Morrowind Modding Guide

The Census and Excise Office at Seyda Neen

Update 02/08/12: VoodooShader is back up and so are all of the UC packs. Grab the latest versions at their respective steps.
Update 01/23/12: Added UC: Interface, which means several mods now included in that pack have been removed. I have also re-upped dead MU links to Mediafire. Expect updates to UC: Nature and UC: Armory soon; I also plan to release a couple of other things. Stay tuned.
Update 11/24/11: MGE section has been significantly changed, this guide now recommends MGE XE by default due to Hrnchamd finally adding in 3D water waves to his version of MGE. Expect a shader pack with some higher quality shader options in the near future.

—Knots Guide to a Beautiful Morrowind—
This has been a long time in coming, but I’ve finally decided to get off my ass and set this up for the people who have been asking me about this shit. This is a step-by-step guide on how to get your copy of Morrowind looking and running the best that it can. Several such guides already exist and while I have found all of them to be useful, none of them really stay as “cutting edge” as I would prefer. This is an evolving guide: I will make changes as better options become available.

Step 1: Game Installation
This is probably the most important step, so you’re going to want to follow my instructions closely. Any deviation will likely result in a less stable game.

A. Start by installing Morrowind to a directory that is NOT in Program Files. I use c:/games/Morrowind/. Programs Files is a bad directory for most older games, particularly on newer versions of Windows.
B. Install the official expansions and their patches in this order: 1. Tribunal, 2. Tribunal Patch, 3. Bloodmoon, 4. Bloodmoon Patch

C. Install the Morrowind Code Patch by Hrnchamd. Look through all of the options and pick the ones that sound good to you. Make sure to get the extended map if you plan to play with any of the new lands. Also important to install is the fixed gloss and reflection mapping. Here is a screenshot of the box you need to check highlighted in blue. DON’T FORGET TO DO THIS.

