Guide:Morrowind
Guide: A modern Morrowind
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The STEP Solution
One can spend hundreds of hours just searching for mods before actually getting down to the business of installing them.
As mods increase in number and complexity and mod creators produce more and more mods that alter game play, interface and settings,
the probability of game-crashing conflicts increases. The STEP project takes care of the heavy lifting associated with sifting through thousands of mods
and selecting the ones that significantly enhance and improve the vanilla experience without detracting from it
with as little cost as possible in terms of performance. Users are able to follow detailed, step-by-STEP manual-installation instructions
and be confident that all components have been individually tested by the community and the results verified.
This cuts down on a vast amount of time and headache dealing with sampling, testing and troubleshooting.
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 |
1.C Install MCP & MGE
Patch name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
Morrowind Code Patch | No | Includes 4GB patch |
MGE XE | No |
1.D About MGE and downloading shaders
The latest Morrowind graphic extender 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.
OpenMW is an performance friendly and cross-platform alternative to MGE, but requires avoiding certain mods, many cannot
be easily deactivated after installing them. OpenMW does not support shaders.
Base Game | Build with OpenMW | 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."
Install the mods in the same order as listed, and always let the files overwrite.
2. Mods
Note: If you want a simpler setup try BasicMW instead.
2.A Fixes & patches
Note on OpenMW compatibility: This requires selecting the non-bump mapped versions of mods.
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
Morrowind Optimization Patch | Yes | Optimised Meshes |
Correct Meshes | Yes | Fixes misc. Meshes |
Detailed Correct UV Rocks | Yes | Better rocks |
Correct UV Trees | Yes | Fixes UV for trees |
Correct UV Mudcrabs | Yes | Fixes Mudcrab UV |
Patch for Purists | Yes | Replaces UMP and countless of mesh fixes |
2.B Meshes
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
Ingredients Mesh Replacer | Yes | Meshes for ingredients |
Dunmer Lanterns Replacer | Yes | Meshes for lanterns |
Mesh Improvements Optimized | Yes | |
RR Mod Series - Better Meshes | Yes | Download all files |
Better Meshes plus Optimization | Yes | |
PikachunoTMs Mesh Artifact Improvements | Yes | |
MOAR Mesh Replacers | Yes | Delete furn_basket_01.nif |
2.C Objects & Clutter
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
Wood Furniture | Yes | Base Replacer for wood furniture |
AOF Containers | Yes | New barrels, kegstand, wooden bucket, and sacks. |
Detailed Tapestries | Yes | Sharper tapestries |
Detailed Rugs v2 | Yes | Sharper rugs |
AST Beds Remastered | Yes | Replacer for beds |
Better Kegstands | Yes | Replacer for kegstands |
Arukinns Better Books and Scrolls | Yes | Replacer for books and scrolls |
Guar Skin Banners | Yes | Hires banners |
Improved Kwama Eggs and Egg Sacs | No | Replaces Kwama eggs & sac |
One True Faith - Saints and Frescoes Retexture | Yes | Hires frescoes, "2K" recommended |
Dunmeri Urns - Aestetika of Vvardenfell | Yes | "HQ bump mapped" is only for MGE |
Long Live The Limeware | Yes | Limeware replacer |
Long Live The Glassware | Yes | Glassware replacer |
Long Live The Plates | Yes | Replacer for plates |
Better Skulls | Yes | Replacer for skulls |
Apel's Various Things - Signs | No | New tavern signs |
R-Zero's Random Retextures - Dwemer Coin & Quill | Yes | Quill & dwemer coins retextured |
EKM Vanilla-Based Paper Lanterns | Yes | Paper lanterns retextured |
Ket's Potions and Beverages Retexture | Yes | Potions and beverages retextured |
Ket's Swirlwood Furniture retexture | Yes | Retexture for the fine dunmer furniture |
Signposts Retextured | Yes | Readable signpost textures |
Well Lit Lanterns | Yes | Replaces Travel Lanterns with models that look like bright lights |
2.D Architecture
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Nature Unification Compilation | No | Base Replacer for Architecture, Flora and Landscape. Don't install the .esm | |
