Just starting to mod Oblivion

[drewsbrew]

Hello everyone,

 

I've been installing mods for Skyrim for a long time, and hell I've even made a couple, but I want to start installing mods for Oblivion. I installed ArchiveInvalidation Invalidated and MO and that's it so far. I'm planingon Installing OBSE from that link (I was a little surprised that it wasn't on silverlock) but I have some questions...

 

Is there a TES4Edit, and if so do the update and DLCs need cleaning?

 

Is there a UI mod for Oblivion that is like SKY UI in the sense that it is both very popular and required for some mods?

 

Other than that are there any mods you can recommend to me given that I tend to focus on immersion and prefer a dynamic game (scripts and features) over a 'pretty' game (awesome graphics)

 

Is there anything else I should know about modding Oblivion that is different from Skyrim (other than the archive invalidation-- speaking of which, did I do that right?)?

 

Thanks in advance for anyone who takes the time to help me! :)

[Striker879]

TES4Edit ... I wouldn't clean the UOP. Some do clean the DLCs but I haven't myself (I do use the unofficial patches for them though, including the one for the Shivering Isles).

 

I just use the vanilla UI along with HUD Status Bars (some would consider me pretty much an old stick in the mud type dinosaur though) and I only use it to keep track of some stats from some mods I use. It does have some options for Skyrimizing the UI if that's what you're after.

 

Something to keep in mind if you are going to use Mod Organizer ... OBSE and OBSE plugins need to be installed in your actual game folders, not MO's virtual folders (or whatever it calls them ... obviously a non-MO type here as well).

 

I'd suggest playing the vanilla game, at least for a little while. Everybody's different, and the things I wanted changed in gameplay may not be the same things you'd want. I use most of the Basic series by Maskar (not hygiene), along with Realistic Fatigue (makes a big difference in how you approach moving and carrying stuff in the game) as well as some individual mods that have a bit less scope in what they change. Better for you to see what bugs you, and then ask if there's anything that changes it.

 

ArchiveInvalidated Invalidated uses the most recent and troublefree method of archive invalidation, BSA Redirection. Only caveat is now that you've done it, forget about it ... it's a do once and that's it solution. Just don't get talked into redoing it using a different tool (like Oblivion Mod Manager or Wrye Bash). They all accomplish the same thing but in slightly different ways and can clash with one another.

 

If you use the Steam version of the game you may need to reset the vanilla game BSA files back to their original dates for BSA Redirection to work. Easy to tell if it's needed, just check the file date on Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa (found in the Oblivion\Data folder). If it's year is 2006 you're good to go, if not check back as the easy way to reset the BSA timestamps is also tied in with OBMM's utility for BSA Redirection so there's a chance of some tangles there. If changing the dates isn't required no sense in getting mixed up with OBMM.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Striker879

[drewsbrew]

@Striker879 Thanks for the response!

 

I have played vanilla Oblivion quite a bit, though it has been a few years since I've played. I still remember it quite well though. Ha, I only played the main quest once though (much like my Skyrim playing habits). I never installed mods because back in my Oblivion days my computer could only just barely run the vanilla game, plus (believe it or not) I really did't have an internet connection at the time, not for my own computer anyway. Basically, what I'm getting at is that Skyrim is the first (and so far the only) game that I've ever installed mods for, and for that I had Gopher's 'Beginners Guide to Modding Skyrim' series to help me through some of the basics but unfortunately I haven't found anything like that for Oblivion. I'm sure I have enough experience modding Skyrim that I can probably figure most things out though. Thanks again for the advice and pointers and I guess I'll ask you if I get stuck on anything. :)

[Striker879]

I'll be around most days for a while longer. Once spring gets here I'll be around less, but if you have a question either continue to use this thread or start a new one (a new thread will sometimes garner a wider audience).

 

The BPA + BPN + RF combo may be an acquired taste, especially if you're a looting and toting fool like me. I use a couple of Packdonkeys for carrying around the stuff my guy needs plus the stuff he's going to sell. Enhanced Economy makes it tougher to get rich quick (and when coupled with BPN it makes it tough for you to find enough to eat early in the game ... I used all my previously gained tricks to keep enough groceries in the larder).

