Modder's Interview: Vennin

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

I started modding back in 2016, and my very first mod, Unique Items, was also my first release. At the time, I had almost no idea what I was doing with the Construction Set—I just knew I wanted to make the game's dungeons more fun to explore. It was a learning experience, and I still remember the helpful posts you left on the mod, which I still appreciate to this day. Sometimes, I think about remaking Unique Items, but I feel like the work I'm doing now, revamping dungeons one at a time, captures the same spirit.

How do you approach modding?

My approach to modding is pretty spontaneous—I don't really have a set rhyme or reason. Sometimes I'll come home from work and suddenly feel the urge to mod. As for inspiration, I usually mod for myself and my brother, creating things we'd both enjoy. My workflow is just as unpredictable; I'll zone out for half a day, and before I know it, I've got a new mod.

What's your favorite thing about modding?

My favorite thing about modding is creating something that both others and I can enjoy—though I'll admit, I mostly mod for myself. I tend to focus on adding or changing things that I think would make the game more fun for me personally. At this point, I actually find modding Morrowind even more enjoyable than playing the game itself.

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

That's a tough question because I'm not exactly proud of any of my mods in particular, but I'd probably say The Museum of Vvardenfell, which I released back in August 2022. It's a pretty ambitious mod, and while I somewhat regret how heavy-handed I was with changes like reworking artifacts, I made it specifically for my brother and me to enjoy in TES3MP. It was also my first attempt at creating a quest and writing dialogue, so it holds a special place for me. That said, I'm about 90% sure some of the scripts I wrote only work in OpenMW and not in the base game's scripting system!

Are you working on a mod these days?

Yeah, I've got at least 10s of incomplete projects sitting around. Who knows when I'll get something done!

How much do you play Morrowind, not counting playtesting?

My playtime has definitely decreased over the last few years. Like I mentioned earlier, I actually find modding the game more fun than playing it. That said, after all these years, I wouldn't be surprised if I've racked up thousands of hours in Morrowind.

How did you discover Morrowind?

I discovered Morrowind back when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old. My sister brought the game home, and I was instantly confused. I still distinctly remember walking around Seyda Neen, looking at the locked shack doors and thinking they were actual levels in a game because of the lock level. My child brain just couldn't comprehend an open world at that point!

What makes Morrowind special for you?

This might make me sound insane, but I absolutely love the combat system. The D&D-style mechanics allow me to create and role-play as tons of different characters, which is incredibly important to me. Of course, the system has its flaws, like stealth, but those are easily fixed with small mods.

What are the mods you simply cannot play without?

I don't have a specific mod that I always play with. When I get ready to play Morrowind, I like to search for as many random mods as I can that fit the character I'm planning to create. It keeps each playthrough fresh and tailored to the experience I want.

Are there any underrated mods that you really enjoy?

Sadly, since it's been so long since I've done a full playthrough and because of how I select mods for each playthrough, I can't for the life of me remember the names of the mods I use. Maybe I need to start keeping a list somewhere!

Do you play other games?

Of course! I mainly play fantasy RPGs. The last game I played through and absolutely loved was Xanadu Next.

Do you mod other games?

Yeah, I do mod other games, but I haven't released anything publicly. For example, I've modded Terraria a bit to add more bee-related items.

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

I actually have two usernames I go by: Vennin and Stonedoughnut5. Stonedoughnut5 has been with me since I was a kid playing Halo 2 online—it was the randomly generated username Xbox Live gave me. Vennin came later when I was trying to come up with a name for a character in an MMO.

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

Nothing really!