Is this good out of the box?

[Towerbooks3192]

I was wondering if the game is ok out of the box. I mean granting it is old especially in comparison to its sequels. I am more concerned about how OK is it to play it as it is or is the GOG version better? I am kinda willing to give it a shot especially when I managed to get through Baldur's gate 1 and 2 last year.

[Messsucher]

It is authentic out of the box. But there is not really a reason to keep it authentic since in PC platform modding is the thing. The only reason to not mod it is if you want know how it was exactly when released. There are many mods which does not make the game different, they just make it enhanced, so better mod the game.

[Towerbooks3192]

Originally posted by Messsucher:

It is authentic out of the box. But there is not really a reason to keep it authentic since in PC platform modding is the thing. The only reason to not mod it is if you want know how it was exactly when released. There are many mods which does not make the game different, they just make it enhanced, so better mod the game.

I will want to try it vanilla first. I rarely mod in PC heck even on Skyrim but if it is good enough then I will fire it up.

EDIT:

I am mainly concerned about how this is vs GOG since GOG usually makes sure that everything is good once you download and install.

[Messsucher]

Originally posted by Towerbooks3192:

Originally posted by Messsucher:

It is authentic out of the box. But there is not really a reason to keep it authentic since in PC platform modding is the thing. The only reason to not mod it is if you want know how it was exactly when released. There are many mods which does not make the game different, they just make it enhanced, so better mod the game.

I will want to try it vanilla first. I rarely mod in PC heck even on Skyrim but if it is good enough then I will fire it up.

EDIT:

I am mainly concerned about how this is vs GOG since GOG usually makes sure that everything is good once you download and install.

I don't really know. With Bethesha games I always install at least unofficial patches, then play the game for a while and install a ton of graphics mods.

[Towerbooks3192]

Originally posted by Messsucher:

Originally posted by Towerbooks3192:

I will want to try it vanilla first. I rarely mod in PC heck even on Skyrim but if it is good enough then I will fire it up.

EDIT:

I am mainly concerned about how this is vs GOG since GOG usually makes sure that everything is good once you download and install.

I don't really know. With Bethesha games I always install at least unofficial patches, then play the game for a while and install a ton of graphics mods.

Might get that at the very least then. Thanks.

[COINCELPRO]

love the game, been playing the damn thing since release, wouldn't recommend anything but vanilla first time through - you won't be breaking it unless you try

thing doesn't need more than patching and some QoL stuff which come to you as a matter of taste by playing it (ie delaying DLC)

a lot of it is just busywork for no tangible gain in enjoyment of the game (GRAFIXXXX)

[Larry]

I only installed the code patch and had maybe 3 crashes in 40 hours. Works pretty well

[masternoxx1]

I play it vanilla and its great, I would recommend disable all addons or expansions, until you feel like you have finished the main game, this can be done under "data files" on start menu.
Don't spoiler it by looking up info on the net as there are exploits that will ruin the game, that can't be unseen.
I don't get many crashes and I have no mods. I think there is not much difference between Steam and Gog versions, except with the steam version obviously you have to start steam...
I printed out a (purposely) heavily blurred map and take a lot of notes about locations and things on the map and in a notebook because the land is VAST, it is huge, and there is too much to remember.
The included map has way too many spoilers so I blurred and pixelated it in photoshop, this increases the exploration value of the game tremendously... or if you are hardcore just don't use the map at all.
This time around I'm playing it on xbox 360 and I prefer it with the controller it is upscaled by the emulator it runs a bit choppy in parts but not bad overall.
Increasing the view distance would be nice I think you can do that on PC only however it's supposed to be a smoky land with ash storms, so I just imagine its smoke in the air just like it is outside here in California

[ZirzoR]

Originally posted by Towerbooks3192:

Originally posted by Messsucher:

I don't really know. With Bethesha games I always install at least unofficial patches, then play the game for a while and install a ton of graphics mods.

Might get that at the very least then. Thanks.

If you want to play pure vanilla I recommend getting openMW and running the game through that, it improves the engine from the ground up and supports better shaders on water, full shadows, full resolution, FoV Sliders and a lot of modern fixes without resorting to modding.

Also basicly removes crashes and its a 64 bit engine so memory usage is also not a problem.

https://forum.openmw.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1808

It also comes with a ton of bugfixes and whatnot, so most other mods aren't needed.

