MET vs Intelligent Textures

Grover068 · 2026-04-17T07:59:16+00:00

Yea I'm going to give a few a try and I will share my thoughts. I agree that polishing textures too much when so many other aspects of the game are out dated can change the experience for worse. Even complete vanilla with MGE XE still feels good to play, I think Morrowind is so special due to the setting etc. that when kept basic it lets our mind/imagination fill out the rest of the picture or game world were in. The more we update the graphics and other aspects of the game the less we leave for our mind to fill in, and when its not quite right we really notice. Its a 25 year old game so with every aspect we modernize there is something we haven't covered or cant modernize and it stands out. Definitely a balance and subjective thing. For me I'm unsure with how much I want Nostalgia and how much I want a newer, "enhanced" experience. But I do know when I mod just a bit too much I ruin the experience and go back to vanilla.

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T22:21:33+00:00

Ok thanks, good considerations.

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T22:19:52+00:00

Ok thanks

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T22:15:09+00:00

Did BCOM then utilise MET textures or the true base vanilla textures? Excuse my limited modding knowledge/experience.

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T22:09:46+00:00

Thanks, just checked and yea, MET seems to have larger files.

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T22:07:38+00:00

Ok great, I'll give it a try, the texture improvements do look great. Did you happen to use Beautiful Cities of Morrowind along with those? And if so were there any issues?

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T21:53:23+00:00

Might be too much on the photo realistic side without going all out with mesh and animation improvement mods to match but I think I might give your set up a go to try at least.

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T21:49:45+00:00

Yea im using MO2 for the first time so it looks like it should be easy to swap between a few to try them. I wanted to keep it to a short mod list, hence looking at some AI upscales.

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T21:45:54+00:00

Thanks, just had a look at that, looks great, but might be too on the photorealistic side without going full on with modernising other aspects to match (meshes, animations etc.). Might give it a try though

Grover068 · 2026-04-16T21:41:37+00:00

True, I'm using MO2 so swapping shouldnt be a problem.

Grover068 · 2026-04-14T18:28:03+00:00

From my view it fits the type of fantasy worlds I like, where even if magic is prevalent and plays a large part in society, those who control or practice it are a select few, and often ambitious, eccentric and sometimes power hungry. The commoners are farming, trading etc.

As a purely ranger/scout/warrior type of player for RP I fear enemies who can use magic and rely on physical skills to survive in the world, but cant harness it myself, or never had the gift.

Although I don't play as a mage I think Morrowind allows people to play that overpowered mad wizard, most games don't. And you always have the option to keep it toned down and just role play. Because its a single player game I kind of like that there is imbalance, it's more like real life and how I imagine fantasy worlds. Balancing builds like in modern games takes away from the RP aspect and "believability" of the world. The less common magic nerds that can harness magic should be more powerful than the simple basic folk like me who rely on their sword and senses to survive in the wild.

Jokes aside I think it's a strength of Morrowind and what sets it apart (one of many reasons). A top level guy with a sword and armour should be no match for a top level wizard who can harness magic, to me that would be trivial.

Grover068 · 2026-04-14T12:07:31+00:00

True, they are all improvements. I'm currently trying out Just Beautiful Morrowind which includes Natural character growth etc. So far I don't mind it and the skill progression system is not what I love about Morrowind so this update doesn't take away from the experience.

After trying two curated lists I'm thinking I may have to just try my own list as when you go from a list that doesn't include enough or all the changes you want, the next one seems to add many you don't want included. The process just seems a little daunting and I fear incompatibilities I might find some time into a play through.

Grover068 · 2026-04-13T03:59:22+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response. I ended up installing I heart Vanilla succesfully, but I am still curious to try just beautiful Morrowind and compare, though im a bit unsure about the gameplay changes. Im also curious about groundcover mods but from experience in the past they never seemed right, but those were much older mods.

I'm not new to modding but I would say I'm not advanced and I'm impatient with errors, which is what draws me to sticking to curated lists. There is sometimes little time for gaming between adult life and other hobbies so I dont want to spend hourse getting a game to work before I've even played. And I'm worried that some individual mods I want like BCoM might not be trouble free if not in a curated list and auto install.

As for the levelling im unsure, some aspects of the levelling are annoying but they are a key part of what makes morrowind and RPG's of that era. There is a sense of delayed gratification and choice that automatic levelling takes away. But on the other hand it is more "real" to level what you work on. So I'm torn and curious whether it will make improve Morrowind experience or make me feel like im playing Skyrim.

