Guide:Morrowind
Guide: A modern Morrowind
Morrowind the game turns 14 this May, and is hailed as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. The graphics, unfortunately, remind us of its age.
This is correctable with mods, and thanks to the modding community a modern Morrowind experience is possible.
The following things are emphasized when choosing mods for this guide:
- Mods that have more detailed textures and meshes
- Mods that are closer to the vanilla style
- Mods that to "blend in" with the game environment
- Mods that perform well on modern hardware
1. Install & Utilities
1.A Install Morrowind
1.B Install Utilities
Utility | Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
7-Zip | .EXE | Install 64-bit version, only use 32-bit if 64-bit doesn't work |
Mlox | .EXE | Fixes load order, use standalone .EXE |
Wrye Mash | .EXE | Handy for save game cleaning |
1.C Install Patches
Patch name | Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Morrowind Code Patch | .EXE | Follow the instructions |
GOTY Script Tidy v2.02 | .ESM | Doesn't require GOTY edition |
Script Improvements | .ESP | Load after expansions |
4GB Patch | .EXE | Lets the .EXE use up to 4GB of RAM |
1.D Install MGE XE
Morrowind graphic extender can be found here with detailed install procedure.
After install, adjust the resolution to what the system is using(for example 1920 x 1080).
1.E System Requirements
This is the minimum specifications for a good gaming experience, anything more powerful than this will run fine.
Base Game | Build without 2.J | Build with 2.J |
---|---|---|
500 MHz Intel PIII, Celeron, or AMD Athlon | Intel i3, AMD Quad core | 3.5 GHz Intel i3 |
256MB RAM | 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
GeForce2 GTS, Radeon 7500 | GTX 750 Ti, R7 360 | GTX 950, R7 370 |
1.F Installing Mods
All files except .EXEs(they go into the game folder), needs to be placed in the data folder. From the MW Modding Wiki:
"The Data Files folder (or just data folder) is where all of the data that the game uses is stored.
That's the music, textures, meshes, etc. This is also where all mods are installed, and where their data (again the meshes, textures, music, etc) is stored.
To find the data folder, first make sure that you are looking at the game folder. From here you should see a folder called Data Files.
That's the folder we need, open it up and you should see more folders marked as Meshes, Textures, etc.
Though don't worry if you don't. You should also see some files called Morrowind.esm, Tribunal.esm, and Bloodmoon.esm.
These are master files. Mods are similar to these, but would end with .esp. These are called plugin files."
2. Mods
2.A Fixes
Note on installation: Install in the same order as listed, and always let the files overwrite.
Mod Name | Mod Type | Notes |
---|---|---|
Texture Fix | .ESM | Fixes texture seams in Vvardenfell |
Texture Fix Blood Moon | .ESM | Fixes texture seams on Solstheim |
Poorly Placed Object Fix | .ESM | Fixes object placing |
Mesh Fix | Folder | Fixes meshes & UV mapping |
Telvanni Exterior UV Fix | Folder | Fixes Telvanni UV mapping |
Improved Imperial fort UV | Folder | Fixes UV for Forts |
Correct Meshes | Folder | Fixes misc. Meshes |
Correct UV Rocks | Folder | Fixes UV for rocks |
Correct UV Trees | Folder | Fixes UV for trees |
Correct UV Mudcrabs | Folder | Fixes Mudcrab UV |
2.B Meshes
Mod Name | Mod Type | Notes |
---|---|---|
Quarl's Misc Item Replacer | Folder | Better meshes for clutter |
Mesh Improvements | Folder | Better meshes for clutter |
Mesh Improvements Optimized | Folder | Optimized Meshes |
Better Meshes plus Optimization | Folder | Optimized meshes |
Better Flora | Folder | Flora meshes, choose "No collision" folder |
Ingredients Mesh Replacer | Folder | Meshes for ingredients |
2.C Objects & Clutter
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Papill6n various graphics things | Folder | Replaces a lot of forgotten objects |
AST beds | Folder | Replacer for beds |
Better Kegstands | Folder | Replacer for kegstands |
Wood Furniture | Folder | Improved wood textures |
Arukinns Better Books and Scrolls | Folder | Replacer for books and scrolls |
Improved Kwama Eggs and Egg Sacs | Folder | Replaces Kwama eggs & sac |
One True Faith - Saints and Frescoes Retexture | Folder | Hires frescoes, "2K" recommended |
Dunmeri Urns - Aestetika of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replacer for urns and pottery |
Long Live The Limeware | Folder | Limeware replacer |
Long Live The Glassware | Folder | Glassware replacer |
Long Live The Plates | Folder | Replacer for plates |
Better Skulls | Folder | Replacer for skulls |
Apel's Various Things - Signs | Folder | New tavern signs |
R-Zero's Random Retextures - Dwemer Coin & Quill | Folder | Quill & dwemer coins retextured |
