Hi there! Looking for some advice on how to start it all...

[Whitefire]

Believe it or not, but I will be able to start playing Oblivion somewhere next month or so!!! I have played before, a little, but my comp was far below what it takes to run Oblivion properly. Actually, it was a notebook (Radeon X300) :) I reached 8th level, i think. Don't remember really.

 

But now it is going to change, and so I have already downloaded most of what there is to be downloaded. Preparations, you see :D My intention is to start a game with a number of MODs already in it. I was hoping that you could enlighten me with some clever suggestions; actually, anything from you more experienced guys will be just great.

 

I am generally aiming at 1) reality, 2) best possible graphics. I do not want to have the game spoiled with some half-completed houses or all-powerful swords hanging around every corner.

 

I was thinking about starting with Mod conflict detector and plugin manager, and all the official MODs first. Than, I had in mind OOO, OBSE, QuarTP 3 (I'm a little afraid of that, but we'll just see). And: Atmospheric Weather System, Natural Environments, Oblivion Stereo Sound Overhaul, Mart's Monster Mod, EshmesBodiesV3.0 - I think these are the ones I want most, although I have downloaded many more--quests, tweaks (but not cheats), NPCs etc.

 

SO.

Any hints? Advices? How to go about it? What are good things to do? What should I better NOT do?

Somehow I've got the feeling that I'll be much better off with this thread than without it :D

 

Thanks!

[Grond Vern]

Well Oblivion is incredibly open-ended, even without mods. My only advice is not to download anything from the god item/cheat categories unless you make a character just to see what cheating is like, just for those mods.

[BlueShiftSolo]

My advice to you is to get some quest mods after you finish the main storyline. Quest mods are part of what keeps the game fun, but it's best to attempt them after you're done with most of the vanilla quests.

 

You'll want to get the Kvatch Aftermath mod ahead of time, though.

[PanzerOfGod]

It was really fun to start a game using the "Enter the Shinobi" mod, found here. It adds a new class, quite a few armors and weapons, a quest (which you really shouldn't do until you are at least level 30. Trust me, you'll die), and new advantages to picking the shadow as your birthsign.

 

It's a bit overpowering at first, but things get harder the later in the game you get. You get the non-enchanted versions of the mod's weapons and armors before you even leave the original prison cell. It was the first time that the tutorial didn't bore me :P .

 

If you decide to get it, I suggest using a Wood Elf and being an archer.

 

(_) |3 & /2

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[sugna]

yes i must agree quest mods do keep it fun.

but a thing i could have done with at the start is M.O.E

its really fun and adds a lot plus you can choose what you want and what you don't.

[Sypron]

Depending on what type of character you play, get "JOG's Stealth Overhaul" which aparently only works in full with a new game.

[tsolless]

If you are into stealth look for these...

 

 

Theive's Arsenal. - Adds fully working blackjacks, gas arrows, water arrows, rope arrows, etc.

 

Vaults of Cyrodill. - Adds vaults in castles that are hard to break into. Very nicely balanced.

 

Stealth Overhaul. - Makes stealth updates.

 

Coolmans Dagger Collection. - Adds really nice looking daggers.

 

If you want gory combat look for..

 

 

A Bloody Mess.

 

Deadly Reflex. - Lets you slice off hands, heads, torsos, etc.

 

 

For my interface I like...

 

Major Jims.

 

For graphics...

 

 

Alive Waters. - Makes water beautiful.

 

Atmospheric Weather System - Adds more weather.

 

Landscape LOD - Increases landscape resolution.

 

 

There are alot more What I did was look at all of the 150 and get the ones I wanted. Then I went into the categories that I wanted mods for and chose to arrange them by downloads. Then I looked and generally the ones with the most downloads were the best and I got some.

[PanzerOfGod]

If you are into stealth look for these...

 

Theive's Arsenal. - Adds fully working blackjacks, gas arrows, water arrows, rope arrows, etc.

 

Theive's Arsenal can be fun... but sometimes it screws up. On my first playthrough it worked fine (except for the character's eyes), but on my new file, the street urchin keeps walking up, giving me the same note to start the questline, and demanding my money. It's only a few coins each time, but it adds up when he talks to me every time I step out of a market district building! Also, after he gives it to me and takes my money, he stands there and yells "Hey mister!! I need to talk to you!!!" over and over again in that whiny high-pitched voice. I tried disabling him, but he just comes right back somehow! Must have a script attached that's aiming to annoy me... And I also discovered that that mod was a source of major lag in my market district when it didn't lag after I disabled the mod.

 

Anyway, that mod just doesn't work like it should sometimes.

[tsolless]

Really? That's wierd.

 

Vaults of Cyrodill is a really good one though as it adds a really nice challenge for stealth characters as you have to find the vault, find a guard that has a key for it, and try to get stuff in the vault where guard are always patrolling quite well. Also some of them have puzzles in order to get the good reward. Really well done.

[Whitefire]

WOW. Really, really thank you all---this is tremendous help for me.

 

Quest mods are part of what keeps the game fun, but it's best to attempt them after you're done with most of the vanilla quests.

 

Why? I don't mean to doubt it, but I was hoping to make "the best possible world", and then start playing and forget about all this modding... It was also my way to play Mw: to go free, forget about the main quest, and finish it as late as possible.

 

There are alot more What I did was look at all of the 150 and get the ones I wanted. Then I went into the categories that I wanted mods for and chose to arrange them by downloads. Then I looked and generally the ones with the most downloads were the best and I got some.

 

Exactly my way of thinking :D

Still, you have suggested some things I did not see before, so GREAT thanks.

 

Anyway, I was also going to ask one question related to this, about Oscuros Oblivion Overhaul vs Francesco's. I know that the first one supposedly gives a harder gameplay, and that francescos is more modular, but perhaps any other differences?