolXs better. Screen Comparisons

Added Cave retexture Core

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Forts Ruins exterior retexture

• Author: Lougian
• Version:
• Description: (if needed)
• Installation: (if needed)

• check out all his mods - (2k textures all of them) - currently some of the textures have some issues with blending to the Vanilla/QTP3 textures or with being complete, but I like this work very much. He needs more time to develop, and seems very busy atm - track him for Core/Extended? -> Author Lougian

Hishutup

His landscape on look strange when I used it. Half was impressive but the other half was very disappointing. Maybe user edited? I want to avoid that

Hishutup

Even worse but it may be improved if parallax is removed.

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Improved Tools and Clutter

• Author: Crazy Lion
• Version: 0.5
• Installation: Download: Main files and Update file
• Notes: reduces polys and may help with frames in cities. Better Cities might be closer.

Red

he doesn't only edit the meshes - he flags the stuff differently and changes weapon-status on some of the tools. Which makes it incompatible with 'Harvest Flora' and 'OOO' and maybe even with FCOM. Maybe messes with Cobl, too... unusable for a Core/Extended, i'd say.

Hishutup

Delete the esp and use the meshes and textures as a replacer.

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Notes Area

      Elz - No Floating Weapon

• Author: Elzee
• Version: 1.0.2
• Description: Fixes the floating weapon issue upon death of a NPC.
• Installation:

Red

This one actually is if you are using a costum skeleton. Which may get's only installed in extended and/or modules. Make it extended?

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Tracking Area

      Nice Ice a.k.a. The Hills Have Ice

• Author: maczopikczo and xrayy
• Version: 03
• Installation: Download: Nice Ice - Icing on the Cake
• Notes: (if needed)

Red

taking it out of recommended Grass/Water pack - it is a retexture for an UL mod and requires that one to be installed first. Add to UL Module later. (will overwrite 4 texture files of the primary Snow Replacer)

Hishutu

Oops, It was late in my list.

Added as Modul mod to Flora, Grass & Water (after UL comp/after rec due need of overwriting 4 files)

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Comments notes below... Whatnot

I took a look at a different mod called GOSH - Gecko's Oblivion Sound overHaul. I took a quick read through the comments and found people that had issues. I chose to ignore GOSH but rather follow the recommendations given by Cliffworms.

These are old notes and may need to be deleted

    -Needed Fixes-
    Consistency
    Finish adding initial mods
    Have sub forum created
    Add forum topics
    receive suggestions
    Add descriptions and wait for community made descriptions
    Actually test guide for completeness
    Test modded game walk around for 4 hrs
    
    Endurance test 8+ hrs
    I think the ini config I made should be used. Since mostly everybody can run it on Ultra and for a lower option add something like turn HDR off and use Bloom.
    

Add ENB instructions

I think there still needs to be a complete fresh install because there is a way to optimize textures while keeping them in the bsa --> fresh install, definitely yes. No way to troubleshoot an installation that may is or not from a previous install. .bsa: not too sure about that, never did Pffify - and not sure if that is still recommended either (remember some stuff I've read on the go last few days). When I am done with the Core/Barebone mod install description I'll dive in there, or better how about asking SRB and/or Kelmych for help at that point? They might know what to do with Oblivion texture opt, and Kelmych is the DDSOpt-God here with his bat files.

I think there needs to be a section to check for mods that were installed using an exe. UOP and some quest mods --> UOP does not support installer anymore since newest release. Quest mods is clear, though - for Mo most likely just run the .exe over Mo itself but I need to dig there. Wrye bash and ext. installer is no problem. Doesn't really need an extra section except maybe detailed instructions under each mod.

Should 7 zip be recommended with install instructions? ---> yes, it should - especially if we plan to add texture optimization. Because alot archives are 7-zip, beside it's used as a standard in Fear&Loathing as well STEP. Keep consistency here.

should the Oblivion folder be called "Oblivion root folder" --> can do a little intro explaining what we call what (including keywords) so we have shortcuts throughout the guide.

Come up with consistent keywords

Hishutup

I have and I think they'll work well.

A description needs to be put on TES4Edit. I have permission to use any parts of F&L but EssArrBee said that permission isn't needed to use part from other guides. I prefer to still request. --> FNEdit pdf guides, I still think they are best out there and applicable to all TES/FN Edit tools.

I need to add gecko??? when the guide is further along to merge some mergable esps ---> nope, Wrye Bash for bashed patch (which disabled already like - 5 mods on my build, that is up to UI section) and if there is a merged patch needed, then use TES4Edit. Gecko is a pre-CS tool (If i remember right) and not really recommended anymore.

Difficulties of Wyre Bash and edited esps needs to be described. Wrye Bash indicates that the esps are mismatched. Maybe a guide on replacing the dirty esp with the Clean edited esp is needed. ---> can be done fastly at any time from me. As far Mod cleaning and mismatched .esp's (masters) goes, that is the job of TES4Edit.

I think WB needs its own page for easy to read info. Its going to go under many rev. WB is a pain sometimes. ---> really o.o there is a guide that (at least for this guide) does still match the requirements ppl need to know here and on-the-go for each mod in instructions can be added specific details if needed for Wrye.

