The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

[Lucjan]

I hate running into random caves and suddenly discovering that they're full of vampires. I avoid contracting porphyrric hemophelia like the plague.

I know what you mean regarding the gear you'll never use again. I can't bring myself to sell it because I feel like I'm selling a relic. I kind of like the idea of having a personal museum.

[Somebody Else]

I hate running into random caves and suddenly discovering that they're full of vampires. I avoid contracting porphyrric hemophelia like the plague.

I know what you mean regarding the gear you'll never use again. I can't bring myself to sell it because I feel like I'm selling a relic. I kind of like the idea of having a personal museum.

The porphyric haemophilia isn't too much of a problem - just don't sleep until you've bought/made/found a cure disease potion and drunk it. Personally I love running into vampire dens - I'll usually keep going back in after I've allowed them to respawn - lots of decent loot, and some decently tough humanoid enemies to fight (monsters are a bit boring). Going in with a flaming weapon is tantamount to cheating, but I do it anyway.

Personally, I like to keep unique stuff. Random stuff, I'll sell (and, indeed - except very early on) any non-enchanted weapons that aren't daedric (exception, when I'm trying to raise my armourer skill beyond 50 - so I can repair magical items). I like to use high-end kit at all times. Certain quest rewards are levelled, but the appropiate mod will cause those items to increase in power as you level up - so that at level 20 say, you'll have the level 20 version of the sword you acquired at level 4.

[Lucjan]

I'm still looking around for the hidden uniques like you could find in Morrowind. You know what I mean, the "Sword of White Woe" from morrowind for example.

It's amazing how useful some of the uniques in Oblivion remain even after you've progressed a great deal through the game. The Weatherlight Circlet (possibly incorrect name, haven't looked it up just now) for example. Takes 10% off of some specific magic types. I mean, 10% is 10%. Way better than taking the full brunt of the magic.

[Kraxis]

I really love the Thief Guild and Dark Brotherhood missions... Cloak and Dagger (respectively actually). I especially love the Darkies missions. Quite complicated, yet rather simple and fun to go through.

[Kraxis]

I'm still looking around for the hidden uniques like you could find in Morrowind. You know what I mean, the "Sword of White Woe" from morrowind for example.

It's amazing how useful some of the uniques in Oblivion remain even after you've progressed a great deal through the game. The Weatherlight Circlet (possibly incorrect name, haven't looked it up just now) for example. Takes 10% off of some specific magic types. I mean, 10% is 10%. Way better than taking the full brunt of the magic.

I have an amulet that reflects 15% of all magic... Pretty hefty, and my Chorrol shield reflects physical damage (and I have a ring that adds to that too), so standing around with some shield potion active while blocking will eventually kill any melee enemy.

[AntiochusIII]

Okay, don't wanna bring up the old question (actually, I do ) -- but how does Oblivion compare to Morrowind?

I've got this *gut* feeling that I wouldn't like this sequel at all compare to Morrowind's grand immersion and downright exotic atmosphere. So many rumors are floating around about a thousand annoyances and, quite frankly, much fewer factions -- and fewer towns, a smaller land -- to play around compare to Morrowind. Oh, and the generic fantasy setting compare to the strange Morrowind architecture and people. I mean, I don't wanna go into the game and find out that the legendary Imperial City is smaller than Vivec/supposedly gigantic Cyrodiil smaller than that little island of Vvardenfell/the mighty Daedra can be killed at level 1 or something like that. I just want to feel the sheer scale and massiveness of it all like I used to when I started Morrowind.

How wrong am I?

[Keba]

Hm, Cyrodiil is smaller that what it was described as, but I believe it is larger than Morrowind.

The cities are not very large, most of them, however are about the size of the larger cities in Morrowind with the Imperial city being about the size of Vivec. The cities are, of course, not the only thing, but the quick-travel tends to prevent people from exploring ... there are quite a few little villages (most of them the size of Seyda Neen), which include some rather interesting quests (like the village full of invisible people).