Mods that I use that are vanilla friendly.

1: Texture replacer. (Intelligent Textures)
2: Delayed Expansion. (Removing the assassinations at level 1)
3: Wakim's Game Improvements. (Removes abuse and balances most things)
4: Talrivian's State Based HP. (Removes the need to get endurance early on every character)
5: Linora's Levelling mod. (I Use the hard setting, so I get +3's on level up baseline, I can get more if I do more. but it removes the tedium of min-maxing skills, allowing you to just play the game the way you want to.)

[COINCELPRO]

openmw makes gameplay changes, it is not pure vanilla

[ZirzoR]

Originally posted by COINCELPRO:

openmw makes gameplay changes, it is not pure vanilla

If bug fixes are gameplay changes then sure, its not pure vanilla.

That's like saying classic wow isn't vanilla wow, the changes are just good for the game and makes it less frustrating for players, but yeah if you want to be a purist about it, then sure.

[COINCELPRO]

it's not bugfixes, it's bugs - openmw doesn't reproduce the vanilla experience, it's not intended to, and its bugs produce a plethora of unintended gameplay changes

[ZirzoR]

Originally posted by COINCELPRO:

it's not bugfixes, it's bugs - openmw doesn't reproduce the vanilla experience, it's not intended to, and its bugs produce a plethora of unintended gameplay changes

Well I guess you have to elaborate on that then, cuz I play with OpenMW for years and I've never had any major impact from "bugs" or felt like it wasn't like playing vanilla. (Which I did)

Balls in your court to provide the evidence of your claim, my info says otherwise.

[COINCELPRO]

https://gitlab.com/OpenMW/openmw/-/issues?scope=all&utf8=✓&state=all&label_name[]=Game Mechanics

take your pick, go as deep as you want with the filters, just don't call it "pure vanilla"

[Messsucher]

I use OpenMW, the latest release is very good, shadows got implemented.

[Conkwer]

Originally posted by Towerbooks3192:

is the GOG version better? //
I am mainly concerned about how this is vs GOG since GOG usually makes sure that everything is good once you download and install.

GOG version..
Pros:
1. You not need to run Steam. No DRM. Offline
2. offline installer
3. uncompressed, hi quality bmp textures instead of compressed dds
4. Morrowind Prophecies - GotY guide.pdf (poorly scanned)
5. Tes Construction set
6. +8 official plugins http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Plugins
7. Can work better on some machines with Win7 where gameux is not disabled

Cons:
1. > 1Gb in size. GotY guide = 160Mb
2. lot of gimmicks inside Morrowind folder.. goglog.ini, galaxyfilelist, webcache.zip, gogame-11111, and million of junky files
3. Forced Admin Rights and Aero disabled + 999999 unnecessary compatibility fixes in registry that can cause trouble on some hardware.
4. Incorrect file dates (that can cause troubles with mods)
5. Problems with mods that use "Textures" folder because it not empty. Game already have 2 set of textures (dds in Morrowind.bsa and bmp textures in "Textures" folder)
6. Official plugins are preinstalled, but many peoples don't like them as there is better alternatives around. Merged and patched, for example: https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/43931?tab=files
7. Installation is longer and not optimized for extremely low spec hardware and Androind phones as uncompressed textures are used.

Steam version
Pros:
1. no gimmicks and junky files, pure vanilla
2. cheap

Cons:
1. You can't run game without Steam (if not use OpenMW or some kind of patch).
2. Incorrect file dates (that can cause troubles with mods)
3. Problems with GameUX bug (that integrated in every copy of Win7). Not a big problem, if you know how to disable Game Explorer

Bethesda Launcher version:
Same as Steam, but no DRM. Morrowind.exe same as in GOG-version and can be used without Bethesda Launcher client.
Some videos are in folder "Videos" instead of "Data Files/Videos". It can cause some trouble with mods and OpenMW, until you move that files manually to "Data Files/Videos".

So, Bethesda Launcher version is the best, must be. No bells and whistles and no DRM. But this version is harder to obtain as Bethesda Launcher is a piece of crap. No offline installer, sadly

Originally posted by Towerbooks3192:

I will want to try it vanilla first.

You will get corrupted saves one day.. Use MCP, at least.
MGE XE can be recommended too, as it allows you to upscale the UI and Morrowind can be more stable on modern hardware with it.
Don't forget about Patch for Purists!