A clean Data folder may be needed to create a mod archive out of DarkUI because WB doesnt handle external installs very well other than there is a way. Ill take a look but just noted. ---> do not chose everything with the UI mods in Wrye, they contain conflicting files! you know BCF files? they are conversion files for not-Bain friendly archives. For DarNified exists already one on the Nexus, for DarkUId DarN I can create one. BCF for Bain: basically, I extract the desired mod into bain and make a new project, then I reorder all the files and folders of the original mod to fit a bain-friendly archive. Then I create a BCF that contains the information how bain has to rename and reorder the original file. The user just drops the BCF in the 'Installer' folder of Wrye, imports the original mod and applies the BCF - boom done. Of course, might needs special instructions which folders are to choose, still - but they're gonna numbered and named, so that shouldn't be a hassle.

Stuff by Soire:

I'll get that pdf file to you - mind some parts are not yet working as intended but I think as far the technical part up to TES4Edit cleaning goes - it might can be forged aready into a format fitting the guide on the wiki. (I tend to write too much for a 'technical' guide, I guess it needs kind of some editing)

For a structure of the guide itself my idea is:

1. Introduction & Intro what shorcuts are used Going to happen over time
2. System requirements & Windows settings & Game Version requirements I think its okay...
3. Installation of Oblivion/reset to Vanilla Another revision needs to be done
4. Eventually a section to Graphic card settings Should be part of the which pack should I use thing.
5. Utilites (and installation) I think whats written is acceptable. Few minor changes need to happen.
6. TES4Cleaning of Vanilla .esp's DONE: thanks DoubleYou
7. INI tweaks Many more need to happen
8. Mod installation guide (Barebone/Skeleton/Core)

• Extenders (OBSE) & their More will be required over time otherwise its fine
• Fixes I think its good
• UI It just keeps getting better and better
• Exterior Texture/LOD/Flora/Water stuff
• Interior Retextures (caves and Furniture and such)
• Clutter Retextures
• Character improvments (OCO only really, I think) Yea... I think so
• Creature improvments
• Weapon & Armor improvements
• Sounds/Audio improvments
• Weather, Lighting and Sky I think this needs to be loaded earlier
• Gameplay/Animations
• Either here or after Modules or after Overhauls: Post-Installation, Loot & bashed patch and merged patch & whatelse.

• Modules

• Then the Package/Module section like Houses/Followers/Darkbrotherhood enhancements/Extra Body textures for fancy/Animations etc. I don't really have a layout in mind.

• Overhauls/Conversions

• Overhauls and total Conversions that impact greatly and do require special installation

• might add to Skeleton if the user should download compatible version to FCOM, OOO, MMM, Nehrim... whatever the Overhauls are... instead.

Overhauls are kinda something you decide on using from the start...

• General Notes:

• A word to Nehrim: If used with Mo (IF i get that thing running properly and acceptable) it's not a big deal. With any other Mod Manager it requires a clean installation.

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I'll Open a sub guide another time.

At this point in time MO will probably be capable of mostly simple mod archives.... Most Oblivion mods with installers from my understanding are wizard.txt or OMOD.

• Consistency:

• Skeleton build chosen of mods that do offer alternative within the packages (like the loading screen themed) but also for Overhauls (like AllNatural works with all Overhauls - well, as far I've seen on the go - and there is also a Nehrim conversion)I totally agree... but I like modding which makes sticking to vanilla difficult for me.

- for loading screens, I excluded Atmospheric because it adds over 2000 (!) screens which make me think it might not so cool towards performance. Themed ones come to maybe 300/400 combined.Literally... Theres 0 performance cost because the is only one screen that is loaded at a time.

• I do think that the Skeleton build should be as near to Vanilla as possible but enhance the experience and the visuals. As for fancy, that are the packages for. As for Gameplay, general stuff used by any playstyle in Skeleton/Core - related to different playstyles in packages/modules

Hishutup

The vanilla ones became super repetitive. Atmospheric LS were designed so that they are all screenshots from inside vanilla game. Its a choice more than anything

• Mod Manager:

• May do main one Wrye Bash and link to extra instruction (on seperate page) to specific Mo instructions - if I get that thing running. Perhaps, regarding Overhauls and Nehrim, Mo really be the solution and regarding that, I'd like to get Tannin or one of the others responsible ppl involved. Like for the issue of only 1GB memory usage if running TES4Lodgen.The problem with MO in its current state is that it literally won't work. Most mods need to use patchers. When the patchers are run with a long load order it can take several 10s of minutes. After tannin gets the issues figured out and also starts supporting OMOD and wizard THEN I will be able to easily convert the guide. Down the road, we can focus on an MO friendly version.

• HDR; required for TES4Lodgen!

Hishutup

Not really require but more suggested. I know for a fact that some graphics cards cant do HDR. Mac is one of them. Yes, it is possible.

