So with Morrowind on sale for the same price on both GOG and Steam, I am wondering: wouldn't mods just be easier to manage using the Steam version via the Workshop? Much as I prefer to give my $7 to GOG, I also like keeping things simple. I've a long-time Nexus mod user too, though, so it's not as if I don't know how to manage mods. I'm just wondering if there might be a more active modding community on Steam and/or if certain fan favorite mods work best that way.


I bought Morrowind when it came out but never finished the game. Still have the discs but figure this way is easier.

If you don't mind an extra 30 seconds to *5 minutes +* startup time for your game every time you want to play, then yes, go with Steam and the mod workshop. That's what happens (last time I tried the Steam Mod shop) with the Steam Mod workshop--it first checks all of your mods to see if any have updates--that could take as much as 30 seconds providing there are no updates--but if it finds a mod has been updated then it automatically downloads the newer version and installs it--all the while giving you no feedback at all as to what is going on. And if you don't want to install the newer versions that's just too bad--you get it anyway.

Also, you'd better check which Mods the workshop has available for the game--somehow, I can't see something like MGSO being amenable to the Steam workshop's automatic, no feedback install.

I have the original games on disk but went ahead and purchased the GOG version because of the much-improved convenience--as the GOG executable installs much faster than the CD's. Also, the GOG version is fully updated and ready to go for the MGSO mod--a must-have for the game, imo.

I'll close by saying my last experience with the Steam workshop turned me off so much because of the above reasons that I uninstalled all of my Steam workshop mods and never looked back--Nexus/Moddb are far, far better, imo. To be fair, though, maybe Steam has changed the way it handles mods--I don't know because I've never been back. If you have a game with a lot of workshop mods the Steam version can be a nightmare just to get started every session!

I don't find the Steam mod workshop to be any "simpler" by any measure! But the caveat is that I have no idea if they've changed to sorry way it used to work.

What? .. Morrowind on Steam does not have Workshop mods ... So either version will not matter.

Hello. The steam version don't have the Construction Set and the BSAs need to be redated to allow the older mods to work. Bellow a fix if you buy the Steam Version.
http://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/42196/?

Here a guide for beginners.
http://wiki.theassimilationlab.com/mmw/Beginners_Guide#Using_a_Mod_Manager

Here the guide for the best Mod Manager to Morrowind. (It can save you hours after you learn how to)
http://wiki.theassimilationlab.com/mmw/Wrye_Mash

Here a good start to implement the best mods to upgrade the visuals of Morrowind
http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1541166-morrowind-overhaul-sounds-graphics-30-thread-7/

Here this channel shows the old and new mods made for Morrowind.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTiULQ_bcPRu_jMTZ86WO7A

Here the download site for every old mod made in the last years.
http://mw.modhistory.com/

The new ones
http://download.fliggerty.com/home
http://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/?

If I have the Steam version of Morrowind set up the way I want it (long before the GOG version was released), with a variety of mods I frankly don't remember choosing or installing, can I slot in the GOG binaries to free it from Steam or will I need to do a whole new setup?

I guess you could do that (depending on how deeply you modded your MW)

If all your mods were of the ESM-ESP and/or assets (meshes, sounds textures etc) variety it shouldn't be to much an issue but if you used MGSO or any third-party "patch" that alters the executable, IHMO you best bet is to add another MW install "patch it as well then copy relevant data to the new one.

I modded Morrowind on Steam and I had to keep turning off the overlay every time I wanted to run it and back on again once I was finished and it turned out to be enough of an annoyance that I ended up getting the GOG version.

Come to think of it I'm pretty sure the mods I put in altered the executable or replaced a dll or something like that. Not worth buying another copy of the game to find out, especially since I remember being choosy about the changes I wanted to make and researching this stuff sometimes involves spoilers. There's a checkbox for this now under game properties.

So is the Wrye Mash mod manager easy to use for people that are new to Morrowind?

Or is there a better mod manager to use?

It can look intimidating as it is a feature-rich launcher, but as a heavy mod-user (161 ESM-ESPs active ATM) I only really use the "mods" & "Saves" tabs.

So far it is the best one I know of, & I'm the type to try to find different launchers & utilities.

So with the Wrye Mash, which are the "best" mods to use that don't change the gameplay too much? Graphical mods are good, but are any other patches needed?

Thanks everyone for their input, I'm definitely getting the GOG version now, and also for the tips for mod management.

Not to take this off topic, but I guess there is not much chance that Skywind will ever be playable at this point? I heard they ran into some IP issues with Bethesda but I don't really keep up on this stuff.

@cestrad75 Do you know OpenMW? It will be a total replacer for Morrowind engine that run in Windows, Linux and Mac.
Anyone already can complete the vanilla main quests. After the 1.0 the objective is expand the mod capacities and have the most up to date graphical qualities.
http://forum.openmw.org/
Test the nightlies http://forum.openmw.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1808

Keep a look at.

Well, great, I missed the sale. I was sure they were keeping it going a day or two after the new year but apparently I was confused, only the Steam version is still on sale.

Well that stinks. How long do you think it will be before GOG puts it on sale again? I really can't believe I logged in this morning to see it back up to normal price, Happy New Year indeed.

It'll probably be a few months at least, perhaps during a spring or summer sale. No shame in getting it on Steam, but if you have other games to tie you over and can support GOG later on when Morrowind is on sale, that'd be cool.