Help stabilizing modded Oblivion

[CasanovaFly]

No, quicksave is turned off.

 

Not at my Oblivion computer right now, can check the A-Bomb thing in a couple hours. How do I check that, by the way?

[Striker879]

You can check but I doubt it's related to your problem (just re-read your OP ... sounds like a pretty new low hour character you're playing).

 

The A-Bomb is listed in one of the Saves tab right click menu sections ... can't recall exactly as I need to go searching myself every time it need to run the fix. I use the flames on the Legion rider's torches as the tell-tale. When you start seeing little bits of flame trailing behind I run the fix (even though WB claims it doesn't need it). You could run it every gaming session if you wanted, running it has no negative consequences I've ever heard about or experienced.

 

I think posting your load order from WB will be needed to stop the aimless speculation of what mod you may have installed that may have some problems (i.e. Better Cities Waterfront tunnel used to crop up quite frequently ... they must have fixed it somewhat as I don't see posts about it anymore ... but at the present time I couldn't even say whether or not you're using Better Cities ... or Open Cities, or Open Better Cities ... you get the point).

[CasanovaFly]

Gotcha. I'll post the load order when I get home. Though, in the meantime, not running any variation of Cities; Better, Open, or Reborn of any kind.

[Striker879]

Complete details on your hardware and any steps you've taken to allow this old game to do what it wasn't designed to do as well (4GB patchers, memory VRAM purgers etc).

 

My latest build took ages to just install (I lost my previous install to a RAID 0 hard drive failure). A good part of the reason it took so long is how long some of my "test sessions" lasted, but in the end I have a good understanding of which mods in my load order are the most closely related to any instability. My biggest culprit is NPCs Yield Refined, but that is due to the INI changes I've selected (I keep those that yield alive in the game rather than allow the mod to purge them as soon as the player leaves the cell ... kuertee even warns that it causes instability so I don't need to look far when pointing fingers ... there's a bunch pointing at me if I get to pointing fingers).

 

I've noticed that certain cell transition areas are more dramatic than others for "loading stress" (for lack of a better description of the situation). Coupled with whether or not I know I've left some naked bandits wander around since I was last there makes me a frequent saver (I also have the cell reset bumped up to 15 days, so they do hang around longer ... making a bad situation worse). Don't overwrite saves (something I picked up long ago while reading through Wrye's Musings).

 

The other thing I noticed right off the bat with this build was how much stress the UOPs add (they are after all just mods ... really really big mods in the case of the UOP). They were the first thing I added after an good long pure vanilla test session (didn't use them at all in my previous build as I started out as a permanent bound armor junkie and the UOP takes away that exploit ... I go to my PBA Anonymous meetings now ... first step, I'm powerless over my desire to use PBA and my game has become unmanageable).

[CasanovaFly]

Hardware

CPU: 3570K @ 4.7Ghz

Mobo: ASRock Z68 Fatal1ty Professional

GPU: MSI GTX 570 Twin Frozr III x2 (SLI)

RAM: 32GB @ 2000MHz

 

Steps taken

4GB Patcher

Streamline (only thing I could think of for memory purger)

 

Mods installed (in no particular order; this is from a personal record/guide I keep for installing, so will have some weird notes or names)

• Unofficial Oblivion Patch v3.5.2b

• Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch v1.5.6a

• Unofficial Oblivion DLC Patches v21a

 

