...and now..

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    ⍟ Discord   king_of_worms_cz
    ⍟ Discord server DREAM & DFU Modding




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/////////// Welcome back adventurer!
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What lies in front of you is a complete remake of my DREAM 2025 mod - this time, in a pixelated retro look!

    ⍟ This version has all the high end features of DREAM, but is presented in stylized pixelated visuals
    ⍟ All parts and graphical enhancements of DREAM are included, but presented in 90s pixelated look
    ⍟ HW requirements of DREAM 90s are considerably lower than those of the base DREAM
 

Just a fast recapitulation
There are 13 main mod packages - activate those you like & disable those you dont, as always...

    ⍟ Textures    - pixelated with normal, roughness, height & emission maps, reflections etc.
    ⍟ Paperdoll   - pixelated, indexed colors
    ⍟ Dynamic Backgrounds - pixelated, indexed
    ⍟ Sprites       - pixelated, indexed colors     
    ⍟ Handheld   - pixelated

    ⍟ NPCs         - pixelated, indexed colors
    ⍟ MOBs        - pixelated, indexed colors
    ⍟ Commoners  - pixelated, index colors
    ⍟ Portraits    - pixelated, indexed colors

    ⍟ HUD & MENU - pixelated, index colors
    ⍟ Music            - same as in DREAM
    ⍟ Sound           - same as in DREAM
    ⍟ Cinematic            - same as in DREAM

Additionally included:
    ⍟ Spell icon pack     - pixelated, index colors
    ⍟ ReShade presets  - separate DREAM 90s presets
    ⍟ Mod Presets         - same as in DREAM - I made all mods presets compatible so u dont have to use separate presets
    ⍟ Documentation     - some changes for 90s
    ⍟ Bonus posters

Mods support:
    ⍟ DREAM - Mod Compatibility Patch - Separate download to make other mods visually compatible with DREAM 90s
                                                                - See the list in "Built-in native compatibility" in "Recommended mods"


DREAM 90s is complete package - you dont need 2025 DREAM
Its important to set the following settings in game!! Rest of the settings are similar to DREAM
Also, scroll further down to the updated Recommended mods section




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/////////// Recommended In-Game settings
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This & more info is in  "DREAM 90s - Installation & Setup Guide.PDF" with images
Settings in THIS color are changes u need to do for 2025 version. Or very important ones.


GAMEPLAY
    ⍟ Start in dungeon    - ON
    ⍟ Smaller dungeons - OFF              - its up to you, my preference is OFF
    ⍟ Dungeon textures  - CLIMATE   - not "ClimateOnly"
    ⍟ Camera Recoil Strength -  100%
    ⍟ Movement Acceleration -  OFF - Important or the Free Rein mod will not work properly
    ⍟ Bows - Draw and release - ON
    ⍟ Toggle Sneak -     ON
    ⍟ Alternate music - OFF
    ⍟ Sound volume -   100
    ⍟ Music volume -        8
    ⍟ Spell lightning    - ON
    ⍟ Spell shadows   - ON


INTERFACE
    ⍟ Tool Tips - ON > Delay = 0.3 > Color - Dark Yellow (or type in this code #B3A709FF)
    ⍟ Background color - Default
    ⍟ Crosshair - ON
    ⍟ Vital Indicators - OFF
    ⍟ Interaction Mode Icon - NONE or Colour - set to colour after u download HD icons from the recommended mods
    ⍟ Arrow Counter - ON
    ⍟ Countdown Quest journal clocks - ON
    ⍟ Inventory Info Panel - ON
    ⍟ Enhanced Items list - ON
    ⍟ Talk Window modern style - OFF
    ⍟ Buff Icons layout - SMALL
    ⍟ Helm and Shield -  ON
    ⍟ Geographic backgrounds -   OFF - for Dynamic Backgrounds to work properly
    ⍟ Dungeon wagon access   -   OFF  - my preference
    ⍟ Outline regional map locations - OFF


ENHANCEMENTS
    ⍟ Everything ON but -> "Alternate random enemy selection" & "Compress modded textures" <-  set both to OFF (why?)     
    ⍟ Equip bows in left hand only - OFF - set to OFF if you use Bows & switch between a bow & short range weapon using Hotkey Toolbar mod
    ⍟ Dung Ambient Light - 1.0   - these 3 settings for brightness depend on your monitor, adjust to your liking, this is just my setup
    ⍟ Night Ambient Light - 0.8
    ⍟ Player  Torch   Light - 1.0
    ⍟ Item Based player torch - ON! - ...and lit those torches in your inventory - this improves shadow-casting in the scene
    ⍟ Maximum loiter - 12 hours


