Guide:Morrowind
Guide: A modern Morrowind
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Morrowind 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 tend 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 |
IniColorEdit | .EXE | Changes colors, info |
1.C Install MCP
Patch name | Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Morrowind Code Patch | .EXE | Includes 4GB patch |
1.D Install MGE XE
The latest Morrowind graphic extender beta can be found here with detailed install procedure.
It enables higher resolutions, better shaders, bump-mapping, and much more.
All extra shaders and settings can be downloaded here.
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 with FPS Optimizer | Build with MGE XE |
---|---|---|
500 MHz Intel PIII, Celeron, or AMD Athlon | Anything | Any modern Intel or 2+ Ghz AMD processor |
256MB RAM | 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
GeForce2 GTS, Radeon 7500 | Anything | 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
Note: If you want to use Morrowind watercolored textures, simply install 2.a, 2.b and MWC, then skip to 2.k
2.A Fixes
Note on installation: Install in the same order as listed, and always let the files overwrite.
Mod Name | Mod Type | Notes |
---|---|---|
Illy's Solsteim Rumour Fix | .ESP | Adds a filter to topics for Solstheim |
Mesh Fix | Folder | Fixes meshes & UV mapping |
Correct Meshes | Folder | Fixes misc. Meshes |
Detailed Correct UV Rocks | Folder | Better rocks |
Correct UV Trees | Folder | Fixes UV for trees |
Correct UV Mudcrabs | Folder | Fixes Mudcrab UV |
Patch for Purists | Folder | Replaces UMP and countless of mesh fixes |
2.B Meshes
Mod Name | Mod Type | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mesh Improvements | Folder | Better meshes for clutter |
Mesh Improvements Optimized | Folder | Optimized Meshes |
Ingredients Mesh Replacer | Folder | Meshes for ingredients |
Dunmer Lanterns Replacer | Folder | Meshes for lanterns |
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 |
Guar Skin Banners | Folder | Hires banners |
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 | "HQ bump mapped" is recommended |
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 |
Pherim's Small and WIP Mods | Folder | Download everything except the Nixhound Replacer |
Ket's Potions and Beverages Retexture | Folder | Potions and beverages retextured |
Ket's Swirlwood Furniture retexture | Folder | Retexture for the fine dunmer furniture |
2.D Housing
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Imperial Houses and Forts Retexture - Ordo Arkitektora | Folder | Replaces imperial housing | 1 2 3 4 |
Telvanni - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Plus these 1 2 | |
Shacks Docks and Ships - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replaces docks, shacks & boats | 1 2 3 |
Vivec Normal Mapped for OpenMW | Folder | OpenMW not required | 1 2 3 4 |
Daedric Ruins - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Replacer for daedric ruins | 1 2 |
Sewers - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Folder | Retexture of sewers | |
Hlaalu Normal Mapped for OpenMW | Folder | OpenMW not required | 1 2 3 |
Redoran Bump mapped | Folder | Replacer for Redoran housing | 1 |
Dwemer Ruins Retexture | Folder | Retexture of Dwemer ruins | |
Dwemer Mesh Improvement | Folder | Remesh of dwemer towers | |
Full Dwemer Retexture | Folder | All things dwemer retextured | |
Stronghold Retexture | Folder | Stronghold retexture | |
Mournhold Overhaul v21 | Folder & .ESP | Don't activate the .ESP | 1 2 3 |
Hires Town Road Markers | Folder | Retexture of town markers | |
High-res Skaal Retex | Folder | Retexture of Skaal buildings |
2.E NPCs
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Races Redone | Folder & .ESP | Patch | 1 |
New Beast Bodies | Folder | Argonian bodies | |
Animation Compilation | Folder | Updated animations |
2.F Clothing
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Good clothes | Folder & Esp | You need all the ESPs and updates | 1 |
Robe Overhaul | Folder & Esp | Use the basic version | |
New Gondolier Helm | Folder | Retexture of gondolier helmets | |
Unique Finery Replacer UFR | Folder & .ESP | Install "no robes"-.ESP |