• Francesco’s Leveled Creatures v4.5

• Fast Exit v2.0

• Athletics Skill Increases While Riding v1.0

• Colored Shivering Isles Map v1.1

• Dialogue Idles v1.0

• Dude Where's My Horse v100.0

• Dynamic Map v2.1.1

• House Map Markers v1.4

• Improved Athletics Leveling v1.5

• Keychain v5.00

• Loading Screens Themed Replacer v1.0 + SI + Add-On

• Marker Explore v1.0

• MenuQue v16b

• No Start Game Fast Travel v1

• Quest Award Leveler Battlehorn Support v1.0

• Quiet Feet v1

• Reneer's Guard Overhaul v2.56

• Save Skill Training For Later v1.00

• Shorter Escape v1.0

• Skill Perk Descriptions v1.1

• Smarter Mercantile Leveling v1.65

• Spell Delete And Item Remove v4.0

• Streamline v3.1

• Universal Silent Voice v0.93

• A Brotherhood Renewed v1.1.2

• Elsweyr The Deserts Of Anequina vMarch 2014 + Tribal Huts Replacer

• Frostcrag Reborn De-Isolated v1.4.7

• Frostcrag Village 1.0.7

• Golden Crest v1.20a + Battlehorn Compatibility

• Knights Of The Nine Revelations v1.3.7

• Kvatch Rebuilt v3.0pb4

• Kvatch Rebuilt No More Burned Ground v3.0pb4

• Oblivifall Losing My Religion v1.43

• Oblivion Content Restoration Project v1.0

• Reclaiming Sancre Tor v1.0.5

• The Heart Of The Dead v6.5

• The Lost Spires v14

• Vampire Hunting v3.0

• Verona House Bloodlines v1.5.6 Shivering Isles Fix

• Werewolf Legends Of The North v2.0

• The Imperial City Of Sutch Reborn v9.1

• Atmospheric Oblivion v1.1

• Audia Arcanum Sound Overhaul v2.0

• More Immersive Sound Edited v1.0

• Symphony Of Violence v0.5

• Alluring Potion Bottles v3

• Ancient Silver Armour v1.0

• Anduril Reforged v1.33

• Better Goldware & Silverware v1.1

• Better Staff Textures v1.0

• Better Wine v1.1

• Blades Ceremonial Armour v1.0

• Book Jackets Knights Of The Nine v1.0

• Book Jackets Oblivion High Res v1.0

• Book Placement v2.0

• Broadswords v1.3b

• Dark Brotherhood Armor Retexture v1.1

• Grimbots Spell Tomes v1.0

• Imperial Furniture Renovated v1.4.1

• Improved Soulgems v1.11

• Insanity's Improved Armoury Compilation v1.21

• Kafei's Better Amulet & Rings Replacer v1

• Lost Paladins Of The Divine v2.0

• Mike's Clothes Replacer v1.1

• Painters Touch 1024 v1.0

• Rusty Items v1.3

• Save Skill Books For Later Book Placement Book Jackets v1.1

• Shivering Book Jackets v1.0

• Tyrael Armor v1.0

• 300 Akaviri Stronghold v1.7

• Arena Alive v2.0

• Bank Of Cyrodiil v1.11 + Better Gold v2.0

• Battlehorn Castle Upgraded v1.04

• Belda Elysium v1.5

• Benirus Lair v1.0

• Better Abandoned House v2.0

• Better Benirus Manor v4.72

• Better Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary v3.22

• Bravil Sea Domes v1.1

• Bruma Mages Guild Restored v1.02

• Castle Almgard v2.4

• Castle Dunkerlore v1.1.2

• Castle Highrock v1.1

• Castle Seaview v1.1

• Dungeons Of Ivellon v1.7

• Faregyl Village v2.0.11

• Faregyl Village Anequina Patch v2.0

• Glenvar Castle v0.02.10

• Hoarfrost Castle v1.2.2

• ImpeREAL City v3.0 Let The People Drink Version

• ImpeREAL Empire Unique Castles v2.0 + Skingrad Patch

• ImpeREAL Empire Unique Forts v2.6.1

• ImpeREAL Empire Unique Forts The Lost Spires Patch v2.0

• Imperial City Library v1.3

• Mountain Tower v6.0