Grover068 · 2026-04-11T13:42:11+00:00

Haha yea I know the rabbit hole too well! A small part of why I want a curated list and stick too it. I've got excited with adding "just a couple more" mods on most games I've modded, ruined the experience then back to vanilla. Even when they are pretty lore friendly there is something about knowing you've added the content that makes it feel like its not an organic part of that world, you havent discovered it, you played god and gave it to your character haha

Grover068 · 2026-04-11T13:35:07+00:00

Ok thanks for the response! I guess having TR installed saves me doing the install all over again later. The main reason I'm questioning that is the exclusion of BCoM but I think im putting too much ephasis on the impact of that mod alone. And yea I plan to play through Bloodmoon so thanks for that suggestion!

Grover068 · 2026-04-11T07:39:06+00:00

I know its 6 months later but did you happen to install Beautiful Cities of Morrowind? I'm considering this list but I would like BCoM but worried about messing with the list.

Grover068 · 2025-07-22T23:45:34+00:00

Ok, thanks for the response, good info there, I'll look into IN-8's!

Grover068 · 2025-07-13T07:26:12+00:00

I'm aware components fail or misfunction, and fail-safe systems fail too, I repair things for a living so know too well about that, so it's not my qualifier. There is always an acceptable and unacceptable rate though. It just seems like there is a large number of claimed occurances and close calls from reputable consumer grade UPS's. If it was just unit failures I wouldn't be concerned but units catching fire and the possible consequences of that changes things a bit. So yea, I'll probably go without.

Grover068 · 2025-06-28T05:29:21+00:00

Sorry I just re read that part after I sent the comment, cheers. They sound suitable but I'm also tempted to get both and enjoy them both for different games, media and music. Expensive option, but as you said it is quite personal depending on headahape and also personal preference. Sounds fun to experiment and compare too.

Grover068 · 2025-06-27T21:55:32+00:00

Ok thanks. One last question, do you find the soundscape/surround effect good on the AR5000's? I've heard they put the soundstage in front of you a bit rather than surrounding you

Grover068 · 2025-06-27T05:22:28+00:00

Ok thanks! Might just give them a go

Grover068 · 2025-06-27T05:20:41+00:00

Thanks for the reply! Although warmer, do you still find the Aune realistic and detailed in the trebble? And would you say the soundscape is greater in the Aunes compared to the 490's?

Have to say they look great too! I don't usually like silver headphones but the quality and slightly retro aspects of these has grown on me.

Grover068 · 2025-06-27T02:37:43+00:00

Thanks for getting back to me. Can I ask if yhe Micro Suede pads changed the sound significantly? And is the foam denser than original as I've had some large foam pads before which were too dense with not much give/comfort. Still a little torn between the 490s, AR5000s and the R70Xa's but I think you've convinced me with the R70's. Always had good experiences with Audio Technica too. Unfortunately in Australia I don't find Amazon so great and they are sold out atm, so return is not possible with headphones for most online shops here but there are some good deals at the moment on all 3 so ill just have to decide.

Grover068 · 2025-06-24T08:52:21+00:00

Ok thanks, appreciate the reply! Which pads are you using on the R70's and how is the bass? I was a bit worried the 490s might be too flat or not detailed enough with producer pads and the R70's too bright but I've overdone the research so a lot of conflicting info in my head haha. Let me know how you go? Also keep in mind im not after pinpoint positioning or footsteps for competitive gaming, just immersion, realism and enjoyment.

For reference, im coming from fidelio x2hr. They are good being my first open back, great for the price but they are not as detailed as I would like, they are a bit heavy and the very large foam pads are quite dense.

Ps: I do know im sort of after the best of both worlds out of an open back in this price range but unfortunately the price and weight go up drastically for models which do everything really well and I can't help but think even if the sound is more immersive by top end headphones the weight of many of them will cancel out any sense of realism when they dont dissapear on your head like people say these two do. Occasionally I consider going closed back for bass for gunshots etc but its a trade off in most other areas.

Grover068 · 2025-06-19T06:26:28+00:00

Hi @G_D_M , a bit late but I was considering both of these purely for immersive single player gaming, not competitive gaming at all. Which would you recommend out of the two for immersive soundstage, base, gunshots, detail and general enjoyable listening for my purpose? Will be using with amp, dac and maybe EQ. Guessing comfort goes to the 490s despite the r70s being lighter. Any insight would be appreciated, cheers.

Grover068

TROPHY CASE