D. Use Timeslip’s .exe Optimizer on Morrowind.exe in your install directory [c:/.../morrowind/]. Note that if the Optimizer does not run correctly on your computer, you may skip this step, but do not use the “pre-patched” .exe offered by Timeslip’s site as it will ruin the Code Patch you applied just a moment ago.
E. Use the 4gb Patch on Morrowind.exe
~~~If you are using a 32bit Operating System, follow these instructions:

Thanks to FordGT90Concept on the Tech Power Up forums who wrote these…

Windows 2000:
1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the system partition. This is the partition that holds hardware specific Windows files such as Boot.ini and NTLDR.
2. If you cannot see the Boot.ini file, it could be because the folder options are set to hide protected operating system files. If this is the case, in the Explorer window, click Tools, Folder Options, and then click View. Clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box. When prompted, click Yes.
3. After the Boot.ini file is visible in Explorer, right-click the file, click Open With, and then click Notepad to open the file.
4. Add the /3GB switch to the end of the line starting with “multi” under the [Operating Systems] section.
5. Save the changes and close Notepad.
6. Restart the computer for the change to take effect.

Windows XP:
1. Right-click My Computer and select Properties. The System Properties dialog box will appear.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. In the Startup and Recovery area, click Settings. The Startup and Recovery dialog box will appear.
4. In the System startup area, click Edit. This will open the Windows boot.ini file in Notepad.
5. In the [Operating Systems] section, add the following switches to the end of the startup line that includes the /fastdetect switch: /3GB
6. Save the changes and close Notepad.
7. Click OK two times to close the open dialog boxes, and then restart the computer for the change to take effect.

Windows Vista & 7:
1. Open command prompt with Adminitrator rights. To do this, go to Programs, Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator.”
2. Enter the following at the prompt and press enter: bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVA 3072
3. Close the prompt and restart the computer.

The Lighthouse at Seyda Neen

Step 2. Tweaking the .ini
Morrowind comes with a configurations file that is stored in plaintext and can be opened in notepad. This file is located at c:/…/morrowind/morrowind.ini and the values presented within it can have drastic effects on the game’s performance.

I would be wasting space on this page by going through all of the options presented in the .ini because a perfect guide has already been created here. Just scroll down to the “black on tan/white” version of the guide and read onward before continuing with my guide.

One thing to note, however, is the lighting values. Ignore whatever that guide tells you about the [LightAttenuation] section and use these values instead, the effect is much nicer:

[LightAttenuation]
UseConstant=1
ConstantValue=0.382
;
UseLinear=1
LinearMethod=1
LinearValue=1.0
LinearRadiusMult=1.0
;
UseQuadratic=1
QuadraticMethod=2
QuadraticValue=2.619
QuadraticRadiusMult=1
;
OutQuadInLin=0

Vivec, a city named for the God that resides there

Step 3: Unofficial Patches & Plugins
Since Morrowind has come out, there has been a lot of high quality work coming out for it by the community. I encourage you to search Planet Elder Scrolls, TESNexus, and to lurk the Official Bethsoft Forums to find mods that suite your tastes to play with. I cannot cover all of them, so instead this guide will focus only on the bare necessities. These are not the graphics enhancers; they come next.

A. Download and install the Morrowind Patch Project. If you don’t know how to install mods, this video by vtastek should give you a good idea! Remember: when in doubt, read the readme.
B. Download and install Tamriel Rebuilt, a fantastic effort to reconstruct the Morrowind mainland! So far, their mod increases the playable map twofold. You can find more information about what is to come in my interview with Thrignar Fraxix.
C. Download and install Darknut’s Greater Dwemer Ruins volume 1, a fantastic effort at making the end of the main quest a lot more epic. Darknut has done a really fantastic job, nothing seems out of place, it just takes the lore itself and builds it up, makes it more grand.

D. Download, install and configure Expanded Sounds. Read the readme carefully and do exactly as it says, you will need to edit your .ini a bit.
E. Download and install Where Are All Birds Going? to add life to the skies
F. The Animation Compilation is an aggregation of animation mods the replace the original, terribly stiff animations for this game.
G. The Lighting Mod. Use all of the ESPs provided EXCEPT for the sneaking modifier plugin unless you really really want to. I do not recommend it.
H. Less Generic NPCs [& for Nerevarine, Tribunal, Bloodmoon] hopes to add more unique dialog to the game and does a fantastic job. Download and enable these mods, but be sure to read the documentation to make sure you don’t enable two of the “same” mod.
I. If you’ve ever wondered why the Dark Brotherhood wants you dead just as soon as you step off the Prison Ship, Delayed DB attacks is for you.
J. Illuminel’s Solstheim Rumor Fix provides a relief to the immersion breaking rumors fiasco introduced by Bloodmoon.
K. Unification Compilation: Interface reskins the UI with a dark red leather pattern. It also replaces a number things with high resolution and generally clearer alternatives: the crosshair, the game’s font, icons for every object in the game, and the pages of the journal and book interfaces.

Balmora, a Hlaalu town on the Odai River

Step 4: Landscape/Architecture
Install these graphics replacers in this order. Most of these won’t have .esps, but if they do make sure to check them in the Morrowind Launcher.

A. Download and install Poorly Placed Object Fix, & Correct Meshes These two mods work together to remove seems in architecture and landscape.
B. Unification Compilation: Nature includes replacement, high-poly meshes and high-res textures for the game’s landscapes, trees, rocks, plants, & signposts. It also overhauls Solstheims landscape and fixes Texture Seams all across Vvardenfell.
C. AnOldFriend3′s Hlaalu retexture, Imperial retexture [w/ windows], Shack/Dock textures & Road Markers
D. Plangkye’s Telvanni [w/ UV fixes], Mournhold
E. Biont/AOF’s Vivec/Velothi, YJGF, Thy Spirits Thy Lords, Set in Stone
F. Connary’s Redoran & Sewers
G. Aeven’s Mournhold Ruins & Dwemeri Dominion
H. Darknut’s Dwemer Ruins, Saint Jiub’s Clockwork City Reborn
I. Lazyghost’s Skaal & Raven Rock
J. SWG’s Skies is a large download but well worth it. Don’t forget to download the “night sky fix” listed on that page as well.

