What the HELL is causing this?

[jordan7890]

EDIT: I have discovered what causes this!

As it turns out, I've been using the skyrim HD texture replacer LITE to try and maximize fps. What I didn't know, is that you need to install the med-red file included in the W.A.T.E.R mod in order for W.A.T.E.R to work correctly with HD LITE. Since i've always used HD FULL it never even occurred to me that I would need to use the med res file included in water. it was never required to use any files other than "00 CORE" when using HD FULL, so naturally this went overlooked when I started using HD LITE.

Thanks to anyone who helped out though!

(I'll leave the rest of this post unedited so that people can see what effect this had)

Check this out:

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/jordan7890_7890/1_zps84048150.jpg

Now im sure the popular response would be: "wow that looks cool!" What could possibly be wrong with this picture? Don't notice anything? nothing at all? How about the fact the water is not moving!

In this image, it appears normal since we're viewing a lake. But lets move downstream...

Looks pretty normal, the water seems to be flowing at the waterfall like it should be.

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/jordan7890_7890/2_zps385ecd62.jpg

Now lets look at what the water looks like at the bottom of the fall in the last image:

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/jordan7890_7890/3_zps7624dfc9.jpg

and further downstream:

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/jordan7890_7890/4_zps592d1173.jpg

This happens anywhere. Water just has no flow anywhere gravity is not present (anywhere there are no waterfalls, streams, whiterun canals etc)

This looks very unnatural and immersion-breaking. I've re-installed many mods countless times in different orders and always get the same results each time... with the exception of unnaturally see-through water now and then.

Before you ask for a complete list of mods... I have close to 200 (most of them quality of life mods, such as house add-ons). I WILL however, list the ones I have installed that (might) affect water textures/meshes. Forgive me if I list something that you KNOW does not affect water and thus gives you the urge to correct me. I know little of such matters.

All files were installed manually

1. Unofficial High resolution patch (and all others)

2. SKSE (for SkyUi and RaceMenu)

3. Skyrim Mesh Improvement Mod

Shadow stripping fix (note that I subscribed to this on worshop, then forgot about it and

installed the nexus version)

4. Amidianborn landscape (Installed 1st)

5. Climates of Tamriel (all patches) (installed 2nd)

6. Project Parallax Vanilla Textures (installed 3rd)

7. SkyFalls - Distant Waterfall Overhaul (installed 4th)

8. Skyrim HD v1_5 LITE (installed 5th)

9. W.A.T.E.R (installed last)

All settings on Ultra/Max.

This will be the 3rd time re-installing Skyrim if I cannot fix this. The first 2 were caused by issues with SMIM.

Just to be on the safe side I'll include my complete .ini's in the next post

(note that I have Project enb installed)

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: Seems that whatever is causing this is also deactivating the plugin for W.A.T.E.R that causes the blacksmiths troughs water to be animated

Edited August 23, 2013 by jordan7890

[jordan7890]

Note: "SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning=One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information" May have been caused by me uninstalling "Bigger Trees" and loading an old save.

Skyrim.ini

 

[General]

sLanguage=ENGLISH

uExterior Cell Buffer=36

sIntroSequence=

[Display]

fShadowLODMaxStartFade=1000.0

fSpecularLODMaxStartFade=2000.0

fLightLODMaxStartFade=3500.0

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048

bAllowScreenshot=1

[Audio]

fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0

fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0

fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0

fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

[Grass]

bAllowCreateGrass=1

bAllowLoadGrass=0

[GeneralWarnings]

SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning=One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information.

[Archive]

sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa

sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

[Combat]

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0

fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

[Papyrus]

iMinMemoryPageSize=128

iMaxMemoryPageSize=512

iMaxAllocatedMemoryBytes=76800

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0

bEnableLogging=0

bEnableTrace=0

bLoadDebugInformation=0

[Water]

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectSky=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

SkyrimPrefibs.ini

[General]

sLanguage=ENGLISH

fBrightLightColorB=1.0000

fBrightLightColorG=1.0000

fBrightLightColorR=1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

fDefaultFOV=85

bMultiThreadMovement=1

bUseThreadedParticleSystem=1

bUseThreadedBlood=1

bUseThreadedMorpher=1

bUseThreadedTempEffects=1

bUseThreadedTextures=1

bUseThreadedMeshes=1

bUseThreadedLOD=1

bUseThreadedAI=1

bUseHardDriveCache=0

[imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField=1

iRadialBlurLevel=2

bDoRadialBlur=1

[Display]

fSunShadowUpdateTime=0.0025

fSunUpdateThreshold=0.0025

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3

fInteriorShadowDistance=2500.0000

fShadowDistance=8000.0000

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=4096

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096

iShadowSplitCount=4

iMaxAnisotropy=16

bUse Shaders=1

bAllow30HairShader=1

bUseRefractionShader=1

iTexMipMapMinimum=4

iTexMipMap=2048

iTexMipMapSkip=0

iUseTexHiRes=1

iNormalMapQuality=4096

iTexNormalMapMinimum=2048

iTexMipMapResolution=4096

iTexMipMapQuality=4096

iMipMapResolution=4096

iMipMapSize=4096

bFaceMipMaps=1

bFaceGenTexturing=1

bFaceGenTexturingQuality=4096

bHighQualityTexMipMaps=1

bDynamicWindowReflections=1

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=6000.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=4600.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=10000000.0000