VIDEO
    ⍟ Full screen - ON
    ⍟ Run in background - OFF
    ⍟ Quality   -   Beautiful        - will look better than "fantastic" quality when paired with High shadows as described bellow
    ⍟ All Filters -  POINT
    ⍟ Terrain distance - 2 or 4   - I prefer 2 for faster loads and streaming
    ⍟ FOV = 75                              - on 16:9 / 16:10 monitors
    ⍟ Shadows - High - for softer, more realistic shadows than Very High. Shadow cascades merge more naturally as well
    ⍟ Dungeon/Interior/Exterior light shadows - ON
    ⍟ Simplify interior lighting - OFF 


POSTPROCESSING EFFECTS SETTING - Press ESC ingame > click arrow in the top left corner > effect settings
    ⍟ Retro mode  -  ON/OFF  - set to your preference
    ⍟ Color boost  -  OFF      - it causes issues underwater
    ⍟ Anti Aliasing - OFF     - "OFF" if u use my Reshade OR "SMAA/High quality" If u dont

    ⍟ Ambient Occlusion - ON
           Method:     Scalable ambient  - do NOT use other subpar methods with DREAM
           Intensity:    0.5
           Radius:        0.8
           Quality:       Ultra

    ⍟ Bloom  -      OFF - If you use my 2025 ReShade
        Intensity:        1.2   -previously Ive used these numbers to get small amount of bloom, in case u want to use this bloom / u dont use ReShade
       Threshold:    0.9
       Diffusion:     4.4
       Fast mode:   OFF

    ⍟ Motion blur -  OFF  - if you have high refresh rate monitor or use Frame Generation. Enable on 60hz monitors with no FG
Shutter angle:    40  - settings for 60fps monitors
Sample count:    32  

    ⍟ Vignette - OFF      - it causes color banding artifacts in fog
    ⍟ Dither -     OFF     - does not work - working version injected thru ReShade
    ⍟ Depth Of Field  - OFF - DOFrequires disabling the tree shadows to work properly, thats bad    




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/////////// Recommended INI settings
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SETTINGS.INI TWEAKS FOR BEST GRAPHICS
1) Open the "settings.ini" at: "C:\Users\**your user name**\AppData\LocalLow\Daggerfall Workshop\Daggerfall Unity "
2) Change the following lines and save the file afterwards!

    ⍟ ExteriorShadowDistance =    150    - Max value which will stay saved in the INI - dont go above!
    ⍟ MobileNPCShadows =         True   - Adds shadows to commoners
    ⍟ GeneralBillboardShadows = True    - Adds shadows to various smaller sprites
    ⍟ NatureBillboardShadows =   True    - Adds back tree shadows
    ⍟ TerrainHeightmapPixelError =   1     - To ensure Distant Terrain Mod works as intended



NVIDIA CONTROL PANEL 
    ⍟ Force Anisotropy -  16x
    ⍟ Texture filtering   -  High quality preset
    ⍟ Texture filtering Negative LOD bias - CLAMP
    ⍟ Anisotropic/Trilinear Optimalization - OFF
    ⍟ Low latency mode - ON - my DFU preference



RESHADE - Windows only
    ⍟ Do as the PDF file in the "DREAM ReShade" folder states
        Once its set up, tick the "Performance Mode"= ON - faster compilation / better performance / same image quality

    ⍟ Two presets - A) DREAM 90s 2025 Recommended - full experience
                        - B) DREAM 90s 2025 Optimized         - removed some non-essential effects for better performance

    ⍟ ReShade results:
         Better anti-aliasing
         Slightly sharper textures & visuals
         Eye adaptation for brightness/darkness
         Improved looks of sun, horizon & very bright surfaces
         No color banding at the sky (working Dither effect)
         Color / Brightness / Contrast correction

    ⍟ AMD GPUs - Some cards have a bug with Bessel Bloom effect. If your visuals are bugged, disable it in ReShade.


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/////////// Mods - General Info
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    ⍟ Load order  Check "LOAD ORDER 2025.PDF" you downloaded with DREAM 2025 for more detailed info.
    Place DREAM at the bottom of a mod list! Only time you need to load another mod bellow DREAM is if you 
                                want to override certain parts of DREAM or if that mod has a dependency on DREAM - that happens rarely.
                               

    ⍟ Use "DREAM Presets" where applicable - included in DREAM package u downloaded, read installation notes there.
        Presets exist only for some mods as u can see bellow. Some mods (DREAM) have No preset as there aren't any settings.
        Presets with 2025❗ sign are important to update if u used 2024 version. Presets with 2025 not as much, but use them.


