I use Blade's and Qarl Normal and Color 4096 maps in game. These make the terrain loow very good.

However, when I install UL mods or mods that install their own LOD files, I lose the high resolution.

So my question is, if I install Blade and Qarl 4096 LOD maps last, will they break the UL mods LOD files where things wil not work right?

Yes, I believe you'll lose the UL LOD if you install things in that order. I have a similar install to you,
although I opted for the 2048 version just because I didn't want LOD to be quite that sharp. I've found
installing 2048 first, then overwriting with the UL LOD files provides the best appearance for my taste. I guess
it's a personal choice as to what's more important to you - the high res or the more "accurate" long distance
terrain.

But even with 2048, do not the UL LOD files return the terrain to near vanilla look? It could be I am doing something wrong. For example:

Installed my Qarl And Blade Normal and Color LOD files early.
Took a look across the water as I exited the sewers.
Loaded all UL mods and their LOD files next.
Now when I look across the water outside the sewers the terrain is plain and has black circle like areas.
I also use a strong noise filter.

I use BAIN for my istallations. Perhaps I can figure out how to post pictures that would illustrate better.

They will not break the UL mods. Just install them afterward. If you look at my BAIN package list, you will see that I have the ULs loading fairly early with respect to other visual enhancements. I care much more that my 4096 and/or 2048 rez texture replacers are consistent throughout the world than a few missing UL features. You would be more concerned if LOD files were being replaced. I think file types are being confused here, but I do not really know what is going on I guess...

When I say LOD files I mean the normal and color maps located in textures\landscapelod\generated (I think). The 4096 look the best. One of my configurations gets into 1261MB (arounf Bravil with UL Bravil Barrowfields) of vram usage but still performs well thanks to the 4GB patch and OSR. I get about 25-25fps, even with QTP3 full version (not redimized).

For me, I spend alot of time out doors so the visuals are very important.

Could you tell me the file endings? It is easier for me to think in terms of file types. The LAA patch is nice, but if that RAM count exceeds your card's VRAM, you are putting it under a lot of pressure, but, hey, your money, not mine. I do not like the 4096 maps. They make the landscape to bumpy for my tasted, especially with shadows cast in an obtrusive checker pattern. I get ~45 outside with QTP3R and 50+ (less than 100 I think) other texture replacers. Visuals enhancements make up 25% of the mods I use. My mod setup is basically Visual Enhancements+FCOM+Game Tweaks+Quests in order of decreasing number of plugins and/or packages.

So these are "_n.dds" then. Yeah, those do not matter much for the ULs. Meshes and LOD mismatches will be much more obvious.

Yes, the maps conflict, e.g. when I installed the UL Arrius Creek - Cheydinhal Falls - Entius Gorge - Rolling Hills LOD patch it overwrote the files textures\landscapelod\generated\60.00.00.32_FN.dds and textures\landscapelod\generated\60.32.00.32_FN.dds from Better Tiling 2048 LOD. Personally I didn't find visual quality drop in LOD in those areas to really be noticeable although it would be more dramatic if using the 4096 version I'm sure.

I would need to look these up but they are all called something like 60.00.-32.-32 and there are two files for each, one that has the _n.dds and the other just .dds.

It seems that the norm should be installing the high resolution normal and color maps and noise filter last so it overwrites any other loading mod which may change it. Thanks for the feedback.

Whatever looks best for you is what you should do.

.dds are still just textures. Do not worry about it. As far as what you are going to see (and actually notice), having all of the world using the same normal maps would probably be best...

nevermind me those are for the nif themselves..

Might be an interesting note to add to your guide, about normal maps, color maps, and terrain noise filter.

The ULs are concerned most with the various meshes found in Landscape\LOD, and with the normal maps (the _n.dds files). The actual texture color isn't as important because 90% of what you could see is usually buried under trees and other LOD objects. Though there are a few instances where using vanilla textures won't fit with what's been done, like at Brena River, since the actual ground texturing is different from what's normally there.

Sure. I will add that to the "Suggestions" list I have started in the site's thread.


I will make a note of that too. I need to go spend more time in the UL areas (or in the game at all.) Thanks for the input Arthmoor.

Don't forget it is important to overwrite landscape lod generated meshes with the ones provided with UL mods, in case you install some other lod meshes from other mods.

This is because, if you run TES4LODGen without the proper UL meshes installed, the far nif tree billboards are generated with the vanilla terrain height, giving you floating trees in some places.

Just my two cookies.

:)

Yes, the meshes are important, which is why I was asking about file extensions. The names of so many of the distant files are easy to confuse. You have DLOD, LOD, LOD meshes, LOD textures, etc.

