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Let's Play Oblivion

revealer

Augur
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
712
Location
Crodex
luv this tread but no updates 4 "long" time.. hope it continues.. atleast for a while
 

Lord Chambers

Erudite
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Messages
1,018
The Codex treatment of a thread like this is pretty similar to many young heterosexuals response to someone talking about gay sex.

"No! It can't be good! It's just wrong!"
"Biologically speaking it's completely nonsensical."
"Failure of the free market and indicative of the coming Rapture."
"Hey I'm curious, mind if I just watch awhile?"

In my opinion, whatever floats your boat Astromarine, you're not really hurting anyone, and frankly making hot fantasies dance in my mind of what might be if I only had enough hardware to get the job done.
 

Astromarine

Erudite
Joined
Jan 21, 2003
Messages
2,213
Location
Switzerland
it's MY body, leave me alone!!!

:D

Yeah, I haven't given up in disgust or something. Just Real Life got in the way a bit. More in the next couple days probably.

In the meantime, what do you think I should do now, from what you know of the character? I'll try to give some options later, but for now any random ideas?

In before "play a better game"
 

Lord Chambers

Erudite
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Messages
1,018
I want to see some of these so-called boss monsters. Maybe the creative strategies you use as a stealthy character to get to phatloot from dungeons.
 

Aothan

Magister
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
1,742
Oblivion is a great game. If you want a highly detailed sensory immersive experience. Like to explore ? Oblivion is massive, and careful exploration reveals innumerous mysteries and unique places, objects and persons. These are the main strengths of Oblivion, and those who think these just might consistute enjoyable gameplay will find Oblivion does it exceedingly well. Not too many games cause the player to pause just to admire the scenary and serenity of a Tamriel geography.

Most of the complaints dwell exclusively on the lore and the quests. I can agree with this, but then most rpgs suffer the same flaws, yet are no where near as aesthetic, open or large. Quests dont necessarily make games, unless someone needs to be structured.

I play rpgs very differently given the option. The first time I started Oblivion, in accordance with my character's disposition the main quest was undertaken at haste. The state of affairs demanded no less.

Usually however, and after restarting from the first time, I dont actively seek out quests. By and large quests are linear and simple anyway. Oh a few alternate endings ? Maybe my sense of depth differs here.

Im an explorer and wanderer, and in Oblivion my 3 month old hardcore Ranger has not started the main quest or even joined the guilds. The world is that large, diverse and dangerous that even now there is much to seek out. Yet Im looking to end his wanderings, ideally peacefully, in a fitting way. Im just not sure how to.

Recently I discovered a large veritable death trap. And up until then I thought my guy was getting a bit strong, not in those parts. I was glad to find my way out and hastily leave off.

Once he gets too powerful I will probably move on, that is the only real shame as I see it,characters can become too powerful. The first 17 or so levels of carefully sneaking around, choosing battles, avoiding traps and judicious or live or die retreats makes the gradual development of proficiency and rare finds all the more rewarding.

The real flaws inherent to the actual game as I see them:

Main quest: I find this can be a little too prompt. This is a shame for a few reasons, it commits players who do rp to a continuous quest. The world has to be passed over because the significance of recent events are unfolding rapidly with dire consequences.

The other problem with the main quest is that Daedra Gates will open up everywhere all over the world. If your character feels a heroic need to play his part, often enough this means having to venture into them. Problems here are that they are somewhat more dangerous, especially if you are not exclusively combat orientated (Clan Fears are an Archer specialists worst match..and dont try and be acrobatic around them either..), and are everywhere. They mar the landscape while the outerworld weather effects hurt fps.

Levelling System: This is the main offender, different people have different opinions. My problem with it is that it takes away from the dangers and excitment of exploration. If you are a low level you will typically encounter low level creatures. No matter where. Others have issues with how levelling affects major skills. Im not sure what to make of this, having never found this problem to be too much. Really by the time you are in the 20's, especially as a melee character the game is a bit easy.

Items/Creatures: Oblivion could do with a heck of a lot more variety.

