A Bizarre and Brilliant Port: Morrowind in the Elden Ring Engine

In a move that could only be described as a fusion of genius and utter madness, a new modding project is bringing the bizarre, beautiful, and utterly dated world of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind into the stunning, modern engine of Elden Ring. This ambitious project, led by the prolific modder known as InfernoPlus, is a total conversion mod that is not only porting the entirety of Vvardenfell’s landmass but also populating it with a surreal and hilarious placeholder cast of female clones and goats. The work-in-progress, which the modder has been showcasing on YouTube, is a truly absurd and fascinating look at what happens when two of the greatest RPGs of all time are mashed together.

The core concept of the mod, which InfernoPlus has tentatively dubbed “Elden Scrolls,” is to combine the “world and lore of Morrowind with the combat of a Souls game.” The modder’s reasoning is simple and to the point: Morrowind is a timeless classic, but its combat system, based on invisible dice rolls, is a frustrating relic of a bygone era. Elden Ring, on the other hand, is celebrated for its precise and satisfying action-RPG combat. The project aims to create a “common fruit and scrib jelly sandwich,” taking the best parts of both games and blending them into a single, cohesive experience. The result so far is a sprawling, meticulously detailed recreation of Vvardenfell, complete with its iconic towns, dungeons, and landscapes, all rendered with the graphical fidelity, atmospheric effects, and weather systems of a modern FromSoftware game.

The Weird and Wonderful World of Vvardenfell, Elden Ring Style

While the world of Morrowind has been ported over with an impressive level of detail, the inhabitants are where the mod truly descends into the hilariously bizarre. The world is currently populated by a vast “army of goats and female clones.” Humanoid NPCs, from the Dunmer of Balmora to the Argonians of Seyda Neen, have been replaced by a single placeholder model: a copy-pasted “generic Elden Ring lady.” The dialogue is also in a placeholder state, with conversations being represented by the sound of a page turning. Meanwhile, every creature in the game, from the fearsome Cliff Racers to the shambling Ash Ghouls, has been replaced by a simple goat. This is a temporary measure, of course, as the modder works to implement the complex character models and animations of Morrowind’s inhabitants. For now, however, it makes for a wonderfully surreal and oddly charming experience to wander through the familiar landscape and be accosted by a horde of identical women and a swarm of bleating goats.

Beyond the comedic placeholder characters, the project is a massive technical undertaking. InfernoPlus has successfully ported the entire world map, including interiors, lighting, and environmental effects, a feat that he notes was impossible in older engines like those used for Dark Souls. The modder is confident that the remaining work, which includes implementing quests, dialogue, and unique character models, is “possible.” However, he also acknowledges that it will be a monumental and time-consuming task, and has called on the community for assistance to help see the project through to completion. The mod will function similarly to other large-scale conversion mods, such as A Tale of Two Wastelands, by requiring the user to own and install legitimate copies of both Morrowind and Elden Ring, ensuring a legally safe project that does not infringe on copyright.

More than a Mod: A Testament to Passion and Innovation

The project is more than just a mod; it is a testament to the passion and ingenuity of the modding community. While Bethesda itself has released a beautiful Oblivion remaster, and fan projects like Skywind continue to make progress, this mod offers a completely different take on modernizing a classic. By leveraging Elden Ring’s superior engine and combat system, it promises to create a unique experience that is both a loving homage to the past and a look towards the future of what total conversion mods can achieve. The project is a strong example of how independent creators can push the boundaries of game design and create something truly special outside the traditional industry. For fans of either series, this project is a must-watch, if only to witness the bizarre spectacle of the Lands Between’s best combat system being applied to a world where a cliff is just a gentle slope and the biggest danger is a flock of angry goats.

Key Mod Features and Status:

• World Map Ported: The entire landmass of Vvardenfell has been successfully ported into the Elden Ring engine.
• Placeholders Abound: NPCs are currently a single female model, while creatures are goats.
• Souls-like Combat: The mod will feature Elden Ring’s real-time combat system, a massive change from Morrowind’s dice rolls.
• Weather and Lighting: The world includes dynamic weather and lighting that changes by region, enhancing the atmosphere.
• Work in Progress: The mod is still a work-in-progress, with a significant amount of work left to be done on quests, dialogue, and unique character models.

As the project continues to evolve, fans can follow its progress on InfernoPlus’s YouTube channel. While it may be some time before we can truly experience the grim, fungus-filled world of Vvardenfell with a proper combat system, the journey of watching this ambitious project come to life is a reward in itself.