    ⍟ Continuous compatibility It can change as ppl change their mods or DFU gets updated. Ill try to keep it up to date and
                                                         add new mods only if they complement the DREAM vision and work 100% correctly.





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/////////// Checking for Mods incompatibility & possible issues
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Option 1  - checking the mods before you download them

Excoriated has created a script that helps with just that! Simply:

• Install TamperMonkey for the browser you use to navigate NexusMods ( Chrome - Edge - Firefox - Safari - Opera )
• Install the Daggerfall Unity - NexusMods Known Issues script
• Reload your browser
• You should now see warning signs at the top of mods in the List
  

Option 2  - checking for mods incompatibility in-game (seriously - install this!)

Download and enable this mod
    ⍟ Mod Issue Checker - Checks installed mods, QuestPacks etc against DFU Known Mod Issues List & provides in-game warnings
                                         - You can set issues to Ignore (enable this in mod setting) or disable the mod after u understand the reported issues.





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/////////// Recommended Mods  Download
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Install these mods to get a package which is confirmed to work & improves the game in a meaningful way
Mod names are links...


Cooperation with other modders
    ⍟ Daggerfall Expanded Textures (legacy + 1.0.0) No preset
    ⍟ Daggerfall Expanded Textures - DREAM                 No preset
    ⍟ Daggerfall Expanded Textures - DREAM 1.0.0   No preset

Load order:
DET - Legacy
DET - 1.0.0
DET - DREAM
DET - DREAM 1.0.0


    ⍟ Daggerfall Enemy Expansion        No preset
    ⍟ Daggerfall Enemy Expansion - DREAM       No preset
         I recommend this mostly to a players who know basic Daggerfall well. Not for a 1st gameplay IMO.
         You need both parts.

    ⍟ Readied Spellcasting Hands                         No preset
         Combined with DREAM, your hands will have aura based on the type of spell being held in them.




Built-in native compatibility
Download DREAM 90s - Mod Compatibility Patch to get the DREAM 90s visuals of the following mods:

   💜= Recently added mods

   💛DREAM 90s - MCP                       REQUIRED  - makes all the mods in this section DREAM 90s stylized
   💜RMB Resource pack                      Required - No preset - set "Crop density = 3" if you stutter in big cities
   💜Vanilla Combat event handler     Required - No preset  - utility for other mods to function
   💜World of Daggerfall                      No preset - enable all parts
   💜Weapon Widget                             DREAM 2025 Preset ❗
   💜Shield Widget                                DREAM 2025 Preset ❗
   💜Free Rein                                       DREAM 2025 Preset
   💜Handheld torches                          DREAM 2025 Preset ❗      - shortcut mapped to Mouse4, change if needed.
    ⍟ HUD Torch Indicator (?)              DREAM 2025 (4 presets) - unnecessary mod if you use handheld torches. Pick one. HUD torch is simple.
         Handheld torches are more realistic - cant hold torch alongside shield+weapon...

    ⍟ Darker Dungeons            DREAM 2025 Preset        - to be able to pick torches from the walls & light/douse lights
    ⍟ Vampiric Options    DREAM 2025 Preset        - place ABOVE Dream
    ⍟ Famous Faces                               No preset
    ⍟ Lively Cities                                  No preset
    ⍟ Finding my religion                      No preset

    ⍟ Roleplay and Realism                   DREAM 2025 Preset - use 2025 preset + Movement acceleration = OFF or Free Rein mod will bug out ❗
    ⍟ Roleplay and Realism - Items      DREAM 2025 Preset - important preset, adds new HD armors, weapons ❗
    ⍟ Aquatic sprites                               No preset
    ⍟ Paints & Dyes           No preset
    ⍟ BloodFall                                      DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ Bestiary + DREAM Patch (KoW)   DREAM 2025 Preset - get just Bestiary main file. DREAM patch is part of DREAM-MCP. Disable patch mod if you have it.
    ⍟ Bestiary/DEX Compatibility Patch   No preset - place bellow DEX / DEX-DREAM to get Daggerfall Enemy eXpansion mobs in Bestiary entries

    ⍟ Travel Options          I do not personally use this mod
    ⍟ Climates & Calories               I do not personally use this mod
    ⍟ Realistic Wagon         I do not personally use this mod
    ⍟ Skulduggery               I do not personally use this mod


General
   💜No More LED lights                      DREAM 2025 Preset
   💜HD Interaction Icons                   No preset - I use the "normal" variant download / "colour" preset in the game "interface" settings
   💜DaggerBlood                                No preset for now - place above/bellow Bloodfall, doesnt matter.
    ⍟ Improved Interior Lighting           DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ First Person Lighting                     DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ Better Ambience                              DREAM 2025 Preset - important preset - use it or suffer consequences ❗
    ⍟ Loading screen                              DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ DREAM - RMB Resource Pack     Disable/Delete this deprecated mod from the game/mods folder ❗


