I've recently been having some issues with my .ini file, mainly with the uGridDistantCount and uGridDistantTreeRange settings. Basically, the game doesn't recognize any changes made to them anymore, and automagically uses the default settings.

My tree line used to be http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc212/darkstorne/DistantMountains.jpg.

Now it's permanently stuck http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc212/darkstorne/DistantMountainsTreeless.jpg.

I've already made a thread about this in the hardware issues sections, and HeyYou has been amazing at trying to find out what might be causing the problem. So far nothing has worked, but here's a http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1075042&st=0&gopid=15651032&#entry15651032 if you want to know more or think you can help solve the mystery!

I'm creating this thread because I have a theory about a work-around. I would like to know if it's possible to create a mod that can directly alter the .ini file's settings (uGridDistantCount and uGridDistantTreeRange), and be loaded last on the load order just in case there is a mod or something that alters the .ini settings during the game load-up. Hopefully this would override those changes, so that I can alter the tree line again, albeit in an awkward fashion.

I believe this could work because I first discovered the .ini file was being ignored when I realized I couldn't cross the borders of Cyrodiil anymore. I got that 'turn back' message even though bAllowBorders was set to 0 in the .ini file. By installing a mod called Borderless Cyrodiil, the borders were removed again, despite the fact that all the mod does is alter the .ini file (I presume).

So I have 2 questions that I'd really appreciate any answers to! :hugs:

1) Is it possible? Can I create a mod that simply forces a change to the .ini file?

2) If so, how would I go about creating it?

Thanks for reading ^_^

There are OBSE functions to modify ini settings. They would not be effected by load order, but rather when a script ran them. Thus, a mod might change the value every few seconds from a quest script.

So with OBSE I could create a mod that sets the Tree Distance to a specified range upon loading up the game with a quest script?

Are there any guides you could link me to on how to write a mod like this with OBSE?

Thanks for the reply ^_^

You have to have OBSE and the construction set installed. You have to start the construction set with OBSE ("obse_loader.exe -editor" or something like that). You have to make your script run, typically by attaching it to a quest that starts out active. And you have to use a command like con_SetINISetting or SetNumericINISetting, which are documented here:
http://cs.gamesas.com/constwiki/index.php/List_of_Functions

Beyond that, I do not know.

Thanks SkyRanger, i'll try this out.

It's uncanny how most of the fixes I end up using for Oblivion seem to originate with you