LE LF Oblivion-style UI overhaul

[Dahveed]

*EDIT - Just to be clear, in case I wasn't, I am not looking for any changes in functionality - SkyUI already does this masterfully. I am speaking purely on aesthetic terms here.*

 

Skyrim was the first elder scrolls game for me, and as such everything was new, including the UI. In general SkyUI fixes most of the crappiness about it (inefficiency and general clunkiness), but it wasn't until I recently started playing Oblivion and then (very recently) Morrowind that I realized how... well, "computerized" and artificial Skyrim's UI looks. It looks like a sort of a modern computer interface that would be better suited for an FPS set in the 20th century, or perhaps Starcraft or something.

 

In contrast, I really think that Oblivion's UI and journal pages really feel much more immersive and "belong" in the ES universe... Just the way the fonts are drawn, the general overlay, the journal entries, and the fact that it's all drawn on an image of paper, as though on scrolls or in a journal, really add to the effect.

 

One of my favourite aspects is of course the customization in all these games, with mods such as Darnified UI in oblivion and IHUD for Skyrim, you can really minimize and in some cases completely remove all HUD elements.

 

It would be really nice if some kind of UI overhaul could replace Skyrim's bland, too-modern-looking UI with something more akin to Oblivion or Morrowind, where everything just "feels" older and more quaint... more belonging to that universe.

 

In Skyrim I keep the HUD completely off, but in Oblivion I allow myself the use of a compass, simply because I can minimize its size, transparency, and overall impact... also the look and feel of the compass in Oblivion (although not technically accurate) actually looks much more like a "real" compass might, rather than a computerized GPS tracker like in Skyrim. The only UI element I use in Oblivion is the compass in fact... with my Darnified settings it is very small, 100% transparent, and almost entirely unobtrusive yet practical.

 

I wish Skyrim had something like that.... I am surprised I haven't found anything like this yet.

 

Compare this:

 

http://mods.confrerie-des-traducteurs.fr/oblivion/images/graphisme/visuels/darnifield_ui/big/1.jpg

 

 

To this:

 

http://modsreloaded.com/downloads/wfm4okjcow/d83bfyrfbx.jpg

 

 

 

IMO the Oblivion version is much more aesthetically pleasing and immersive than the Skyrim version.... I didn't have any qualms with Skyrim's UI textures at first, but after playing Oblivion for a couple days then going back to Skyrim, I have to say that the latter game's UI looks incredibly ugly and bland.

Edited March 12, 2014 by Dahveed

[Dahveed]

If I were a skilled modder I would love to be able to script the UI to be accessed through a sort of book UI - use the same textures as Skyrim's books. Make it even more interesting and immersive, as though your character was actually reading and writing in his own personal journal.

 

Here's me, crossing my fingers, hoping some amazing and very bored modder will see this post and get to work! :)

[Daiyus]

I must admit, the UI style is somewhat depressing in Skyrim. I too really liked Oblivion's papyrus look. I use "Kingthings Petrock Font", which helps, but a background replacer would be nice to see.

[Dahveed]

I must admit, the UI style is somewhat depressing in Skyrim. I too really liked Oblivion's papyrus look. I use "Kingthings Petrock Font", which helps, but a background replacer would be nice to see.

 

Yes, as I said I am very surprised that Morrowind or Oblivion fans haven't come up with a texture replacer for the crappy skyrim UI yet. I wish I knew the first thing about graphical art to be able to do this.

[Talmari]

I'd also like to have a papyrus background, maybe even prettier matching ui elements like health, magicka and stamina bars and the compass? Like the paper style very much!

[Garrom]

I like obliveion-style hud too... bud who have skills and time to do it ?