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| == About STEP == | | == Test == |
| | | This is a test |
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| ==== Call for STEP Mod Testers ====
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| Seasoned mod users interested in becoming STEP testers, please contact one of the STEP Admin (Farlo, z929669 and/or stoppingby4now) via PM on the forums (Please register on the forums and [http://forum.step-project.com/showteam.php see the very bottom of the Forum Team page]).
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| ==== Call for STEP Benchmarks ====
| | == What? == |
| Users interested in helping out with the STEP Benchmarking Project, see our [[STEP:2.2.1#1.D._Performance_Benchmarking|benchmarking guidelines]] and submit results on the forums (see link at upper left of site header bar).
| | Oh yeah |
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| ==== Call for Forum Moderators ==== | | asdf |
| Regular STEP forum users interested in becoming moderators, please contact one of the STEP Admin (Farlo, z929669 and/or stoppingby4now) via PM on the forums (Please register on the forums and [http://forum.step-project.com/showteam.php see the very bottom of the Forum Team page]).
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| <blockquote style="color:white;"><big> Visit the [http://forum.step-project.com/ forums] and provide feedback related to STEP. Assistance and feedback are what is needed in order for STEP to grow and improve. Also visit the STEP [http://www.facebook.com/pages/STEP-Skyrim-Total-Enhancement-Project/175289219235392?sk=info Facebook page] maintained by TheCompiler (Daniel).
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| <br /><br />
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| To support hosting and maintenance of the STEP Community Project, [http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/users/donate/?mode=straight&id=2547509 contributions are welcome].</big></blockquote>
| | == Maybe == |
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| | yup |
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| = STEP Mandate =
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| <div style="color:rgb(225,225,245); text-align:center; font-size:1.4em; font-weight:500; border-style:solid; border-bottom-width:3px; border-color:rgb(200,100,20); padding-bottom:10px; overflow:hidden;">A Commitment</div>
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| {{fs|160%|{{fc|#14C8FF|Core STEP is about ''enhancing vanilla Skyrim'' for the PC ...}}}}
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| :* Texture replacements at minimized performance cost and true to vanilla Skyrim
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| :* Continuity of all in-game textures, reducing immersion-breaking variation in texture quality (i.e., comparable resolution and style across all armors, weapons, clutter, terrain, etc.)
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| :* Graphical mods (ESPs) including new content that "fits" vanilla Skyrim
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| :* Gameplay & sound mods that improve the consistency and the perceived intent of vanilla Skyrim
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| :* Interface mods that improve the menus and UI.
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| :* Fix mods that truly "fix" malfunctioning aspects of vanilla Skyrim.
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| {{fs|160%|{{fc|#14C8FF|STEP is NOT about ...}}}}
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| :* Content mods that conflict with vanilla Skyrim and/or TES lore
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| :* Mods that change the perceived intent of vanilla Skyrim
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| :* Sex mods or female body replacement mods
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| :* Music replacement mods
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| :* Gameplay overhauls
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| === Performance, Baseline & Extreme STEP ===
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| STEP provides an enhanced vanilla experience by utilizing a minimum or “Core” set of game enhancements adhering to the original vanilla feel of the game according to the STEP Mandate. All Core mods are considered essential to all STEP "versions". Non-Core mods are optional but highly recommended. STEP versions are delineated at three levels according to relative performance impacts:
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| :{{Fs|1.3em|{{fc|rgb(50,200,50)|'''Performance STEP:'''}} }} Core mods only; performance options wherever possible.
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| ::{{Fc|#E6B69E|''My poor box needs all of the mercy that I can spare it, but I must have STEP!''}}
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| :{{Fs|1.3em|{{fc|rgb(200,200,50)|'''Baseline STEP:'''}} }} Core and non-Core mods; performance/quality and balanced options wherever possible.
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| ::{{Fc|#E6B69E|''My box is decent, but I hate even the tiniest FPS drops and stuttering!''}}
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| :{{Fs|1.3em|{{fc|rgb(255,100,100)|'''Extreme STEP:'''}} }} Core and non-Core mods; highest-quality options wherever possible.
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| ::{{Fc|#E6B69E|''My box is omnipotent!''}}
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| <br />
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| = STEP 1 = | |
| <div style="color:rgb(225,225,245); text-align:center; font-size:1.4em; font-weight:500; border-style:solid; border-bottom-width:3px; border-color:rgb(200,100,20); padding-bottom:10px; overflow:hidden;">Pre-Installation Setup</div>
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| === Requirements === | |
| :* Official Patch v1.8
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| :* Patience and attention to detail
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| {{Notice Small|The official DLCs are NOT required for STEP, but they are supported.}}
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| === Baseline System ===
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| The STEP Guide is written with the following system (or comparable) in mind:
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| :* Windows 7
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| :* Intel i5/i7 quad core
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| :* 4+ GB system RAM
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| :* GPU 1+ GB VRAM (DDR5)
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| :* Resolution: 1680x1050
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| {{Notice Small|Users with a less powerful system should only install the essential mods indicated as ''Core'' and select the most performance-friendly mod versions available. See [[STEP:2.2.1#Performance.2C_Baseline_.26_Extreme_STEP|Performance]] section for details.}}
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| == 1.A. Install Steam & Skyrim ==
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| {{fc|#E6B69E|This guide assumes that the reader has installed Steam as recommended by the [[Guide:Skyrim Installation|Skyrim Installation Guide]] (SIG). Please take some time to properly set up and configure Steam as recommended by the guide before continuing. Likewise, please refer to the Skyrim installation section of the SIG to establish the recommended Skyrim installation for STEP.}}
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| {{Fs|1.3em|{{Fc|White|It is very important to begin by [[Guide:Troubleshooting#Restore_Vanilla_Skyrim|reverting to a clean Vanilla Skyrim installation]].}} }}
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| == 1.B. Skyrim Launcher Options ==
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| === 1.B.1. Launcher Settings ===
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| # Launch Skyrim from Steam and click on {{fc|#E6B69E|[Options]}}. This will establish the INI file configurations according to the detected hardware. It will also establish the registry entries necessary for utilities and applications used downstream.