• MTC Thieves Grotto v4

• Nascosto Isles v3

• Shadowcrest Vineyard + Guard v1.02

• Silent Stones Camp v1.2

• Trade And Commerce v1.5

• Trade And Commerce Update v1.01

• Valley View Estate v1.1

• Vaults Of Cyrodiil v2.0

• Alive Waters Updated v0.9

• Animated Window Lighting System And Chimneys v5.5.4

• Better Dungeons v13

• Better Nightsky v1.2

• Creature Diversity 1.13c

• Ducks And Swans For Cyrodiil v1.0

• Gorier Blood v1.1

• Improved Doors And Flora v1.1

• Improved Fires And Flames v1.1

• Improved Fruits, Vegetables And Meat v1.1

• Improved Signs Complete v1.2

• Improved Skulls And Bones And Ironwork v1.1

• Improved Trees And Flora 2 v1.1 + Bark + Tree Bark HD Reduced v1.0

• Initial Glow v0.2

• Let The People Drink v2.7

• Louder Nirnroots v1.0

• Real Lava v1.3

• Realistic Flora v2.7.0

• Regrowing Nirnroot v1.01

• Roads Of Cyrodiil v1.0

• Roads Of Cyrodiil Patches v1

• Subtle Sunshine v0.1

• Swampier Swamps Complete Set v1.2 + QTP3 Support

• Blockhead v9.2

• Robert Male Body Replacer v5.2

• Robert Female Body Replacer v1.3

• Oblivion Character Overhaul v2.03

• Oblivion Character Overhaul v2.03 Male Body Compatibility

• Oblivion Character Overhaul v2.03 Female Body Compatibility

• Argonian Beautification Male & Female v3.0

• Neo Textures v1.0 (this is a texture pack I put together myself; have QTP3 as a base, then overwrote certain textures with others from different packs that I liked better; only meshes and textures in this one)

• Mesh Improvement Project v1.3

• Qarl's Texture Pack 3 UOP Compatibility Patch v3.5.0

• Bomret's Texture Pack For Shivering Isles v1.0

• Better Cathedrals + Qarl Optimized + AWLS v1.6

• Improved Bravil v1.1

• Improved Bruma v1.1 + Lougian's Bruma Retexture 2K v1.1

• Improved Chorrol v1.2

• Improved Skingrad v1.1

• Lougian's Cheydinhal Retexture v1.0

• Koldorn's LOD Noise Replacer v1.3 - Medium filter

• Optimised Distant Land MAX v1.1 - 75%, optimized files

• Optimised Distant Land MAX v1.1 UL Patches

• Low Poly Grass v1.0

• Low Poly Grass SI v1.0

• Low Poly Trees v1.0

• Disappearing Grass Fix v1.0

• Landscape LOD Texture Replacement v1.1b

• Landscape LOD Texture Replacement Border Regions v1.1b

• Landscape LOD Normalmap Fix MipMap Fix v1.1

• RAEVWD v1.9.2

• • Core
• • Cities Plugin
• • City Architecture
• • Wilderness Architecture
• • Ayleid Ruins
• • Imperial Forts
• • Large Rocks
• • Ships
• • Statues

• RAEVWD Shivering Isles v1.7

• • Core
• • City Plugin
• • New Sheoth Architecture
• • Wilderness Architecture
• • Dungeons
• • Rocks
• • Mushroom Trees

• RAEVWD QTP3 Texture Pack v1.5

• RAEVWD v1.9.2 Elsweyr Anequina

• Oblivion Reloaded v1.3 + Custom.ini

• Weather – All Natural v1.35a

• Immersive Interiors v0.8.1 + Bravil And Leyawiin v2.01

• Immersive Interiors Landscape Add On v1.10

• Unique Landscapes v1.7.3

• Unique Landscapes Compatibility Patches v9b

• Unique Landscapes Duck And Swans For Cyrodiil v1.0 Patch

• Unique Landscapes Optimised Distant Land MAX v1.1 Patches

• Unique Landscapes Verona House Bloodlines v12.0 Patch

Keep in mind, not all of these are installed. Anything UL- and RAEVWD-related have been removed.

