Oblivion Revisited: Mod-builds from the ground up

[ScottishViking]

Hey everyone,

 

I am coming back to Oblivion after a few years hiatus. I am WAY out of date on the current mod situation.

 

I am looking for help in building a near-comprehensive mod list for this time around.

 

I have a pretty powerful machine at my disposal. I'm hoping you guys can give me some good advice!

 

If there are any "recommendation lists" that cover a lot of what I'm discussing, I'd love to hear about those also.

 

What I'm looking for:

 

1) OOO or some alternate leveling manager/world changer like it: Last time I played (2008), I had a fantastic time using OOO. Is it still in use, or is it still considered good in relationship to other available mods? Anything but vanilla.

 

2) Stealth/thievery mods

 

3) Trading/economy mods

 

4) Combat improvement/difficulty mods (I like a challenge! Although I assume some of this might conflict with things like OOO?)

 

5) Utilities (Wyre Bash still in use?)

 

6) Graphics Changes: like I said, I have a powerful machine now. I know this is a HUGE question. But if you guys could give me the "big ones," I'd really appreciate it.

 

7) Quest mods: I like big, long, epic quest arcs. Would love to see some recommendations on this one.

 

8 ) Immersion mods: background sounds, conversation mods, etc.

 

9) Expanded World mods: anything to make the world bigger.

 

That's it for now. I know this is a lot to ask for, but I would REALLY love to hear what you guys have to say.

 

Thanks!

 

SV

[schijnn]

(Mods please delete this post. I was trying to be helpful and went overboard, now I can't get links to work at all.)

[schijnn]

Welcome back!

I can only answer a few of these, but I'll give it my best shot.

 

1.) OOO is still around, but there's now a whole ecosystem of mods built around it, known as FCOM. (It is still available separately, of course)

 

2 & 3 I can't answer, as I don't use any mods that affect these areas.

 

4.) OOO makes combat significantly harder, but there's also Duke Patrick's mods, Deadly Reflex, and Unnecessary Violence. On the other side Mayu's Animation Overhaul helps balance things out.

 

5.) Wrye Bash is indeed still in use. There's also Oblivion Mod Manager and BOSS.

 

6.) Qarl's Texture Pack and Bomret's SI Textures are both fantastic, as is Better Cities.

 

7.) My favorite category. I'm currently using Lost Spires, Return of Shadows, Frostcrag Reborn, Kvatch Rebuilt, and Lost Paladins of the Divines.

 

8.) Lots of sound enhancers out there: Ambient Dungeons, Ambient Town Sounds, Ambient Dungeon SFX, Atmospheric Oblivion, and Audia Arcanum.

 

9.) There are only two I know of currently: The Lands of Solstheim-Vvardenfell-Mournhold, which adds the lands from Morrowind, and Elsweyr: the Deserts of Anequina, which adds the province of Elsweyr. (Unfortunately, Elsweyr is not available at the moment.)

 

...and that's it. Hope I've been at least somewhat helpful, and welcome back!

[ScottishViking]

Welcome back!

I can only answer a few of these, but I'll give it my best shot.

 

This is extremely helpful. And thank you x 1,000,000 for giving links. :)

[schijnn]

Two more I couldn't fit in my last post: Unique Landscapes and Mannimarco: Resurrection.