Modding the steam game?

[GaNoo]

Is it possible? If so, is there a special way it needs to be done, or a guide that explains it?

[Klapaucius]

www.nexusmods.com/morrowind

www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/categories

[SaltyPeanuts]

I'll just type the few things I know into this forum for you.

This is how Morrowind 'works':
Morrowind runs at its default unless
1) there are special .bsa, .esm, .esp files checked off in the Data Files section of the launcher which point to new files OR
2) new files are present in the Data Files folder that add new textures, models, and such into the game; Morrowind uses these files as they are dated AFTER the .bsa in which the original data is located- in this case Morrowind.bsa, Tribunal.bsa and Bloodmoon.bsa.

a special 3rd case is:
3) You use some graphics enhancer program like MGEXEgui that adds new things into the game.... probably beyond the scope of your question.

Originally posted by Klapaucius5691:

www.nexusmods.com/morrowind
www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/categories

Unfortunately the Steam version of the game dates Morrowind.bsa, Tribunal.bsa and Bloodmoon.bsa to the day you installed the game; that is bad according to what I wrote above. If you don't redate the Morrowind .bsa's then Morrowind ignores any files dated prior. Practially all non-.esm/.esp mods are dated prior to when you installed the game on Steam, whether it was today, yesterday, or a year ago. Nexusmods has many mods that were made 3, 4 years ago. A program like MGEXEgui can also mess with the creation date of .bsa's if it analyzes game file and adds new things. This is a peculiar bug only affecting the Steam version of the game. The disc version does not have this problem.

Solution: use a freeware program (like bulkfilechanger) to change the dates of these Morrowind .bsa's back to some arbitrary year like 2000. Then right-click the .bsa's and mark them as read-only to lock the dates. Once the dates are locked non-.esm/.esp mods should work. (If you don't read-only the files then Steam will overwrite the date causing problems in the future).

In a nutshell Nachomatic, there are two ways to install mods.
1st way- You can install the 'Nexus Mod Manager' program and let it handle supported mods hosted on Nexusmods.
2nd way- mods that are just .zip files would need to be extracted manually into your Morowind 'Data Files' folder, following the correct folder structure for any files to be added. I suggest copying the entire Data folder to a safe place prior to making changes like this in case the mod is a bad mod, or you mess up.

[GeeTee]

You definitely can mod the Steam game. If I'm honest, you probably should mod the game, because that's all part of the whole Morrowind experience!

One direction a lot of people jump is to install the Morrowind Graphics and Sound Overhaul (or MGSO). This is a megapack of mods that mostly affect the game visuals and bring them more up-to-date. The resulting game can be very pretty. Installing MGSO is reasonably straighforward wizard-driven process that automates many of the steps. MGSO can be found here: http://www.ornitocopter.net/morrowind-overhaul/mgso-release/

Above and/or beyond that, it's still very possible to install individual mods to your own tastes and needs. Rather than shower you with my own recommendations, there's a bunch of useful info in this FAQ thread[forums.bethsoft.com] on the official TES forums, including very good posts explaining what mods are, where to find them and how to install them.

If I have any advice on how to approach modding or the use of mods, it's to make sure you have a backup before making changes to your game. Quite often, just making an copy of your entire Morrowind directory is fine. If something goes wrong, you can always delete the modded game and put the backup in place, ready for another try.

[GaNoo]

Thanks all! especially the MGSO link! I was mainly interested in a graphics overhaul, so thats perfect GeeTee! thanks!!

[GeeTee]

Glad I could help :)

[GaNoo]

I went to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Morrowind to change the dates of the BSA files as someone suggested, but I don't see a data folder, just a saves folder. Am I looking in the right area?

[SaltyPeanuts]

"Morrowind\Data Files" folder. You should have one even without mods installed.

[MadMarbleHead]

Get the Nexus Mod Manager!

[SaltyPeanuts]

Originally posted by MadMarbleHead:

Get the Nexus Mod Manager!

I realize you're just trying to help by saying that. If it were that simple for the Steam version of Morrowind then I would have said that instead of writing about 4 paragraphs of text describing how Morrowind mods work and why there is a date bug with Steam.

If you don't believe me then try downloading this file and installing it:
http://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/42586/?
The Steam version will not show the new model without redating the .bsa's.

[GaNoo]

I already set and locked the dates! :D Turns out the reason the data files weren't showing up, was cause I had uninstalled the game, and forgot to reinstall....so...yea..lol

[Cupid]

all things people said to help which works for some but not for me... i use nexus and put it in data files but still doesnt work :/ all folders it seems like it doesnt work

[Cupid]

please help me

[Kurpulio]

here's a guide for new users
https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/8481563-guide-for-installing-mods/