Terrain & Sky
   💜Simple 3D Trees (pixelated version)   No preset
    ⍟ Dynamic Skies                            Use it paired with DREAM - SKY preset mod below - use Dynamic Sky version 2.1.1 or later
   💛DREAM - SKY💛                          No preset
    ⍟ Distant Terrain                            DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ Wilderness Overhaul           No preset
    ⍟ Basic Roads                                 No preset
    ⍟ Real Grass 2                                   DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ Vibrant Wind                                 DREAM 2025 Preset - Vibrant Wind is located in the Optional files at the bottom of the page


Game World
   💜Parallax Dungeon Doors             No preset - place bellow DREAM, set Door scaling to 20
    ⍟ Taverns Redone                              No preset - download DREAM patch there as well - place patch bellow DREAM
    ⍟ Hand-painted Models (?)            I dont think this is suitable anymore, improved pixelated assets included in DREAM 90s fit better
                                                                 If you really want to use it, dont enable its Buildings part as it has multiple issues.
    ⍟ Windmills of Daggerfall               No preset
    ⍟ Detailed city walls                        No preset
    ⍟ Birds in Daggerfall                      DREAM 2025 Preset
    ⍟ Fixed dungeon exteriors             No preset
    ⍟ Unofficial block+model fixes    No preset - enable both parts of mod in-game - place above DREAM
    ⍟ Fixed desert architecture           No preset
    ⍟ Soldiers Luxury                              No preset
    ⍟ Beautiful Villages                          No preset
    ⍟ Beautiful Cities                             No preset - this mod is CPU heavy in big cities (wayrest etc) - FIX -> set "Crop Density = 3" or lower in
                                                                                  "RMB resource pack" mod settings


Audio Mods
    ⍟ Environmental Ambience           No preset - Immersive Alternative to DREAM - MUSIC. My 2025 preference



Guilds - Use only if they support your game style. Load above DREAM. Check if the Guild mod has optionalCompatibility Patch - CP
    ⍟ Archeologists Guild                     No preset
    ⍟ Bards & Balladeers Guild   (CP)  No preset
    ⍟ Red Lantern Guild        (3x CP) No preset
All guilds have built-in pixelated DREAM Guild signs & Dynamic paperdoll backgrounds



Other
    ⍟ Daggerfall Unity Quest pack 1  No preset
    ⍟ Convenient Clock                       DREAM Preset - use the preset or it will look like azz
    ⍟ Hotkey Toolbar                             Use this mod, if you enjoy having more mapped keyboard shortcuts. Dont map Torch there, use 
    "HUD Torch indicator" mod for a shortcut - currently mapped at Mouse Button 5, u can change
     it in the mod settings.



Incompatible mods are the same as in DREAM description.



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/////////// Performance optimization
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I do not use any mods which murder your PC but if you want better performance, the tweaks you could try in this order are:

    ⍟ Use 2025 Optimized ReShade preset - if you are GPU limited
    ⍟ Try some tweaks from >>> King of Worms DFU CPU Optimization guide <<< - if you are CPU limited
    ⍟ disable Distant Terrain   - for faster loads, faster terrain streaming
    ⍟ disable Simple 3d trees - or if u stutter in forests, try changing "ExteriorShadowDistance" back to 50 or what was the original value)
    ⍟ disable World of Daggerfall - that would be sad...
    ⍟ disable Beautiful Cities - its very CPU heavy in capital cities, esp Wayrest
    ⍟ place Lagless at the bottom of your load order - if you are not memory limited, this will improve your streaming ingame etc
                                                                                   - if you are memory limited, it can cause crashes - install it on a stable mod list & check




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/////////// Frame Generation
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More info and images in the "DREAM 90s Installation & Setup Guide 2025.PDF" u downloaded

    ⍟ I use LossLess scaling v 2.13 (early 2025 latest version) - buy it on Steam for 5usd or Khajiit it elsewhere.
    ⍟ It works absolutely perfect with its new LSFG 3.0 Frame Generation
    ⍟ On my 180hz monitor, I limit the framerate to 89fps and enable Frame Gen 2x and G-Sync Support
    ⍟ Alternatively, I set FG to Adaptive and set it to my max refresh rate. It works nicely as well.
    ⍟ Be sure to disable motion blur ingame
    ⍟ If your game starts moving in slow motion, disable VSYNC in the game ini file or using console "set_vsync 0"