The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

[Lucjan]

Isn't that really self contradictory? If you didn't like it, and you're going to whine about all these silly, tiny minute details nobody else seems to have a problem with...why buy it?

[Xiahou]

some of the gameplay was redundant and stupid (persuasion minigame, anyone?)

I thought the persuasion mini-game was pretty stupid too. So I replaced it with this excellent mod.

From the mod summary:

Instead, this mod implements persuasion through regular dialogue. You are free to pick any option you want, and either try the same one over and over or alternate between many. Each time you pick an option, you have a base chance of success based on your speechcraft skill. Then, your chances are modified based on the current disposition of the NPC. The higher their disposition, the harder it is to raise it further. Finally, each option has an individual modifier based on a number of factors (see the Modifiers section below), making it easier or harder to use that option with a particular NPC. For instance, you will have a much easier time coercing a farmer than you will the Arena Grand Champion, and the burly Nord in the local tavern will be more impressed by your boasting than will the Countess of Chorrol, etc. In this way, there is some amount of player skill and role playing required for successful persuasion rather than randomly clicking options.

The persuasion mini-game seemed so gimmicky- and it was total cake to boot. I like this much better as it adds to immersion rather than detracting from it.

[cannon_fodder]

Isn't that really self contradictory? If you didn't like it, and you're going to whine about all these silly, tiny minute details nobody else seems to have a problem with...why buy it?

No, it isn't. I did say "it's better than most games out there". It's worth playing, but not a masterpiece. And I'm definitely not the first to complain about those issues (which I hardly consider "minute" anyway).

That mod sounds excellent Xiahou, I'll probably use it when I buy the game. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Hi guys, I finally got around to buying this now that my PC can handle it, and I was wondering-should I install mods before I start the game, and if so, which ones? Or should I try playing vanilla for a bit first?

[Lucjan]

Try vanilla out for a little while first before you add anything. Get to know what you think you want to see added before you add it.

[Keba]

You can always add mods later ... while opening your save, you'll get a warning which you can safely ingone, and the mods contents will be in.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Oh, alright then. I was just wondering if there were any mods which indisputably improved the game, and I should install straight away.

[Slyspy]

You can always add mods later ... while opening your save, you'll get a warning which you can safely ingone, and the mods contents will be in.

Thats not entirely true. The more cosmetic mods and those which add content can usually just be added as you go along (use Oblivion Mod Manager so that they load in the correct order, to identify any major conflicts and to ensure that all the data is being loaded correctly). Larger scale mods that change fundamental game mechanics (especially if they play around with quest NPCs/locations) tend to be screwy if you just crowbar them into an existing game and require some work with third party programs like Wyre Bash to get them working properly.

I run a load of mods that have altered all sorts of facets of the game. Vanilla was bland, boring and pointless. Now I have the game which I wanted.

[Xiahou]

Hi guys, I finally got around to buying this now that my PC can handle it, and I was wondering-should I install mods before I start the game, and if so, which ones? Or should I try playing vanilla for a bit first?

I posted a list of mods that someone compiled a few pages back- it was pretty comprehensive. Some mod you might know you want right off the bat, just based on their description. Others, you may have to you may have to play the game first to appreciate (or not) the need for a mod.

The beauty of Oblivion on the PC is how virtually anyone can customize it to their tastes with mods.

[econ21]

I run a load of mods that have altered all sorts of facets of the game. Vanilla was bland, boring and pointless. Now I have the game which I wanted.

Just out of interest: Which ones do you run and why? (I've never tried any.)

[AntiochusIII]

Oh, alright then. I was just wondering if there were any mods which indisputably improved the game, and I should install straight away.

While I am an advocate of "try vanilla first" approach when it comes to Elder Scrolls game (it was intensely satisfying when I finally was able to pick up empty paper without reading it--a satisfaction that won't be there without the sacrifices and irritations of picking up scrap papers like they're books), I'd say that the only mods you should try to put in on the first round are the small ones that remove annoyances. When there are a lot (and it has to be a lot) of people commenting like "Thank God for this mod!" and "The [insert expletive irritation here] is gone! I'll have your baby!" for an extremely simple, one-feature mod you can usually deduct that the issue is probably irritating in the original game.

