Starting new Game - Must have Mods/Compilation?

[godlikeueber]

hey,

 

im just about to finish my skyrim experience and until its kit arrives and a couple of good mods have been made and tested i thought id feed me some oblivion to avoid overplaying tes5 vanilla and getting sick of animations/enemies/snow/etc.

 

now, i know that there should be an a##load full of great mods for tes4 and by browsing most endorsed files etc. i figured that id take the following ones:

 

0) mod manager tool / script extender

1) oblivion XP

2) darnified ui

3) quarl texture pack (omod version)

4) bomrets texture pack for the addon (omod)

 

since you may have a lot of experience id like to ask you for recommendations/additional/other ideas!

 

a) im interested in a mod / textures which enhances visuals and/or animations which arent improved by the texture packs mentioned above (namely npcs and weapons)

b) im looking for a classic rpg experience, so a mod beside oblivion xp which hinders level/loot scaling would be wonderful!!!

c) more types of enemies

d) more challenging/complex (survival) gameplay, something like fallout wanderers edition would be ideal!

e) im looking to play a thief character, so a mod which improves ai and sneaking experience and makes everything more... lethal would be great

f) everything that makes the game more rpg-ish - new quests, new dialoge options, new quest solving possiblities, alternate starts etc.

g) new quest/adventure packs

h) must-have performance boosters

 

i) everything else that comes to your mind?

 

id very much like to get mods that wont conflict with each other since this time im not in the mo(o)d for experimenting but just looky looky for gameplay and happytime.

 

thank you so much.

Edited January 16, 2012 by godlikeueber

[godlikeueber]

edit: Just found this 1 for the visual questions:

 

http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/466448-noob-up-and-running/

 

edit 2: these ones look good too: open cities mod, climbing mod.

 

edit 3: read about ooo and mmm, are these compatible with visual enchantments, would you combine them with each other, which do you prefer? judging from the readme ooo could be very good.

Edited January 16, 2012 by godlikeueber

[JCP768]

DefinitelyIntegration: The Stranded Light for f and g

 

OOO and MMM work great together, I use both.

 

I use Duke Patrick's archery, and melee mods to add some strategy to the archery/melee. Less annoying Magic Experience for magic, and a number of other mods you can find below.

 

GENERIC:

If you want the most help possible it helps to give as much information, and uniqueness as possible.

 

Here's my generic written thing for these topics. if you want something specific give more details. I ask some questions in the below text as a small guide line. You can answer them if you wish:

 

 

 

Lists and resources for finding many popular mods, and some good mods:

(note the distinction between the two, don't just follow mindless peer pressure, try and make your own opinions and find what you'll like)

 

List of lists:

http://forums.bethso...owtopic=1010109

Top 100

http://www.tesnexus....top/alltime.php

Files of the months:

http://www.tesnexus....softhemonth.php

Hall of fame:

http://planeteldersc...blivionmods.HOF

Categories, Tag search, advanced search

 

General help in terms of installing, utilities, workshops, etc.:

 

TESCOSI

Oblivion mod wiki

TES Alliance (Check The Enclave forum, the Oblivion forum, or the Voice actor forum depending on your pursuits)

Bethsoft forums-Oblivion: (Hardware/software for non mod related issues, Mods for mod users, Construction set for making mods.)

 

 

List of topics exactly like yours generic pleadings for "Any mods?" that have already been answered:

http://forums.bethso...list-of-topics/

Read the AZERessential topics to get the basic "get wryebash, OBMM, OBSE, start slow" basic advice for starters recommendations

 

If you want any further help I suggest you tell us about yourself; what you like and what you're looking for... Here's some questions to get you started:

 

Have you played Oblivion already?

What sort of things interest you?

What type of Character do you usually play? (good/evil, theif/mage, roleplayer/random-no-story-hack-and-slasher?)

Are there specific types of mods you think would interest you? (Quests, graphic mods, gameplay mods, overhauls, etc.)

