Modder's Interview: MwGek

How long have you been modding and what was your first complete mod?

In the early '00s, I created a Velothi player home by following the My First Room tutorial by Dragonsong. Back then, it was all text and pictures. I filled the space with mannequins from another mod to store all my loot. I also remember building a Hlaalu house in the same popular spot where everyone added a house, next to the pawnbroker.

Over the years, I kept returning to Morrowind. I joined a Dutch-Belgian modding group called Zer0games, which aimed to create a total conversion mod called World in the Sky. A world of floating rocks with houses perched on them. I designed some interiors for the project. During that period, I helped Timpy (and The Conjurer) with playtesting The Goblin Lab, which was hosted on Zer0games. There was also a project to translate all in-game books into Dutch, to which I contributed.

Zer0games eventually shut down in 2005 and I moved on to the Hall of Torque forums, hosted by Lady Moiraine, which had a dedicated TES III subforum. In 2008, I joined Tamriel Rebuilt, mainly drawn in by their incredible TES IV models and artwork.

Over the next decade, I contributed to TR on and off. First working on interiors and exteriors, and later on asset development for OoT (Objects of Tamriel), the precursor to Tamriel Data. Around 2019, I made a comeback and have been much more active in Morrowind modding ever since.

I only began creating standalone mods a few years ago. My first serious attempt was Balmora Waterworks for the 2022 May Modathon. One thing's for sure—I'm never modding Balmora again!

How do you approach modding?

I prefer building on what already exists. Expanding established locations or ideas. Until recently, I focused on creating new assets for specific areas, like lighthouses and the Redoran huts. In the past few months, I've started exploring scripting and dialogue, but I've approached it the same way: seeking opportunities to add something meaningful within the existing context.

What's your favourite thing about modding?

My favorite thing about modding is the freedom to express my creative ideas. The thrill of getting things to work properly, tweaking them, then loading the game and seeing it all come together. That makes for a great evening. I do need to restrain myself from continuing to mod through the night, especially when I feel I'm on the right track with solving something. But my addiction is manageable, I think…

What's your favourite mod that you've made so far?

Light a Candle is probably my favorite mod so far because it introduces a new mechanic that feels organic and immersive within the game. It's incredibly satisfying to see everything come together in-game after all the behind-the-scenes work. I had a lot of fun designing and implementing it, especially figuring out how to make it work seamlessly with all the randomizations involved. This mod really leveled up my MWScript skills and perfectly blended my old interest in creating new assets and my new interest in scripting.

Is there a mod you are especially proud of?

I'm really proud of The Scent of Suspicion. Before working on that mod, I only knew how to open the dialogue window in the Construction Set and not much else. While creating it, I learned the basics of dialogue and scripting functions. The story and player choices make it feel more personal than just a new location mod with a new model. It is almost like sharing a story with someone, as if they're reading your book.

Are you working on a mod these days?

At the moment of writing, I don't have any active projects. I'm sort of between mods right now. But, of course, there are always ideas floating around.

I'd like to contribute some more High Rock-related meshes and textures for Project Tamriel. Jackimoff and I also have a mod idea in the works, though it hasn't taken shape yet. Additionally, I want to expand Pilgrims in Peril with more quests and update some of my other mods.

When it comes to starting something new, I'll keep my eyes open. I know I'll eventually stumble upon a nice idea.

How much do you play Morrowind, not counting play testing?

I recently updated my OpenMW install to play the Anvil release. I've already spent around 30 hours on it. But… unsurprisingly, I've started modding it. That seems unavoidable! Still, I plan to continue this playthrough because I'm really enjoying the content so far. Since my contributions to Cyrodiil assets were either from years ago or indirect, all of the content feels completely new to me.

How did you discover Morrowind?

Back in the late '90s and early '00s, my brother and I had a subscription to the Dutch gaming magazine Power Unlimited. One issue featured a fantastic review of Morrowind, and as a young teenager, I was instantly captivated. The game looked incredible. An open, alien world full of mystery and adventure.

In our neighborhood, there was a guy who got pirated games on Twilight CD's and DVD's (the longest-running Dutch piracy group, which ended in 2004 with convictions). We'd usually make a list of games we wanted burned, and in 2002, Morrowind made the cut. He even printed out the game's guidebook for us (also published in Dutch, no less). Don't worry, I bought a legit copy that same year with the guidebook, map and nice cover. Currently owning about 6 copies on various platforms. I paid my debts to Bethsoft.

The first time we played, we felt a bit lost, but reading through the guidebook helped a lot. I remember starting as a Redguard back in 2002. My brother eventually moved on to other games, but I've stayed hooked on The Elder Scrolls franchise on and off for over two decades now.

What makes Morrowind special for you?

It's all about the setting. The alien world. As a kid, exploring that vast, open world was an incredible experience. There were no guidelines on what to do, just the freedom to explore and play the game however you wanted. I remember walking through dense fog that only let you see about 50 yards ahead, discovering new things I hadn't found before.

I think it wasn't until years later that I realized the Silt Striders were actually giant bugs. The fog must have obscured them, preventing me from properly seeing them as a kid. Opening up the Construction Set felt like unlocking a whole new world of possibilities.

A lot of it is driven by nostalgia, I know.

What are the mods you simply cannot play without?

These must be the standard "must-haves" that everyone uses. Aside from that, I always use Mule to slow down progression, and I'm a big fan of Mort's thieves mods… basically, every mod Mort has made.

All the quality of life mods find their way into my modlist, like the torch hotkey and the improved quick-keys. I'm not much into quest mods, though it's something I really need to explore more. I also rarely use any location overhaul mods, not even my own.

Are there any underrated mods that you really enjoy?

I do love small quest mods. They're fun to play, and you don't need to commit to a full playthrough or extensive character-building to experience the story.

One quest mod I remember fondly is The Pearl Divers by Globemallow. Other quest mods I've enjoyed include Where Merchants Flea and The Search of the White Wave by Melchior Dahrk. And of course, The Hand by JackimoffWackimoff is quite a ride.

I'm not sure if these count as underrated. They have been pretty popular, judging by the download count just now.

Do you play other games?

Yes, I do play other games, although time is limited. Between family, friends, work, sports, and modding, there's not much time left. I've started buying a lot of old games on Steam. Partly to make up for the debt of using pirated games as a kid (Thank you Dutch Copyright Laws back in the day), but also to experience them again. I'm a big fan of Might and Magic, and Mandate of Heaven has a special place in my heart.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is one I install now and then to play again. The learning curve is steep every time, though.

I also enjoy a good game of Mount & Blade or Crusader Kings.

Do you mod other games?

I did try creating some mods for Mount & Blade: Warband, but that didn't go anywhere and I lost interest. Now, it's all about Morrowind. Morrowind is home.

And by the way, what's the story behind your user name?

I used Morrowindgek as a username for my RuneScape account back in 2002 when we played it on the school desktops. It loosely translates to me being crazy about Morrowind. In fact, I had a lot of conversations about Morrowind in RuneScape because of that name. Over time, the name stuck around, though it eventually got shortened to MwGek.

Anything else you'd like to share that we haven't talked about?

Not much, just that I love being part of this community. The way everyone is so friendly and helpful, with a laid-back attitude towards permissions and improving each other's work, is fantastic. I think this community excels at all of that. The competitions are great too. I'm not really in it for the competition, but for the fun. Though, maybe I do hope to win a ModJam one of these days. Anyway, I love you all, and keep modding!