Mods for a first playthrough

[Theminimanx]

So I'm going to start by saying the one thing that should never be said on this forum.

I haven't played Morrowind.

I do really want to however, and I'm really interested in the work you guys are doing here. Obviously, when you play something for the first time you should play the vanilla game. But I often hear people say that certain mods are essential, and it's obvious from the screenshots posted that even a mod that tries to emulate the vanilla game is designed with some mods in mind.

So my question is, what (TR compatible) mods should a first time player use, while still keeping the vanilla game intact?

My second, slightly related question is, what is the opinion of long-time Morrowind players on the smaller plugins released by Bethesda?

Thank you in advance for any answers.

[Dar]

additional music
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Mods.Detail&id=5414
This might help a lot, as the original Morrowind had very, very few tracks in its playlist, and they (naturally) got old fast

mounts
well, two actually:
Abot's guars (suggested)
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=mods.detail&id=6112
It's hard to use, but hugely more in-line with the original game, save the generic naming of the trainers

Pegas Horse Ranch
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=mods.detail&id=2811
Never used it, but it adds unicorns and other fanciful stuff along with horses, despite horses' having been absent from Morrowind and most of its lore.

combat system
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=mods.detail&id=2164
and/or (not sure, never used)
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Mods.Detail&id=8355

Of course, this is just to wet your whistle a little. I suggested these under the guess that you've come from a later ES game. If so, welcome to the party!

(side note: I haven't used the music mods, the combat system mods, or Pegas Horse ranch, but I'm just about to have a play with the music, so I can follow up with my opinions thereon.)[/b]

[Theminimanx]

Wow, I honestly didn't expect anyone to reply to this thread, so thank you!

On the subject of mods, I've already started a game, with 2 of the official plugins, as well as a mod that's supposed to delay the Dark Brotherhood attacks, but for whatever reason doensn't.

As for other mods, I'm trying to keep it as close to vanilla as possible, so I'll probably just leave all the other oddities as they are.

Thank you for the music mod by the way. The original tracks are getting a little old.

[Dar]

back after having tried the music mod, and it didn't personally suit my tastes, but that said, a console command exists to play your own music.
A list of them can be found here:
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Console

should contain it

Also, neverhalls and forgotten halls look interesting; they add oblivion-tyle architecture and traps and stuff.