No, I haven't tried Oblivion Randomizer. I did look at it recently but thought that the trio i have is difficult enough.

With the Dynamic Map, I use the Elven Color map. It’s fine but it doesn’t do the most southern portions of Valewood Improved and Elsweyr well.

normal view

zoomed out view

With the addition of Elsweyr aand Valenwood Improved the Terrain Map Style may be a better view. There is a Tamriel heightmap that shows all of Tamriel

This post has been edited by macole: Nov 30 2021, 07:22 AM

Thanks! This confirms what I already thought - that Lena needs to bring her flags on sticks along on her journey to Elsweyr to verify her Tamriel Heighmap map - the HD version. The resolution of the regular version is a little too low for the size of it. The problem with the Heightmap however - in either resolution - is that it doesn't have a lot of overlays for the popular additions such as Valenwood, Elsweyr, Sutch Village, Roads and Trails, etc. I was already going to make them all available for the Tamriel HD map, so now I shall definitely look into them. Well, Lena will, that is. It seems she just invented the Cartographers Guild.

Let me dig around. I made modifications to the Elven map for my own use, extending the area covered, so that VI and Elsweyr fit completely. I may still have the pieces.

Ugh, I hated those chameleon-cloaked vampires. Good thing my character did use an item (A ring, I think) with Detect Life so she could still "see" them.

Wow, so his weapon improves over time depending how many vamps it gets rid of?

I had to google the lyrics ... I had no idea that's the Donovan song we listened too so often when I was like 5-6 years old. Never really knew the lyrics in detail, I guess.




This post has been edited by Renee: Nov 30 2021, 02:46 PM

I have the source maps for this Valenwood and Elsweyr but in a mixture of formats. I'm trying to track down the final dds's, and the esp updates to the map dimensions.

The cave symbol at the bottom really does mark an underwater cave off the coast. I think that required a tweak to the map dimensions to fit it on, so it's important that I find the right numbers for you.

Thanks, Ghastley!

I did find some overlays for the Tamriel Heightmap HD for the landmass of Valenwood and Elsweyr - it differs depending on whether you just have Valenwood or both (and I mean Valenwood Improved, it's different for the original Valenwood). Fortunately TWMP patch does not change the land layout - it is just to sort out land rips, as I understand it. I also have a map for Morrowind corresponding to Morroblivion. Still, it all needs verifying - every good cartographer knows that you can't trust maps.

On a closer look, there are even more versions of Valenwood and Elsweyr maps, mostly concerning the Southern regions. The good news is that the Tamriel HD map extends quite a bit into the sea there, so there should be no problems adding new islands or underground caves. Flags on sticks it is then.

Dynamic Map itself has a lot of overlays, but they are all meant for different base maps, so don't always work as is. I've been scaling and repositioning some of them - mostly the roads, as it is easy to do.

Don't worry what format the files are in - I import them all in GIMP to work with anyway. The sources for the Tamriel HD map are in Photoshop, for example. GIMP chomps it all up. I think for the sake of my and Lena's sanity, I am going to limit myself to doing the Tamriel HD map only. It does look a lot like Elven in terms of aesthetics.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Nov 30 2021, 03:31 PM

Good to know you have GIMP, as some of the items are .xcf.

OK http://ghastley.org/Oblivion/download/OBMaps.7z contains the layers that make up the map I was using. I thought I had the Dynamic map pieces (as .dds) too, but can't find those.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Nov 30 2021, 04:48 PM

20211130 Integration-SL – Scouts and Spies, Portable Campsite

“I will never complain about fighting large numbers of vampires again, never. At least they die when you kill them. Zombies keep getting back up,” I mentioned to Kaleah as we walked through Colovia to Chorrol.

“It was fun though,” Kaleah replied with a laugh. “Too bad we couldn’t close that gate.”

Arriving at the stables we inquired of Nadhil if she knew anything of Dar’Jones. With a memory as sharp as a tack she told he went into the city and never came out. Why, she had even sold his horse to cover missed months of stall rental.

Ah, good to know.

Our first stop was Northern Goods and Trade. While conducting business we brought up the subject of Dar’Jones. Seed-Neeus hadn’t seen him in quite some time and she reall didn’t know much about him. Our business concluded, as we were walking out we noticed the Black Horse Courier flier announcing portable campsite gear for sale.

“Interesting,” I commented. “Do you have one large enough to sleep four? Only need one bedroll if it is big enough. Oh, and a door flap for privacy.”

That got Dar-Ma’s attention.

“Whatever would you need all that for?” Seed-Neeus asked with a stern disapproving look.

As my Ladies blushed in various shades of embarrassment I, hoping it sounded convincing, replied. “Um, I’m used to sleeping on the floor and roll around a lot?”

“A whole lot,” Elenya pitched in. “All night long.”

The frown on Seed-Neeus’ face grew tighter.

