Compilation of modifications for Dungeon Siege and Legends Of Aranna that increase the draw distance, add more camera control options, add support for more resolutions, fix 3D character preview in inventory and slightly increase the default font size.
All these modifications are independent of each other, player can choose which one to use.
Alternative download link is available on my Google Drive: Drive.google.com
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Extract the downloaded archive with WinRAR or 7-Zip.
- Copy the "dsres" file from the mod you want to use to the "Resources" folder in the Dungeon Siege installation folder.
- Additionally for the ResolutionFix you need to copy "system_detail.gas" to the Dungeon Siege installation folder where the dungeonsiege and DSLOA executables are located and replace the old file. For Camera mod copy "ikkyo_loa.dsdll" there.
I used the files from Legends Of Aranna release, only 10 files were changed in total. More detailed instructions and a changelog can be found in the included "SeeFar2020 - Instructions and changelog" file.
For best visual experience use this in combination with my high resolution textures for Dungeon Siege and Legends Of Aranna:
Moddb.com
Moddb.com
SEE FAR
This is inspired by the See Far mod from 2004. Problem with the 2004 version is that it only pushes the fog further away, but does not increase the draw distance, so you can see the gaps in the terrain in the distance. My See Far 2020 version solves this by also increasing the terrain and object draw distance.
Files were updated for Kingdom of Ehb, Utraean Peninsula and Legends of Aranna maps, but I also included the program I wrote to do this, so files for other maps can be updated as well. Player can choose from three options that push fog and increase draw distance by 20%, 50% or 100% (the last one is shown in the comparison screenshots below).
NOTES:
- You need to start a new game for the changes to apply, increased draw distance will not work when loading an old save.
- This will impact performance, so if you are still playing the game on your old Pentium 2, you might skip this one.
- This has not been tested on the entire maps, use at own risk. I know for a fact that going over 100% introduces some rendering glitches in Farmlands. That is why I gave three options to choose from. If you use one of these and find any issues, or if you DON'T find any, please let me know so I can notify others about it.
![SeeFar100 - Comparison01]( "SeeFar100 - Comparison01")
![SeeFar100 - Comparison02]( "SeeFar100 - Comparison02")
Reported problems:
Killah(2020-03-11) : "Map chunks are loaded on top of other chunks in the Utraean Peninsula. I encountered the issue just south of the starting point in Elddim towards the Crystwind Mines and can be replicated after restarting the game. After testing different combinations I found that this issue is specifically caused by the SeeFar portion of this modpack, and none of the other mods in the pack. It's most noticeable with SeeFar100, but it occurs with SeeFar50 as well. With SeeFar50 the chunk will load within a smaller radius."
So, I guess for multiplayer map stick with SeeFar20 to avoid this issue.
![seefar problem]( "seefar problem")
CAMERA
This is directly from See Far 2004. It adds new settings in the options menu and enables the player to move camera very close to player or very far away and also change the angle more freely. In combination with the new See Far and high resolution textures it can transform the game.
NOTE: Increasing Maximum Camera Distance over default 18 moves the fog closer towards the player, so use Plus6 or Plus12 versions of See Far to push the fog back by additional 6 or 12 meters to intended distance.
![camera mix]( "camera mix")
FONT, RESOLUTION, 3D CHARACTER PREVIEW
I replaced the small Font12 which was used throughout the game; options menus, in-game interface, labels for items on the floor, chat... with Font14. It is not a huge difference, but it might help those playing at larger resolution that would appreciate a slight increase in text size without using the dgVoodoo 2 scaling trick (instructions here Pcgamingwiki.com Github.com).
I updated few files so the game now supports 12 new resolutions up to 1920x1200 natively and can be selected in the options menu. 3D character preview in the inventory originally only supported the original 3 resolutions. I added new entries, so it should display correctly for the new resolutions.
![resolution font 3d]( "resolution font 3d")
TIME OF DAY
This mini mod can be used to increase the length of day cycle by factor of 2, 3 and 4. By default one day in game lasts 38 minutes and constant transitions between day and night can be distracting and immersion breaking in my opinion. This modification also makes the sun set one hour earlier and rise one hour later, because originally night darkness lasted just 3 in-game hours. I also included an option to always play at day or night. This is a little bonus someone might like.
Do you know if this is compatible with DS/LoA Revived?
No idea, I used the original files from Legends Of Aranna release and some from SeeFarLOA(2004). One should check if they changed the same files I did. All changes I made are documented in the included PDF. This only changed 10 files.
Thanks for this from a fellow gog user.....seems like great stuff(especially the font increase for higher resolutions & better resolutions support, and the draw distance stuff). :)
Thank you for your support.
Hello Antonio,
I own the Steam version of the game and have had it since 2016. However, due to screen tearing, I could never get to playing it. When I saw this news on r/pcgaming, I decided to give it a shot.
I followed the PDF instructions to the letter, but unfortunately, the game keeps giving me a "System Exception detected" error when the first cutscene plays when I start the game, and crashes to desktop. I have Windows 7 installed if that helps. Is there perhaps something I'm doing wrong?
Are you using any other mods ? Also what files have you copied to the game folders ? I suggest you copy one by one and start the game each time to pinpoint exactly which one of my files causes the crash.
No, this is the only mod installed. And I pretty much took the most basic parts of your mod and applied in there, according to the PDF. Camera, Font 14, Time of Day, ResFix, so on.
Like I said; delete all my files, then add one at a time and start the game each time to see exactly which file is causing the crash.
Hi Richard, I had something similar happen. I figured it was a prob with resolution, so I switched down to 1440 x 900. I think. Anyway, it didn't except on me again so far. Got a memory error box when I turn it off, but it doesn't seem to be harmful.
