Simple Graphics Overhaul (SGO)

Dark mode:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2967795129

Non-papermap:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2968799410

This is a comprehensive map mod that includes a bunch of changes to the vanilla map according to my personal needs.

Very similar to the "Revenge of the Political Map Mode" by Andy’s Take: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2880479137

This mod started off as a minor modification to Revenge but I have since started from scratch (from the vanilla files) using my own scripts.

I have not tested this mod together with other map mods, but let me know if you discover good combos or issues.

This mod modifies folders and files in primarily the "map" folder. The folders with content modified are:

• borders
• environment
• fog_of_war
• gradient_border_settings
• map_object_data
• post_effects
• rivers
• textures
• water

• In the "borders" folder I have modified 2 files: border_country.dds and border_state.dds, giving country and state borders a somewhat different look (mostly darker), state borders are a bit wider and are more visible.
• In the "environment" folder I have modified the "environment.txt" file. It changes two bloom properties, as I found the vanilla bloom to be too strong and distracting. They are thus a bit more subtle now.
• In the "fog_of_war" folder I have simply included a modified "fog_of_war.settings" text file. This file effectively lowers the strength of the clouds and fog of war to make them more subtle.
• In the "gradient_border_settings" folder I have modified the "gradient_border_settings.txt" text file. This is a primary part of the mod and makes the countries look the way they do.
• In the "map_object data" folder I have modified the "layers.txt" text file. This file handles which models to render on the map, such as trees, cities, static props. I have modified it so that cities appear at a lower zoom level, tried to make tree pop-up a bit more gradual rather than all of it appearing at the same zoom level.
• In the "post_effects" folder I have included a "colorcorrection_neutral.tga" file (that has not been changed for this mod) and a "posteffects_volumes.txt" file. In the latter volumes .txt file I have changed it so that the brightness of the map is uniform across the world (otherwise it is adjusted in different parts of the map).
• In the "rivers" folder I have modified the riverwater.settings file in order for river graphics to be a bit more consistent with the changes to the water (such as the color of rivers).
• In the "textures" folder I have modified the "flatmap_noise.dds" this helps giving the papermap a flatter look and adds some granularity to the papermap surface. I have also included a "colormap.dds" file which changes the overall color of the terrain somewhat (using a custom texture composited by me using satellite imagery).
• Lastly in the "water" folder I have modified the "water.settings" text file. I have only modified the water foam strength property in this file, because the foam turns into a pixelated noisy mess when I’m not fully zoomed in on the map. I have also included files for "flow_normal_temporary.dds" and "foam.dds" both which simply use new (experimental) mipmaps. Moreover a new "watercolor_rgb_waterspec_a.dds" file is included in this mod which adds lots of new ocean topographic (bathymetry) detail, which has been modified by me (beyond simple coloring) to accommodate certain quirks with the Victoria 3 map (certain islands on the V3 map seem to have been slightly moved around). A new "ambient_normal.dds" file is also included, this file changes how the game lighting interacts with water (specular highlighting).

This mod also includes its own defines file ("aa_sgo_graphics_defines.txt") that changes some vanilla constants. This file can be deleted if you think the changes it includes are undesired (affects where country names can be rendered).

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, Jesse Allen, NASA’s Earth Observatory). SGO uses bathymetry and other satellite data provided by NASA for it’s very large textures.

Adobe Photoshop (2023+)
NVIDIA Texture Tools Exporter
FlexProjector
Blender