Player Characters become too strong: I like challenge and excitement, it keeps me in the game as the character. But even an Archer dramatically changes from always cautious to really dangerous when he can start knocking down targets from range. Combined with sneak attack damage and often a stealth Archer can play all too safely. Prior to that however just about everything is a threat. Arrows do so little direct damage, magic arrows are incredibly rare (I have less than 20 in stacks of 2,3,5 etc) and some creatures are a bane, such as the aforementioned Clanfear. But that is how I like it.

Thankfully most of these issues are entirely moot because of the extensive modding community. Speaking of mods you should definately include Ling's Choice and Consequences, if only to add more to the quest system. Once my Ranger concludes his travels (however that may be) Im installing another batch of mods (magic, quests etc) and attempting another character. In all likelihood a mage, since Ive yet to actually try one and all of the new effects and abilities sound rather great.

Probably a specialist Mage, such as Mysticism. Will also need to see if there are any Alchemy balance mods, arguably the most exploitable skill in the game.
 

NeVeRLiFt

Liturgist
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
145
Location
In the shadows of the Megacorporations
Here's some links that should get you started.

This is the main link...
http://devnull.devakm.googlepages.com/home

This should help you change the look of the game world.
http://devnull.devakm.googlepages.com/o ... reoverhaul

This is alittle advanced and maybe hard to take in and setup... but if you go with it the game will be the best.
http://devnull.devakm.googlepages.com/convergence

I spent 3-4days myself setting up my mods for Oblvions and making it work.
My Oblivion folder is 13gb in size now

Here's a screenshot of my mod load order and shows the mods I have installed.

oblivionmodlistvd2.jpg


oblivionmodlist2ct0.jpg
[/img]




What can I say?
Guess I just say thank god for the mod community... they fixed Oblivion enough so that it was worth downloading and modding to play.
 

NeVeRLiFt

Liturgist
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
145
Location
In the shadows of the Megacorporations
Phantasmal said:
I played it with a shitload of mods back when I was into tweaking it, Francesco's being the best one. No matter what content you seem to add or modify, the game still becomes a huge monotonous bore not far into it and nothing really addresses some of the major problems. Like there being 3 voice actors, uninspired dialogue, dull quests, brainless combat (even with Deadly Reflex mod), repetitive areas and a boring as hell storyline.

So yeah, don't fall for it unless you want a short fix on a decent roaming adventure game. Because some mods do make it look and sound outstanding, but nothing beyond face value.


QFT


r00fles!
 

Starwars

Arcane
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
2,829
Location
Sweden
I have to say I agree with what Phantasmal says. I still try Oblivion out every now and then to see what the mod community has come up with, and it's fun to try new mods out. But there is no mod that helps how boring the vanilla game is. You can fix certain stuff, like with Oscuros or Francescos mods, but the quests, writing, voiceacting, setting will stay as boring as ever. You can fix parts of the game, but it's to boring and inoffensive at its core.
When I play Oblivion, I actually don't think "omg, this sucks so bad". It's just a feeling on intense boredom. I'm not even sure which one is worse.
 

Mareus

Magister
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
1,404
Location
Atlantis
Mods sure seem to fix alot of problems. Still I will wait for someone to make a mod that will completaly fix the dialogs (includes removing of voices) and fixing the main story. I am sure someone will make it sooner or later, just like I am sure that sooner or later we will get a mod that allows you to play Morrowind with Oblivion engine.

The problem with mods is that lazy slack ass developers will get money for a shitty game, while the modders that fixed everything get jack shit.
But that's just the thing with Oblivion.. Once you download all the mods, and fix everything it's not Oblivion anymore. Still in a few years all the glory will go to Bethseda and people will say what a great game they made.

I expect the same thing from Fallout 3. There will be a playable version of Fallout 3 in 5-6 years.
 

Astromarine

Erudite
Joined
Jan 21, 2003
Messages
2,213
Location
Switzerland
I wonder if around page 7 people will have stopped reviewing the game again and just enjoying the Let's Play?

And I *do* have the convergence mod, as well as Choice and Consequence. For levelling I took Kobu's.

So, about the route for my character. Dark Brotherhood is out so far. I'd have to murder someone, and I haven't met anyone yet I felt like killing. My current status is: I want to go on with the main quest, as my character feels at least a bit of urgency. Not necessarily out of morality, but he's heard of Daedra invasions and some of the myths surrounding the amulet, and he believes them.

