Wolf Mods, Skyrim (and more!) for Oblivion Options

[Lena Wolf]

I mentioned this in a couple of other threads already, it started as a small "let me change this tree" idea, and has now grown into a proper project of mine. So I am starting this thread to share with you what I've been doing in the hope to get feedback and ideas well before the mod is in any shape or form ready for release.

First of all, this is an add-on for TWMP Skyrim Improved which is a part of the TWMP project that very ambitiously wants to bring the entire Tamriel into Oblivion. They've got pretty much everything covered, too! And I fully intend to load it all up and see what happens, but I started with Skyrim, and that needed some tweaks... or so I thought.

To install existing TWMP mods, start with TWMP Locations and follow the dependencies mentioned in the description. Then install High Detail Dynamic Map TWMP which gives you a proper map to use with Dynamic Map. Also recommended TWMP Skyrim Guard Armours and Shields. Then go play.

If you wanted to try installing the whole of Tamriel, including Elsweyr, Valenwood, Somerset Isle and Morrowind (Morroblivion), you are not alone - it is apparently possible! People have done it! With success! I'm not there yet, but here is a post explaining in which order you need to install the mods for it to work: How to bring all of Tamriel to Oblivion.

But back to Skyrim.

There are three roads from Cyrodiil into Skyrim:
- Eastern route: North from the Temple of the Ancestor Moths.
- Central route: North from the Cloud Ruler Temple.
- Western route: somewhere North West of the Shrine of Hermaeus Mora.

It may also be worth while talking to Agata at the Mages Guild in Leyawiin. Just saying.

I was impressed with TWMP Skyrim, but I wanted it to be more similar to Skyrim The Game. I have been exploring South East so far, so that's where I started - in what was supposed to be The Rift.

But it's not The Rift if it's filled with snow-covered white pines, it's got to have birches and aspens in autumnal colours. So I did that. Added grid paths to the land too, so that the roads are now recognised by the AI as well as by the player. Then I extended Riverwood and populated it with familiar characters - just pop in to The Sleeping Giant Inn.

Next on the list is Riften. There isn't a city there, and there needs to be one - because I say so. I've got a plan, now the fun of building can begin.

Some pictures to start with, I've got more, will add them shortly. This is already in my game, so it actually works, most of the times.

Map of Southern Skyrim

Trees in The Rift

Stairs to Riften Watch

Riften Watch. In the original TWMP Skyrim Improved this is actually Riften, but I decided to build a new Riften next to it. So then this area is a perfect spot to house some guards. Well, it was a perfect spot to house some guards...

Riften Watch after the Oblivion gate is closed

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Oct 11 2021, 03:53 PM

[Lena Wolf]

Macole - the ice and snow looks different in your game than in mine, are you using some retexturing mods? I had a better look at your screenshot of the road by Hermaeus Mora shrine, I do have that road, it's vanilla, but mine has a different texture to the point that I didn't even recognise it! Anyway, I see that if you just hop over the ledge and go down the hill, it's easy enough.

Click to enlarge

I had a mod in my game called The Crystal Chasm (marked as an Ayleid ruin), and it added a beautifully laid out road from just past the shrine, connecting to that disjointed piece of vanilla road that you see on the map. It looks amazing too, but we haven't gone inside yet, but pressed on to Falkreath.

Ghastley - there are no conflicts! Fits perfectly, whether you put it before or after TWMP in the load order. It looks like TWMP didn't change the vanilla landscape in that area. You can see the chapel from the Crystal Chasm, it works really well together. I'll post screenshots later (wrong computer).

[macole]

Macole - the ice and snow looks different in your game than in mine, are you using some retexturing mods?

Yes, I am using some (over 150) retex and replacer mods. My game is a delicate house of cards of 276 mods. The snow I'm not too happy with. At a distance it looks really good but the area that you walk on looked like brown muddy slush. I found the appropriate shader and treid to enhance it myself. It's better but... I don't know. How does it look to you? Of course you can tell since you're not walking on it.

I had a mod in my game called The Crystal Chasm (marked as an Ayleid ruin), and it added a beautifully laid out road from just past the shrine, connecting to that disjointed piece of vanilla road that you see on the map. It looks amazing too, but we haven't gone inside yet, but pressed on to Falkreath.

I considered this house and probably would have used it for that empty area had I not read that it conflicts with OOO's Skiyrim Bandits' major encampment.

[Lena Wolf]

Macole - the ice and snow looks different in your game than in mine, are you using some retexturing mods?

Yes, I am using some (over 150) retex and replacer mods. My game is a delicate house of cards of 276 mods. The snow I'm not too happy with. At a distance it looks really good but the area that you walk on looked like brown muddy slush. I found the appropriate shader and treid to enhance it myself. It's better but... I don't know. How does it look to you? Of course you can tell since you're not walking on it.

It does look a bit odd... I don't use any retexture mods because when I look at their screenshots, I invariably prefer vanilla. Yes, it is a bit rough cut and somewhat low resolution, but your brain gets used to such things very quickly and starts filling in the detail even when there's no detail present. In particular when there's no detail present - this is just how our peripheral vision works. When I play an old game with low resolution graphics, like, say, Two Worlds 1, after ten minutes I no longer see the grainy graphics, it's all filled in. Oblivion has plenty of detail in the texture for my brain to catch, and I don't need higher definition to enjoy it. In fact, if it isn't a perfect texture, then you start seeing the imperfections - the brain is not going to smooth them out for you or fill in imaginary detail when detail is already present! So better low resolution than high resolution but wrong texture.

But to get back to your point - it does look a bit like a slosh, like what you get in late March in cold climates - the snow has already melted and frozen dozen times over, with the dirt from just under it mixed in, and now the sun is warming it, and you are getting this grey-brown-ex-white stuff that is neither snow nor water... yeah, I see your point.