K. Vality7′s Ascadian Isles & Bitter Coast
L. Atmospheric Balmora, Vivec Open Air Plazas, Vivec Expansion, & Guarded Ghostgate are all fantastic mods that make the areas they effect more detailed and visually impressive at the cost of performance. If you have FPS issues later in the guide, try dropping these first.
M. matilja’s Vivec Temple Waterways
N. Signy Signposts for Tamriel Rebuilt [Vvardenfell module already included in UC: Nature]

A shady afternoon in the Telvanni town of Sadrith Mora

Step 5. Misc Replacers
These are replacers for things not covered above. Make sure to install them in the order provided, once again.

A. Better Bodies [w/ Male and Female textures], Better Beasts, Better Heads [w/ optional EYES & the Dunmer Eyes fix]
B. Better Clothes [w/ textures] Better Clothes for Tribunal, More Better Clothes, Unique Finary, Canadian Ice’s Robe Replacer.
C. Unification Compilation: Armory includes replacement, high poly, high res meshes and textures for the game’s weapons and armor.
D. Vivec, Almalexia, Dagoth Ur, Azura
E. Darknut’s Creature textures for MW, TB, BM, Vurt’s Silt Strider
F. Westly’s Winged Twilights, Golden Saints, Psymon’s Dremora [w/ Unique Dremora], Saint Jiub’s Dwarven Spectres
G. Misc Items, Mesh Improvements, Better Meshes, Alchemy Essentials, Bottles, & Flasks
H. Potions, Containers, Tools, Keys, Soulgems, Silverwear, & Septims
I. Tapestries, Rugs, Hides, Pelts
J. Journals/Scrolls, Paper, Book Jackets for MW/TB/BM & Skulls.
K. The Ultimate Icon Replacer & Magic Icon Borders

Caldera, an Imperial boom town owing its existence to a nearby ebony mine

Step 6. The Morrowind Graphics Extender
It all comes down to this brilliant application, the Morrowind Graphics Extender. This application is responsible for a large chunk of what will end up making Morrowind so beautiful for it provides the game with advanced water rendering, static shadow casting, distant land, HDR, bloom, ambient occlusion, and depth of field among others. This section explains how to get all of these effects, but you may not be able to get playable FPS with all of these features enabled. If you need better framerates after you are done with this guide, simply experiment with the settings until you get it right.

A. Make sure you have the latest DirectX 9 packages, Visual C++ packages, and .net packages.
B. Make sure your graphics card drivers are up-to-date
C. Download the latest version of MGE XE here.
D. Start MGEXEgui, make sure it opens. Then close it.

E. Open up MGE XE again. On the tab it shows you first (‘graphics), there is a sub-box labeled “Renderer”. Check the box next to “Enable shaders” and then click on “Shader Setup”
F. A new window will pop up labled “Set active shaders”. On the top is a list of your currently available shaders. Double clicking any of these will put them in your active shader chain. Double click the shaders in this order for a high quality shader setup… 1. SSAO Fast; 2. Depth of Field; 3. Sunshafts; 4. Underwater Effects; 5. Underwater Effects (interiors) 6. Bloom Soft; 7. HDR
G. Click on the button labeled “Save”
H. In the Graphics Tab, you’ll see an option labeled Horz. FOV. I recommend a value of 75 for standard displays and a value of 90 for widescreen displays. You may aslo prefer to click the “Auto FOV” button to have XE calculate an exact field of view for your given ratio and resolution.
I. Download and install Vurt’s Groundcover, Tamriel Rebuilt Groundcover, and the Azura’s Coast/Sheogorad grass mod. Do not enable the plugins in the launcher, always leave them disabled.
J. Open up MGE again if you’ve closed it. Navigate to the “Distant Land” tab. Click “Distant land generator wizard”. If you have been enabling all of the plugins as you go, you can click “use morrowind.ini”. Otherwise, go through and click all of the boxes. Make sure to also check the Vurt Groundcover plugins in this list as well as the Azura’s Coast/Sheogorad grass mod’s plugin.
K. Click continue and follow along with the creation wizard. Do not overdo yourself, keep your hardware in mind when you make selections because if you overkill it, you’re just going to have to re-generate everything again to get your framerates up.
L. Finally, place a check mark in the box labeled “use distant land”, then set your draw distance. Higher numbers mean less FPS. Try a value of 12 to start with. If your computer is a beast, keep in mind that values above 25 will not offer you much more viewable area due to Red Mountain being in the way.

An afternoon in the Ascadian Isles

Try to keep in mind:
I’ve said it a few times already, but I can’t stress it enough. MGE is a complex tool working in a complex environment. It hijacks d3d9.dll to make its effects possible, similar to how ENB series does for other games. That means that all of its effects can’t be implemented directly into the game’s engine: MGE’s implementation of Distant Land and shaders is rather hackish, it is not optimized so even if you can run Crysis on super settings at retarded resolutions, Morrowind won’t run as smooth. It’s easy to get carried away here, don’t.

I have written a post on our forums with some recommended baseline MGE XE settings you can tweak up from if you are having trouble finding a good quality/performance balance on your own.

Optional Step: Controller Support
If you would like to use a controller with the PC version of Morrowind, I’ve got you covered.

A. Download Xpadder 5.3 from here. This is a joy2key program, which means it makes your controller output keytrokes and mouseclicks, very handy for games that do not handle controllers by default.

B. Download this. It’s a .rar with everything you need to use a wired 360 pad with Morrowind. Just unzip the files anywhere and load them into Xpadder. You have two configurations to choose from: “Morrowind Xbox Original” is a scheme very similar to how the game was set up on Xbox. “Morrowind OblivionLike” is more in line with the default controls for the 360 versions of Oblivion and the Fallout games. I personally use the latter, but either should work well.
C. Before you start your game, open your Morrowind.ini found in c:/…/morrowind/ and change both of the following values:

Joystick Look Up/Down=
Joystick Look Left/Right=

to 0. This ensures that the game doesn’t mess things up for you when trying to use a joypad.

The control scheme for "OblivionLike"

…and that concludes this guide! If you have any trouble with any part of this guide, don’t hesitate to ask me on our forums or on the Morrowind Mods IRC [irc.chatspike.net #morrowind, or use this if you don't have an IRC client].

Special thanks: IanB, PaintrainJohnson, RobertPaulson, Manfred, itsmars, and all of the Anonymous of /tg/ and /v/ that have helped to spread this guide and who have given me feedback and suggestions.