When did you leave?

What did you not like about Oblivion? What did Oblivion not have or need more of?

Male or female character?

 

 

For the occasional "What are your must haves?"

Mostly quest mods: http://kno.li/i

 

My favorite quests are:

Integration (my most favorite)

Malevolent, Runied tail, Tears of the fiend

Windfall

The Blackwood company

Dremora Companion

Servant of the Dawn

Imperial Legion Faction

 

 

Gameplay mods:

 

Hear No Evil

Vector

Crime Has Witnesses

Audacious Magery

Conduit magic

Custom spell Icons

Training cattle

Keychain

Refscope(good for troubleshooting)

Vows and Covenants

Pluke's roleplaying persuasion

LAME (No longer needed for Integration)

RBP (No longer needed for Integration)

 

I'm mostly a quest mod player and I recently posted a big rundown for most of them that I've played here and here.

 

(Some of these are probably outdated by now)

S'lider's Copy/paste

SkyRanger-1's

Pseron Wyrd's top 10 (Don't really want a lot top 10's or simple lists but I'm desperate for cop/pastes at the moment)

Tommy H's

 

[Raffer]

RAEVWD for distant buildings

 

darker nights if you think nights are too bright.

[godlikeueber]

thank you both for your input!

 

@jpc: do you use a specific patch for the combination of ooo and mmm?

 

im very interested in archery, doesnt dukes conflict with ooo which already revamps this?

 

which kind of melee mod do you use?

 

i also answered your questions below, thank you.

 

DefinitelyIntegration: The Stranded Light for f and g

 

OOO and MMM work great together, I use both.

 

I use Duke Patrick's archery, and melee mods to add some strategy to the archery/melee. Less annoying Magic Experience for magic, and a number of other mods you can find below.

 

GENERIC:

If you want the most help possible it helps to give as much information, and uniqueness as possible.

 

Here's my generic written thing for these topics. if you want something specific give more details. I ask some questions in the below text as a small guide line. You can answer them if you wish:

 

 

 

Lists and resources for finding many popular mods, and some good mods:

(note the distinction between the two, don't just follow mindless peer pressure, try and make your own opinions and find what you'll like)

 

List of lists:

http://forums.bethso...owtopic=1010109

Top 100

http://www.tesnexus....top/alltime.php

Files of the months:

http://www.tesnexus....softhemonth.php

Hall of fame:

http://planeteldersc...blivionmods.HOF

Categories, Tag search, advanced search

 

General help in terms of installing, utilities, workshops, etc.:

 

TESCOSI

Oblivion mod wiki

TES Alliance (Check The Enclave forum, the Oblivion forum, or the Voice actor forum depending on your pursuits)

Bethsoft forums-Oblivion: (Hardware/software for non mod related issues, Mods for mod users, Construction set for making mods.)

 

 

List of topics exactly like yours generic pleadings for "Any mods?" that have already been answered:

http://forums.bethso...list-of-topics/

Read the AZERessential topics to get the basic "get wryebash, OBMM, OBSE, start slow" basic advice for starters recommendations

 

If you want any further help I suggest you tell us about yourself; what you like and what you're looking for... Here's some questions to get you started:

 

Have you played Oblivion already?

yes, when vanilla goty came out, yet only on console (im clean by now, thanks god this xbox melted away rod style!!!)

 

What sort of things interest you?

violence and pornography. rpgs in which i can live out my complexes.

 

What type of Character do you usually play? (good/evil, theif/mage, roleplayer/random-no-story-hack-and-slasher?)

chaotic neutral stealth character /w supporting magic if i got points left. are there any real roleplaying games out there, i dont know any where you can actually play a role (supported by the games mechanics that is).

