Best Mods?

[Balakirev]

And as for utilities: I already had a question about that I was about to post. Here are the utilities I've already downloaded:

 

MLOX

TesTool

FPS Optimizer

Morrowind Code Patch

Morrowind Enhanced

Morrowind Graphics Extender

Morrowind Plugin Manager

MWSE

Wrye Mash

 

Do I really need all of these? On Oblivion I only use OBSE, OBMM, BOSS, and FPS Optimizer. I thought some of the ones I downloaded might be out of date. If so, please help me eliminate some! o_O

 

Well, personally, I'd drop the MGE. It works for some people, it doesn't work for others, and then there's the vast number who need to tweak it a great deal in order to get partial success, while other things on the screen look bad. Consider leaving it out, getting your mod lineup working, and then adding it after you can run the game for 2 hours at a time without a crash.

 

I don't use the Morrowind Plugin Manager, but I've heard good things about it.

 

Morrowind Enhanced is very good, but has problems (I'm told) working in conjunction with Morrowind Script Extender. I've been told repeatedly that it's best to use one, or the other. Now, I like some mods made for each, but 1) MWE stopped development several years ago, while MWSE is still adding new functionality, and 2) MWE has only a small number of mods, and MWSE has a relatively large number. I've taken the option to drop MWE (though I really enjoy both Writing Extended and Journal Extended), because there's just too much requiring MWSE that I can't do without. Improved Teleportation and Visceral Discernment by themselves make MWSE for me, but this is something you'll need to work out. Check out the mods available for both.

 

TESTool is great, but of very limited functionality. I've found another tool that is far safer, and explains a lot more: Tes3cmd. It's commandline driven, but if you just run it like this:

 

tes3cmd clean plugin

 

It works great.

 

MLOX is essential. It can locate old mods and some conflicts, and reorder mods if you want it to. Wrye Mash and the MCP I couldn't do without, either. FPS Optimizer is great, but avoid the 2.0 version that's still floating around in some places. That's extremely buggy, and broke many things in the original. Nor was it by the utility's creator, Alexander Stasenko. Be sure you stick with 1.96.

And thanks again for those latest suggestions! I added them ALL! :dance:

 

Glad to help. :)

[suzypike]

 

Well, personally, I'd drop the MGE. It works for some people, it doesn't work for others, and then there's the vast number who need to tweak it a great deal in order to get partial success, while other things on the screen look bad. Consider leaving it out, getting your mod lineup working, and then adding it after you can run the game for 2 hours at a time without a crash.

 

I don't use the Morrowind Plugin Manager, but I've heard good things about it.

 

Morrowind Enhanced is very good, but has problems (I'm told) working in conjunction with Morrowind Script Extender. I've been told repeatedly that it's best to use one, or the other. Now, I like some mods made for each, but 1) MWE stopped development several years ago, while MWSE is still adding new functionality, and 2) MWE has only a small number of mods, and MWSE has a relatively large number. I've taken the option to drop MWE (though I really enjoy both Writing Extended and Journal Extended), because there's just too much requiring MWSE that I can't do without. Improved Teleportation and Visceral Discernment by themselves make MWSE for me, but this is something you'll need to work out. Check out the mods available for both.

 

TESTool is great, but of very limited functionality. I've found another tool that is far safer, and explains a lot more: Tes3cmd. It's commandline driven, but if you just run it like this:

 

tes3cmd clean plugin

 

It works great.

 

MLOX is essential. It can locate old mods and some conflicts, and reorder mods if you want it to. Wrye Mash and the MCP I couldn't do without, either. FPS Optimizer is great, but avoid the 2.0 version that's still floating around in some places. That's extremely buggy, and broke many things in the original. Nor was it by the utility's creator, Alexander Stasenko. Be sure you stick with 1.96.

And thanks again for those latest suggestions! I added them ALL! :dance:

 

Glad to help. :)

 

I dropped Morrowind Enhanced and MGE. I went to your link for TES3cmd, but there are several options and I don't know which to choose. Here is the download page I went to. Is it the 6th download- uploaded Oct. 2009? I'm afraid that I will get the wrong thing.

 

Oh- and checked my FPS Optimizer- it is 1.96.

 

Thanks again!

suzy

[Balakirev]

I dropped Morrowind Enhanced and MGE. I went to your link for TES3cmd, but there are several options and I don't know which to choose. Here is the download page I went to. Is it the 6th download- uploaded Oct. 2009? I'm afraid that I will get the wrong thing.