Having not owned Oblivion myself, I don't know which would be like that. An example I mentioned of Morrowind would be very simple things like Alternate Starts, Removing "E..e...excuse me Nerevarine" greetings, and make empty papers like ordinary objects. Sanity-savers, these are called.

I won't suggest going on a full "change the fundamentals of leveling" kind of mod right off the bat.

[lars573]

The things people complain about most are the persusion and lock picking mini games. Neither of which are major things, you can avoid persuasion via bribes and lock picking is easy to figure out. And the whole level scalling thing. In Oblivion if you get to a high enough level Bandits will be wearing Glass armour. Oh yeah and PC players whine about the interface to no end.

[Lucjan]

I'm a pc player, and see no problem with the interface.

How could someone complain about the interface?

[x-dANGEr]

I guess by saying "omg the ui sucs!1 omg lam omg omg"

[Lucjan]

Well, not quite what I meant.

[lars573]

I'm a pc player, and see no problem with the interface.

How could someone complain about the interface?

For PC users it's the second most popular complaint. After level scaling.

[Lucjan]

I just fail to see any problems with the user interface. I've been playing TES since Arena through Daggerfall and Morrowind into Oblivion. It's always been the same interface, so I don't understand the complaints.

[lars573]

PC (some) users see the interface in Oblivion as being taylored for use with a controller, rather than a mouse. Or at least that what I've gleaned. The only version of any Elder Scroll game I'll play is the console one.

[Lucjan]

Some pc users are too brainwashed by fps's...

[BDC]

Some pc users are too brainwashed by fps's...

Or by having fonts and an interface which work properly at higher resolutions and with a mouse?

[Lucjan]

I don't know what you're talking about, I've never had any problems with the interface and the mouse, or with the resolutions.

[Xiahou]

Or by having fonts and an interface which work properly at higher resolutions and with a mouse?

There's a UI mod that shows much more map territory on the screen and also makes the text and icons smaller on the menus.

I've gotten so used to it that I had forgot I installed the mod until I read these comments again.

[BDC]

I don't know what you're talking about, I've never had any problems with the interface and the mouse, or with the resolutions.

Try some of the interface mods lying about. You'll be shocked how much better it looks, how much more accessible it is, and how much easier it is to use.

[Lucjan]

But..I like the interface, it holds true to the previous three games.

[Placid Tramp]

But..I like the interface, it holds true to the previous three games.

I'm sorry but Oblivion's interface is nothing like Morrowind's. In Oblivion you have to navigate through dozens of different menus, where you can only see 1 thing at a time, which are obviously design for a gamepad. In Morrowind a right click & everything is there in resizable windows - you can interact with the world barely noticing the interface.

I have found that the Btmod does improve this however.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

the mod i mainly play is oscuro's oblivion overhaul.... it is very different to vanilla tes:o and adds loads of new things... my only problem with it is that it is hard when starting up and towards the end it is quite easy; the bandits etc have unchanging levels and stats i think... another thing is you have to start a new game to play it (since so much new stuff has been added)

[ChaosLord]

Hi guys, I finally got around to buying this now that my PC can handle it, and I was wondering-should I install mods before I start the game, and if so, which ones? Or should I try playing vanilla for a bit first?

Theres three mods I would recommend to start off with.

First is Francesco's Leveled Items-Creature Mod. Which tweaks the leveled item/creature system to make more sense and adds some other optional features like hardcore combat/loot. Also has an option addon with alot of new weapons, armor, items, and creatures added. Heres the link to the mod:
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.co....Detail&id=268

Next is BTMod by Tikigod and Beider. Its a mod that improves the interface to make it easier for PC users. It isn't huge tweaks, but rather alot of small ones to get the desired effect. You can also simply take what features you want and leave out those you don't if not all of the tweaks appeal to you. Heres the link to the mod: http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.co...s.Detail&id=25

Finally there is the Satellite Cyrodill mod by Jason Krushar. This doesn't affect many things, just the map in your journal. The guy took screenshots of the continent from high up in the CS and stitched them together. The result is an aerial-overview map of sorts in place of the dull map that used to be there. Perhaps from a strictly-roleplaying sense its too much information, but it is still great to look at it. Heres the link to the mod:
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.co...Detail&id=1071

Those are the main ones i'd recommend, the others are really just small tweaks or addons like the SpellIcon Replacement or the Marie Elena mod.