Problem is that he thinks he's too weak to really make the necessary trek to Kvatch. He's got his ass kicked by fish, fer akatosh's sake. Plus he has a grudge against Bishibosh, the named shaman in the Fort he tried to explore. But he's not going back there until he's a lot better equipped and skilled.

So at the moment I'm looking at a pause to get some cash and skills. I can try joining a mage guild, but for that I'd have to go to a nearby town, which is dangerous. I can also try to get some work in the Imperial City. I think I'm close to the limit of the gear I can get easily, having leather armor (some pieces self made) and the silver sword. So what would you do with a somewhat fearful citydweller that needed to get big enough fast to brave the countryside on an important mission?
 

Mareus

Magister
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
1,404
Location
Atlantis
NeVeRLiFt said:
Here's some links that should get you started.

What can I say?
Guess I just say thank god for the mod community... they fixed Oblivion enough so that it was worth downloading and modding to play.

That's alot of mods... do they cause bugs and conflicts in the game? I really can't imagine how you can merge so many mods into one game without experiencing problems.
 

Claw

Erudite
Patron
Joined
Aug 7, 2004
Messages
3,777
Location
The center of my world.
Project: Eternity Divinity: Original Sin 2
Astromarine said:
In the meantime, what do you think I should do now, from what you know of the character? I'll try to give some options later, but for now any random ideas?
Do the bloody story. I'm convinced it sucks, but I would like to see it with my own eyes and I won't be playing Oblivion anytime soon, if ever.
 

DraQ

Arcane
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
32,828
Location
Chrząszczyżewoszyce, powiat Łękołody
Aothan said:
Oblivion is a great game.
I could've skipped the rest of your post, you know.
If you want a highly detailed sensory immersive experience.
I really could.

Like to explore? Oblivion is massive, and careful
Why bother with the "careful" part if everything is scaled to your level and you don't need skills to hit anyway?
exploration reveals innumerous mysteries and unique* places, objects and persons.
*wildly hyperactive imagination necessary.

These are the main strengths of Oblivion
If it fails so hard at it's strengths, what words can describe it's weaknesses?
Not too many games cause the player to pause just to admire the scenary and serenity of a Tamriel geography.
I prefer just going outside, especially given that said geography inexplicably went from jungles to generic temperate climate landscapes my country has an abundance of. Also, there are very few places of interest in OB.

Most of the complaints dwell exclusively on the lore and the quests.
Given that lore is one of the things that made previous TES games actually interesting, and that quests can make or break an RPG, those are sound complaints.

I can agree with this, but then most rpgs suffer the same flaws, yet are no where near as aesthetic
Oblivion is nearly as aesthetic as circles are square.
open or large.
16 square miles empty box is still an empty box.

Quests dont necessarily make games, unless someone needs to be structured.
What's left of OB if you remove quests?
Running around killing things? - almost every FPS in existence accomplishes this better.
Exploration? - ...of nearly identical dungeons belonging to one of three or four uninspired tilesets, filled with nearly identical, levelled enemies and nearly identical levelled loot?
Lore? - ... :roll:
NPCs? - of the nearly identical ones who stare at walls a lot and talk about mudcrabs variety?
Making cool items and spells? - fail given that most of the interesting options were removed.
Closing the gates? - as if the first one didn't bore the crap out of everyone.


I play rpgs very differently given the option.
No options in OB either.

The first time I started Oblivion, in accordance with my character's disposition the main quest was undertaken at haste. The state of affairs demanded no less.
Except that you can leave the burning Kvatch for a round year in game and nothing will happen.


Im an explorer and wanderer, and in Oblivion my 3 month old hardcore Ranger has <s>not started the main quest or even joined the guilds</s> ignored the 'urgent' "omgtheempireisdoomed!" questline forced on him at the beginning and went on to pick flowers instead.
Fixed.

