Cardinal HUD is mod for hardcore difficulty KC:D. Cardinal HUD will:

• Add cardinal directions to the hardcore compass.
• Optionally replace the compass bar with a simple, slim, transparent version.
• Optionally remove Mutt from the compass.
• Remove all other HUD elements.

There are three versions:

Cardinal HUD Slim
Replaces the compass bar with a simple, slim, transparent oval compass.

Cardinal HUD Ultra-Slim
Replaces the compass bar with a simple, ultra-slim, transparent line compass.

Cardinal HUD Default
Adds cardinal directions to the default KC:D compass bar.

Regarding Mutt:
Whatever version you choose there will be an additional file in the Data folder named "No Dog on Compass.pak". Delete this file if you don't want Mutt removed from your compass. I dislike his icon always being there and constantly moving around, so I removed it. You might not feel the same way.

Making your own version:
If you don't like any of the versions provided, or the font doesn't work with your screen resolution a miscellaneous file is available on the files tab that contains a version of Hud_main.dds with the boundaries of the four cardinal compass directions marked. This makes it easier to insert  your own iconography and font. No support will be provided for creating your own version of Hud_main.dds.

It is simple to combine changes from multiple hud mods, or create your own using free image editors such as paint.net or Gimp. Unpack the mods yourself (including the .pak files) using 7zip and copy/paste the bits you want from each Hud_main.dds image. Save it and pack it into a .zip or .7z file making sure to use the proper folder structure. The contents of the .pak file can be stored as .zip, then renamed as .pak. If none of this makes sense, Google is your friend.

Why I made it
KC:D is an older style RPG where Henry's stats and experience matter just as much, if not more than, player skill. No matter how experienced you are at KC:D combat for example, if Henry is still inexperienced you are likely to fail. I started the game with the compass completely removed, relying on the sun to determine direction. Halfway through the game I grew tired of this and figured Henry had traveled enough to know his way around and intuit the cardinal directions. Ideally I'd like a perk to do this, but this mod is my alternative.

Compatability
This mod is not compatible with any mod that alters Hud_main.dds. That includes most mods that alter hud elements, although some alter hud.gfx which is fine. If you aren't sure, unpack the mods yourself (including the .pak files) using 7zip to see what they are altering.