Apel's Lighthouse Retexture | Yes | The lighthouse remade | |
Imperial Houses and Forts Retexture - Ordo Arkitektora | Yes | Replaces imperial housing | 1 2 3 4 |
Bump-mapped AOFs Imperial Housing with optional Vanilla-Friendly Retexture | Yes | Only download Vanilla-Friendly Retexture without any bump-map | |
Telvanni - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Yes | Plus this 1 | |
Shacks Docks and Ships - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Yes | Replaces docks, shacks & boats | 1 2 3 |
Velothi Retexture | Yes | 1 2 3 4 | |
Daedric Ruins Retexture | Yes | Base replacer for daedric ruins. We want it for the statues. | |
Daedric Ruins - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Yes | Replacer for daedric ruins | 1 |
Sewers - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell | Yes | Retexture of sewers | |
Hlaalu Normal Mapped for OpenMW | Yes | OpenMW not required | 1 2 3 |
Redoran Bump mapped | No | Replacer for Redoran housing | 1 |
HD Architecture Meshes | Yes | Only download HAM Skar (2048/4096) | |
Skar mega textures | Yes | Only install if you have a strong rig! Install the half resolution Version. | |
Dwemer Mesh Improvement | Yes | Remesh of dwemer towers | |
Full Dwemer Retexture | Yes | All things dwemer retextured | |
Ultimate Dunmer Strongholds v1.0 | Yes | Stronghold retexture | |
Mournhold Overhaul v21 | Yes | Don't activate the .ESP | 1 2 3 |
Hires Town Road Markers | Yes | Retexture of town markers | |
High-res Skaal Retex | Yes | Retexture of Skaal buildings | |
Articus Old Mournhold and Sewers | Yes | Textures for Old Mournhold buildings and Sewers | |
Dragon Statue Replacer | Yes | Replacer for the dragon statue in Ebonheart | 1 |
2.E NPCs
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Robert's bodies | Yes | Body Replacer | Races Redone Patch Continue with Animation Compilation if you use this. |
Westly's pluginless head replacer | Yes | Replacer for all Heads except for beast races | |
Pluginless Khajiit Head Pack | Yes | Download the whiskers version | |
Argonian Head Replacer | Yes | Download "Argonians Revamp" from the files section | |
New Beast Bodies | Yes | Mature alternative | |
Animation Compilation | Yes | Updated animations | |
Divine Dagoths | Yes | Pluginless replacer for Dagoth Ur and his brothers |
2.F Clothing
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Good clothes | No | You need all the english ESPs and updates | 1 |
Robe Overhaul | Yes | Use the basic version | |
Mage Robes | Yes | More robes | |
New Gondolier Helm | Yes | Retexture of gondolier helmets | |
Unique Finery Replacer UFR | Yes | Install "no robes"-.ESP |
2.G Weapons
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
Unification Compilation: Armory | No | skip .esp |
Ice Blade of the Monarch PBR | Yes | Lore-friendly replacer |
Mehrunes' Razor PBR | Yes | PBR prototype not required |
Correct Iron Warhammer | Yes | Brings the warhammer closer to lore |
Volendrung | Yes | Vanilla-friendly replacer |
Fang of Haynekhtnamet Replacer | Yes | Unique replacer for Fang of Haynekhtnamet |
Bonemold Bow Replacer | Yes | Vanilla-friendly Replacer |
2.H Armor
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
HiRez Armors- Native Styles | Yes | Update 1 2 |
Armors Retexture - Outlander Styles | Yes | Armor textures |
Less Bulky Pauldrons | Yes | Install both included patches |
Colovian helm and heavy leather boots retexture | Yes | The link is correct, see under "files" |
Royalguard better armor | Yes | Replacer for royal guards in Tribunal |
Daedric Lord Armor Morrowind Edition | Yes | Extra helmet |
Orcish Retexture v1.2 | Yes | Parts of orcish armor redone |
More Realisitc Dwemer Armor | Yes | Use this if Skyrim style is preferred |
2.I Creatures
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
Darknut's Creature Textures | Yes | Retexture of creatures |
Darknut's Creature Textures addendum | Yes | Retexture of more creatures |
Netch Bump mapped | No | Retexture of netch |
Kwama forager bump mapped | No | Link is correct, see under "files" |
Cliffracer Replacer | Yes | Retexture of cliffracers |
Nix-Hound Replacer | Yes | Retexture of nixhound |