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| # Click the {{fc|#E6B69E|[Ultra]}} button.
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| # Under {{fc|#E6B69E|Antialiasing}}, select {{fc|#E6B69E|4 Samples}}, as the difference between 4 Samples and 8 Samples is very subtle and not worth the performance loss (per [http://www.geforce.com/Optimize/Guides/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-tweak-guide/#1 Tweakguides]). Drop down to 2 Samples as a last-resort to improve performance. {{fc|#E6B69E|NOTE: If using SMAA, set this value to zero.}}
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| # Under {{fc|#E6B69E|Anisotropic Filtering}}, select {{fc|#E6B69E|16 Samples}} (use 8 Samples for a very slight performance gain).
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| # Click the {{fc|#E6B69E|[Advanced]}} button and make sure {{fc|#E6B69E|FXAA}} is ''UN-checked''. FXAA reduces the Anisotropic Filter effect as well as overall texture detail. It is a huge performance improvement over AA, but comes with a quality cost. For more information on FXAA, and to see if it is right for you, see [http://forum.step-project.com/showthread.php?tid=109&pid=1391#pid1391 this post]. {{fc|#E6B69E|NOTE: [http://www.iryoku.com/smaa/ SMAA] is a superior alternative to FXAA.}}
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| #* Consider setting shadow detail to 'High' rather than 'Ultra' for video cards with less than 1 GB VRAM (Performance STEP), or leave at 'Ultra' for Extreme STEP:
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| #* Under {{fc|#E6B69E|[View Distance]}}, make sure {{fc|#E6B69E|Object Detail Fade}} is ''UN-checked'' and adjust grass to 100% with all other settings around 50%.{{fc|#E6B69E|NOTE: High-end systems can handle max view distances just fine.}}
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| # Exit and click Play from the Skyrim Launcher. This will create the necessary configuration files, and registry settings required by downstream applications (contrary to popular belief, the INI files are created immediately, and the game does not need to launch).
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| == 1.C. Display & Video Card Settings ==
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| === 1.C.1. Nvidia Users ===
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| # Download and install the [http://www.nvidia.it/Download/Find.aspx?lang=us latest Nvidia drivers] (beta if available).
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| # Download [http://downloads.guru3d.com/NVIDIA-Inspector-1.9.6.6-download-2612.html Nvidia Inspector].
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| # Due to the variability of Nvidia configurations, Inspector settings are not recommended here, but see the [http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Elder-Scrolls-Skyrim-Nvidia-GeForce-Tweak-Guide,14211.html Tom's Hardware article] for helpful tips and links to relevant guides. Be certain to filter the potential options to accommodate the correct [[STEP:2.2.1#Performance.2C_Baseline_.26_Extreme_STEP|STEP configuration]].
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| === 1.C.2. ATI Users ===
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| # Download and install the [http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx latest AMD drivers] (beta if available).
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| # Open Catalyst Control Center, and click on the {{fc|#E6B69E|[Preferences]}} button in the upper right. Select {{fc|#E6B69E|Advanced View}}.
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| # Under the {{fc|#E6B69E|Gaming}} section on the left select {{fc|#E6B69E|3D Application Settings}}.
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| #* Mirror the anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering values set using the Skyrim Launcher above.
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| #* Set [Tessellation] to {{fc|#E6B69E|AMD Optimized"
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| #* Set [Catalyst A.I.] to highest texture quality and tick {{fc|#E6B69E|Enable Surface Format Optimization}}
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| #* Set [Wait for vertical refresh] to {{fc|#E6B69E|Quality}}
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| #* Set [Anti-Aliasing Mode] to {{fc|#E6B69E|Multi-sample AA}}
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| #* Tick {{fc|#E6B69E|Triple buffering}} under [OpenGL Settings]
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| === 1.C.3. Display ===
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| Configure the monitor's display settings using Windows Display configuration utility (Control Panel > Display > Calibrate Color).
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| * First use the monitor's built-in configuration to attempt to complete the wizard. (ignore the ClearType tuner process)
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| * Repeat the calibration wizard using the GPU's driver configuration settings.
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| * For each run, be certain to execute all calibrators with particular attention to gamma, brightness and contrast. Most users' monitor output will be significantly darker and slightly more color-saturated.
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