“Does it come with sound deadening walls?” Kaleah asked

Clapping her hands over Dar-Ma ears Seed-Neeus had had enough. “OUT!” she screamed. “Out now!”

Thinking where else could we go to get info on this Dar’Jones guy we chose the Grey Mare as our first stop.
Emfrid said it was creepy the way Dar’Jones would sneak around spying on people. She mentioned the names of several that Dar’Jones spied on.

The Oak and Crossier was our next stop. Here Talasma spoke sweetly of the little Ohmes-raht. She was worried though since he seemed to disappear quite suddenly. Talasma feared that something bad had happened to Dar’Jones.

So that was all we had to go on, a list of names and very little information. Where do we start? Looking at the names on the list one in particular stood out, Eugal Belette.

With Eugal Belette’s house being just down the street and presumably still unoccupied we decided to start this phase of our investigation there. It was really easy getting inside the house. No one cares about dead Mythic Dawn operatives anymore. We just walked right on in unopposed. Once inside we went straight down to the basement knowing that if there were any clues to be found it would be in that room with the Mythic Dawn paraphernalia.

We were wrong but also we were right. We didn’t find clues amidst the Mythic Dawn things. We found Dar’Jones! We opened the door of the room and there lay the body of Dar’Jones. Dead all this time we presumed.

Reaching down to search the body for some identification, Dar’Jones suddenly jumped up as if awakened from an enchantment. Shaking his head he muttered something about being taken in by “that” Mythic Dawn agent. With hurried apologies Dar’Jones handed me a message written in ancient Ta’agra before fleeing to the safeties Elsweyr.

Left scratching my head I wondered, “We’ve been to Elsweyr, that place is definitely not safe. And this unreadable message, who can translate Ta’agra?”

“Come on Ladies, let’s go to Arborwatch, get some dinner, and have a relaxing evening sitting around the fireplace. It’s been a trying day.”

After the first batch of this edition was printed, we received a most gracious visit from Borba gra-Uzgash. It appears that her camping gear is indeed different from that offered by the Verus brothers. Where the Imperial camping gear is limited to strictly one set per party of adventurers, Borba's Orcish gear is completely individual, so that you can - and indeed are encouraged to - carry as many bedrolls, stools or tents as you wish, all in one pack! Why, you could even set up a dozen campfires next to each other for a truly warming experience!

Borba also mentioned that she was currently sold out of the Orcish camping equipment due to an unusually high demand by Orc adventurers. However, she expects a new shipment from Skyrim in near future.

Hi, There are people, well at least one person on AFK Mods that are looking for your Gweden Brothel. I didn't just want to give your site out so I thought I'd let you know.

This post has been edited by macole: Dec 1 2021, 05:50 PM

This episode conjured thoughts of the Cyrodiil Stock Exchange's Dar'Jones Industrial Average.

And no party bedrolls from Seed-Neeus.

I missed that one entirely, thanks.

This post has been edited by macole: Dec 2 2021, 05:06 AM

Thanks, Ghastley - got your files and used them! I also got the latest high resolution map of Vvardenfell from the Morroblivion site and integrated it into the Tamriel map replacing the old version.

I now have a nice HD map of all Tamriel with all new labels and overlays for a number of popular mods. It just needs a bit of label juggling, but is otherwise as complete as possible. I found a module for the roads in Elsweyr, and I even made a provisional module for Elsweyr Pelletine. It is bound to be incorrect, but I thought it was a pity to have Senchal sink into the sea. The problem with the Pelletine mod is that it is based on an old TWMP variant of the region called TWMP_Valenwood_Elsweyr.esp - I believe this was created before Valenwood Improved even existed. It differs very significantly in the shape of the landmass in the South and has been replaced by TWMP_ValenwoodImproved.esp (plus a separate Elsweyr patch). Because you cannot have both TWMP Valenwood versions in your game, you currently have to choose between Valenwood Improved and Elsweyr Pelletine. The author announced however that she's got a patch for Pelletine to switch to Valenwood Improved, and she's trying to get permission from the author of the patch to distribute it with her mod. This post is very fresh (just a couple of weeks old), so hopefully it will be a "yes" and then we can integrate it all. I shall then make a definite map of the Southern region.

In the meantime, Lena is just putting some finishing touches on her shiny new map, then rolls it up and sets off to explore Elsweyr! She'll have to see whether she'll go all the way South to Senchal and explore Pelletine, or whether she'll proceed West into Valenwood. She's got a month to travel, and that's not long enough to do both. Choices will have to be made! (The plan was to go to Valenwood, but you know women - constantly changing their minds! )

PS. This work will be released as a separate mod - a brand new addition for the Dynamic Map, but we want it tested first. I can however make a pre-release if anyone wants to test it with us (it doesn't crash your game )

This is intended to also work with Morroblivion!

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Dec 2 2021, 10:58 AM

I'm game. Haven't messed with changing the map in a decade and may need brief instructions on how to get the best outcome.