 

Oh- and checked my FPS Optimizer- it is 1.96.

 

Thanks again!

suzy

 

You want the TES3cmd at the top, 0.37p. It works fine. :)

 

You can also change it into a batch file, so that you don't have to enter the full file locations (C:\program files\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\data\aardvark.esp, etc). Just use Notepad or a similar text-based app and write out this:

 

@echo off

 

tes3cmd clean --replace %1 > %1-cleaned.log

 

type %1-cleaned.log

 

pause

 

Change the suffix from TXT to BAT, and create an icon for it. This is my Target line:

 

"E:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\Data Files\tes3cmd.bat"

 

...and this is my Start in line:

 

"E:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\Data Files"

 

Drop and drag any ESP file you want to clean on top of it, but avoid ones that have dependent ESPs, or ones that specifically ask you not to clean them. In any case, Tes3cmd creates a backup of the original, so you should be okay. This is the thread about it on the official board.

[suzypike]

Okay, I have about 80 mods and I don't know where to start.

 

First of all, I have my original mods that I don't want to lose- Vality Textures, Better Heads, Better Bodies, Better Beast Bodies, momoney, Passive Healthy Wildlife, and MOST importantly, my favorite house- "A Good Place to Stay"

 

If I were starting all over I would load these last, but they are already there. So what do I do? Where do I start? Do I just put the utilities on first? Should I uninstall everything and start over? I don't have any saves that I intend to keep.

 

Also, I have mods installed that I don't really plan to use again like Juniper's Twin Lamps and Abu's Retreat. I used them the first play-thru, but I decided to skip them the 2nd time around.

 

I know how to install the mods, but I don't know the order in which to install them. And do I run these utilities after each addition? Do I start with the mods I care least about and work up to the ones I want the most? ...Now that I'm looking at it, it looks more than a little overwhelming... :ohmy:

 

Adding this many mods is going to take.. well.. a while. Where to start???

edit: Just read Wrye Mash Tutorial... I prefer moving my mod files by hand. I want to know what is in them.. will it work if I don't use the installer?

 

suzy

[Balakirev]

Okay, I have about 80 mods and I don't know where to start.

 

First of all, I have my original mods that I don't want to lose- Vality Textures, Better Heads, Better Bodies, Better Beast Bodies, momoney, Passive Healthy Wildlife, and MOST importantly, my favorite house- "A Good Place to Stay"

 

If I were starting all over I would load these last, but they are already there. So what do I do? Where do I start? Do I just put the utilities on first? Should I uninstall everything and start over? I don't have any saves that I intend to keep.

 

The utilities shouldn't affect anything, and you can load them when you want. Many of them are external programs, such as Wrye Mash, MCP, and FPS Optimizer. Wrye Mash, by the way, lets you change the date/time stamp of your mods to reorder them. Just click the mod in Wrye Mash, then click in the right-hand panel where the date/time is. Change it to whatever you want, then click the Save button towards the bottom of the panel.

 

The mods you mention shouldn't be changed by adding those we've discussed, unless you decide to replace Vality's textures with others. Just add what you like, then run Mlox, and take note of its recommendations for versions and reordering.

 

Also, I have mods installed that I don't really plan to use again like Juniper's Twin Lamps and Abu's Retreat. I used them the first play-thru, but I decided to skip them the 2nd time around.

 

Remove the ESPs, then start a new game. If you decide to add/remove mods while in a game in progress, go to Wrye Mash's Save Tab, and highlight the save game you have. Then click on the right panel that lists your mods, and click under them on the Save button. Next, right-click that save game, and choose Repair All.

 

Adding this many mods is going to take.. well.. a while. Where to start???

edit: Just read Wrye Mash Tutorial... I prefer moving my mod files by hand. I want to know what is in them.. will it work if I don't use the installer?

 

When I do a fresh install, it's over 200 mods. Takes a day or two. I share your pain. :unsure: For the rest, I prefer hand-installing mods, myself. Wrye has no objectrions to this. ;)

[Ghoulz]

Hmm, this encourages me to actually start playing this game.

