The Oblivion Thread vol. II

[Quillan]

A lot of the gear is randomized based on your level, so the better stuff usually doesn't start showing up until you've gained levels. I find bows to be very effective, but you have to use them properly. Method 1 is the long range sniper, where you attack with stealth from a great distance. Many enemies don't die from a single arrow, but you usually have time to get another shot or two before they close. Method 2 basically involves running away. You can move backwards at your normal speed while drawing the bow, which helps. However, you do have to keep up with a supply of arrows, and you don't always get back the ones you shoot into the enemies.

As to magic items, I found a necklace with 14 point spell absorbtion in the early going, but my second wasn't until level 6 when I closed the Kvatch Oblivion gate, and enchanted something using the Sigil Stone. Now, probably half my enchanted gear is stuff I made myself, as I find that more useful than the random drops. I joined the mages guild and worked my way to access to Arcane University so I could do my own enchantment and spellmaking.

[vee4473]

So, how many hours of game play will it take to reach the end of this game?

[Dis]

as many as you want. I think the save games show the time played.

Though the save game piss me off since I can't name them. I can agree with the complaints about that. This seems like such a basic feature games had since the 80's. Yet Oblivion doesn't have it. True, I don't need it, but I still like to have it. In morrowind I usually just had my characters name followed by a number.

[vee4473]

Surely there must be some estimate? I only ask because I think i'm turning into a pixel.

[Quillan]

I'm at 60 hours played now, with plenty more to go. However, I've been doing other things than doing the main quest. I expect if you don't do side quests, I'd guess probably 30 or so hours.

[Kinjiru]

Originally posted by Dis


cool deal. I didn't find any magic items. . Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. Where did you find it? Well, too late for me now, as the gate is closed. Probably didn't help I did the quest as a level 2 (and then slept and got to level 4)

I was a pretty high level, for a First Gater, like 9 or something I think. But the location will always be there, regardless of your level. Just won't get as nice of items, I would imagine. Though the Daedra warrior guys might be fixed level, I am not sure.

Anyway...

Spoiler:

Head to the left once you are inside the gate, and keep heading that way, even when you can go straight or right to get to the tower. At one point, around some of those plants that lash out at you (Hadra or something like that) - I know that is vague, cause those plants are everywhere, but there are not any other landmarks...

at some point, you should see a little doorway into the rocks. Called Sump of Misery or something like that. Head in there and you will find another door where you enter a smaller tower not linked to the big one. The daedra warriors here are the same as the ones in the big tower, so the drop was probably random anyway.

Anyway, that is where I found my nifty sword!

Happy Hunting!!

[Dis]

ha, I faced gimped scamps and regular scamps. I did fight a few of the daedric guys with maces. I can't remember what they were called.

[Silver14]

Originally posted by Dis
Though the save game piss me off since I can't name them.

There was a post earlier about how to name saves.
It invovles the console though.

Hit the tilde ~ to pull up the console

type

save GAMENAME

where GAMENAME is whatever you want to name the save, then hit enter. So

~ save EndSewers

would make a save game named EndSewers

Oblivion Toon

[Solver]

Originally posted by Dis
I did fight a few of the daedric guys with maces. I can't remember what they were called.

Dremora .

[Quillan]

Dremora XXXX. The second name is an indicator of their place in the rankings. Churls are the lowest, with caitiffs next.

[snoopy369]

mmmm Dremora

Class wise, I ALWAYS recommend choosing a custom class. The standard classes are never properly balanced between controllable and noncontrollable, quick and slow, levelling skills; so you either level too quickly or too slowly.

Basically, there are certain skills that should NEVER be primary skills, for example:
Athletics (too fast)
Light/Heavy Armor (relatively uncontrollable, too fast)

Certain skills that you should avoid having more than one of, that are slow to advance, like Restoration or Mysticism; as well as certain skills you shouldn't have too many of, because they're too fast to advance, like Blade (and other weapons), Destruction, Conjuration. Having one or two of those is fine, but if you have too many "quick" skills, you'll be a high level before you're skilled up (unless you train like mad).

Skills like Alchemy, Armorer, etc. are good because they're fairly controllable, and don't go too fast. You can choose to level in them or not at your own pace; so if you need to level up for some reason, you can do so, and if you need to avoid levelling, you can also do that

Finally, don't ever have all three of any given attribute's skills in your primary skill group. I made that mistake this time around ... it makes it nearly impossible to gain a +5 from that skill, especially since you can't over-train for a level anymore. My INT is an 84 or so, but that's +2-+3 at a time ...

[Solver]

I dunno, I enjoy having all 7 magical skills as my primary skills. Alchemy, actually, while controllable, levels very fast. When playing a pure or almost-pure mage, making potions is a must, it's beneficial in several ways. Destruction is probably my fastest levelling skill because it's how I kill stuff almost exclusively.

I don't really see why you should powergame and carefully adjust for +5s. I get +2 and +3 all the time, and sometimes even put those into skills that aren't the most important for me, and I'm still having a blast.

[snoopy369]

Alchemy is good because it is controllable ... it's not going to level THAT fast if you're just making "need" potions, whereas Blade is going to level no matter whether you want it to or not ...

I'm not suggesting powergaming, I certainly don't, but on the other hand I was feeling low on magic, and realized I couldn't do anything about it, getting no more than +3 in INT at best any given level ...

[Garret OneEye]

Morrowind fanatic, here.....

Loved Marksman in that game as you could (with acrobatics & athletics) get to hard-to-reach 'positions' in the terrain, both outdoors and indoors. Given that, you could then plunk away with your bow and defeat many (but not all) mobs. Seems harder to achieve that style of play in Oblivion, although I haven't played all that much so far.

Started a thief/bowman for Oblivion and then quit him in favor of a monk/martial arts oriented character, and I'm having alot more fun at the moment. Hand-to-hand combat seems better fleshed out in this game, IMO.

[FrostyBoy]

Just a question, is it possible to change the terrain graphics?

Let's say I wanted to turn a section of the map into pure desert, would it be possible? And can it be done without changing existing terrain? In other words, can I add entirely new terrains/graphics and land?