The world is that large, diverse
I believe that the word you wanted to use was "monotonous". Please, don't use the words you don't know the meaning of again - it makes you look like an uneducated moron.

and dangerous
:lol: Ah, the dangers of the world where you can complete the MQ and thwart the demonic invasion at level two (due to arbitrary level restrictions) and complete all the questlines (except the daedric ones - see the arbitrary restrictions part) while plundering all the dungeons in meantime at level one - truly, the Oblivion blisters... I mean bristles with unspeakable peril! :roll:

that even now there is much to seek out.
You man like generic dungeon #124 containing level 5 locked chest with broom and calipers?
Yet Im looking to end his wanderings, ideally peacefully, in a fitting way. Im just not sure how to.
Tried deleting your saves and jumping off the Dive Rock? Word has it that the Akatosh himself will then appear and carry you to the magical land of candy and happiness (as if Oblivion wasn't sugary enough in itself).

Recently I discovered a large veritable death trap. And up until then I thought my guy was getting a bit strong, not in those parts. I was glad to find my way out and hastily leave off.
What do you smoke while playing? Sounds quite powerful.

Main quest: I find this can be a little too prompt. This is a shame for a few reasons, it commits players who do rp to a continuous quest. The world has to be passed over because the significance of recent events are unfolding rapidly with dire consequences.
:lol:
Problems here are that they are somewhat more dangerous, especially if you are not exclusively combat orientated
Why are non-combat characters even possible in OB again?
 

Mareus

Magister
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
1,404
Location
Atlantis
Maybe it's one of Bethseda's spies that came here to tell us how to roleplay Oblivion without mods. I think there was actually a thread on beth's forum: How to roleplay Oblivion. It included a detail instructions how to do it, clearly stating that it's the player's job to roleplay. That made me cry from laughing. It had the same tone as Aothan's post.
"You can just wander around and pick flowers, enjoy the scenery. You can hunt for deers, or explore ruins that are full of dangerous creatures and deadly traps... BLAH, BLAH, BLAH." .. makes me sick.

There is quite a lot of such dweebs on beth's forum.

PS. DraQ, your post really made me laugh and remember the good old modless Oblivion. What a pearl. :rofl:
 

Ammar

Scholar
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
215
Mareus said:
Maybe it's one of Bethseda's spies that came here to tell us how to roleplay Oblivion without mods. I think there was actually a thread on beth's forum: How to roleplay Oblivion. It included a detail instructions how to do it, clearly stating that it's the player's job to roleplay. That made me cry from laughing. It had the same tone as Aothan's post.
"You can just wander around and pick flowers, enjoy the scenery. You can hunt for deers, or explore ruins that are full of dangerous creatures and deadly traps... BLAH, BLAH, BLAH." .. makes me sick.

Actually that thing made it onto the UESP.
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Roleplaying

I especially like
Once you have the maid for Rosethorn Hall (Skingrad House), you can treat her as your wife.

If your character's leg has been pierced with arrows, he will have to walk, not run until he gets the leg healed. Switching between Sneak mode and regular (upright) mode can represent limping.

and
Become a vegetarian, or have your character get "Sick" after eating certain ingredients. Make "Restore Fatigue" potions named "Water" and drink them daily.
 

Seboss

Liturgist
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
947
Don't forget the part about undressing and removing your boots before going to bed, but not before having neatly arranged your clothes on the night stand!

Ok I may have made that one up a bit but anyway, these RP guidelines made me feel sick with embarrassment.
 

Ammar

Scholar
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
215
Seboss said:
Ok I may have made that one up a bit but anyway,

Hmm. :)

Wear fur armor when in the Jerall Mountains, nothing when swimming, simple clothes without shoes when sleeping, and upper-class clothes when wandering around town. Only have armor with you when going into combat. Don't have a ton of Daedric armor and a plethora of powerful weaponry all the time.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
5,933
Location
Scotland
Seboss said:
Don't forget the part about undressing and removing your boots before going to bed, but not before having neatly arranged your clothes on the night stand!

Ok I may have made that one up a bit but anyway, these RP guidelines made me feel sick with embarrassment.

You weren't far off.

* When traveling between cities, rent a room for the night at the local inn. Put your armor in the cupboards, put your sword on the bed next to you, etc, before you sleep. Why go to bed wearing metal armor pajamas? Similarly, anywhere you decide to sleep, try to imagine what you would do if you were about to go to sleep.

Anyway, I think I like this one the most.
 

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