I know this is not the right thread Tomlong, but is there a way to block files from being installed during a BAIN install? Right now I manually delete the conflicting files from the BAIN package.

Theres no need to delete them, if you have conflicting files from two different installer archives, Wrye Bash will only install the file from the installer highest in your list (further down), and keeps track of these conflicts so that if at a later date you un-install an installer which is overwriting lower conflicting files, the one with files written over will have its overwritten files re-installed (annealed). Thats part of the beauty of BAIN installers. Whichever installers are closer to the ==Last== marker (Highest) will take priority with individual conflicting files.

Thats why it installs the list backwards (if you ever re-install everything you will notice this), higher priority installers are installed first with every file, then any lower conflicting files from installers are skipped and noted.

All you have to do is make sure the install order is correct, that the particular textures/meshes you want to end up in the game are higher (which confusingly is lower in the list visually, ie closer to the bottom), so just drag (or highlight then move with ctrl up/down). After re-arranging install order, right click on the installers header bar and choose anneal all.

Makes sense. My load order is pretty static, and organized into sections. When I have conflicting files, I hate to move one mod from a lower section to a higher one so that it does not get overwritten. That would mean more tags and it messes with my sense of organization. I know it sounds crazy as how the BAIN installer looks should have no impact on how I enjoy the game, BUT, I have been trying to BAIN everything, decide on mods, and seeing how it looks in game for 6 months so it has BECOME the game

Oh well, maybe it's time to seek a shrink?

Not sure why the BAIN installation order would require additional tags. Also, can't see why you wouild not take advantage of the best feature of BAIN installs - the ability for it to track what overrides what and undo things for you when you uninstall or change the install order. I think you can have good organisation and benefit from BAIN's installation features.

And you dont have to move them to extremes, I have my own markers too for sections...

005 - ==Sounds==
006 - Louder_Nirnroots-5277.rar (1C92F999)
007 - Quiet & Whispered Feet MAX.rar (E8212F8E)
008 - Ambiant_Sound_FX_1-2-29676.rar (93165CB5)
009 - ==Land LOD Replacers Weather==
010 - RAEVWD_v1_7-20053.7z (C0E54CCD)
011 - RAEVWD_Darker_Regal_IC_Texture_Pack-20053.7z (B083FE55)
012 - RAEVWD_SI_Edition-20053.7z (1A70F42C)
013 - RAEVWD_SI_Bomret_Textures-20053.7z (34AAB9C8)
014 - Optimised_Distant_Land_MAX_1_1-15278.rar (0189BD36)
015 - Wisemans_Reduced_Textures_v11_Part123_SI_Bomrets-6448.rar (537E6184)
016 - HTF_Land_Noise_Replacer_Filter-102-9949.rar (DC928F02)
017 - Reduced LOD BTQN-1024.rar (3659AA1E)

Theres about 30 files currently in 014 above being overwritten by 015, if I wanted Optimised Distant Land max files instead - just need to move that down to 015 below Wisemans making ODL Max higher. Nothing drastic like sending it all the way to the ==last== marker at the bottom. Just switch place in the install order for the two installers with conflicting files.

As an example of my previous post, if I just currently right click and un-install 015 Wisemans, Wrye bash will anneal and re-install the overwritten files from ODL Max, you never know I might change my mind one day when something is done better than Wisemans for my purposes (laptop graphics card needs more memory/might have a new machine or finally track down one of those elusive mobile graphics card upgrades finally in my price range) and needs replaced, or I might find out in fact that ODL Max needs to be after Wisemans - If the conflicting files are deleted what a pain that would be figuring out what I did/didn't do a year ago.

I meant adding new markers, not tags, get jumbled up at times with the trminology

Yes, BAIN is very good for installation, do not regret leaving OBMM. With the ordering and moving, it is more mental than anything else. I used to number my mods (0010 - Mod name) for quite some time before I found that using the BAIN markers and mod names only without the preceding number works better for me (I hated to see some out of order and got tired or renaming). This way my BAIN mod names match my original mod archive names. Appreciate all your feedback though and I SWEAR I am not completly OCD!

Now that I understand the LOD situation (and the meshes for some of these), I hope to be actually PLAYING in the next 2 months (will need to take a 2 vacation) so I can get some time in before Starcraft2 comes out (been waiting for that one a long time).

Good gaming.

I am pretty anol about organization. I think that having your packages sorted logically such that they are installed in the "right" order is part of that organization.

My BAIN Package List - https://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/lists/mybainlist <-- I want to add more markers, but I still have a bunch of packages to add. Between requests and my own mod choices, I expect this list to exceed 1000 packages in the next month or two.

Good luck in playing them all