Here's the BOSS load order:

00 Oblivion.esm

01 All Natural Base.esm [Version 1.34]

02 Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm [Version 4.5bSI]

03 bookplacing.esm [Version 1]

04 CM Partners.esm

05 Oblivifall Master File.esm [Version 1.2]

06 Knights - Revelation.esm

07 Book Jackets Oblivion - BP - SSBFL.esp

++ GrassFix.esp

08 Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.5.2]

09 UOP Vampire Aging & Face Fix.esp [Version 1.0.0]

++ Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp

0A DLCShiveringIsles.esp

0B Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp [Version 1.5.6]

0C LoadingScreens.esp

0D All Natural.esp [Version 1.35]

0E All Natural - SI.esp [Version 1.35]

0F Immersive Interiors.esp [Version 0.8.1]

10 Immersive Interiors - Bravil.esp [Version 2.01]

11 Immersive Interiors - Landscape Addon.esp

++ Louder Nirnoot.esp

++ Symphony of Violence.esp

12 MIS Low Wind.esp

13 MIS New Sounds Optional Part.esp

14 Atmospheric Oblivion.esp

15 WindowLightingSystem.esp

16 AliveWaters.esp

17 AliveWaters - Koi Addon.esp

18 AliveWaters - Slaughterfish Addon.esp

19 Book Jackets Oblivion - BP.esp

1A Dialogue Idles.esp

1B Ducks and Swans.esp

1C SwampGrass.esp

1D ImprovedSigns.esp

1E Oblivion Content Restoration Project.esp

++ Regrowing Nirnroot - Dissappear Reappear.esp [Version 1.01]

** VA_BetterGold.esp

1F Spell Delete And Item Remove.esp

20 Streamline 3.1.esp

21 Dynamic Map.esp [Version 2.1.1]

22 HouseMapMarkersOnlyBought.esp

23 DLCHorseArmor.esp

24 DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.8]

25 DLCOrrery.esp

26 DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.6]

27 DLCVileLair.esp

28 DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.10]

29 DLCMehrunesRazor.esp

2A DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.7]

2B DLCSpellTomes.esp

++ DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.1]

** Book Jackets DLC.esp

** GrimbotsSpellTomes.esp

++ MaleBodyReplacerV5.esp

2C Ancient Silver Armor.esp

2D Blades Ceremonial Armour.esp

2E Broadswords.esp

++ CM_Better Wine_SI.esp

++ RustyItems.esp

** RTFemaleReplacerV12.esp

2F Tyrael Armor.esp

30 Athletics While Riding.esp

31 Dude Wheres My Horse.esp

32 DLCThievesDen.esp

33 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.13]

34 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp [Version 1.0.13]

35 Francesco's Optional Files.esp

36 Alluring Potion Bottles v3.esp

37 Creature Diversity.esp

38 Ivellon.esp [Version 1.8]

39 Trade and Commerce.esp

3A Trade and Commerce Update.esp [Version 1.01]

3B 300_Akaviri_Stronghold.esp

3C Imperial Furniture Renovated.esp

3D Anduril Reforged.esp

3E BeldaElysium.esp

3F Benirus Lair.esp

++ Cheydinhal Land Texture Fix.esp [Version 2.0]

40 Better Abandoned House.esp [Version 2.0]

41 Better Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary.esp [Version 3.22]

42 Better Benirus Manor.esp [Version 4.72-SI]

++ Better Benirus Manor - AN Patch.esp [Version 4.72-Natural]

43 BrotherhoodRenewed.esp [Version 1.1.2]

44 Castle_Dunkerlore_V1.esp

45 Castle_Highrock.esp

46 (DC) Sutch Reborn.esp

47 GoldenCrest.esp

48 GoldenCrestBattlehornComp.esp

49 ImpeREAL City Unique Districts - All the Districts - Merged.esp

4A ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Castles - All The Castles - Merged.esp

4B Jagnot- Imperial City Library V1.3.esp

4C Kvatch Rebuilt.esp [Version 3.0]

++ Kvatch Rebuilt - No More Burned Ground.esp

4D Kvatch Rebuilt Weather Patch.esp

4E GlenvarCastle.esp

4F LetThePeopleDrink.esp [Version 2.7]

50 MountainTower.esp [Version 6.0]

51 Nascosto Isles 3.esp

52 SilentStonesCamp.esp

53 Valley_View_Estate.esp

54 VaultsofCyrodiil.esp

55 Vampire Hunting - Order of the Virtuous Blood.esp

56 VHBloodlines 1.2.esp [Version 1.5.6]

57 za_bankmod.esp

58 24HrArenaAliveV2.esp

59 24HrArenaAliveV2Towers.esp

5A DLCBattlehornCastle.esp

5B DLCFrostcrag.esp

5C DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.9]

