Textures not loading properly
just started a new run on a new computer and ive noticed a few NPC/mob textures arent loading properly (some are missing, some are glitchy/corrupted, ive seen floating heads and mobs with no legs or ...
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I'm having the exact same problem. As far as I know it's a problem with DirectX 11.
Since upgrading my rig the only noticable differences since I last played DA2 on max settings have been a change in operating system (windows 7 to 8.1), new Graphics card (Nvidia GeForce 670 GTX 4gb VRAM EVGA) and new processor (Intel Core i7-330K 3.50Ghz).
Each time I start the game environment textures and shading are all over the place with portions of the floor going completely black. The worst part is when NPC armor goes missing altogether causing their heads to float.
I've played around with the settings alot and found that it only fixed itself when I switched to DirectX 9. Sadly this also comes at a graphical loss which is something I cannot accept.
Still looking for a better solution
Just a small update on what I've been researching...
It appears that the issue (on my part at least) may not solely be with DirectX 11 but instead my Nvidia driver as well. Nvidia has a chequered history with driver updates in that older games (3-5 years) lose their support with the more current software updates. The results are often seen through conflicts with DirectX which can materialise as texture or shading glitches. However, this doesn't change the fact that DA2 itself was never properlly configured with DirectX 11, with numerous graphical bugs having nothing to do with drivers at all.
Currently the driver version I use is 335.25 whilst the last confirmed working Nvidia driver for DA2 being 270.61 (Source: http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches). As you can see, there has been quite a few updates since then with ample time for DA2 to fall through the cracks of Nvidia's update roll out.
So how can you fix it?
As far as I can tell there are 3 methods:
1. Run the game on good ol' DirectX 9 - If you can stomach the noticable loss in graphical detail this would be the go to for you.
2. Return your Nvidia driver to the 270.61 build
3. Modding and replacing the current textures may in turn stop their conflict with both drivers. Download Aegrus's "Dragon Age 2 Ultimate HD" or trufflesduval's "Texture Mod" to completely retexture the majority of evironments. Both mods can be run in DirectX9 or 11 with little difference and have proven to almost remove the shading issues.
I hope this information helps and I will continue to find a more permanent solution.
Another issue which seems almost identical to this one can be found on the forums as well:
http://answers.ea.com/t5/Dragon-Age-2/Graphic-Glitches/m-p/2453134#U2453134
You can also use Nvidia Inspector to force Ambient Occlusion in the game, you need to change Dragon Age 2's ambient occlusion flag to Dragon Age: Origins. You can also use it to add x16 anisotropiv filtering
The trufflesduval texture pack is better IMO, the Ultimate HD pack is too....sparkly, like the author added to much noise to the texures.
DX9 with driver forced AO and AF with trufflesduval texture pack basically looks like DX11 DA2 with blockier shadows on characters. It's good trade off as far as i'm concerned and it solved my issues of the game sticking for several seconds when walking around town.