 

Got Oblivion along with the G.O.T.Y addition of Morrowind and never got started with it :ohdear:

[suzypike]

Ok I got about a dozen of the new mods on and so far my test game is running fine. I think I'll play on and if everything is working add some more tomorrow. Some mods-like a big marksman mod I added hasn't shown up yet.

 

One more question. How do I merge leveled lists? I'm going to have to do that in the very near future. I'm going to add and play around with Wrye Mash tomorrow. Hopefully it will be easier to operate than the Tutorial I read.

 

Thanks again for all the help and I'm still open to suggestions. I probably have at least 80 slots left! Haha

 

suzy

[suzypike]

Problem: I can't add Morrowind Code Patch. I get the following message.

 

Analyzing Morrowind.exe...

Backing up Morrowind.exe to Morrowind.Original.exe

There is no compatible patch for your version of Morrowind.exe. Make sure your Morrowind is patched with the last Bloodmoon patch (v.1.6.0.1820). MCP is not compatible with the Impulse download version due to the DRM wrapper around the game program. If you should have a compatible version, please check you have not installed other patches such as Exe Optimizer, 4GB patch or no-CD patches. Check the readme for more details.

Patch failed to apply.

 

I have the 4GB Patch- I can't get Oblivion to run on my computer without it. I checked the Readme- It didn't address the 4GB Patch. Do I have to have this patch?

What to do??? :confused:

 

suzy

[Balakirev]

Ok I got about a dozen of the new mods on and so far my test game is running fine. I think I'll play on and if everything is working add some more tomorrow. Some mods-like a big marksman mod I added hasn't shown up yet.

 

One more question. How do I merge leveled lists? I'm going to have to do that in the very near future. I'm going to add and play around with Wrye Mash tomorrow. Hopefully it will be easier to operate than the Tutorial I read.

 

Thanks again for all the help and I'm still open to suggestions. I probably have at least 80 slots left! Haha

 

suzy

 

You can do list merging in Wrye Mash. From their readme:

 

Import Merged Lists

• Overview

 

• Leveled lists determine what creatures you will encounter and what items you will find in various containers. Mods that add creatures or items to the world generally modify these lists. However, if two or more mods modify the same list, then the last mod to load will delete any additions/changes made be previous mods.

 

• This function combines changes made to the same leveled lists from different mods and saves the combined list to the current mod.

 

So you right-click on the Merged Lists.esp (which should always be placed last in running order, unless a mod specifically says otherwise), Import, and Merged Lists.

 

Glad it's all coming together for you. :)

[suzypike]

You can do list merging in Wrye Mash. From their readme:

 

Import Merged Lists

• Overview

 

• Leveled lists determine what creatures you will encounter and what items you will find in various containers. Mods that add creatures or items to the world generally modify these lists. However, if two or more mods modify the same list, then the last mod to load will delete any additions/changes made be previous mods.

 

• This function combines changes made to the same leveled lists from different mods and saves the combined list to the current mod.

 

So you right-click on the Merged Lists.esp (which should always be placed last in running order, unless a mod specifically says otherwise), Import, and Merged Lists.

 

Glad it's all coming together for you. :)

 

First, I emailed the creater of Morrowind Code Patch. I don't know what else to do about that.

 

And.... it is so NOT coming together. I got Wrye Mash Installed with no problems. But after reading their Help section half the morning and then searching on the internet for any questions/explanations on how to use it I still can't figure it out. It is just over my head. The help section assumes that I know things that I do not know.

 

For Example:

 

I am supposed to change load order by changing time and date- Is the latest time/date the mods that load last? Do I just go down through there making up times and dates and they change everything?

What mods should load first/middle/last?

What in the crap am I supposed to do about the ones with the yellow boxes?

What do I do about mods that are installed that I didn't like and don't ever plan to use again?

 

The "Getting Started" section doesn't even make sense to me. I read and re-read it. I thought I was of average technological ability until today. I need a step by step instruction guide- that assumes I know NOTHING.

 

Can you tell that I am more than a little frustrated??? :wallbash:

 

I'm sure Wrye Mash is going to be a wonderful program if I can ever figure out how to use it. As of right now, I can't figure out how to do even one thing in their instructions. I found a tutorial on the internet- it didn't help either. Partly because the pictures included were written in German.

 

Thanks for all the help. And if you can help me at all with Wrye Mash- like point me to a "Wrye Mash for Dummies" page, I would be eternally grateful! :teehee:

 

suzy