Thing is, the levelling system allows you to kill important stuff early on, but, the only things you'll encounter are the slightly weaker monsters (thus, you won't be encountering fully armoured Dremora, but Scamps, etc). In theory, you could finish the game as level one ... which is why you get a mod, usually the Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul which solves that particular problem.

The generic fantasy setting thing, well, it's kinda true. While each town has it's own architecture, they are, for the most part, less interesting than Morrowind's. Although I somewhat prefer the vista of the Imperial city compared to the funghus of the Telvanni.

Factions, there are only four factions with importance. Plus, there's the Arena, and the Blades (but the Blades are campaign related, and thus not a faction really). After those (main ones) there are countless others, from the Knights of the Thorn, a society or two, etc. Most of those minors are usually connected to a single quest, but most of those quests are interesting (except for the Knights of the Thorn one, find the Knights in the Oblivion gate, get them out again), but then, I never investigated further, so they might have a continuation.

I would however suggest that you try it out at a friends' first ... it is a style some people like, some don't, and see for yourself.

[econ21]

I've got this *gut* feeling that I wouldn't like this sequel at all compare to Morrowind's grand immersion and downright exotic atmosphere.

I think you've picked up the correct vibes and if it bothers you, don't buy it or try a friends. Morrowind had great atmosphere - it was like some wierd almost sci-fi setting. It also felt really big. Oblivion feels like the Forgotten Realms and personally feels pretty small; the province almost feels like a lakeside. It sounds like you'll be really disappointed.

Personally, I find Oblivion the better game but Morrowind is the more impressive virtual world.

[Lucjan]

Morrowind was more impressive atmospherically because it was fresh, a new perspective on an rpg realm, but Oblivion takes the old and the new of generic and moderately original and makes it into the fanciest looking (provided your comp can handle the stress of it's graphics on high) rpg to date, and darn fun to play too. But, like you said, if you're looking for the innovative and the undone, don't expect something incredible. Cyrodiil is your typical metropolitan rpg realm.

[AntiochusIII]

Thank you for all the responses. Oblivion is, after all, a sequel to one of my favorite games -- the idea of playing it at my friend's first is really cool; I'll have to try that sometime then. Perhaps the genericness won't bother me too much, especially if I let it by long enough for all the interesting mods to pop up as they did in Morrowind. New semester's opening so that shouldn't be too hard.

[Lucjan]

*whimpers at the thought of new semesters and losing valuable gaming time*

[tibilicus]

Well I got 2k togehter for the imperial city waterfornt shack. Does any one know were I can find the guy to but it of?

Thanks

Tib

[Lucjan]

Go to the market district in the imperial city, amongst the clutter of shops in there there's a building called "Imperial Trade Commission" or something similar, go inside and there will be a women behind the counter in front of you. One of her conversation options deals with the house.

[tibilicus]

well after 15 hours of Oblivion it ends for me. It made my pc go funny and my desktop icons disapaear so i tried a systemr estore which made it worse. Ended up formating (twice) as the first time sp2 messed it all up again). Would be tempted to start again but ym saves are gone.

Have fun oblivion players and play on for Tib..

[Lucjan]

I doubt it was Oblivion itself, much more likely some stupid microsoft product you have because microsoft said you needed it when you didn't. Windows Service Pack 2 for example.

[tibilicus]

Aye sweet, blisfull, oblivion can not be blamed. But XP itself for being so awful.

[Lucjan]

lol, see. Damned microsoft and their faulty operating systems!

[Kraxis]

Ah yes... the exploration of Cyrodiil.

There are indeed a lot of small villages with interesting quests attached. That one with the invisible people is pretty funny, while the odd cult village is downright hard and pretty scary.