5D DLCFrostcragReborn.esp [Version 1.4.7]

5E BrumaMGRestored.esp

5F BrumaMGRestored-Frostcrag.esp

60 Knights.esp

** Knights - Book Jackets.esp

61 Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.1.6]

62 Knights - Revelation.esp

++ QuietFeet.esp

63 The Lost Spires.esp

64 Lost Paladins of the Divines.esp

65 HoarfrostCastle.esp

66 Shadowcrest_Vineyard.esp

67 Shadowcrest_Vineyard_Guard.esp

68 ElsweyrAnequina.esp

69 ReclaimSancreTor.esp [Version 1.0.5]

6A Roads of Cyrodiil.esp [Version 1.0]

++ ROC+Shadowcrest Vineyard Patch.esp [Version 1.0]

6B MTCThievesGrottoV4.esp

6C HeartOftheDead.esp [Version 6.5]

6D Oblivifall - Losing My Religion.esp [Version 1.43]

6E Oblivifall - Losing My Religion KOTN.esp [Version 1.0]

6F Oblivifall - Losing My Religion_HOTD_Patch.esp [Version 1.0]

70 Oblivifall - Losing My Religion Sutch Reborn.esp [Version 1.0]

71 Faregyl.esp [Version 2.0.11]

72 Faregyl+Anequina Patch.esp [Version 2.0]

73 Castle_Almgard-V2.esp

++ VeronaHouse-SutchReborn patch.esp

74 ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts.esp

75 LostSpiresImpeREALFortsPatch2.esp

76 BravilSeaDomes.esp

77 Castle_Seaview.esp

78 Frostcrag Village.esp [Version 1.0.7]

++ DLCFrostcrag Reborn - Frostcrag Village Patch.esp [Version 1.4.7]

79 RealisticFlora.esp [Version 2.7.0]

7A RealisticFlora - DLCFrostcrag.esp [Version 2.7.0]

++ RealisticFlora - DLCVileLair.esp [Version 2.7.0]

++ Real Lava 1.3.esp

++ Book Placement v2.esp [Version 2.0]

7B Better Dungeons.esp

++ Improved Fires and Flames - Increased Sound.esp

7C ImprovedSoulgems.esp [Version 1.11]

++ MarkerExplore.esp

7D P1DkeyChain.esp [Version 5.00]

7E Skill Perk Descriptions.esp [Version 1.1]

7F Werewolf-Legends.esp

80 Quest Award Leveller.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Battlehorn Castle.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Vile Lair.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Mehrunes Razor.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Knights of the Nine.esp

81 Shorter Escape.esp

82 RenGuardOverhaul.esp

83 Smarter Mercantile Leveling - Multi.esp

84 SaveSkillTrainingForLater.esp

85 Oblivion_Character_Overhaul.esp [Version 2.0]

86 Francesco's 7 days respawn time - 1-24 day lenght rescale.esp

** [GFX]_Initial_Glow-all.esp

** [GFX]_Initial_Glow-creatures.esp

++ ROC Standard Road Record.esp

** All Natural - Indoor Weather Filter For Mods.esp [Version 1.35]

87 OblivionReloaded.esp

88 Better Benirus Manor - Benirus Lair Patch.esp [Version 4.72]

89 No Beginning Travel.esp

8A Improved Athletics Leveling X3.esp

8B Bashed Patch, 0.esp

[Striker879]

I am far and away not a load order expert. The only thing that I see is the P1DkeyChain.esp (Hickory, one of the guys who was the go to guy back when I started here, used to tell people to drop that one). Your character can't have but a few keys at this point anyway, so not much is lost by uninstalling that for a test at least.

 

On a key related note, the Fort Grief key is a source of grief for some people. I've never had an issue with it, but does your character have that key (you get it during the Caught in the Hunt quest that starts in Bravil)?

 

I see a couple of sound quieting type mods in your list. I'm guessing you are using the on-board sound and not a discrete sound card. Is that because you have run into some sound related issues?

