See NPCs and Animals Farther (Increased NPC render distance)

KCD2 Version Released

Brief Description:

It always bothered me that NPC's would just pop-in when a road clearly goes beyond their render distance. Riding up on beautiful towns and villages only for them to feel empty from a distance when one would expect to see movement in the distance.

I can't believe a mod like this doesn't exist so after a couple years of trying to find a solution, I finally found the setting that controls it and made different versions for an easy install.

Recommended Binocular mod (optional):

https://www.nexusmods.com/kingdomcomedeliverance/mods/657

The Binocular mod allows you to zoom in/out from a distance, it's fun to scout now that you can see NPCs far away.

Recommended Stutter Fix Mod (reduces/removes stutters frequent in larger towns):

https://www.nexusmods.com/kingdomcomedeliverance/mods/133

Mod Features:

• []NPCs and animals render at a much larger distance. Performance impact appears to be very minor if any (even on extreme).

  []4 different versions to download with different NPC render distances.

• Animals increased render distance is included automatically which makes hunting more immersive and the world feel more alive.

  How to Install (manual only):

  1.) Download the version you prefer (low, medium, high, extreme).

  2.) Backup your pak.cfg, for steam, found in:

  C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\KingdomComeDeliverance\Data\pak.cfg

  3.) Drag the Data and Engine folders into your Kingdom Come Deliverance root directory.

  Steam root directory example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\KingdomComeDeliverance

  NOTE: If your root\Data\pak.cfg file has been modded or doesn't have all DLCs, simply add this line to the end of it:

  engine\NPC_RenderDist_<your_version>.pak

  Testing: When looking at a town, if you don't see NPCs between the buildings, you can use the command  e_LodMin 5 in the console to make all buildings disappear.

  Modders (how the mod works):

  This mod increases NPC render distance with these two console commands:

  WH_AI_LOD_DistanceMin = 100 (Default Value)

  WH_AI_LOD_DistanceMax = 130 (Default Value)

  These values above are hardcoded so the only way to change them is to add your own <your_pak>.pak in the Engine folder.

  Uninstallation:

  Remove NPC_RenderDist_<your_version>.pak that you downloaded in your Engine folder

  Revert to your vanilla pak.cfg backup

  or simply remove the engine\NPC_RenderDist_<your_version>.pak from your pak.cfg

  Most of my graphic settings (10850k + 32 GB Ram + RTX 3080 10GB):

  Most of the core LOD settings are at the bottom of the config if you want better tree/building/castle details when using binoculars mod:

  Pastbin URL

  Alternatively you can name user.cfg to autoexec.cfg (then no need for commandline)

  I started using Stutter Fix Mod which helps reduce/remove stuttering which this mod may increase due to more NPCs loading in at times. Set it to -2 or 3%. It works by capping your CPU so it doesn't it 100%, causing a stutter.

  Known Issues:

  In populated castles like Rattay, the render distance seems to be overwritten either by some sort of performance culling setting or by design of the castle itself.

  -After 80 hours, I finally encountered one instance of a cauldron and a stream with some audio stutter, it seems to be only in certain areas or later in the story, 

  Recommendation: Try Low and Medium versions as workaround if this is bothering you.