ptbptb Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I thought this might make an interesting article, so I'm using this forum to write the draft. Comments, corrections, questions and insults can go here. :smile: As a bonus this also includes the first four utilities installed! (Some of them are required for the mods to run) This article is my way of helping others benefit from my experiences (and avoid making the same mistakes I did). I don't claim to be an expert, but I do have the advantage that it's all fresh in my mind. The mods I've installed are suitable for a starting player. With the exception of Slof's Khajiit retexture they only include nudity if you specifically chose the 'nude' installation options. I am playing with the mods shown below, and only those mods, and have experienced no problems or conflicts except where noted. It is still a good idea to read the readmes, though. :wink: STARTING Install Oblivion (not into the default directory, use C:\Oblivion\ or something).Install Shivering Isles expansion (if you've got it).Install official mods (if you've got any).Install appropriate official patch(es). At this point you should take a copy of the Data subfolder in your Oblivion directory and copy it somewhere safe. It will take up 5GB of space, but it can save your bacon if you mess up things installing mods later. UTILITIES Oblivion mod manager Oblivion Script Extender (OBSE)Better Oblivion Sorting Software (BOSS) Fast Exit Oblivion mod manager (OBMM) allows you to use, and create .omod versions of mods. These are easier to install, activate, deactivate and uninstall. All of the following mods either have omod versions already or I will be providing omod conversion data for them. Installing a .omod mod is very easy - just double click on it and 'activate' it in OBMM. OBMM also can be used to control, and re-arrange, the order in which mods are loaded. Oblivion Script Extender (OBSE) is required for many mods to work correctly. Better Oblivion Sorting Software (BOSS) can help when trying to fix mod conflicts (hopefully there will be none with the following list). Fast Exit helps avoid Oblivion crashing when you exit the game - otherwise an annoyingly frequent event. MODS Please install and activate mods the mods you want from below in the order shown (it's best to check my notes and the readme files too ;) ).Unofficial Oblivion PatchUnofficial Shivering Isles PatchOnly if you have Shivering IslesUnofficial Official Mods PatchOnly if you have some of the Official ModsSM Plugin RefurbishRobert's female bodies compendiumRobert's Male Body v5 BetaSlof's Khajiit RetextureI use the tabby body. Unfortunately the whiskers don't display for me.Khajiit Auto Night-EyeLoading Screens Themed ReplacerLoading Screens Themed AddOnVanity Camera SmootherBirthsigns ExpandedExtended Imperial CityExtended ChorrolExtended SkingradCrowded Roads RevisitedStylish Jump - Animation ReplacerI installed it for player only.LowPoly GrassFor low specification computers. I installed the "LowPoly Grass for SI" version.Short Grass V3For low specification computers.Fixed Repriced ClutterThe Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch and Unofficial Official Mods Patch are only needed if you have the relevant Official product installed (e.g. Shivering Isle for the first, any official mods for the second). I recommend adding the first four mods right away. Add the other mods one by one to see how they affect Oblivion (Birthsigns Expanded should be installed before you are asked your birth sign - so save often until then). SM Plugin Refurbish has an uninspiring name but does its job. That job is to stop you being overwhelmed by instant quest starts for the expansions and Downloadable Content (DLC) you may have installed. Instead they are triggered when an appropriate point is reached. Robert's Male Body and Robert's female bodies compendium - just for nicer looking bodies than the original versions. Oh, and there's also a version without the nonremoveable-underwear. Slof's Khajiit Retexture and Khajiit Auto Night-Eye are not very relevant if you don't have a Khajiit character. Extended Imperial City, Extended Chorrol, Extended Skingrad and Crowded Roads Revisited - These all add NPCs to the lonely streets and roads of Oblivion. Possibly best avoided by those with slow computers or who dislike bumping into occasional crowds at doors and in pubs. The loading screen mods give you something more interesting and useful to look at while changing areas without breaking away from the game theme. Low spec computer? You may not think your computer is that old, but if its graphics card has less than 1GB dedicated graphics memory then it will probably struggle to cope with Oblivion at times. Low-Poly Grass makes a huge difference to 'meadow' scenes, Short Grass also helps a bit (and incidentally makes it easier to see plants to harvest ;) ) FINALLY If you use the mods above and like them, please go to their tesnexus page, endorse them and leave a comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bben46 Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 Good start :thumbsup: , you might also recommend the official patches If they do not have them already (v1.2.0416) These are true patches unlike the unofficial patches which are mods. A true patch makes changes in the game program itself and does not have an esp file. NO mod makes any changes to the game program. The unofficial patches are designed to work with the official ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptbptb Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Good start :thumbsup: , you might also recommend the official patches If they do not have them already (v1.2.0416)That was "Install appropriate official patch(es).". I suppose a link there would make it more obvious / easier. [EDIT]Added link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptbptb Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 The following is what I'm thinking of for the readme file. ******************************************* Work in Progress! This contains files supporting the (not finalized) article "My first twenty mods". It includes a load order list, omod conversion data and batch files to make installing the more complicated mods easier. ==== CONTENTS myfirst20mods.zip---.Zip archive that contains the following files and folders - one for each utility and mod. Each mod has a text file by the same name that describes it briefly and gives notes on how to install it. Mods that require them will also have sub-folders containing omod conversion data and batch files that help in customising the installation to match user preference: Readme.txt ---The text you are reading now. myfirst20mods.oaml---Active .omod files. This can be used to check you have installed the same .omod files that I did in the article. myfirst20mods.olod---Load order of mods. This can be used to re-order the mods after they have all been installed. 0a Oblivion mod manager.txt0b Oblivion Script Extender.txt0c Better Oblivion Sorting Software.txt0d Fast Exit.txt 01 Unofficial Oblivion Patch.txt02 Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.txt03 Unofficial Official Mods Patch.txt04 SM Plugin Refurbish.txt05 Robert's female bodies compendium.txt06 Robert's Male Body v5 Beta.txt07 Slof's Khajiit Retexture.txt + (folder)08 Khajiit Auto Night-Eye.txt + (folder)09 Loading Screens Themed Replacer.txt + (folder)10 Loading Screens Themed AddOn.txt + (folder)11 Vanity Camera Smoother.txt + (folder)12 Birthsigns Expanded.txt + (folder)13 Extended Imperial City.txt + (folder)14 Extended Chorrol.txt + (folder)15 Extended Skingrad.txt + (folder)16 Crowded Roads Revisited.txt + (folder)17 Stylish Jump - Animation Replacer.txt + (folder)18 LowPoly Grass.txt + (folder)19 Short Grass V3.txt + (folder)20 Fixed Repriced Clutter.txt + (folder) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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