Groundcover Settings

enabled

Type	Range	Default	Location
boolean	true, false	false	user settings.cfg

Allows the engine to use groundcover. Groundcover objects are static and come from ESP files registered via “groundcover” entries in openmw.cfg, not via “content”. These objects are assumed to have no collision and cannot be interacted with, allowing them to be merged and animated efficiently regardless of player distance.

density

Type	Range	Default	Location
float32	0.0 (0%) to 1.0 (100%)	1.0	user settings.cfg

Determines how many groundcover instances from content files are used in the game. Higher values increase density but may impact performance.

rendering distance

Type	Range	Default	Location
float32	≥ 0.0	6144.0	user settings.cfg

Sets the distance (in game units) at which grass pages are rendered. Larger values may reduce performance.

stomp mode

Type	Range	Default	Location
int	0, 1, 2	2	user settings.cfg

Determines how grass responds to player movement.

Mode	Meaning
0	Grass cannot be trampled.
1	Only the player’s XY position is taken into account.
2	Player’s height above the ground is also considered.

In MGE XE, grass responds to player jumping due to changes in XY position, even when levitating. OpenMW’s height-aware system avoids false triggers, but grass may snap back when the player exits it quickly.

Avoid using MGE XE’s intensity constants when this is set to 2; set stomp intensity to 0 or 1 in that case.

stomp intensity

Type	Range	Default	Location
int	0, 1, 2	1	user settings.cfg

Determines the distance from the player at which grass reacts to footsteps, and how far it moves in response.

Preset	Range (Units)	Distance (Units)	Description
2	150	60	MGE XE levels — excessive/comical, matches legacy mods.
1	80	40	Reduced levels — visually balanced.
0	50	20	Gentle levels — subtle and restrained.

point lighting

Type	Range	Default	Location
boolean	true, false	true	user settings.cfg

When enabled, groundcover will receive lighting from point light sources.