 

By using an alternate start mod you don't have those convenient Oblivion Gates to provide a gold stream. The one I'm using right now requires a version of Kvatch Rebuilt that is no longer available (and I haven't heard of anyone using the latest version of Kvatch Rebuilt with it. When I finally decide to start a new character I'll use Alternative Beginnings with the new version of Kvatch Rebuilt.

 

Before the latest forum update I used to prowl the mod discussion pages looking for problems to help solve. Now that there isn't a way to view just the pages for Oblivion mods that's pretty well fallen by the wayside except for a few mods that I still regularly check. These forum here are now the most likely to find help ... mod pages are mostly checked by the mod authors (while they're still active on the site) and maybe a few like me who still check certain mods.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Striker879

[razorpony]

Darnified UI is the go-to UI mod for Oblivion: http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/10763

 

There's also DarkUI'd Darns if you prefer darker menus: http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/11280/?

 

Now, I also have a list of mods that aren't huge overhauls, but change small annoyances for smoother gameplay.

 

http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/12859/?

TQP will allow you to shift or ctrl click when selling or buying items to chose stack or single.

 

http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/38110/?

Denock arrow will allow you to cancel a drawn arrow without firing it.

 

http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/39635/?

Autoupdate will allow spells and quest items to update to their stronger versions as you level up so you don't have to worry about doing quests too early and getting junk loot.

 

http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/13879/?

Realistic leveling removes stat micromanagement and worrying about getting +5 bonuses all the time.

 

These are just a few off the top of my head. Have fun with Oblivion. I spent several very memorable years there.

 

[drewsbrew]

I've tried installing a couple of mods but they don't seem to be working... OBSE seems to be working, but the Darnified UI isn't, and I'm starting to think the problem is with the ArchiveInvalidation Invalidated. I downloaded it, ran the installer, everything seems to have gone fine, but I don't seem to be able to get any replacer mods to work properly. Any thoughts?

[Striker879]

If you use the Steam version of the game the BSA files timestamps have been changed to modern dates, thus breaking BSA Redirection.

 

The simplest way to fix that problem is with Oblivion Mod Manager (OBMM), but as I said the complication is that to do that with OBMM you are into it's archive invalidation utility and I think it will conflict with ArchiveInvalidated Invalidated. Uninstall ArchiveInvalidated Invalidated and use OBMM for both resetting the BSA timestamps and BSA Redirection (found off the Utilities menu button).

 

Another possibility is ArchiveInvalidated Invalidated is conflicting with any archive invalidation from Mod Organizer (don't use it but I think I've read that MO includes an archive invalidation utility ... in which case again, ditch ArchiveInvalidated Invalidated).

 

Mod Organizer isn't the ideal tool for Oblivion unless your are an experienced Oblivion modder (many things need to be done in a certain way to get them to work, for example OBSE and OBSE plugins). Unless you absolutely need the profiles for multiple concurrent characters I'd suggest OBMM or preferably Wrye Bash for use with Oblivion (WB is the more robust tool, and depending on which mods you decide on it will eventually become a necessity for it's bashed patch ... a Wrye Bash exclusive).

 

- Edit - Two ways you can test if OBSE is working. One is simply make a save and then look in your saves folder. If you see two saves with the same file name but different extensions (e.g. MySave07.ess and MySave07.obse) then OBSE is working. You could also run OBSE Tester and it will report the version number of OBSE if it finds it working.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Striker879

[Rudeman]

Speaking of TES4Edit, I finally was able to get a game modded properly with OBSE and the non-Steam version of Oblivion, using Mod Organizer. TES4Edit and Loot worked perfectly and I was all the way down to the DMQL normal maps from the STEP installation when TES4EDIT running from Mod Organizer bombed out with an error saying it couldn't read Oblivion - Meshes.bsa. It works ok when I run it from the Oblivion folder. Anybody have any idea what went wrong? I even copied Oblivion - Meshes.bsa from my working Steam game and it still aborts.

 

Now that I'm writing this post, I recall that I had used OBMM to install the Distant Terrain meshes just before it bombed. I wonder if OBMM screwed up my Oblivion installation?