[lars573]

All this interface stuff means squat to me. I play the 360 version. But I'm looking forward to the Knights of the nine pack that on the way. Adds a whole new quest line (as well as all other official Oblivion content). The kinghts of the nine. They are the polar opposite to the dark brotherhood. In fact if you gain any infamy you get booted out of the order and have to start over.

[Slyspy]

Just out of interest: Which ones do you run and why? (I've never tried any.)

A late reply, but here you are:


Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul - Complete gameplay change, many new features
Attack and hide - Sneaking how I want it
Natural Weather - Better weather effects
Darker Nights - Obvious
Darker Dungeons - Obvious
Trainer Book - For saving time
Natural Vegetation - Prettier forests
Natural Habitat - Insects etc
Deadlier Traps - Traps that kill
NoMoreAnnoyingMessages - No more loading area messages
Dyseso's Light Ingredients - carry more potatoes!
Brighter Torches - See further in the darker dungeons
Unlimited Rings - Wear more than two rings if you like
Better Imperfect Water - Prettier water
Fathis Fix - Bug fix (not in the patch)
Muffin Display Rooms - A display room linked to from all owned houses
No Psychic Guards - Stealing things like it should be
MarkAndRecall - Saves having to backtrack through cleared dungeons
Improved Lava - More realistic lava
Callsteed - Stops you losing your horse
More Shields - Obvious, more stylish shields
Remove Spell Potions - Remove obsolete spells
MapMarkers - Leave markers at visited locations (eg vampires here etc)
Better Gardens - Prettier garden
SeveriansKatanas - Many katanas
Bankmod - A bank!
Slof's Horses Essential - Prettier horses that don't get killed
Burning Kvatch - Kvatch eventually stops burning
Rain - Hear rain when indoors
Mages Guild Quest Fixes - Bug fixes (not in patch)
MD's Saddlebags - Load your horse with junk
Town Ceremonial Armour - Armour for guards
House Map Markers - Fast travel to your front door
VA Better Gold - Shiney!
Realistic Force Medium - Better combat physics
Orcish Kabuto - Better Orcish helm
Intial Glow - Stops magic weapons from glowing
DEJ Harvest - Harvested plants disappear and later regrow
Keychain - tidies up the hundreds of keys you gather
Quest Award Leveling - Levelled goodies level with you
Tamriel VWD - See forts and ruins from afar (less pop-up)
Cliff Better Letters - More interesting random letters
Myths and Legends - Some serious quest/hardware for higher levels
Vibliribland's Epic Dungeons - Tough dungeons for higher levels
Illumination Within - Towns and buildings light up at night
Living Economy - Changes to pricing, merchant gold etc
Alternate Dwarven Helm - Look less like a bronze duck
No Merchant BArter Chatter - Annoying repetative chatter removed
Visually Enchanted - More abracadabra to you magic weapons
Dark Green Glass - a less cartoony glass armour
Short Grass - Find dropped items, see wolves, improve fps
Alternate Night Eye Shaders - More intersting effects (eg predator, infra etc)
Low Poly Grass - Improves fps dramatically
BTMOd - A higher res interface, menu screens etc
Elven Cartographers - A snazzier world map

Plus a whole load of other texture replacers, landscape mods etc etc. Alot of the graphical mods (especially the Tamriel VWD one) hit fps, but if you can run it are so worth it. Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul (OOO) turned the gameplay into the game I wanted, and has alot of features and options. Some of the mods (like OOO and Harvest) run additional scripts which may tax a weaker CPU.

I use Mod Manager to ensure that conflicts are at a minimum and not gamebreaking, and also to ensure that the mods load in the correct order (ie the correct ones override the others).

[frogbeastegg]

Old, old question I know, but what mods do people recommend for the frog who got Oblivion to test out her new desktop? It's been four months since the question was last asked, so I'd expect there to be new mods to look at, and evolutions of older ones.

Also, is the 'Knights of Nine' expansion worth getting? Any comments on it at all? There was a specific thread for it, but it was tiny and didn't last long.