Dynamic Distant Objects LOD (DynDOLOD) is the advanced and easier version of xLODGen to generate a comprehensive LOD mod for the entire load order of the different Skyrim and Enderal game versions for drastically enhanced and better matching tree LOD and object LOD plus optional dynamic LOD, glow LOD, grass LOD, occlusion data and terrain underside in a few simple steps.
DynDOLOD is meant for enthusiast modders who are familiar with using xEdit. Enthusiast modders have a general knowledge of computers, folders and files, especially Skyrims 'Data' folders and how to install mods safely with a manager or manually.
Some of the features and advantages of DynDOLOD are:
- DynDOLOD ships with several thousands of updated and missing object LOD models that are famously wrong or missing from the game, thus reducing pop-in and improving distance views by a couple magnitudes. For example, the Skyhaven Temple or landscape features like roads, smaller rocks and dirt cliffs that simply make the distant landscape look much more natural and alive.
- DynDOLOD adds dynamic LOD for animated or quest enabled objects or for simply using full models that do not work well when used in static object LODs.
- DynDOLOD adds glow LOD.
- DynDOLOD improves vanilla object LOD models assignments.
- DynDOLOD creates better atlas textures (mipmaps alpha coverage, average background color for transparent parts) for tree and object LOD.
- DynDOLOD can deal with Texture Set replacements.
- DynDOLOD automatically adds tree LOD in object LOD for trees that can not have traditional billboard tree LOD for several technical reasons or easily allows to have all billboard tree LOD or 3D tree LOD in object LOD.
- DynDOLOD improves trees in object LOD fading to full model for Skyrim.
- DynDOLOD has better error proof 3D tree LOD model assignments, which helps with mixing different tree mods and not to worry about overwrite orders.
- DynDOLOD scans child worlds and automatically creates LOD representation in the parent world.
- DynDOLOD scans parent worlds to automatically add full model representation in the child world.
- DynDOLOD patches the load order while generating LOD to work around known game issues, for better compatibility between mods and to improve non-LOD visuals.
- DynDOLOD fixes missing tree LOD after fast travel.
- DynDOLOD fixes stuck object LOD after fast travel.
- DynDOLOD fixes missing terrain in child worlds.
- DynDOLOD fixes some of the causes of Skyrim Special Edition large reference bugs triggering texture flicker (unfortunately not all, that system is very fubar). The DynDOLOD DLL NG and Scripts includes large reference bugs workarounds to address all remaining issues.
- DynDOLOD improves performance of the vanilla game, CC or 3rd party mods by replacing Is Full LOD flag with static object LOD or dynamic LOD.
- DynDOLOD ultra tree LOD with billboards only improves performance over standard tree LOD by working around engine bugs causing FPS drops with many plugins loaded.
- DynDOLOD optimizes full models used in object LOD on the fly for better performance.
- DynDOLOD contains rules and settings for a constantly growing list of mods to automatically generate correct tree and object LOD for them.
- DynDOLOD can automatically update TVDT Occlusion with pre-defined options per worldspace. TVTD Occlusion improves performance by disabling LOD that is behind/hidden by LOD in front of it.
- DynDOLOD allows the user to control many settings and options to create the best possible tree and object LOD patch for their load order.
- DynDOLOD reports on load order issues that otherwise go unnoticed causing hard to troubleshoot problems in the game.
- DynDOLOD has a SkyUI MCM that allows changing LOD settings in the game.
- TexGen updates a select list of object LOD textures, so that object LOD better matches the load order.
- TexGen creates perfect tree and grass LOD billboards from their full models, with the HD options also creating normal map textures.
- DynDOLOD/TexGen make it extremely easy to have well working and much better looking tree and object LOD for a complete load order. It has a detailed documentation and lots of videos.
To replicate all the things that DynDOLOD does with Creation Kit/xEdit/xLODGen, it would take months of manual work and the use of additional tools to edit models/textures.
There are no INI settings that can improve LOD meshes or textures or update them to match the load order. Specifically, do not fall for or repeat crass misinformation that using INI settings alone can "improve" LOD, have "literally" no impact on performance or could come close to ever being a substitute for generating drastically improved LOD for the current load order. Especially the large reference setting with its limitations and bugs, its visual issues and performance impact is is not remotely a valid alternative. Such claims are obvious unqualified ignorant nonsense.
DynDOLOD is where the development and latest improvements for tree and object LOD for Skyrim happens. These features and options do not belong in xLODGen as they are specific to Skyrim only and because xEdit/xLODGen is a modding tool to replace Creation Kit and not intended to be a patcher to create a comprehensive LOD patch for complete load orders with build-in support for mods.
Generally, xLODGen tree and object LOD generation is for mod authors and the easier and advanced DynDOLOD is for users. However, DynDOLOD also has a specific "mod create" mode, so mod authors can include improved object and tree LOD with their mods for consoles for example, where users can not easily generate LOD for their load order.