• AAOVTR: not recommended. It adds ALOT of sh*t that is not optimized and sometimes even conflicts within each other. I'd decompressed that whole thing and have gone through it. It was the mainreason of stutters I had in one of my builds. As in Landscape repl. Qarls & some others are still most vanilla-near up to date. I skimmed through other options but I wasn't quite satisfied in that regard. Well, question is, how Vanilla-near this guide wants to stay with the Skeletonbuild? When I looked there wasn't any because I focusing on the people that have fairly new machines that are going to hit that barrier
• RAEVWD and Lodgen - TES4LODgen does not add meshes, it generates the .lod files only while tes4ll-v4 generates the distant meshes and optional normal maps, while RAEVWD provides the necessary .nif files for it. That shortly for how it really works. So, both tools should be used if anything adds anything exterior to the landscape (houses, quests, trees, whatever) check out this guide, explains it nicely Oblvion LOD's Testg

Hishutup

Its complicated, I know this but the common user doesn't care about reading. They want to install this stuff and try it out because, "It should work right?"

• I wouldn't offer .ini files to download and such. User should get used to edit themselves.

Hishutup

inis are universal except for one line. May argue that they are not but they are.

• script optimization not needed - covered by UOP

Hishutup

I clearly stated I didn't do formal testing. I did set a 5fps increase though but I may have been cause by something else.

• fps Poly Gone Ext: well, honestly, by reducing quality it's not done. Cause are not-optimized meshes which should be covered by a DDSopt guide. Well, like this: we gonna add textures overwriting all (most) of the Vanilla stuff. So the Vanilla stuff actually should be reduced in size and same time perfomance optimized. In Interiors all that stuff isn't that of a big trouble, but the exterior. So, I use to reduce the exterior Vanilla to low-end specs (512-1k), the interior to mid-range (2k). There are meshes, normal maps and textures. All 3 are handles with DDSopt which has the ability to create .bsa (need testing ingame on Vanilla), although, with Mo .bsa recreation is obsolete. In these days low-end is something around 1GB GPU which should work perfectly fine with this guide in any case. This renders this mod obsolete. The more scary part is gonna be to optimize the ModTextures... lol ah and consider the optimized package of qarls instead: Qarl's Texture Pack III Redimized v1.0 though this one was made for 512mb cards and lower - the original for 1GB and higher. In the next two days I will be able to test Qarls (the normal one) in game.

I read like portions of what you wrote. I am always going to be focused on 2GB VRAM AND 8 GB RAM but I can give you a numerical value for any stats that you need during testing. Since my keyboard is not only capable of macros but i also have a small LCD that can display stats from GPU or CPU( Logitech G510).... Im starting to think I should test just the massive texture overhauls. Oh next class not done........

Hishutup

Textures don't cause low frames -lack of VRAM can imitate the effect though- because what the graphics card sees a texture inside of the VRAM and then it skins it across the mesh. The higher poly count on a mesh the more difficult. Same with lighting but Oblivion is not advanced in lighting.

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Another issue with MO is that you need to completely reinstall the mod if you want to see if you need some patch.... So like I keep saying MO needs to be down the road because in Oblivion there are various patches that exist in archives that would kinda be hidden if I was using MO...

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Backup Area

      Qarls Texture Pack III

• Author: Qarl
• Version: 3
• Description:

The purpose of this package is to make TES IV: Oblivion look even better than when you bought it. To do this I've created new textures, normal maps, specular and parallax maps to replace a large number of those in the game with ones which are higher resolution and more photo realistic, while at the same time still very close to the original feel of Bethesda's intentions.

— Qarl

• Installation: download QarlTP3.zip

Install:

    In Wrye Bain (Installer) right-click the bar that is underneath the tabs
    Select Monitor External Installation...
    [OK]

Leave Wrye Bain in the current state. Open Archive:

    Run:
         QuarlTP3.exe
    If you get a security warning, click [Run]
    "Extract To":
         <Steam>\SteamApps\common\Oblivion\Data
    Select [Extract] 
    Confirm replacing files: [Yes to all] 
    This may takes a while.

Go get Coffee or a Soda o.o

— Red

Wrye Bain:

    [OK]
    [Create Project]
    Make sure, all is selected
    Type "QTP3" (Options)
    [OK]
    This may takes a while. Red suggests, you go for a cookie?

OBMM (Oblivion mod manager)

• Author: Timeslip
• Version: 1.1.12
• Description: Oblivion Mod Manager (OBMM) was the number one Mod Manager for quite some years. For some mods and Archive Invalidation (required step in modding Oblivion) we still need this tool.
• Installation: Download: obmm 1_1_12 full installer

Open archive and run:

    obmm_setup.exe

Installer:

    [Next]
    Agree to terms and [Next]
    [Browse] <Steam>\SteamApps\common\Oblivion
    Check Don't create a Start Menu folder
    [Next]
    Uncheck all except Associate the .omod file type with oblivion mod manager
    [Next]
    [Install]
    [Finish]

• Notes: Archive Invalidation is a required step in modding Oblivion.

Enable Archive Invaildation:

    Open OBMM:
         [Utilities]
         [Archive Invalidation]
         Select BSA redirection
         [Update now]
         [OK]
    Close OBMM

Red

I've taken it out of the guide and leave it here for future integration into Mo-specific descriptions (since TMM does not [yet] work flawlessly with Mo)