Disclaimer:

Mods constantly update. You can see the mod versions I have installed for each mod. Newer versions should work in 99% of the cases, unless it's specifically noted (example: Glow in the Dahrk) - but don't expect any support if diverging mod versions cause issues.

Other than the usual Bethesda game, or even Vanilla Morrowind, OpenMW is very forgiving and doesn't implode if you change the load order mid-playthrough. But I still recommend to read every mod description and look at this (or any) modlist as a recommendation. If you know what each mod does, you will be able to resolve issues yourself.


--- Step 1 (install and setup OpenMW) ---

Install a fresh version of Morrowind

Install OpenMW (make sure it's version 0.48 or higher, which is a "development build" as of writing)

Copypaste the recommended tweaks (from the bottom of the page) into your settings.cfg
But I recommend:
actor shadows = false
player shadows = false
(it's a noticeable fps improvement and you will barely notice those missing shadows)

Apply and test further settings (see here)
I recommend:
FOV 65 (high values have a HUGE impact on performance, don't go higher than 70 if you want to have a chance of constant 60 fps)
Viewing Distance around 5 cells is more than enough, really
Water Shader ON (makes a huge difference in quality, but also eats some frames)

Activate gameplay fixes and improvements in the OpenMW launcher, depending on your preference.
(don't activate ""rebalanced soul gems"", because we use a better mod for that)


--- Step 2 (install mods) ---

Download the mods from the list
(found in the spoiler at the end of this section)

Unpack each mod in their own folder
(make sure to read all the instructions I've added to understand what to install, sometimes you only need very specific files from a mod and can delete the rest)

Add the mod numbers in front of each folder's name to simplify the install process
example:

• 001 - Distant Seafloor for OpenMW
• 002 - Morrowind Enhanced Textures
• ...
  

Some mods won't automatically get detected by OpenMW Launcher.
Simply add an empty "Textures" folder into folders of these mods to fix that:

• Attend Me
• HD Cinematics for OpenMW
• MOMW Camera
• OMWFX Shaders
• Smart Ammo for OpenMW-Lua
• Slothas Combat Pack (OpenMW Lua)
• Blank Intro Movies
• Weapon Sheathing - Staff and Spear Flip (OpenMW Only)
• Morrowind Definitive Menu Animation
  

Use OpenMW Launcher to install the mods in the listed order (for more info see here)
(the launcher might wrongly detect the folder "OMWFX Shaders/shaders" as mod, you can remove that specific entry)

Format:
#### Modname/Link: File to download (version)
--> Install instructions (if there are any)




--- Step 3 (finish load order & special instructions) ---

Double check that all mod folders are loaded in the correct order

Activate the plugins and check their load order again. Make sure that "distant_seafloor_2.00.esm" loads BEFORE "Bloodmoon.esm". Here is my personal load order, taken from openmw.cfg (formatting might be broken because NexusMods' text editor is garbage):


If you use Better Sounds, edit settings.cfg:
[Sound]
buffer cache max = 64

If you use Weapon Sheathing (or Staff and Spear Flip), edit settings.cfg:
[Game]
shield sheathing = true
weapon sheathing = true
use additional anim sources = true

If you use Distant Thunder, edit openmw.cfg:
Change these entries:
fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_0,Thunder0fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_1,Thunder1
fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_2,Thunder2
fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_3,Thunder3
To:
fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_0,Distant_Thunder_00fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_1,Distant_Thunder_01
fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_2,Distant_Thunder_02
fallback=Weather_Thunderstorm_Thunder_Sound_ID_3,Distant_Thunder_03

If you use Skies .IV, follow the instructions on the page

If you use True Nights and Darkness, follow the instructions on the page

If you use True Lights and Darkness - Necro Edit, follow the instructions on the page

If you use OMWFX Sharders, "Enable post processing" in OpenMW Launcher and enable these shaders ingame, in this order (f2 menu):
ssao_hq
underwater_interior_effects
underwater_effects
godrays
wetworld
hdr


--- Step 4 (merge plugins, DON'T SKIP THIS STEP) ---

Use "delta plugin" to create a merge (don't activate, yet)

Patch leveled lists with "OMWLLF"

Two new plugins have been created, probably in a folder like "OpenMW/Data/...", I recommend putting them into a new mod folder like all the other installed mods. Don't forget to activate the plugins in OpenMW Launcher and have them at the bottom of the load order!

Generate navmesh in the OpenMW Launcher (takes a few minutes but is super simple)


--- Step 5 (additions & more) ---

Trouble reading dialogue texts?
Add/change the settings.cfg:
[GUI]
font size = 20
ttf resolution = 960

I HIGHLY recommend using Reshade with these modules:

• DPX
• LumaSharpen
• SMAA + FXAA
• Vignette (optional)
  

There are dozens of guides on how to use Reshade. It's very simple to install and runs flawlessly once installed, you just need a brain. But it's optional.

Want grass? "Rebirth 6.21 Grass" is 99.9% compatible with Rebirth 6.3, maybe some minor clipping but it didn't bother me throughout my playthrough.
Edit the settings.cfg:
[Groundcover]
enabled = true
rendering distance = 12288.0
density = 0.75
min chunk size = 0.5

More vanilla-friendly music:

• Music Module from Rebirth
• 129 More Minutes of Music
• Sounds of Morrowind
  

(all compatible)

If you have trouble with fatigue management in combat, watch the videos from Slothas Combat Pack, and maybe lower "weighted fatigue" to something like 0.5 in the mod menu. You can also disable or reposition the sneak meter from SCP if your HUD version doesn't work well with it, using the mod menu.

I recommend a difficulty setting of 10 if you want a reasonable challenge. Rebirth's beginning is challenging, even with difficulty 0 or below.


Known bugs:

• Floating objects in front of "Under-The-Skar" in Ald'Ruhn. I haven't figured out which mod(s) causes it, yet.
• (won't fix) The position of the Sneak Icon is wrong during the tutorial. Just finish the tutorial and everything is fine.