Played this years ago, so I'm familiar with a lot of it, but my memory is so untrustworthy that some of these questions may be moot. Also, this is MODDED with the Morrowind Graphics and Sound Overhaul which included the Morrowind Code Patch, but IIRC the last time I played it I played with this mod so I don't think the mod is the issue in any of the questions but am posting it here just in case it might be.

ADDED: Oh my gosh I forgot to ask the most important question (since fixing bugs is the thing I care the most about) The MGSO included the Morrowind Code Patch (but not sure if it's the latest version or not) and then there is [url=http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Tes3Mod:Morrowind_Patch_Project]this one, the Unofficial Morrowind Patch.[/url]. Which one is better, or do you install both or will installing both cause problems?

1) Was there a way to save "equipment configurations"? In other words, if you're equipped with light armor and a short sword sometimes and other times prefer no armor and a bow, is there a "quick" fix or key to save each and quickly change rather than going through the menu and changing one item at a time? My memory says yes, but I might be confusing games.

2) No one in Seyda Nean is giving me the "missing tax collector" info in "latest rumors." I'm pretty sure I remember a thing where the tax collector was missing, you found his body outside of town, and got an award from the guy that gave you your release papers. And when wondering the countryside I can't see the body anywhere. Guessing it won't be there until someone gives you the "quest"????

3) Alchemy. I am failing at every attempt to make a potion. But, my alchemy skill is almost nothing so that makes sense. But I wanted to ask just to be sure.... do you have to have an empty bottle or flask in your inventory to make potions and if you don't will this result in automatic failure?

4) Very interested in hearing others opinions on playing the game with vanilla graphics and just using the Code Patch to fix bugs. My system runs Fallout 4 on all max settings with no problems yet skips and stutters with Morrowind sometimes. It's happening enough to be frustrating so am considering uninstalling and playing vanilla.. How bad is it? Been a very long time (over 10 years I'd guess) since I played with vanilla graphics).

5) Can I disable any of the expansions while still using the MGSO? I rested and upon awakening was killed in one hit by one of those assassins that strike as a result of one of the expansions (Bloodmoon I think but can't remember so I could just disable both bloodmoon and tribunal until I reach a level where I have a damn chance against them). But the mod was absolutely clear about Bloodmoon and Tribunal being required for it to work. So I'm not sure if that was just to get it installed or if disabling would in fact "break" the game.

6) Is there a cap level in Morrowind? I thought no but I saw something the other day (can't remember where now) that made me wonder so thought I'd ask. I sure hope not. I hate cap levels in any game.

7)Is using an Amorer's hammer the only way to see the deterioration of your weapons/armor? Since I don't have one yet, I can't do that and Can't figure out how to tell how "used" up my weapons/armor is right now. I could've sworn there was a way to tell without that but again, my memory is not to be counted on.

8) sorry for the length so I'll stop here but hope it's okay to ask more later.

Thanks for any help.

The code patch and the unofficial patch are completely different. The code patch makes engine changes and is absolutely required IMHO (and yes, get the latest version). The unofficial patch fixes content; they do different things. If you have a grass mod active the body is probably hidden in the grass, you don't need to have the quest for it to be there.

For potions, you just need a mortar and pestle plus ingredients, no bottle required.

Once all your skills are 100, normal leveling stops.

There is a mod to stop early attacks (from Tribunal BTW) but you should be able to beat the assassin if you have your character built properly.

If you want to use the unofficial Morrowind Patch, use both.

1) I only know that from SkyUI for Skyrim, you can hotkey one item at a time, though.

2) That probably has to do with the Bloodmoon expansion. There are mods that fix it. - more info in my stickied post.

3) you don't need any bottles.

4) IMO, the vanilla graphics can still look great, even stunning, if you play at a modern resolution with an increased view distance. The FPS Optimizer's maximum viewing distance is the sweet spot if you don't want to lose too much performance, IMO. You can also use MGE XE to achieve those things.

5) I wouldn't count on it. Use a mod to delay the attacks. There's more info in my stickied post.

6) Yes, I think there is because the way levelling works you can't level forever. There is not a strict cap for skills (magic effects), though, and I think the code patch includes a patch for the skill cap, too.

7) No, you always see it when you hover over the item with the cursor.

Edit: partially ninja'd.

Oh wow, THANK YOU. I read your stickied post and it was very good and informative.

One of the mods/patches you reference is difficult for me to understand so I was hoping maybe you might know (even though I do understand you had nothing to do with the mod itself, just thought maybe you would know)

But i would very much like to play with the "official" minor plugs ins (not talking about Bloodmoon and Tribunal). I have no idea what "dirty" and "clean" means, but I guess it's better to use the "clean" versions.

However, it is extremely confusing as to how to "install" them. On the website it simply said unzip the file into your Morrowind/Data Files/ directory. However, just looking at that result..... I don't think that's right. Do you know?