 

Are there specific types of mods you think would interest you? (Quests, graphic mods, gameplay mods, overhauls, etc.)

yes, graphics i think i got handled by now, wont push this to far anyway since i prefer good fps'. some more quests than vanilla would be nice, but not just the usual generic fetch stuff. i like wow-this-is-wicked-what-a-nice-reply/solving-option-quests where i can live out my tendency towards absurd/mad anti social behavior without getting into conflicts with other human beings.

most of all im looking for interesting stealth situations, punishing / realistic gameplay, target zones would be cool (hack off swordarm, shoot arrow into the knee etc.). dukes archery sounds good from what i read. i like daggers and 3rd person slit-throat-animations. decapitations, spiking heads on stakes or throwing them into the marketplace just for the kick of it..

i dislike es' repeat-all-actions-leveling system, also id like to get a game where im forced into choosing a char and not being a human swiss knife.

 

When did you leave?

after finishing s. islands, vanilla became boring and other games caught my attention.

 

What did you not like about Oblivion? What did Oblivion not have or need more of?

the leveling system, level/loot scaling, simple combat situations. bright colors. auto hints / compasses. simplified gameplay for the ps3 console generation.

 

Male or female character?

dont care this time i once spend so much time creating a fallout character that i stopped looking at digital women. now im just interested into gaming.

 

 

For the occasional "What are your must haves?"

Mostly quest mods: http://kno.li/i

 

My favorite quests are:

Integration (my most favorite)

Malevolent, Runied tail, Tears of the fiend

Windfall

The Blackwood company

Dremora Companion

Servant of the Dawn

Imperial Legion Faction

 

 

Gameplay mods:

 

Hear No Evil

Vector

Crime Has Witnesses

Audacious Magery

Conduit magic

Custom spell Icons

Training cattle

Keychain

Refscope(good for troubleshooting)

Vows and Covenants

Pluke's roleplaying persuasion

LAME (No longer needed for Integration)

RBP (No longer needed for Integration)

 

I'm mostly a quest mod player and I recently posted a big rundown for most of them that I've played here and here.

 

(Some of these are probably outdated by now)

S'lider's Copy/paste

SkyRanger-1's

Pseron Wyrd's top 10 (Don't really want a lot top 10's or simple lists but I'm desperate for cop/pastes at the moment)

Tommy H's

 

[godlikeueber]

p.s.: if i use the combination of ooo and mmm, doesnt this conflict with the usual quest mods you get? do you have a certain "proven" combination which you use for your own runs the most?

[Balakirev]

For E:

 

Thieves Guild HQ: Unhealthy Competition. Per the long description:

 

INCLUDES:

-17 new story quests

-2 side quests

-11 new weapons

-13 new armor items, including offhand weapons

-17 new clothing items

-many improved versions of existing items

-3 new spells

-7 new ingredients

-5 new potions

-Disguises that will hide your bounty from the guards

 

For F:

 

The Oblivion Quest List, with roughly 40 short/medium/long quests, along with links. Maintainer has been gone over a year, after having developed an infant companion mod in reallife with his wife, but it's still a wonderful list.

 

Best of luck. :)

[PrettyMurky]

f) If you're into 'survival' mods; my combination of choice is 'Natural Hunger', 'Real Thirst', & 'Real Sleep Extended'. 'Enhanced Economy is a must-have as well. 'Side's backpacks', 'Realistic Fatigue'. I suppose I should also tout my own 'Real Time Interactions' series, which is principly aimed towards realism & RPGing, with persuasion, repair, alchemy and more, brought out of menus and into real time; it also includes my lockpicking mod, which goes well with e). On which subject; 'SM Combat Hide' & 'Stealth Overhaul'(although this may have been made obselete by a newer stealth overhaul, if I recall correctly). I'm also currently working on a crime overhaul, which includes customisable regional and provincial bounty, crimes having witnesses, and maybe disguise options as well; it should hopefully be finished in a day or two.

[Cyph3R213]

I can recommend you a lot of stuff but I really don't know your computer spec so I'll just write down mods that don't really affect your performance or maybe just a tiny bit.

