Hi. Right now my overhaul mod is Fran's which I like very much. I would like to know if there are any plugins that either makes combat more interesting/difficult in general, or at least add monsters that go beyond level 20. There is, of course, the difficulty slider in the game's setting itself, but increasing monster hp/damage is a pretty lazy way of doing it.

Is there such a plugin out there?

Thanks.

Yes, there is Oscuros Oblivion Overhaul. I don't believe there are any "plugins" for Frans which may satisfy your needs.

Deadly Reflex with its 250% damage increase plugin for melee, and perhaps archer enemies.

Less annoying Magic Experience, and/or Supreme Magicka for magic. ( LAME makes spell caster enemies much more deadly in my experience, and SM even has an option like with Deadly Reflex where you can set a % increase in damage.

With the added combat mechanics in the mods and the increased damage in them you'll find fights much more exciting, deadly, and quick.

Mart's makes combat more interesting by adding new creatures, more encounters, and the concept of factions: monsters who may attack one another, or team up to tackle you.

I read up on deadly reflex and one thing I didn't see, or missed, was how well NPCs use it. Do they know how to utilize all of the new abilities?

Most of them... They can't behead you and stuff like that, but if they knock you down with a bash attack or some other method they will try and impale you which is almost always an instant kill.

There's also the Unnecessary Violence mod, but with that one the NPCs don't really use many of its new abilities unless you do.

Im searching for the same. I found this topic, maybe you like something there: http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1078362&hl=combat