Oh, and I did uninstall the game and am going to just play with vanilla graphics, although to be honest I did like the magic items glowing. That was cool. But I can live without that. And I tried the MGSO using the choices with the "least" hit to performance, and still it "sticks" in places. Very frustrating. Would rather just play vanilla, unless I find that too "sticks" in places in which I'll go ahead and go full bore with the graphics update since that wasn't the cause. Must say though I did NOT like the new sounds. Maybe it's my machine, but some of them just sounded.... weird.

Actually, it *is* possible to level up forever. In fact, I am aware of two methods (this is assuming no code patch options used):

1. Once a skill is maxed out, lower it temporarily (for example, with a Drain stat effect), then train while the stat has been lowered. Since your skill is less than 100, the game will let you do this. Your skill will not actually increase, but it will count toward level advancement.

2. If you get thrown in jail, some of your skills may decrease; this doesn't count against level advancement, and you can raise the skill back to its former value and the increase *will* count. Note that there are apparently some skills that will instead *increase* when thrown into jail (notably thief related ones), so be aware of that.

Note that I believe one of the MCP patches breaks #1.

(A third method is, of course, to use the cheat console; you could simulate Skyrim-style legendary skils by setting your skill back to 0 or 5 once it's maxed, for example.)

Dirty references cause problems and you should avoid using mods that have dirty references (there are rare cases were they have a function, though). For example your skill and attribute names might contain strange symbols when you've got such a mod installed and you'd risk screwing up your save file. Since Bethesda released their add-ons (not the expansions) with dirty references (i.e. "uncleaned") more experienced modders than me recommend using the unofficially cleaned ones that others have uploaded instead.
You install them by moving the contents of your zip file into your Data folder and then adding them to your load order - for example by checking them in the Morrowind Launcher.

Out of curiosity, do you have a (link to a) technical explanation of dirty references and why they are useful in rare cases?

This link seems pretty good to me: https://moddinginmorrowind.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/modding-tutorials-cleaning-mods/ I don't know why they are useful but there is at least one mod for Skyrim whose function depends on dirty references. I can't remember which mod it was and if there was more than one mod. This probably goes beyond basic modding.

But this is the part that was confusing to me. If you "simply" put the extracted files into the Data Files Folder, they do not work. I finally figured it out. You have to manually copy and paste for each one you wish to use.

And as far as checking them in the Morrowind Launcher, the other thing that was and still is unclear to me is whether or not to uncheck the original plug ins. (I.E. the Bethesda "dirty ones")

it doesn't make sense to have both checked so I unchecked the original ones and checked the modded ones. I hope that's right. But once again, the language on the website is very unclear. It says something like all you have to do is unzip the rar file into your Morrowind/Data Files/ folder. I tried this and it does NOT work. You're left with sub-directories for each plug in, and because they're located in sub-directories, they're not showing up in the launcher to check. It wasn't until I copy and pasted them all that it "worked" if in fact it is working.

I wish the author of the mod had either automated it or provided better instructions because the provided ones don't fit. Maybe the mod's been changed and the directions haven't or something.

FINALLY!

LOL, for the past two or three DAYS I've been tweaking, installing, re-installing, un-installing, cussing, mumbling, groaning with this game. I wanted it to look nice but I also wanted it to run nice and I wanted the bugs fixed and I wanted some other optional stuff and every time I thought I had it, something else would occur.

Like the "sticking" I was talking about. LOL, this happens even with just plain vanilla Morrowind running. I'm guessing it's just because it's such an old game running on such a new system with such a new OS (Windows 10).

Anyway, after over two days of frustration, I am finally PLAYING the damned game.

And loving it. As i knew I would. This is such a great game. I like Skyrim a lot, don't get me wrong (nearly 1000 hours into it so obviously I liked it) but I still think this may be my favorite of the series. And with the mods that fix the bugs and make it look nice.... well, it's just even better. Such a good game.

All those hours I played Skyrim over the past couple of years I would hear the Morrowind music and nostalgia would heat me like a brick and I feel wanting so bad to fire it up. I didn't, until this week. And boy am I glad I did.

I'm in heaven again. For the next few weeks I'll be lost in that magical, mystical world and can forget all about this world, which is the point of playing games. At least for me.

Thanks for all the replies and all the help. I think I've got this thing down now. And oh yeah, I did find the dead tax collector. He was just a little bit more out of the way than I remembered is all.

My only problem now is the first time I rest. I didn't do the mod to delay Tribunal, not because I didn't want it but basically because I forgot and I struggled getting things the way I want them so badly now I'm scared to make any more changes. If I die in one hit again and have no hope of surviving, I'll go ahead and add that mod and start over.

And to the poster above who said something about the assassin not being too hard to survive "if you built your character properly" I'd just like to point out that one person's "properly" might be another person's "all wrong." I like the way I've started my character and wouldn't want to start it any other way. If that means this character can't survive the assassin that comes and attacks AT LEVEL ONE, then the flaw is in the game, not my character. It's just not a fair fight at level one and shouldn't have occurred probably until about level 10 or so.

Anywho, back to that magic land!!!! And boy I'm thankful for the GoG version. Even though I had the Steam version, I really didn't want to play it through Steam and now I don't. And even though I still have the original game and box and manual and discs, I didn't want to have to figure out how to get it to run on this new system with Windows 10. Gog takes care of all of that.

THANK YOU GOG. Now for sure back to Morrowind I go!!!

"And to the poster above who said something about the assassin not being too hard to survive "if you built your character properly" I'd just like to point out that one person's "properly" might be another person's "all wrong." I like the way I've started my character and wouldn't want to start it any other way. If that means this character can't survive the assassin that comes and attacks AT LEVEL ONE, then the flaw is in the game, not my character. It's just not a fair fight at level one and shouldn't have occurred probably until about level 10 or so. "

umm... that would be me. I probably could have put that better but the game does have balance problems and ignoring them can make for frustration. Here's one thing you can do: only rest in the excise office at the start; the assassin never seems to attack there, I think it may be purposely a safe area.

Ironically, a lot of players use the delay mod to make the game harder by limiting the early availability of good, valuable armor. Anyway, if you wait too long, you'll face a much stronger assassin and at high levels there may be two armed with paralyzing daggers - just a heads up.

Or, alternatively, don't rest at all. (This is easy if your character isn't a mage, uses Enchantment as a primary form of magic (since items recharge on their own with time), or has the Atronach birthsign (and can therefore absorb spells from enemies or summoned (and turned hostile) Ancestor Spirits).)

I actually dealt with the assassin by using an item that casts an attack spell (like Absorb Health) when used, and taking advantage of the lack of cooldown. (This assumes you aren't using the MCP option that adds a cooldown for item use. For comparison, spells require 1 second to cast and 1 second before you can cast another spell, for a total of 2 seconds per cast. I consider this MCP option to be a balance adjustment rather than a bug fix. Then again, when I applied MCP, I chose not to apply the blind fix (the one that makes blindness lower accuracy instead if increasing it as it does by default).)

THANK YOU!!!

I did not know this. And sure enough, I rested there twice and no attack.

I know one could just not rest, but that's an awful expensive way to "live" LOL. I rest in order to restore health and magicka, especially magicka, because one never (or at least I've never) finds restore magicka potions until they have at least left Seyda Neen. (IIRC Balmora has merchants that offer restore magicka potions).

But I'm one to explore anything and everything, so I'm usually at Seyda Neen a few days before moving on, and usually get in a number of fights, and usually lose a good deal of health points (purposefully, LOL, as ttaking hits improves your armor or unarmored skill). I usually use potions, or Fargoth's ring, or the healing spell during the day, but at night, since I don't see so well anyway, I rest to fully recover both.

And in the one game I rested, the smuggler's cave near Seyda Neen, I was just level one, hadn't even improved any of the major/minor skills yet (meaning my progression toward level two was still at 0/10). And boom, an assassin woke me, and in just ONE HIT, before I could even think about what was going on, I was dead. And to top it off, I had unchecked the option to "Save before rest" LOL.

Anyhow, THANKS AGAIN. This does in fact work (or at least it has so far). It's nice to have a "save zone" to rest until you feel like you're ready for one of those assassins.

I hate to see you struggling. What's your build like? Maybe I can suggest a strategy that wouldn't go against your RP.
One thing to consider is that if you rest in the lower level of the Balmora Mages Guild where the bunk beds are, the assassin will usually spawn on the upper level which will give you time to prepare a response.

Here's how it works with some characters I've played:

Restoring health can be done with items, like the ring that casts a healing spell or a custom enchantment. Alternatively, I can use magic to do so.

I happen to like the Atronach birthsign in Morrowind, and it comes with the downside of not being able to restore magicka on rest; hence, the major benefit of resting does not apply to my character. If I need to restore magicka and don't have a potion handy, the method I use is to go into the wilderness, summon an Ancestral Ghost (start with Conjuration as major to start with this spell, or purchase it somewhere, then maybe put it on an item so you can use it when out of magicka), turn it hostile on purpose, and have it use its weak but expensive (and hence worth absorbing) spells on me.

Balmora has an alchemist who restocks the highest tier of Restore Magicka potions, which is certainly helpful when using the Atronach birthsign.

By the way, I enjoy playing the Sorcerer class in Arena (though that class has a little difficulty at the start). Spell Absorption as a class trait in Daggerfall seems to be broken (it's easy to absorb your own AOE spells, but almost impossible to absorb the spells of enemies), and while I haven't played Oblivion, it looks like the downside is much bigger in that game (magicka normally regenerates over time without rest, but not with that birthsign).