 

 

<<<< Patches and anything that helps performance plus stability >>>>

 

1. Unofficial Patches. SI and any other official DLC you have installed.

2. Oblivion Stutter Removal.

3. Custom Auto Save.

4. Game Companion or Fake Full Screen. (Personally I like the Game Companion, it has lots of features.)

5. Oblivion Polygon Overhaul.

6. Operation Optimization.

7. Fast Exit.

8. Low Poly Grass.

 

<<<< Visuals and enhanced textures >>>>

 

1, Qarl Texture Pack 3 Redimized. (I would use this instead of the regular one but if you must use the original then I would use the QTP 3 Modified Meshes also.) I recommend installing this after the Unofficial Patches and then Oblivion Polygon Overhaul then Operation Optimization. Letting each mod over write each other.

2. Lush and Gaudy Floriana Gloria. (There's also Improved Trees and Flora 2)

3. Better Night Sky. (Just the moons)

4. Real Night Sky. (Just the stars. I let it over write the Better Night Sky so I can use these stars with the moons.)

5. Improved Sky Textures.

6. OBGE Liquid Water. (Req. Oblivion Graphics Extender v.3)

7. Ambient Dungeons. (Req. OBGEv3)

8. Alluring Potion + Wine Bottles.

9. Animated Windows and Lighting System.

10. Better Dungeons.

11. Blood Spray.

12. Elven Map Redux. Elven Map for SI. (There are lots of good ones but I like these.)

13. Magic Effect Replacer.

14. Real Lava.

15. Gorier Blood.

16. HGEC Body Replacer. (lots of other good body replacer to choose from.)

17. Hi-res Texture for HGEC Body.

 

<<<< Game play effects and changes >>>>

 

1. Deadly Reflex 5. ( There's DR6 but I found the first person animation buggy especially if you use BBB and other animation changes. Plus it's still in beta.)

2. Deadly Reflex Blood and Gore Patch.

3. Key Chain.

4. Map Marker Overhaul.

5. Evantal's Dual Wielding. (Or any other dual wielding mod.)

6. Shield on Back.

7. Display Stats.

8. Drop Lit Torches OBSE version.

9. See You Sleep.

10. Fearsome Magica.

11. Dynamic Leveled List.

12. Hentai Mania 1 & 2.

 

<<<< Sound >>>>

 

1. Ambient Sound FX.

2. More Immersive Sound. (Edited version with low wind.)

3. Oblivion Stereo Sound Overhaul.

4. Storms and Sound.

5. My Voice Extender.

 

<<<< Tools >>>>

 

1. Wrye Bash.

2. TES4 Edit.

 

<<<< OBSE pluggins >>>>

 

1. Elys Uncapper.

2. Elys Silent Voice.

 

As you can see I didn't add any OOO or MMM. And no weather mods. Anything that adds lots of script effects will cripple your performance. Use them if you think your computer can handle it. Besides I think the vanilla weather system is just fine. For quest mods there are tons of nice ones. I just haven't really played them so can't really tell you what's what. I hope this list will help you enhance your playing experience.

[godlikeueber]

thank you for all your tips.

 

atm im still following the guide and your hints setting up my modding tools and graphics.

 

which combination do you think to be the better idea:

 

(A)

oblivion xp + OOO

-would i f this up if i installed the mentioned stealth/needs overhauls? is the OOO-stealth a good one?

-would you add MMM?

-am i in danger of conflicts/unbalance if i use weapon values altering mods with this?

 

(B)

obilvion xp + francesco + stealth overhauls

afaik francesco seems to restrict himself to altering the enemies and therefore might be more compatible to other mods like the stealth/weapon value altering mods? would i run into less conflicts when playing custom missions/adventures?

do you find francesco more challenging than OOO?

 

thx

Edited January 18, 2012 by godlikeueber