Recommend cosmetic mods?

[Hermann the Lombard]

Hi.

This isn't a mod maker's question, it's a mod user's question. What visual mods do you most enjoy using? I rummaged around the Creation forum and the Files forum a bit, but I don't really know what's good and what isn't so good (and of course, YMMV). I see some cool stuff in the screenshots in AU (but this isn't an AU question either).

As installed on my laptop, the game is "vanilla" 1.22. At home I have some graphics mods installed, and I'm not even sure which ones! I think some are from Pounder's list (railroads and irrigation, in particular).

I also noticed that the Trips Graphics pack is no longer available via the thread in "Creation" or via the link from "Files" (which goes to the same thread, come to think of it).

[alva]

Snoopy's for one, the other great one is Warpstorm's.

[Kloreep]

Snoopy's is good.

Warpstorm's is good too, but it feels more like a map than actual terrain, and personally I prefer the latter. Depends on what sort of feel you're going for.

[Switch]

Well, I use a lot of graphic mods, but I can't remember where most of them came from. I really like Rhye's terrain set, available at CFC (Civilization Fanatics Forum, the 'other' Civilization site, at www.civfanatics.com), both with or without his mod...I find that it gives more of a satallite view than the others, which is really what he intended. That's actually the only one I remember the maker of. Though it hasn't been updated in a long time, a decent resource for graphics mods is the graphics creation forum on CFC, as they have a lot of the older ones catalogued in sticky threads.
But don't forget about the resources here. If you're looking for something in particular, like borders or mines, then the search utility works wonders in finding stuff.

Now, if I could only find altered roads with buildings on intersections...and the borders that Trip used on his (currently) unavailable mod...

[asleepathewheel]

I use warpstorms mod very nice

[Dis]

another vote for snoopy's. The regular game looks ugly.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions!

Originally posted by Switch
But don't forget about the resources here. If you're looking for something in particular, like borders or mines, then the search utility works wonders in finding stuff.

Maybe I just don't know how to use it properly, but I *hate* the searches on Apolyton. I don't know how to limit a search to a single Forum, so if I search for (say) "graphics mods" I'll get stuff for C2 and CTP2 and GalCiv and even Morrowind. Well, I've enjoyed all of those games, but t'aint what I'm looking for now! I also get multiple hits from the same thread, and so forth.

[Kloreep]

Originally posted by Hermann the Lombard
I don't know how to limit a search to a single Forum, so if I search for (say) "graphics mods" I'll get stuff for C2 and CTP2 and GalCiv and even Morrowind.

Under Search Options there should be a drop-down box where you can select a forum.

Originally posted by Hermann the Lombard
I also get multiple hits from the same thread, and so forth.

Underneath that dropbox, it might help to change "Show Results as posts" to "show results as threads". I think you still get multiple hits though.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Thanks, Kloreep, I'll try that next time.

After looking at the screenshots I downloaded Snoopy's; I just didn't like the "watercolor painting" effect of Warpstorm's. Installed as per Snoopy's instructions, then (after backing up the stock versions) I copied them into the Conquests Art directories. It looks good and has an interesting feel, though it's hard to spot certain things amid the artwork. I may experiment with plugging in some specific items that I like from other sources (like Pounder, for example...speaking of which, is he--or she--anathema for some reason? I don't see anyone discussing those mods).

BTW, I went with the standard/blue water version rather than either the greener land or the greener water. I might switch to greener water, though.

[Mace]

Originally posted by Switch
I really like Rhye's terrain set, available at CFC

Doesn't Rhye's mod use Snoopy's terrain set?
If I remember correctly, it does, perhaps with a few minor modifications.

[Switch]

Originally posted by Mace


Doesn't Rhye's mod use Snoopy's terrain set?
If I remember correctly, it does, perhaps with a few minor modifications.

He has a terrain mod, which is also used in his mod, which is based on Snoopy's. But there are several differences, all of which I prefer, though Snoopy's is an extraordinary set itself.

I mainly discovered Rhye's terrain mod while playing his all-out mod, and I found I liked the terrain but found the mod itself a bit too alternate from the original game, so that's when I found out he has the terrain mod released separately.

[Aqualung71]

Warpstorm's watercolours just look so cool and life-like. I've had them installed as my standard set for as long as I can remember.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Aqua: YMMV, of course; this stuff is as subjective as it gets. We're talking "art appreciation" and Snoopy vs Warpstorm is like "The Hudson River School" vs "The Impressionists." Personally, I think Snoopy's stuff looks more realistic, and Warpstorm's looks more like a map. I suspect it may be easier to see things on Warpstorm's because there is less clutter.

I've just added many of Niessuh's mods to Snoopy's terrain, many of which look cool (like the forts and barricades) and many of which make it easier to see things (especially mines). One I didn't like features multiple small mines per tile...looks like acne.