UI, Animation, Fixes

To save time, I will not list every mod and reason for choosing it in very verbose terms. I might enrich this guide later, but for now please open each via linked Nexus hyperlink and you download read the description or check the screenshots. Or just trust my sauvage taste. I have went through dozens of alternatives for some mods, so I hope that you will find the core themes ( immersion, lorefuless, balance, customization ) of this modlist in the ones recommended below.

Proceed to Install (No patches/options on Install for these) :

Reminder: each mod should be installed using MO2, as described in the mod install loop. If any special install instructions are required they will be specified individually in the respective order below

1. Patch for Purists (no options will prompt, just install)

2. Expedicious Exit (helps exit the game faster and gracefully ^{[read: kill process]} )

3. Loading Screens Diversified

4. Better dialogue font (books still retain that vintage feel)

5. Animation Blending (the only animation mod I recommend, others conflict or are a little too over the top to integrate with the general Morrowind stiffnes)

6. Creature VFX restoration

7. Better Bodies (simple, old, good; no homo)

8. Familiar Faces by Caleb ^{(I cannot say enough how much I appreciate a Face mod that brings normal, Vanilla like faces for all races, and not bimbo-faced Imperials or DBZ Altmers in Morrowind)}

9. Smart Companions (for better AI during escort quests and/or companion roleplay)

10. UI Expansion ^{(Mod config advice later)}

11. UI Expansion Better Training Icons (very cool and fits the tone)

12. Skills Module (required by other mods that add skills)

13. Expansion Delay (must-have for obvious progression reasons)

14. Better Questlist (vanilla, a little more readable)

15. Skyrim Style Quest Notifications (I find them fitting, it's only a UI prompt with good art)

16. Cantons on Global Map (fixes an issue with Canton cities not showing in Vvardenfell)

17. Just drop it (better item placement, also required by mods such as Ashfall)

18. Hot Lava (the floor is ALMSIVI)

19. [Manual Install, not MO2] Download Hide Grass (small mod for performance, will configure later using MGE)

    1. extract archive manually in your Morrowind game folder. You should have concents in mge3 and Mopy folders from it.

At this stage we can test. In accordance to Mod Install loop, proceed now to:

• Run MO 2 (already running I hope)

• Run PLOX (via Mo2..) > Accept

• Run Wyre Mash > Select all plugins under "Installed" tab > Clean with Tes3cmd. Drink some more water. Close after it finishes.

• Run Tes3merge. Space to exit/close

• Run MGE XE from MO2. Steps to configure:

  • Graphics Tab:

    • Set Resolution in Graphics Tab; Unselect windowed; Antialiasing Off (for me); AA 8x or 16x; Vsync off (you can run on if you want)

    • Enable Shaders > Shader Setup

      • Here I usually use just SSAO, Sunshafts + Underwater and Interior Caustics as I feel they look the best and closest to og feel. If you enjoy them, you can enable Bloom/DoF here as well. Save.

  • Distand Land Tab:

    • Draw Distance: 4.0 Cells — I find this option the best for a vanilla + feel, but you can use higher if you want. Don't go more than 5 or 6 cells for performance reasons and also it makes the world feel small

    • Water reflections: All

    • Click on Distant Land Generator:

      • Select all plugins > Continue

      • Land Textures > Wait > Continue (some warnings may show, its ok)

      • Land Meshes > Very High > Wait > Continue

      • Statics > Set 70% grass density (more is absurd for me but you can try); Mesh: Very High; Disable reflective water and misc objects

        • Check Use Lists of Statics... > Edit List > select Hide Grass.ovr from Morrowind\mge3 folder.

        • Click on Create Statics. Wait, this might take a little

        • Upon success, exit MGE. Return to MO2

• Now Run Morrowind.exe

• Click on new game > reach the "Wake up" state. Feel emotions. Close the game; it works. Moving on with Misc Fixes.