2.G Weapons
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Ice Blade of the Monarch PBR | Folder | Lore-friendly replacer |
Mehrunes' Razor PBR | Folder | PBR prototype not required |
Correct Iron Warhammer | Folder | Brings the warhammer closer to lore |
2.H Armor
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
Unification Compilation: Armory | Folder & ESP | This can be used standalone |
HiRez Armors- Native Styles | Folder | Update |
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" |
Royalguard better armor | Folder | Replacer for royal guards in Tribunal |
Daedric Lord Armor Morrowind Edition | Folder & .ESP | Extra helmet |
Orcish Retexture v1.2 | Folder | Parts of orcish armor redone |
New Fists of Randagulf | Folder | New mesh and texture |
New Lord's Mail | Folder | New mesh and texture |
More Realisitc Dwemer Armor | Folder | Use this if Skyrim style is preferred |
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 |
Better Spriggans | Folder | Spriggan replacer with glow maps |
Better Scamps | Folder | Scamps redone |
2.J Flora & Landscape
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Unification Compilation: Nature | Folder & .ESP | The ESM is not needed | |
Plant life retexture | Folder | Retexture of most plants & fungus | |
Caverns Bump mapped | Folder | New cave textures | |
Apel's Asura Coast and Sheogorath Region Retexture | Folder & .ESP | Sheogorad flora & landscape | |
Hackle-lo Fixed | Folder | New mesh & texture | |
Tyddy's Landscape Retexture | Folder | "HQ" version recommended | |
Apels Ascadian Isles Retex | Folder | Texture replacer for the Ascadian isles region | |
Vurts Bitter Coast Trees II | Folder & .ESP | This as well | |
Vurt's BC II Trees Collision Fix (And Other Fixes)_1.0 | Folder | FPS gain in most cases too | |
Vurts Grazeland Trees II | Folder & .ESP | See here if meshes are missing | |
Vurts Groundcover | Folder & .ESP | Only activate .esp when generating distant land | Green animated grass |
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 Optional gameplay changes
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
NX9_guards_complete | Folder & 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 |
Chapels of Vvardenfell | Folder & ESP | Adds imperial chapels |
Hold it 1.92 | Folder & ESP | Makes NPCs hold items, Use the main .ESP. |
Passive Cliffracers | .ESP | Less aggressive cliffracers. Optional |
Fun Game Tweaks | .ESP | Fatigue, combat and magica acts more as Skyrim. |
Morrowind Buy A House | .ESP | Adds houses that can be bought |
Sunrise and Sunset Season and Latitude Scaling | .ESP | Variable sunset and sunrise |
2.M Worldspace Edits
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 |
Cavern Of The Incarnate Overhaul | .ESP & Folder | .ESP optional |
Caldera Mine Expanded | .ESP & Folder | Enhances the Caldera Mine area |
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. Install the STEP shaders if you haven't already, copy the settings too.
5. 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.
Very low FPS? Consider using Morrowind FPs Optimizer instead of MGE.
3.D Shader library for MGE XE
With additional shaders the game graphics can be further enhanced and customized.
Mod Name | Sample | Notes |
---|---|---|
Adaptive HDR by Seventyfour | Sample | Alternate HDR |
FXAA by J.Bottcher | Sample | Low-cost AA and softening |
Film Grain by wrinklyninja | Sample | Simulates analog film noise |
Watercolor | Sample | Enhanced colors and bleed |
Bloom by Seventyfour | Sample | Better Bloom |
Water by Seventyfour (fixed by Ket Golosov) | Sample | Green water shader, place in \Morrowind\Data Files\shaders |
Old Photo by Zilav | Sample | Desaturate, sepia, and vignette in one |
Sky Bloom by peachykeen | Sample | Alternate Bloom |
Fog-linked DOF | Sample | Distance blur |
Lumasharpen by CeeJay.dk | Sample | Sharpens textures |
Bokeh by Various | Sample | Bokeh DOF |
Gamma Correction by Apel | No sample yet | Adjusts gamma and luminance |
Depth of Field by Vtastek | No sample yet | Included fog-blur |
Water shader by Vtastek | Sample | Put in \Morrowind\Data Files\shaders |
4. Troubleshooting
4.A Plugin master file dependency fix
If you see this error, follow this tutorial.