And a lot of small inns scattered around the world have quests too. And the entire east side of the river is without cities, so there is little reason to go there, but if you do you will finds forts, caves, mines, shrines and ruins in masses. Even villages and lonely houses. Pretty nice to be sure. But the world could certainly have needed a High Elf or Wood Elf city in the large forested area to the southeast of Imperial City. There is simply not enough reason to go there otherwise. And the High Elves certainyl lack their own city. So too do the Bretons (where do they hang out?).

[Lucjan]

All the races have their own little home provinces outside Cyrodiil, and the Bretons are in High Rock. Unless my history is hazy. lol

[Kraxis]

Yes yes, but notice that each race more or less have their own city in Cyrodiil.
Could it actually be Anvil that is Breton? Or is that Redguard given their lands (Hammerfell) are just to the north?

In any case one or two more cities would help a great deal. The place just seems terribly underpopulated comapred to the many legends about it's power and how it conquered all around it.

[Sir Moody]

...Wood Elf city in the large forested area to the southeast of Imperial City.

ask and ye shall recieve

Solace


this mod was released a few months ago and i havent played it yet (i have around 80 mods installed it takes time to get through them all ) but its basically a Wood elf city to the south of the imperial city

[Kraxis]

Cool!

It looks great.

[professorspatula]

After the snore-fest of Morrowind, I wasn't interested in this game. However, after seeing this great review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMIoAAnZt_4
and learning you can throw shoes on top of other people's houses, well that's sold it for me. As soon as I get myself a decent graphics card or just sort out the mess of my current machine, I'll get it.

[Xiahou]

Anyone look into the total overhaul mods that are out now? They address scaling issues along with spawns and loot complaints that many have.

The two big one's Ive heard of are:

Adventurer's Oblivion
and
Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul

I havent tried either- but after reading the two homepages, Im leaning towards Oscuro's. Anyone tried either?

[[DnC]]

Xiahou,

You could always look into Francesco's leveled creatures/item mod. I find this to be a very good and balanced one.
Note: There are two downloads. One is the item/level mod and the other a third party - although compilated (?) by himself and balanced to fit in with the main mod - weapons and armours mod (optional). If you have any of these weapons or armours as standalone or atleast seperate from this mod, get rid of them and use his weapons and armours mod only. First install the main mod, then weapons and armours. When installing the main mod you can also select to install a folder with screenshots of all the weapons and armours that are in the third party weapons and armours mod. This way you can view the weapons and armours and decide if you do or do not like to install this additional mod.

His mod allows for many choices on what you want to use and what not.

Francesco's latest thread thread on the official TES forum (lots of info).

He regularly updates his mod, so keep an eye on it for newer versions. FYI he creates a new thread for every new version.

[Xiahou]

Thanks for the info.

Another question for anyone who knows... I recently tried to install some custom races for my wife. Trouble is, they seem to break race-based dialog- meaning the little twerp in prison doesnt talk to you so the emperor never shows, ect. leaving you stuck in prison when using a custom race.

I found a supposed 'custom race fix' mod- but it doesnt seem to work. Is the mod broken or is it a load order problem?

[Lucjan]

Just curious, because you mentioned it, is it possible to sneak back into the prison later and kill that little bugger?

[Keba]

Yes, in the Dark Brotherhood. You have to sneak back in the way you went out, then take him out, preferably without being seen by the guards around the place.

And the best thing is, you do it the day before he gets out ... and his reaction is very, very entertaining when you talk to him before you kill him.

[Lucjan]

awesome

But I'm not in the db, so I think I'll just do it anyway.

[English assassin]

And the best thing is, you do it the day before he gets out ... and his reaction is very, very entertaining when you talk to him before you kill him.

Nuts, I just offed the little rat, one arrow from the shadows through the bars, and he never even saw me. It never occured to me to talk to my victims. I'll have to rename my character Tuco ("When its time to shoot, shoot - don't talk")...

Lucjan the DB quests are fun, though obviously you do need to be running an ever so slightly amoral character...