Texture mods and game saves

[num1sailingnut]

Hi,

 

I'm wondering if game saves become "dependent" on texture pack mods.

 

The reason I'm asking is that I play on two systems. (A high powered desktop and a low powered laptop when I'm traveling.) I want to install NMC's texture pack on my desktop rig to make things look SO much better, but I don't want my game saves being "tied" to having that mod installed and thereby killing my ability to play on my laptop.

 

Thanks!

[dubiousintent]

Please bear with me as I cover some basics about "texture packs" in order to answer your questions with: "it depends". (I believe in educating people as a way to reduce questions in the long run. You can skip to the end for the short but vague answer.) Believe it or not, this is in rather "general" terms.

 

What people call "texture packs" typically consist of two types of files: meshes and textures. Objects in the game (which translates to "everything") require meshes which form the underlying framework of the object. Each mesh file internally has the relative path and filename of the texture it uses to display the "skin" of the object over the mesh framework. (Note there are a number of files that make up what is called the "texture". See the "Glossary" section of the TESTG site in my signature.)

 

Some texture packs (usually for landscapes, like "NMC") just consist of texture files, which are replacements for existing texture files. Whenever you are prompted to "overwrite" a file it means there already exists a file of the same name. If a file is not replaced, then the existing vanilla version is used. In the first instance it is a "one for one" file replacement, and the same object on two different machines, one with and one without the same texture replacement file will still be displayed but with different appearances. Other than visually, they are the same as far as the game engine is concerned.

 

If a mesh is replaced, the object framework MAY be altered. If the mesh is different on two machines, but has the same filename, again the game engine won't care as long as it's structured correctly. It's just loading a filename. However, the visual shape won't match between the machines.

 

Mods that add objects to the game are another matter. (They need an ESM or ESP file to inject the object into the game.) If you pick up or move an object then it gets included in your save game file. This does not occur with "statics" such as the landscape or unmovable objects. Typically this occurs with weapons, armor, ammo, and the like.

 

TL; DR: If you are talking about a purely landscape texture replacer (no ESM/ESP file), then don't worry about it. If it adds objects to the game, then you will see a "missing objects won't be loaded" message on the machine without the mod. You can play from that point, but when you take the new save file back to the modded machine, the object will no longer be in your inventory/"save game".

 

-Dubious-

Edited April 4, 2016 by dubiousintent

[num1sailingnut]

Dubious,

 

Thanks for a VERY informative response! I really appreciate it! :dance: