[WIP] Last Updated Oct. 18, 2009
Broken links reviewed June 4, 2019
There are a good variety of sign replacer mods that have been made for Morrowind. This comparison guide uses standardized screenshots to show how they appear in-game.
Mods that replace the same visual are, obviously, incompatible. Thus, you can only pick one roadsign replacer. However, for replacer mods in the second category, Location-Specific Sign and Banner Replacers and Additions, most are compatible with others, though there will be minor conflicts in which one overrides the other. However, read the descriptions and readmes carefully for caveats, as there are a couple of pitfalls to watch for.
Note that all sections except the Roadsign Replacers section are still under construction.
The default directional signposts in Morrowind use a single generic texture stamped onto every sign. To actually know what a sign says, you have to go up to it and mouse over it.
In this category are a number of mods that upgrade roadsigns to be more useful. Most visually upgrade all roadsigns in the game with individualized custom textures, making them readable from afar. A couple offer simpler alternatives.
At the end of this section are comparison shots showing how each mod's signposts appear up close as well as from a little distance.
Signpost Replacer [Tommy Khajiit]: Tommy Khajiit's replacer is a straight texture replacer in the more strict sense; it does not change each sign to visually show its text, but rather replaces the default generic signpost texture with a slightly different, higher-quality generic signpost texture. If, for some reason, you do not wish to have visually textual signs, but do want a higher-quality signpost texture, this one fits the bill. [Jan. 2007.]
Real Signposts v1.1 [ElBundee]: The original modification to the signposts found
in Morrowind, ElBundee's Real Signposts offers branding-iron black text in Roman-style lettering on weathered-looking wood, all in a
uniform font. [Jun. 2002.]
Weathered Signs v1.1 [Voltayre]: A development of ElBundee's mod, Voltayre's replacer adds weathering effects and features painted-style lettering in varying colors. [Jun. 2002.]
Textured Signs v1.2 [Franzhauer]: A further development of ElBundee's and Voltayre's signpost replacers, Franzauer's Textured Signs takes the idea further by customizing the textures with distinctive fonts and more distinctive weathering patterns for different destination locations. The effect presented is one of a sign with carved or pressed-in lettering, painted and faded from weathering. It is one of two variants Franzhauer released, the other being Textured Signs Neutral, below. Both use the same style, but the Neutral version uses black iron-branded style lettering instead of colored lettering. [Jul. 2002.]
Textured Signs Neutral [Franzhauer]: The second variant of Franzhauer's Textured Signs, the Neutral version is features the same style as the first version, but does not use colored lettering, instead presenting the appearance of carved or pressed-in lettering, somewhat weathered. It is generally considered one of the most natural-looking of the signpost mods. [Jul. 2002.]
Daedric Signposts v2 [Nazz]: A departure from the Roman-lettered mods released about the same time, Nazz's mod uses, as its name suggests, Daedric lettering color-coded to different factions in control of the designated areas (red for Redoran, yellow for Hlaalu, brown for Telvanni, white for Temple and grey for Imperial). The lettering is fairly vibrant, outlined in black, and visible from afar. [Jul. 2002.]
Daedric Signposts v0.1 [Adamant_2001]: A signpost mod featuring simple black Daedric lettering in a style suggesting either iron-branded or black-painted lettering on weathered wood. It is not as visually-pronounced as some others. [Jun. 2005.]
Metallic Signs v1.0 [DeusXMachina]: A fairly radical alternative to the other signpost mods, DeusXMachina's Metallic Signs abandons the weathered wood look altogether and uses embossed metal signs, with different types of metal and textual styles for different destinations. It is perhaps the most visually distinctive of the signpost replacers, allowing easy recognition from afar. [Jul. 2002.]
Mixed Signposts v1.0 [Drako Thuban]: One of the later signpost replacers, Mixed Signposts features both large, white-with-black-outline painted Roman lettering atop smaller orange Daedric lettering in a calligraphic style fairly easy to read from afar. [Jan. 2004.]
Signy Signposts v1.0 [Earth Wyrm]: The first of two hi-res signpost replacers released in late 2009, featuring near-photorealistic lettering of an impressed or iron-branded style similar to that of its predecessors, but with higher detail and on darker wood textures approximating the look of slightly damp wood. It is noteworthy for its signs having a slight glow at nighttime, with five sets of variant meshes provided that offer more or less luminosity, or none at all.
See the screenshots for the Tamriel Rebuilt version, below in the Local and Specific Sign Replacers section, for an idea of how the default set appears under different lighting conditions. [Oct. 2009.]
Acrilix's Hi-res Signs v1.0 [Acrilix]: The second of the two hi-res signpost replacers released in late 2009, this replacer offers a pleasant stylized font, in faded white lettering, on wood textures that show both weathering and moss growth. [Oct. 2009. Originally released as Weathered Signs Hi-res Textures, a texture upgrade for Voltayre's Weathered Signs v1.1. Revised as a stand-alone mod and renamed.]
Roadsigns with Distance Markers v1.0 [TR_Blackbird]: A recent mod that does not change the visuals for signposts, but changes the mouse-over text to display the name of the destination as well as the distance to it (showing, for example, "Balmora 5"). Unfortunately, it conflicts with the other sign replacer mods and will restore the textures to Bethesda's default, although one might be able to do an objects merge. [Sep. 2009.]
Screenshot Comparisons: Closeup and More Distant |
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| Default Bethesda signposts. |
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| Tommy Khajiit's Signpost Replacer |
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| ElBundee's Real Signposts |
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| Voltayre's Weathered Signs |
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| Franzauer's Textured Signs |
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| Franzauer's Textured Signs Neutral |
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| Adamant_2001's Daedric Signposts |
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| Nazz's Daedric Signposts |
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| DeusXMachina's Metallic Signs |
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| Drako Thuban's Mixed Signposts |
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| Earth Wyrm's Signy Signposts |
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| Acrilix's Hi-res Signs v1.0 |
This section covers mods that replace the banners and signs on specific buildings or in specific locations. When run with a general sign-replacer, these should load later in your load order so that their specific sign changes take precedence.
Note that all but the first have overlapping coverage, and will therefore benignly conflict (the last-loading one controlling as to which sign will be shown).
Enhanced Signs Banners & Tapestries v1.2 [Misty Moon]: Replaces the original
signs, banners & tapestry with enhanced, and in some cases retextured, ones that are consistent with the original motif. [Jul. 2004.]
NF Signs Replacer v1.1 [Skyfire76]: Replaces the signs and banners for almost all trading and guild establishments with hanging wooden signs bearing more vibrant images, made by Nimrod. The mod does not change any of the signs replaced by Nigedo's Authentic Signs: Inns & Taverns; the author intending this mod to be complementary to it. [Jan. 2005. Note: If you load this mod into an ongoing game, be sure to use Wrye Mash to clean your savegame of all banner references using the "Beth Banner" remover beforehand, as the doubling that will result can cause CTDs and visual glitches in the signs.]
Faylynn's Vendor Signs and Banners Replacer [Faylynn]: Replaces the signs and banners for all trading establishments throughout the game. It incorporates the author's previous work in Faylynn's Signs, though it changes the signs for a couple and retains the originals as usable alternates. The three optional alternate signs (two for alchemist, one for inns and taverns) are shown at the bottom of the montage. [Dec. 2005. This mod supersedes the author's previous Faylynn's Signs, which contains only one banner, an image of a skeletal alchemist, that was omitted from her more recent mod.]
Painkiller's Tapestries v1.0 [Painkiller_Rider]: Replaces all 41 tapestries in the game (including expansions) with high-resolution textures based on art from Frank Frazetta, Gerald Brom, Clyde Caldwell, and Brian Froud (think Conan, Dark Sun, and the like—sword-and-sorcery/dark fantasy), along with a number of re-edited original textures (for the 9 Divines). All tapestries are done in the same faded-browns style as that of the Bethesda's original artwork. [Apr. 2008.]
The mods in this section either replace or enhance existing signs, banners, placards and the like, or add new ones. However, unlike those in the previous section, they are not general replacers or pervasive additions to the gameworld, but are focused on specific locales or more restricted categories.
Signy Signposts(!): Tamriel Rebuilt v1.1 [Earth Wyrm]: A hi-res signpost replacer for Tamriel Rebuilt that, like its counterpart for Vvardenfell listed above, features near-photorealistic impressed or iron-branded lettering on darker wood similar to that of its predecessors among the signpost replacers, but more finely detailed. Likewise, it is also noteworthy for its signs having a slight glow at nighttime, with five optional sets of variant meshes provided that offer more or less luminosity, or none at all.
The screenshots below give a good idea of how the default set of meshes appears under different lighting conditions. Only Screenshot 2, taken at dusk, was adjusted for brightness; the rest were left unchanged. [Oct. 2009. Updated for TR maps 1 and 2.]
Vivec Signposts [Reznod]: Adds directional street signs to Vivec (which is otherwise confusing and easy to get lost in). [Sep. 2004.]
Vivec Canton Signs v1.1 [Tarnsman]:
(In-game screenshots needed.)
Refined Vivec Canton Signs v1.1 [Linora]: [Feb. 2009.]
Refined Signs [Linora]: [Feb. 2009.]
(In-game screenshots needed.)
Refined Banners v2.0 [Linora]: [Mar. 2009.]
(In-game screenshots needed.)
Mournhold Signposts v0.1 [Adamant_2001]:
(In-game screenshots needed.)
Swiveller's Structures: Imperial v3.0 [Mr. Swiveller]: A high-res texture replacer for Imperial architecture that re-envisions Imperial forts and castles in a style similar to fifteenth- and sixteenth-century brickwork castles, using original textures converted from photography taken by the author of castles and churches in the Netherlands and in the UK.
The mod is listed here because it replaces of the five Bethesda tapestries commonly used in Imperial buildings with ones based on tapestries from fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Flanders and a late-medieval picture of the "Wheel of Fortune." [Apr. 2009.]
Unique Banners and Signs v1.11 [Bart Notelaers]: A mod that replaces the signs and banners of twenty-one specific establishments across Vvardenfell with unique designs, each made specifically to be thematically-appropriate to its establishment. Uses a hand-drawn style consistent with that used in the Bethesda signs and banners. [May 2004.]
Authentic Signs: Inns & Taverns [Nigedo]: Changes the signs for the six Imperial taverns of Vvardenfell to unique designs featuring high-quality artwork reflective of the character and locale of the establishments they represent. [Jul. 2004. This mod should be placed earlier in the load order than other mods affecting signs for it to work properly.]
Shops and Great Houses Banner Re-Textures v1.0 [Korana]: Replaces several of House banners, and those of several kinds of shops, with custom-painted banners. [Jan. 2006. This mod should be placed earlier in the load order than other mods affecting signs for it to work properly.]
(In-game screenshots needed.)
May or may not do this section — I do not want to get mired in a big list project of resource mods...
However, if you care to offer no-strings-attached screenshots for me to use (1024x768), I will be quite appreciative (and attribute you, of course).
Faylynn's Paintings v1.1 [Faylynn]: A mod that adds 180 paintings with decorative frames to the game, purchasable from Verick Gemain, trader in Caldera. The paintings can be placed anywhere as decoration. They feature a broad range of subjet matter, from traditional art and still-lifes to genre-fantasy hot chick pin-up art. The pack includes a number of images of a popular fantasy film, and also features clever in-game screenshots artistically rendered into paintings. [May 2007.]
Faylynn's Paintings Vol. II [Faylynn]: A standalone companion mod to Faylynn's Paintings that adds 120 paintings that can be purchased from Raviir, trader in Balmora. Like its predecessor, the paintings in Vol. II come with a variety of decorative frames, some also used in the first volume, and some new. The paintings primarily feature traditional paintings paintings and still-lifes, but range broadly in other areas, from wildlife and nature scenes to genre-fantasy and pirate art. [May 2007.]
Faylynn's Braided & Fancy Rugs [Faylynn]: Adds 48 rugs (21 oval braided, 22 long braided and 6 small mats) to the game, purchasable from Heifnir, trader in Dagon Fel. [Jun. 2007.]
Nimrod's Shopsigns [Nimrod_Flamehair]:
RTS Asian Pack - Banners 1 [redwoodtreesprite]: Modders' resource containing Japanese banner and flag models by Legato and Dongle.
To be expanded later.
Version 1.02 (Oct. 18, 2009)
Version 1.01 (Oct. 16, 2009)
Version 1.0 (Sep. 15, 2009)
As with all my guides, I took much inspiration and base information from the well-written and thorough lists and guides at Morrowind Mythic Mods. I'm pretty much building on their work to a great extent. Thanks to them for all their work, and again for hosting these guides.
Thanks to the members of the community at the ES Forums for encouragement, feedback and information given, and particularly Mr. Swiveller, Pluto and tetchy for pointing out mods I missed.
And, of course, thanks to the modders who gave us these much-improved alternatives to the old visuals.
I welcome feedback. Corrections, suggestions, mods I've missed, broken links, additional information that would be useful, better technical explanations, hey-that's-kinda-obtuse-writing and all other kinds of feedback help me to make these guides better, so don't hold back. I'm not touchy.
I can be contacted at the Bethesda ES Forums by the same name I use here, or by e-mail using the Contact Us links on these pages.
All screenshots and images on this page were taken by me unless otherwise indicated.
For licensing and permissions information, please see the Permissions section of my main guide. Short version: You are free to link, cite, expand on, incorporate, and use my work without permission, so long as you share alike on the same terms. The mods and incorporated artworks themselves, and any other linked materials and resources, are subject to the wishes of their respective creators or maintainers.