GenMod Overview

GenMod provides a fast way to create new content for Bethesda's Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind application. GenMod creates new modification (.ESP) files that you can add to the game.

GenMod does not eliminate the need for hand-crafting of mods, but it does speed up the process. By automating room layout and basic item placement, GenMod can reduce the time it takes to create new interiors by as much as 50%.

Capabilities

Terminology

Term Definition
Cell Currently, this means an interior cell (the inside of a building or cave) in an ESP file. Each interior cell must have a unique name.
Container In the GenModData.xml file, some Containers are listed as Furniture. These are pre-existing containers that have pre-defined contents. If you want to use a container without adding contents, defined it as a Furniture item in the XML file. If you want to add your own contents to a container, use a Container item instead. The generator creates a whole new container instance, so that when you add new contents to the container, you don't affect other containers in the rest of the game world.
Contents All non-tile information placed into a cell. This includes containers, furniture, rugs, and tapestries.
Creature Monsters that will try to kill the player (mostly).
Furniture In the GenModData.xml file, Furniture includes most Static items other than parts of the room (walls, stairs, hallways). It also includes containers and activators (beds) that will be referenced but not modified by the cell. If you want to add stuff to the inside of a container, use the Container form instead. Also, Rugs and Tapestries are handled separately.
Inhabitants This includes Creatures and (in the future) NPCs.
Layout A Layout represents a room or set of rooms with a specific shape. A layout defines only the arrangement of walls, halls, and stairs. The best layouts (including all of the pre-defined layouts) work with any Tile Set. Also, layouts are defined spearately from their contents (furniture, containers, etc.). You can create your own layouts that match the most common types of rooms or interior cells that you create. Layouts can be nested inside each other to provide for multi-story buildings.
Platform A raised wooden floor, used inside of cave layouts so that large furniture such as beds, tables, and dressers can have a flat surface to rest on. The floor of cave tiles is too curvy to allow for general-purpose furniture placement without platforms.
Rug In the GenModData.xml file: Put all rugs (and any other floor-covering item that a player can walk across without having to jump) here.
Tapestry In the GenModData.xml file: Put all wall-covering, wall-hugging items here.
Theme A theme represents a collection of items (containers, furniture, etc.) that make sense together. You can define your own themes to represent dungeons, haunted houses, poor houses, rich houses, etc. GenMod also supports Creature Themes and Treasure Themes.
Tile We refer to a single slice of a room (a single wall, hallway section, door, etc.) as a Tile. Although individual tiles are 3D models, we treat them like 2D tiles, which makes it easier to quickly define and create standard layouts.
Tile Set A Tile Set defines all the different types of Tiles required to build a Layout. Each Tile Set must contain Tiles for walls, corners, doorways, doors, halls, and stairs. Custom tiles can also be added, for things like pillars, windows, etc. However, not all Tile Sets support all types of tiles. Also, keep in mind that GenMod will only use your custom tiles if the Layout you select calls for that type of tile.
Treasure Treasure is anything the player can pick up and walk off with. We sub-classify treasure as Armor, Books, Clothing, Gems, Gold, Ingredients, Misc, Tools, and Weapons.

Future Enhacements

These are the enhancements slated for versions 2.0 through x.0, more or less in priority order (as it stands now). Please do send us your suggestions and requests.