 

Is the memory purging the only thing you're using from Streamline?

 

Are you using the optimized version of Seaview (shouldn't be an issue if you are still near the IC ... but I've heard the original is a hog for hardware)?

 

My own load order is almost as long, fewer mods merged and deactivated but like I said I've "gone out of my way" with some of the choices I've made to destabilize my game and yet usually I can run for 45 minutes to an hour and a half before either crashing or exiting to reload (and when it's less time than that it's normally when approaching one of my NPCs Yield victims).

 

- Edit - Is Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm the only Francesco master required for Francesco's Optional Files.esp and Francesco's 7 days respawn time - 1-24 day lenght rescale.esp ?

Edited February 28, 2015 by Striker879

[CasanovaFly]

I don't have the Fort Grief key yet, so no worries on that front. I've mostly been perusing around the Imperial City.

 

The sound quieting mods I got because they were said to increase performance (or remove things that decreased performance). Just trying to save as many FPS as I can for RAEVWD.

 

Memory purging is the only feature I'm using from Streamline, and the only want I want to use. I don't want my game quality zig-zagging to meet an arbitrary FPS. I'd like to get everything worked out and stable rather than rely on Streamline.

 

By optimized Seaview, I assume you mean the optimized meshes found here. I hadn't been using them, but I'll make the mesh switch now. You're correct in assuming I haven't even seen the castle yet, though.

 

Everything with Francesco's mod is good to go. It was a .exe install, so I don't think I could mess that up if I tried (just kidding, I could). The optional files only require the main .esp as the main master, and the day length rescale .esp only needs Oblivion.esm.

 

With this talk about you getting 45-60 minutes between crashes, is it safe to assume that I should get ready for a life of constant CTD's? Is that just the reality of a heavily-modded Oblivion?

[CasanovaFly]

A quick addendum:

 

I went for a swim in Lake Rumare and came across Verona Bay, of the Verona House Bloodlines mod. I normally get about 40fps, but anytime I was looking at VHB it just chopped. I walked around for about 5 minutes before it finally crashes. Is that normal? To have it so choppy? I have a feeling it isn't.

 

When I was installing and testing mods for FPS, I noticed a few large mods that would kill my FPS on the Waterfront in the Imperial City (one of the spots I did most of my testing). Order of the Dragon was one, and the Dragon Capture Resource Pack/Elder Council was another. For whatever reason, the game stuttered with those installed. Uninstall, back to a smooth FPS.

 

Any ideas?

[Striker879]

Yup that's the Seaview optimized meshes I was thinking of (don't use it myself so I haven't downloaded, thus no link to post).

 

I follow the progress on Oblivion Reloaded quite closely (don't use it yet because I don't believe my machine is as strong as I'd want ... but maybe someday soon my new box will get built). Read through the early comments there and also some of the later discussion on Memory purger - extended (a precursor mod by the same author) to get a better idea of some of the things that lead to CTDs. When I build my next computer and move to a 64 bit OS and lots of RAM like you have, Oblivion Reloaded will be in my load order.

 

If a mod is resource hungry enough to affect FPS I think it will at least contribute a large portion of the CTD causes. I tested a few mods that aren't in my load order for that reason (plus they didn't add enough to my game for me to justify "the cost"). Fortunately for me most of my load order is mods that affect primarily gameplay and can do that without a big FPS penalty.

 

Just so I have some idea for a frame of reference, about how long can you play before the CTD?

 

- Edit - And yes, CTDs is a "feature" of modded Oblivion, as it is with even the vanilla game.

Edited March 1, 2015 by Striker879

[CasanovaFly]

I would say about 10-20 minutes before a crash, usually. They typically fall into two categories: what I'll call "overload" crashes where things get too janky and it crashes, and then the "cell" crashes, where I cross a specific imaginary line for a crash every time in the same scenario. Most of them have been random lately, though.

 

The "crash feature" makes me feel a bit better, though.

 

A general question: why did my Oblivion freak out around the Verona House? Is the mod poorly optimized? I don't think everyone else has the issue. Do I just have too much going on and too many mods?