fGamma=1.4000

iShadowFilter=4

fDecalLOD2=1500.0000

fDecalLOD1=1000.0000

iActorShadowCountInt=12

iActorShadowCountExt=20

fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade=500.0000

fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000

bTransparencyMultisampling=0

iWaterMultiSamples=4

iMultiSample=8

iShadowMode=4

bTreesReceiveShadows=1

bDrawLandShadows=1

bDrawShadows=1

bFull Screen=1

iSize H=900

iSize W=1440

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=10000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=10000.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=10000000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10000000.0000

iScreenShotIndex=91

bShadowMaskZPrepass=0

bMainZPrepass=0

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti"

bFXAAEnabled=0

iShadowMapResolution=4096

iShadowMapResolutionInt=8192

iActorSelfShadow=1

iActorSelfShadowResolution=8192

fShadowBiasScale=0.1500

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iAdapter=0

iPresentInterval=1

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

bShadowsOnGrass=1

bDeferredShadows=1

[Grass]

b30GrassVS=0

fGrassStartFadeDistance=15000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=15000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000

bGrassPointLighting=0

bDrawShaderGrass=0

[MAIN]

bGamepadEnable=0

bCrosshairEnabled=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

bSaveOnPause=0

bSaveOnTravel=0

bSaveOnWait=0

bSaveOnRest=0

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=0

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=2

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=1

bGeneralSubtitles=0

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

bShowCompass=0

[Controls]

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.0000

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0300

fMouseHeadingYScale=0.02

fMouseHeadingXScale=0.02

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bInvertYValues=0

bGamePadRumble=0

bMouseAcceleration=0

bUseKinect=0

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=250

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=60.0000

bDisableAutoSave=0

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=0.6500

fVal7=1.0000

uID7=0

fVal6=1.0000

uID6=0

fVal5=1.0000

uID5=0

fVal4=1.0000

uID4=0

fVal3=1.0000

uID3=94881

fVal2=0.6500

uID2=466532

fVal1=1.0000

uID1=554685

fVal0=0.8000

uID0=1007612

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

bShowLODInEditor=0

[NavMesh]

fObstacleAlpha=0.5000

fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500

fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000

fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000

fEdgeThickness=10.0000

fPointSize=2.5000

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=24

bUseMultiThreadedTrees=1

bEnableTreeAnimations=1

[Decals]

uMaxDecals=1000

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

uMaxSkinDecals=100

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultActors=20.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection=1

bShowAllResolutions=1

uLastAspectRatio=4

[blurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[blurShader]

bUseBlurShader=0

[Camera]

fOverShoulderAddY=0.0000

fOverShoulderPosZ=-10.0000

fOverShoulderPosX=0.0000

fOverShoulderCombatAddY=0.0000

fOverShoulderCombatPosZ=-10.0000

fOverShoulderCombatPosX=0.0000

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=2048

iWaterReflectWidth=2048

fWadingWaterTextureRes=1024

fSurfaceTileSize=1024

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

bForceHighDetailReflections=0

bAutoWaterSilhouetteReflections=1

bUseWaterReflectionBlur=1

bReflectExplosions=1

iWaterBlurAmount=4

bUseWaterHiRes=1

bUseWaterShader=1

bUseWaterHDR=1

bUseWaterLOD=1

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectSky=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

iMinMemoryPageSize=100000

iMaxMemoryPageSize=5000000

[backgroundLoad]

bUseBackgroundFileLoader=1

bUseMultiThreadedFaceGen=1

bBackgroundCellLoads=1

bBackgroundLoadLipFiles=1

[HAVOK]

iNumThreads=3

Edited August 23, 2013 by jordan7890

[shadowdef]

From the list you provided I believe that only these 3 mods could have caused this.

7. SkyFalls - Distant Waterfall Overhaul (installed 4th)

8. Skyrim HD v1_5 LITE (installed 5th)

9. W.A.T.E.R (installed last)

This could also be ENB related, If removing these 3 mods does not solve your issue you could try to reset or remove your ENB,

I would also recommend that you delete your skyrimprefibs.ini and reacquire it though Steam by verifying integrity of game cache.

[jordan7890]

 

From the list you provided I believe that only these 3 mods could have caused this.

7. SkyFalls - Distant Waterfall Overhaul (installed 4th)

8. Skyrim HD v1_5 LITE (installed 5th)

9. W.A.T.E.R (installed last)

This could also be ENB related, If removing these 3 mods does not solve your issue you could try to reset or remove your ENB,

 

 

I know for a fact Skyrim HD and W.A.T.E.R are fully compatible. But I'm not so sure about Skyfalls since it is a reletivly new mod. I'll mess around with it and come back.

[shadowdef]

I edited my first reply so you might try the new suggestions.

[jordan7890]

Tried uninstalling Skyfalls and messing around with ini files to no avail.

 

Updated desc with new findings.

[myztikrice]

Install Skyfalls last and set

 

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=4000

[jordan7890]

Currently in the process of re-installing Skyrim (for about the 6th time) and installing mods one at a time untill I can find the source of the problem. I suspect it to have something to do with project parallax, although I have no idea how that could possibly conflict with water.

 

Consider this a bump

[jordan7890]

Final bump for the sake of preventing this from happening to anyone

[ArtMurder]

A suggestion based on you mentioning reinstalling skyrim a lot, use the tool Skyrim Install Swapper, and make a 'default' load out of some core mods you will always use, and then copy that install set up, and add on to it, that way you don't ever have to reinstall skyrim again! ^_^ I use to reinstall all the time, now I never have to!