Questions about Level Scaling

[NocturneNight]

Greetings. I've been playing Oblivion for awhile now, but there are some things that I don't quite understand. Firstly, my character is level 18 without even touching the main quest, and, last night I explored a cavern full of bandits. In total I was able to earn ~15k gold from selling all their loot... way too much imo. So I have been looking for mods that makes the game harder, but I feel like I don't fully understand the level scaling system yet and would like to ask some questions:

 

How high does the system scale? What is the "max" level (if there is)? So far I'm starting to find ebony and glass weapons, no armor yet. If I get even higher level, will everyone waltz around in full Daedric armor - even lowly bandits?

 

Do all the creatures scale with me - even NPCs? For example, I'm level 18 but still get to fight mostly bandits (where did the mauraders go? Those guys where a lot tougher..) - are they also level 18ish like my char is? Because they go down like flies... same thing with the Imps, Scamps etc.

 

I like the level scaling system in that I hate when games become too easy and would like to keep it so that enemies level with me. Not necessarily everyone, but I want to be able to fight challenging opponents even at level 40ish. The only thing I don't like is the levelled loot. So I found the mod called "Franscesco's" and have decided to try it out; from what I understand, that mod will keep levelling most enemies, but make rare loot more scarce (which is exacly what I'm looking for) - is that correct?

 

I've got some more questions about skills and attributes, but this post has become long enough as is so I'm gonna go out on a limb and make a seperate thread for those. Thanks for reading.

[David Brasher]

Yes, very soon all the bandits will be wearing glass armor. All the marauders will be wearing daedric.

 

There are two ways that the level scaling system works in relation to enemies:

 

(1) Choosing which enemies spawn.

(2) Enemies that are leveled in relation to the player's level.

 

So in the first case, the time will come when you walk through the wilderness and it will seem like there is nothing but ogres and brown bears that live there.

 

In the second case, some of the highest level enemies that appear latest in the game are keyed to the player's level. So a Xivilai will always be two levels lower than you. When you are level 20, he will be level 18. When you are level 46, he will be level 44. Bandits and other hostile NPCs are usually leveled this way, so that when you are level 46, they will be about level 46.

[NocturneNight]

Yes, very soon all the bandits will be wearing glass armor. All the marauders will be wearing daedric.

 

There are two ways that the level scaling system works in relation to enemies:

 

(1) Choosing which enemies spawn.

(2) Enemies that are leveled in relation to the player's level.

 

So in the first case, the time will come when you walk through the wilderness and it will seem like there is nothing but ogres and brown bears that live there.

 

In the second case, some of the highest level enemies that appear latest in the game are keyed to the player's level. So a Xivilai will always be two levels lower than you. When you are level 20, he will be level 18. When you are level 46, he will be level 44. Bandits and other hostile NPCs are usually leveled this way, so that when you are level 46, they will be about level 46.

 

Alright, so it's basically the same system that Morrowind had? I.e. you start fighting rats and move onto Alits, Blighted Alits (and eventually those god-awful Cliff Racers) except that the monsters now also level up with you. So, at level 18 (for example) all the Bandits I encounter will be around 16-20 in levels? That means that spells that have "up to level 6" for example are utterly useless in the higher levels? It's good to know which ones will work, and for how long. :)

 

So, there doesn't seem to be any "cap" to the level scaling then? Basically a level 46 char will still find challenging opponents, just as a level 90 char would (if reaching such a high level was possible)? Anyways thank you for you reply, I feel like I have it mostly figured out - I'm installing Fransceco's mod right now, and, it seems from the descriptions to be exacly what I have been looking for. :)

[MichikoUnknownFox]

For example, I'm level 18 but still get to fight mostly bandits (where did the mauraders go? Those guys where a lot tougher..)

There are particular dungeons for each of them. In general, they don't mix in the same dungeon (with some exceptions) because, if I'm not mistaken, they fight each other. A dungeon that has bandits will always have bandits (unless a mod changes that). For example, Belletor's Folly is a bandit dungeon, and Fort Alessia is a marauder dungeon

 

That being said, if you keep visiting the same bandit dungeon, you'll always face the same bandits (with different equipment) regardless of your level. You'll also notice that generally, no other enemy type will spawn in the same dungeon too (for the same reason), unless they were there by default (as pets, such as dogs for some bandit hideouts, or added by a mod). For example, you won't randomly find Imps in Belletor's Folly or in Fort Alessia.

[NocturneNight]

For example, I'm level 18 but still get to fight mostly bandits (where did the mauraders go? Those guys where a lot tougher..)

There are particular dungeons for each of them. In general, they don't mix in the same dungeon (with some exceptions) because, if I'm not mistaken, they fight each other. A dungeon that has bandits will always have bandits (unless a mod changes that). For example, Belletor's Folly is a bandit dungeon, and Fort Alessia is a marauder dungeon

 

That being said, if you keep visiting the same bandit dungeon, you'll always face the same bandits (with different equipment) regardless of your level. You'll also notice that generally, no other enemy type will spawn in the same dungeon too (for the same reason), unless they were there by default (as pets, such as dogs for some bandit hideouts, or added by a mod). For example, you won't randomly find Imps in Belletor's Folly or in Fort Alessia.

 

Ah yes, seems like I have just been (un)lucky then not to run into them for awhile.