Thanks, Macole! It's easy enough - I'll publish a new mod, declare it to be in alpha-use-at-your-own-risk, and you install it in the usual way. It doesn't have an ESP, so it will be just copy the files over, that's all. Dynamic Map mod will do all the magic.

I shall add instructions on how to make a backup of your existing setup in case you want to go back. Not that you ever would want to, of course.

Macole - which mods are you using that would need modifying the map? Besides Valenwood Improved and Elsweyr, that is. Anything adding new roads perhaps? (I think there's Roads and Bridges and some other similar things.) And Open Cities? I already got Sutch Reborn an Bartholm. Most other location mods don't need to modify the map, so I'm leaving them out.

I used Open Cities Reborn, which made major changes to Leyawiin, and needed its own overlay in Dynamic maps. I don't remember if I made that, or if it was a standard one with DM. My main reason for using it was that I had to produce a patch to Gweden for it to adjust for what it did to the docks.

If the overlay is needed, I have it.

Thanks, Ghastley - I've got Leyawiin from another module of the Dynamic Map itself. Got it done.

I have released the first version of this new HD module. It is a mod without an ESP - it's just the map files. Note that it will take a bit longer on load the first time after you start the game because of the sheer size of the map. But it's only the first time, after that it loads quickly.

I made a bunch of modules for it as well, including all of Valenwood and Elsweyr variants, and it should work automatically too, depending on what you've got loaded. It's all there on the mod page!

Comments are welcome! Reports of misspelled words not so much. Kidding, of course! Please let me know if you find anything wrong or upside down, or Gods forbid - not matching the actual world! The map is there ready to be tested.

If you ever venture to Southern Elsweyr... Read the readme first - it's quicksand down there, the map is highly unstable and requires extensive testing and most likely redoing... But it does mention a brand new mod of the city of Senchal (just out a few weeks ago), and it should work with Valenwood Improved. Ha!

TR Stirk may be the only one. Would using Sutch Village instead of Sutch Reborn make a difference? I also have Valenwood Islands and Daggerfall Memories – Cybiades. Valenwood Islands uses its own world space so it may not have impact. I'm not sure about Daggerfall Memories - Cybiades.

This post has been edited by macole: Dec 3 2021, 06:18 AM

20211203 Stendarr’s Mercy

After another night at Arborwatch we woke up wondering what we would do now. It came to me as I was pulling my boots on. Looking at my bare hands I remembered the Gauntlets of the Crusader at the Chapel of Stendarr. As soon as breakfast was over we were on our way.

At the Chapel we learn from talking to Areldur that a descendant of Sir Casimir, Kellen has come to the Chapel in hopes of being cured of the curse laid upon his ancestor.

When we speak to Kellen, he insists that Areldur is not telling the whole story. In fact if Kellen is right then
Areldur knows more about this curse and how to remove it then he lets on. Areldur was unrelenting in his skirting around the subject of removing the curse from Kellen.

Realizing that I was getting nowhere with Aredur, I stepped aside and let the Ladies work their magic on him.

(Little Pym in the audience, watched the whole affair.)

Like an iceberg in a forest fire Areldur melted. Wasn’t long before that haughty Altmer was babbling like a baby, telling us everything he knew about the fatigue draining Curse of the Consumed.

The only way to remove the curse from someone is take it upon themselves. Stendarr can give one the power to take the curse from Kellen. But that means he or she would be marked for life, as will all their children and children's children.

I hesitated. Curse myself for the rest of my lifetime however long that is, what kind of choice is that.

Kaleah placed her hand on my shoulder leaned close and said, “My Feache, you are born of the Fae. Stendarr’s curse will have no hold on you.”

It doesn’t make sense though. Kellen is cursed and can’t pick up the gauntlets. Now I’m supposed to curse myself and then be able to pick up the gauntlets. Just don’t make sense. Well judging by the mess he got himself into with Lorkhan, Stendarr never was too bright to begin with.

So there I stood making a grand display of praying to Stendarr as I told him what an idiot I thought he was. In the name of the Mother of all Creation I compelled Stendarr to give me the power. Of course he made it sound like it was all his idea.

“Child of the Mother Goddess, I hold no title over you but your willingness to wash the sin of Sir Casimir from his descendant Kellen moves me to grant you the power to do so and to carry the Gauntlets.”

A fair bargain struck. Kellen will be free of the curse, the monks and priests in attendance where suitably impressed by the mercy bestowed by their god and, I get the satisfaction of calling Stendarr a fool.

After laying hands on Kellen to free him of the curse I picked up the Gauntlets of the Crusader. Odd how someone was able to pick the gauntlets up off the floor and place them on a table. Doesn’t matter, everyone’s happy now. Um, except for Stendarr, he may be a little peeved but he’ll get over it.

With everything taken care of we left Chorrol for the Imperial City. There’s business to attend to there.