EKM Vanilla-Based Paper Lanterns | Folder | Paper lanterns retextured |
2.D Housing
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Imperial Houses and Forts Retexture - Ordo Arkitektora | Folder | Replaces imperial housing |
Telvanni - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replaces Telvanni housing |
Shacks Docks and Ships - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replaces docks, shacks & boats |
Velothi - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replaces Velothi Housing |
Daedric Ruins - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replacer for daedric ruins |
Sewers - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Retexture of sewers |
Hlaalu - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replacer for Hlaalu Housing |
Redoran - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replacer for Redoran housing |
Dwemer Ruins Retexture | Folder | Retexture of Dwemer ruins |
Darknut's Better Dwemer Ruin Towers | Folder | Remesh of dwemer towers |
Stronghold Retexture | Folder | Stronghold retexture |
White Suran 2 | Folder & .ESP | Makes Suran white, only install main file |
Mournhold Overhaul v21 | Folder & .ESP | Don't activate the .ESP |
Hires Town Road Markers | Folder | Retexture of town markers |
2.E NPCs
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Better Bodies v2.2 | Folder & .ESP | New body meshes |
Fixed BB Meshes | Folder | Fixes better bodies' meshes |
Fit Body Textures for Better Bodies | Folder | Better body textures |
Westly's Pluginless Head Replacer | Folder | New heads |
MacKoms Khajiit | Folder & .ESP | Khajiit heads |
Bosmers Redone | Folder | Bosmer heads |
Nords Redone | Folder | Nord heads |
Dunmers Redone | Folder | Dunmer heads |
Imperials Redone | Folder | Imperial heads |
Bretons Redone | Folder | Breton heads |
Orsimer Redone | Folder | Orc heads |
Altmers Redone | Folder | High elf heads |
Hair Pack for Dunmers Redone | Folder | Fixes "double-ears" |
Hair Pack for Orsimer Redone | Folder | Fixes "double-ears" |
Hair Pack for Imperials Redone | Folder | Fixes "double-ears" |
Hair Pack for Altmers Redone | Folder | Fixes "double-ears" |
Hair Pack for Bretons Redone | Folder | Fixes "double-ears" |
Hair Replacer for Nords and Bosmers Redone | Folder | Fixes "double-ears" |
New Beast Bodies | Folder | Argonian bodies |
Wey's Argonians | Folder | Argonian faces |
Better Bodies meshes for MacKoms heads Fixed Pluginless | Folder | Fixes BB crooked hands |
Note: Mackoms redguards are omitted.
Westly's does create some glitches. Mackoms redguards can be used if desired, as this build is compatible with them.
2.F Clothing
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Better_Clothes Official Version | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for clothes |
More Better Clothes Vol I | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for clothes |
Better Clothes for Tribunal | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for clothes |
Better Clothes Bloodmoon Plus | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for clothes |
Darknut's Better Clothes Textures v1.0 | Folder | Textures & meshes for clothes |
Good clothes or Galleo_Good_Clothes_RB_1.1 | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for clothes |
Better Robes | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for robes |
Better Textures for Robes v3.0 | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for robes |
HiRes Robes | Folder & Esp | Textures & meshes for robes |
New Gondolier Helm | Folder | Retexture of gondolier helmets |
Unique Finery Replacer UFR | Folder & .ESP | Install "no robes"-.ESP |
2.G Armor
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Better Morrowind Armor | Folder | Install this patch |
Darknut's Armor Textures 1024 1.2 | Folder | Armor textures |
HiRez Armors- Native Styles | Folder | Armor textures |
Armors Retexture - Outlander Styles | Folder | Armor textures |
Less Bulky Pauldrons | Folder | Install both included patches |
Colovian helm and heavy leather boots retexture | Folder | The link is correct, see under "files" |
Pluginless NoGlow | Folder | Removes enchantment glow |
Royalguard better armor | Folder | Replacer for royal guards in Tribunal |
2.H Weapons
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Better Weapons | Folder | Weapon meshes |
Darknut's Little Weapons Mod Complete | Folder | Texture folder has two options, pick one |
Oriental Mesh Improvements | Folder | Weapon meshes |
Iron Mesh Improvements | Folder | Iron meshes |
Improved Weapon Meshes - Steel | Folder | Steel Meshes |
Improved Weapon Meshes - Ebony | Folder | Ebony meshes |
Real Reflective Weapons - Iron | Folder | Weapon retexture |
Correct Iron Warhammer | Folder & .ESP | Brings the warhammer closer to lore |
2.I Creatures
