Texture Overwrites

[LadieWinter]

Hello!

 

I am in no way new to the Skyrim modding scene, but I am still learning about how certain parts of modding works. There is an issue that I have run across that I somehow never noticed before. I am using MO2, and I know how to look at and figure out overwrites, as long as they are in the same folders that is; however, I have come across the issue of the same item or items being re-textured by different mods, but the re-textures are in different folders. By different folders, I mean one texture is in the default textures folder where as the other re-texture is in a folder that the author made with a different name.

 

To better clarify what I mean:

I am currently sifting through food re-texture mods. I thought I had it figured out which ones I wanted where to place until I noticed that none of the textures were overwriting or being overwritten by a previous mod I downloaded that also touched on foods.

Some mods that I have been looking at:

High Quality Food and Ingredients

Misc Retexture Project (Touches on many objects including food)

High Poly Project (Touches on many objects including food)

Forgotten Retex Project (Touches on many objects including food)

HD Bowls of Food and Ingredients

 

High Quality Food and Ingredients, Misc Retexture Project, and HD Bowls of Food and Ingredients all use the default textures folder where as it seems that High Poly Project and Forgotten Retex Project both put the food re-textures in different custom folders. I want to use most of High Poly Project's food, but I just don't understand how it works with the re-textures being in different folders.

 

My question is which folder overwrites which folder? Does the custom named folders automatically overwrite the default textures folder or is it the other way around? How do custom name folders determine which folder gets used if two custom folders re-texture the same object or objects? Would like to throw in that I am talking specifically about loose files. I already know that loose files always overwrite BSA files.

 

Bonus question: Why do mod authors make custom folders? What is the benefit of it? I'm hoping there is a good reason because I found myself becoming more and more frustrated as I started looking and noticed other items that where the same way. Once I know which folder overwrites which, I now have to go back through allllll of the mods that I have downloaded and figure out where I need to make adjustments. It already takes a lot of time to put together a decent proper functioning mods list, so I am really hoping that there is a real reason why authors use custom folders instead of the default textures folder. : /

Edited February 10, 2019 by LadieWinter

[c0ax599]

Hi LadieWinter.

My god, you're more long winded than I am lol!

 

I would think custom folders are only for mods that require/call them. Any vanilla folders will only override the vanilla .bsa's.

 

As far as installing similar mods go, the load order OR in the case of meshes and textures, the install order overwrites the previously installed tex/mesh's if you let it do so..

 

c0AX

[LadieWinter]

Lol! I knew what I wanted to say, but I was having trouble putting it into actual words for some reason. I just needed to get it out in a way I thought everyone would understand.

 

I can understand custom folders for textures of new objects, but I'm still wondering about custom folders for already existing items. That is the part I don't understand.

 

From what I understand, loose files overrides all BSAs, not just vanilla ones.

 

I do understand that load and installation order affect which files overwrite, but that is only if they use the same installation path. If different re-textures for one object use different installation paths, i.e. custom folders, which file overwrites? That is what I'm wanting to figure out. Default path vs custom and custom vs custom.

[LadieWinter]

Update:

It would seem after a few hours of searching, I finally found my answer. I hope.

[Novem99]

Custom texture folders usually are part of a mod that comes with a meshes folder. The meshes (3d objects) in turn refer to the texture folders.

 

Some modders like HalkHogan create custom texture folders for their edited meshes.

 

So if you want it absolutely correct the textures aren't overwritten but "disabled" by the new meshes that now link to a different texture folder.

Edited February 10, 2019 by Novem99

[LadieWinter]

That makes sense. I will just have to be more careful about installing texture mods from now on and be sure to double check those kinds of things.

[c0ax599]

Ok, I kinda get it now. I have installed some texture updates recently for the vanilla. Now I'm clear on what you meant.

 

https://i.imgur.com/XjZZQhx.png

[nightscrawl]

That makes sense. I will just have to be more careful about installing texture mods from now on and be sure to double check those kinds of things.

 

Just to add to the whole meshes thing, the reason some mesh modders do this is because their new meshes have an altered shape or utilize textures differently; it's not just a straight retexture that can be mapped over the old mesh. So while the mesh is itself a default override, some modders may choose to have a custom name for their new texture.