Modding Oblivion. Where should I start?

[JigglyWharf]

I just bought Oblivion Game of the Year Edition Deluxe on Steam. I want to mod it but I'm a little lost. As far as tools I'm going to be using LOOT and Mod Organizer. Will these work well together? Is there a better option?

 

Now onto mods... I don't know which ones are good. I'd like an overhaul mod but there are so many. I just need to be pointed in the right direction.

[Maskar]

People usually use OBMM and/or Wrye Bash (with BOSS). I've never even tried LOOT or Mod Organizer, so can't comment on those.

 

Concerning overhaul mod suggestions, being completely objective, I've been told Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul is pretty good. Some individuals claim Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul is alright too (j/k).

[45AARP]

Just start out using OBMM, unless you're unusually patient and tech-savvy enough to learn Wrye Bash from the getgo.

 

If you want a completely different game experience, go for OOO. If you want Oblivion the way it should have been done, use Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul.

 

Also, get ALL of the unofficial patches. The Unofficial Oblivion patch, Unofficial SI patch, and the Unofficial DLC patch. This is mandatory for thousands of bug fixes, many of which are game-breaking or crash-causing.

 

Install BOSS, and use it to organize your load order. Your load order is the difference between your game crashing on startup/every 15 minutes and your game running without crashes at all. Make sure it is right by using BOSS.

 

If you have a video card that you know you are pushing 60+ fps at all times in Oblivion, and want a bit more visual aesthetic added into the mix, look into ENB or OBGE.

 

Be VERY CAREFUL to backup your oblivion folder at all times, and never install more than 3-4 mods at once, even if they are simple animation/texture replacers. This will save you from hating this game many times over.

 

Enjoy the game.

Edited September 5, 2014 by slapahotribe23