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Darknut's Creature Textures | Folder | Retexture of creatures |
Darknut's Creature Textures addendum | Folder | Retexture of more creatures |
Netch Bump mapped | Folder | Retexture of netch |
Kwama forager bump mapped | Folder | Link is correct, see under "files" |
Silt Strider Bump mapped | Folder | Retexture of silt striders |
Cliffracer Replacer | Folder | Retexture of cliffracers |
Nix-Hound Replacer | Folder | Retexture of nixhound |
Guars replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell | Folder | Retexture of guars |
Kagouti replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell | Folder | Retexture of kagouti |
Alit replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell | Folder | Retexture of alit |
2.J Flora & Landscape
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Plant life retexture | Folder | Retexture of most plants & fungi |
Apel's Asura Coast and Sheogorath Region Retexture | Folder | Sheogorad flora & landscape |
Comberry Bush and Ingredient Replacer | Folder | Retexture of comberry |
Pherim's Fire Fern - Plant and Ingredient | Folder | Retexture of fire fern |
Hackle-lo Fixed | Folder | New mesh & texture |
Tyddy's Landscape Retexture | Folder | "HQ" version recommended |
Vurts Solstheim Tree Replacer II | Folder & .ESP | Solstheim trees |
Vurts Bitter Coast Trees II | Folder & .ESP | Bitter coast trees |
Vurt's BC II Trees Collision Fix (And Other Fixes)_1.0 | Folder | FPS gain in most cases too |
Vurts Leafy West Gash II | Folder & .ESP | West gash trees |
Vurts Ascadian Isles Trees Replacer II | Folder & .ESP | Ascadian isles trees |
Vurts Grazeland Trees II | Folder & .ESP | Grazelands trees |
Vurts Mournhold Trees II | Folder & .ESP | Mournhold trees |
Vurts Groundcover | Folder & .ESP | Don't activate .ESP in launcher |
2.K User Interface
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
HD Concept-art splash screen and main menu | Folder | Hires main menu & splash screens |
Better Dialogue Font | Folder | Hires UI font |
Arukinns Better UI | Folder | Retextured UI |
HD Intro Cinematic - English | Folder | Intro in HD |
Ultimate Icon Replacer | Folder | New icons |
2.L Gameplay changes
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
NX9_guards_complete | .ESP | More diverse guards |
Delayed DB Attack V2 | .ESP | No more early attacks from DB |
The Road to Mournhold | .ESP | Adds a quest to go to Mournhold |
Illys Solstheim Rumour Fix | .ESP | Less NPCs know about Solstheim |
Hold it 1.92 | .ESP | Makes NPCs hold items, Use the main .ESP. Optional |
Passive Cliffracers | .ESP | Less agressive cliffracers. Optional |
Fun Game Tweaks | .ESP | Fatigue and running behaves as it does in Skyrim. Optional |
Apoapse's Attack | .ESP | Always hit in combat, but does not change difficulty. Optional |
Morrowind Buy A House | .ESP | Adds houses that can be bought. Optional |
2.M Worldspace Edits
Note:This section is completely optional.
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
RR Mod Series - Telvanni Lighthouse Tel Vos | .ESP & .BSA | .INI edit required, instructions here |
RR Mod Series - Holamayan Monastery Replacer | .ESP, .BSA & Folder | .INI edit required, instructions here |
Atmospheric Plazas | .ESP | Vivec plazas edited |
Concept Art Ghostfence Replacer | .ESP & Folder | New Ghostfence |
3. Setup & Tweaking
3.A Graphics Card Settings
Turn off antialiasing and anisotropic filtering in the graphics driver. Set the GPU to full performance if possible.
3.B Plugins
1. Open the launcher and activate all plugins except those noted.
2. Run Mlox to sort your plugins.
3. Check that the game, starts, if not, deactivate plugins until it starts.
3.C MGE XE
1. Start MGE XE Gui.
2. Set AA to "4" and AF to "8".
3. Check that resolution and refresh rate matches the monitor settings. Turn Vsync off for now.
4. Press "Shader Setup", double click the following: Eye Adaption, SSAO Fast, Sunshafts, Bloom Soft. Press "Save" and check "enable shaders".
5. Set UI Scaling to 1.8, select "Range Vertex" as your Fog mode. Go to "Distant Land" tab.
6. Check "Use Distant Land", set draw distance to 2.0 cells. Uncheck "Use High Quality" under "Fog".
7. Set water reflections to "Landscape" & "Nearby Statics". Enable Dynamic Solar Shadows & Per-pixel lighting shader.
8. Open distant land setup wizard. Press "select all" and "continue". Set grass density to 25% and let the wizard generate textures and meshes.
9. Open "In-game" tab, and check the following: "Responsive menu caching", "Allow Yes to all errors", "Thread Loading", "Show FPS".
10. That's it! Check game performance and tweak until acceptable FPS is achieved. Vsync may be turned on after this.
Note: If you have good FPS, but still experience stutter, see Texture optimization