Rob
Thank you so much for your work! In a few days I might be able to make a compatibility patch with this and AAGUI.
Compatibility with Dungeon Siege Revived is not likely. Camera changes and other functions for that mod are contained in "ikkyo.dsdll" and that file is needed for the mod to function. I guess editing the dsdll file might work but I have no idea how to accomplish something like that.
Anyway, AntonioR,thanks for another quality mod.
kathycf
Hi again. This mod includes ikkyo.dsdll and the options menu files from the old camera mod, but I have NOT changed those files.
Hi, does this work if you only have Dungeon Siege and not Legends Of Aranna?
Everything should work, except maybe the camera mod, which is not my work, so I don't know. It takes a minute to try it. You can let me know if it worked. I think after you save the game, the camera changes will be saved too, so you can even delete the files to avoid any possible issues later.
Awesome mod. With the Steam version of Dungeon Siege, there was no online fix (I googled and tried EVERYTHING for a widescreen resolution). This mod not only increases the draw distance -- it also includes many widescreen resolutions and many other improvements.
AntonioR. You are THE MAN! Thank you so so much for these mods! Hair on my arms is standing up from seeing my old favorite brought back to life. I've been waiting for years for a remake--and I think this is the ticket. Going to try to do some advertising and crowing about this if you don't mind. Already trying to post a review on Amazong, not sure if their mods will post my review, as I am basically pushing the mod : - ) Thank you Thank you Thank you!
If i adjust the camera angle and/or distance, quit the game and launch it again, it reverts back to the default settings, any fix for that?
I don't have the game installed now, but I think it should be saved when you save the game. I guess that wont help in multiplayer where you can't save. I didn't make it and I don't know how it works. It uses some custom dll file, it is not a simple file edit like everything else.
I've just changed the resolution and the font, but my character is off-center. She stays on the right side. Any idea what is causing that and how to fix it?
Do you mean she is off center in the small character preview window or during gameplay ?
Imgur.com During gameplay.
Strange, that looks like it is rendering only top-left corner of the full scene. I'm not sure what could be the problem. What resolution are you trying to play ? Do you have a ultra-widescreen or 4K monitor or something ? Are you using some other mod or a graphics wrapper like dgVoodoo ? You might try using dgVoodoo, game uses DirectX 8, so it might help: Pcgamingwiki.com
I wanted to play in 1080p. I'm going to try dgVoodoo. Even in 1080p the game runs like crap. The FPS dips below 30 and it's not stable at all. This is just with the widescreen fix. It might something on my end, who knows. Thank you for your time and effort. I really appreciated your replay and mods.
dgVoodoo worked! However, the framerate is all over the place.
Bad framerate is a known problem with this game. In your game shortcut you need to enable bltonly argument. For some reason I can't write it here, see in the link below, it is on top of the page under "Key Points". Also make sure vsync is disabled in both dgVoodoo and in your GPU control panel if you had it enabled globally for other games. Pcgamingwiki.com
Man, I'd kill for something like this for Dungeon Siege 2 as well.
Do you think this might be compatible with the Project Britannia Ultima remakes (Lazarus & Archon)? There are dedicated camera mods, but they do not increase the draw distance, leading to the fog-less emptiness you describe.
Draw distance is increased by modifying map "mood" files. If Project Britannia maps use their own mood files, first those files need to be extracted using Siege Editor or Tank Extractor. Then you can use my MoodModifier program (included with my files) to modify the mood file. Then you use Siege Editor or Tank Creator to repackage the new mood file and copy it to where the mod files are, usually Resources folder. If you know what you are doing it is 2 minutes work.
The font size is still too small.
What program did you use to increase it?
I wrote in description that I simply replaced it with a bit larger font which was in the game files. If I used a larger one it would mess things up. What you need to do is increase the GUI in the game by using a graphics wrapper called "dgVoodoo 2". Instructions here: Pcgamingwiki.com Github.com
If you could clearly explain how to install each element, then I would install them all, but in the SeeFar2004_ReadMe.txt in the SeeFar2020_v1.rar says some weird stuff, and there is also some other complicated explanations on this page.
Can you keep in mind that normal people would like to use mods too? Just because of these simple mistakes, people steer-clear from modding and therefore supporting the modders in the end.
I can't help those can't bother reading few lines of text. Installation of each element is explained in the "SeeFar2020 - Instructions and changelog" file which I mentioned in the description. You just have to extract the archive and copy the files to proper locations. I can't make it simpler than that. I never mentioned you should read SeeFar2004 file, it is just there to give credit to previous authors.
Is there any point in adding resolutions above 1920x1200? Would like options for 1440p, specifically 1920x1440 and 2560x1440.
Or will the UI become unusably small?
EDIT:
Nevermind, just used DgVoodoo, forced 1920x1440, worked like a charm.
The SeeFar mod works great. Will enjoy playing through the game without fog creeping in around everywhere. Thanks a lot. Also going to use the Time of Day mod. Longer nights are definitely welcome.
EDIT 2:
After playing for a while, I can safely say that the 100 version of the See Far mod is too much. For example, while in the Wesring Cross dungeon, I can in several places hear ambient sounds from the outside (birds, crickets etc). Which I assume is because the above ground sectors are also loaded and the game think you are in that area, so plays the sounds. Just a bit immersion breaking. But the Ice Caves suffer from the same problem as was reported on the multiplayer map - chunks occasionally loading on top of one another, especially near the first mana shrine. It was really bad but managed to make it through. First spot where I encountered it. Not going to restart now, hopefully the game can be finished. Just an FYI for anyone interested that the SeeFar50 is probably the safer option.