Guars replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell | Yes | Retexture of guars |
Kagouti replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell | Yes | Retexture of kagouti |
Alit replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell | Yes | Retexture of alit |
Better Spriggans | Yes | Spriggan replacer with glow maps |
Better Scamps | Yes | Scamps redone |
Silt Strider Replacer | Yes | New meshes and textures |
2.J Flora & Landscape
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Caverns Bump mapped | No | New cave textures | |
Apel's Asura Coast and Sheogorath Region Retexture | Yes | Sheogorad flora & landscape | |
Hackle-lo Fixed | Yes | New mesh & texture | |
Tyddy's Landscape Retexture | Yes | "HQ" version recommended. Don't install tx_gl_dirt_grass_01.dds and tx_gl_dirt_grass_02.dds Also install this fix. |
1 2 |
Apels Ascadian Isles Retex | Yes | Texture replacer for the Ascadian isles region | |
Remiros' Ascadian Isles Trees 2 | Yes | Trees for the Ascadian isles region | |
Mournhold Flora Redux | Yes | Download the alternative textures too | 1 2 |
Vanilla-friendly West Gash Tree Replacer | Yes | Both a model and texture replacer for the West Gash trees | |
Vurts Bitter Coast Trees II | Yes | ||
Rebirth optional files | Yes | Only install the bitter coast textures | 1 |
Bitter Coast Redux II | Yes | Download Flora and Vurt trees | |
Telvanni Bump Maps | No | ||
Vurts Grazelands Trees | Yes | Tree Replacer for the Grazelands | |
Vurts Ashlands Overhaul | Yes | Install the Vanilla Style Trees | |
Vurts Solstheim Tree Replacer II | Yes | Download Solstheim Tree Replacer, Collision fix and this | |
Comberry Bush and Ingredient Replacer | Yes | ||
Articus Blossoms - Potted Plant and Vines | Yes | ||
Articus Ivy and Bush II | Yes | ||
Articus Gold Kanet Improved | Yes | ||
Bungler's Bane and Hypha Facia HD | Yes | ||
Minor Fixes for Step | Yes | ||
Ozzy's Grass Merged | Yes | Only activate .esp in distant land generation. Don't activate it in the launcher/ Mod Organizer. | 1 2 |
Then delete the following files: flora_chokeweed_01.nif, flora_roobush_01.nif if they are found in your data files.
2.K User Interface
Mod Name | OpenMW | Notes |
---|---|---|
HD Concept-art splash screen and main menu | Yes | Hires main menu & splash screens |
Better Dialogue Font | Yes | Hires UI font |
Arukinns Better UI | Yes | Retextured UI |
HD Intro Cinematic - English | Yes | Must be enabled in MCP |
Ultimate Icon Replacer | Yes | New icons |
2.L Optional gameplay changes
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Delayed DB Attack V2 | .ESP | No more early attacks from DB | 1 |
Illy's Solsteim Rumour Fix v1.0 | esp | Reduces the amount of people that know about Solstheim | |
The Publicans | esp | More beds for rent | |
Diseases Restored | esp | New ways to die | |
Movement Fatigue Halved | esp | Better alternative to "always hit"-mods | |
Holidays Across Tamriel - Vvardenfell | esp | Enable only Holidays Across Tamriel - Vvardenfell.esp | |
Purist Friendly Magicka Regen | esp | Adds magicka regeneration to the game | |
Official Add-Ons Patched | esp & folder | Bethesda-made mods | |
Subtle Magic Glow | folder | New texture | |
Mixed guards | esp | Varied guards | |
Bloodmoon Rebalance | esp | This mod rebalances Bloodmoon as if it shipped with Morrowind |
2.M Optional Immersion
Mod Name | Mod Format | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Distant Mournhold | .ESP | Makes Temple visible from any part of Mournhold | |
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 | |
Concept Art Ghostfence Replacer | .ESP & Folder | New Ghostfence | |
Morrowind Acoustic Overhaul | .ESM & Folder | Follow the readme closely | |
Cavern Of The Incarnate Overhaul | .ESP & Folder | .ESP optional | |
Caldera Mine Expanded | .ESP & Folder | Enhances the Caldera Mine area | |
Windoors Glow | .BSA .ESP & Folder | Windows/doors glow during night, register BSA, Patch |
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. Generate distant land with all plugins that isn't gameplay-related. Set grass density to 60%.
5. Install the STEP shaders if you haven't already, copy the settings too.
6. 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 with 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.