So previously, every time I played Oblivion, I'd get out of the starter dungeon, see the Standard Medieval Fantasy landscape, remember Morrownd's landscape and unique vistas, sigh, and pretty soon was back in Seyda Neen.

And then I watched a Youtube video called "Why Oblivion is the best RPG ever", or something like that (couldn't find it in my Youtube or browser history when I looked, for some reason). While the Youtuber was, er, obviously biased, he did point out several things I was missing or hadn't thought about.

So I decided to play it as its own thing, without comparing it to Morrowind, and seeing what fun it had to offer. And...It's fun. It is Standard Medieval Fantasy, but it's well-done and enjoyable Standard Medieval Fantasy. After a few days, I've installed (roughly in order), All Natural Weather - Real Lights, Open Cities (not sure if working), Let There Be Darkness (turns off ambient light in dungeons), Oblivion Character Overhaul, and Dungeon/Exterior Actors Have Torches (haven't played long enough to test, yet).

I'm also playing Dead is Dead and Done is Done; that is, if he dies, he's dead (unless due to glitch or the like); if he does something, no reloading to try something else (unless it was a misclick or the like; if the cat walks across the keyboard, he's not taking the fall; reload)

No, this isn't a comment on how "It's only fun with mods." No, it was fun without those. However...

...Sorry, I can't figure or find out how to post with an attachment

Anyway, my current character is Ororan. An odd name for an Imperial, to be sure, but there it is. He's a sword and shield heavy armour fighter; a devout follower of the Nine, and a lawful and loyal citizen of the Empire; focus on Strength and Intelligence. I'm playing him as an intelligent brawler. He's also quite practical; as long as it's legal and ethical, he'll use it to achieve his goals. Magic, potions, magic items, stealth (he's terrible at this), lock-picking (not very good at this, but I'm good at the minigame), and is willing to acknowledge necessity in ethics.

He was also elated when he managed to find rusty iron armour when the Emperor allowed his release from jail. He's upgraded to a steel longsword in a store...And just went out into the rain and thunder, found a nearby ruin, and cleared it of surface bandits for loot...

...To sell to afford a potion of Cure Disease for the Helljoint disease he's contracted. He's rather disappointed in the condition of the Temple of the One in the Imperial City, and it's lack of other temples. His other option is to take the long journey to another city with a working temple. But he's not liking his odds of surviving the journey. If things are this dangerous this close to the Imperial City...

...The perils of Level 1.

I went through something similar when Oblivion came out. I wasn't able to accept the game for what it was until 2013. Since then I have given up expecting Oblivion to be something it isn't, and I am much happier when I play the game now.

Out of curiosity, what things did the video point out that you felt you missed or hadn't thought about before? I'd be interested to hear how your perception of the game has changed.

It was mostly things I already knew, but from a fresh presepective.

Things like the combat system being tactical; that, even though you only get one perk each time you move from Novice->Apprentice->etc, they're meaningful perks that have a real effect on your character, rather than just +X to damage; that the game's fights feel real and raw; that the quests (still) get you involved in the game world...

...I guess I was looking at the setting too much, and not enough at the content or gameplay. And not taking the setting as its own thing.

...Plus, I was feeling rather disappointed and let-down years ago when I first learned they weren't going with previous canon for Cyrodil. And that coloured my perception of the game.

Oblivion was my first TES game, so I had nothing to compare it to and fell in love with it from the first moment I learned I could pick mushrooms in the tutorial. I've since gone back and played Morrowind and probably like it even more than Oblivion.

I went through something similar with Skyrim, and wasn't really able to accept it for what it was until 2015. Mods helped a lot in my finally accepting Skyrim for what it is, and now Skyrim (modded) is probably my favorite of the series. But there was a time not so long ago when I was really down on it.

...My character's got Helljoint again. He's decided to learn Cure Disease at the first available opportunity, and just live with it otherwise.

In addition, he's going to buy a light spell. Fighting in a cave with just a torch to see by (thereby taking up your shield arm) is a game of fools and adventurers with no coin. And he's not a fool, and the coin situation will hopefully be...Enough.

Also, he now has an iron curais, and iron boots. Sadly, the iron cuirass looks just like the rusty iron cuirass.

Sadly, the money made by selling his loot was just enough for a room, and four armorer's hammers to repair his armour and weapons.

I don't know if you feel the same way but I actually find it interesting when my character has little money. In the early levels of most of my games my characters are dirt-poor. And that makes it really exciting to me when they can finally - finally! - afford to buy something they need. I think that feeling of accomplishment is very satisfying. I guess I just enjoy the feeling of overcoming obstacle in games. But I don't want obstacles to be too hard to overcome either. Like Goldilocks, I want it to be "just right."

Me too. Well, the only things I had to compare Oblivion to was all the linear, half-baked action-RPGs on Playstation 2. Going from Crusaders of Might and Magic to The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was a step up. Many steps up.

I miss the feature in Morrowind where you could take a pile of your own coin and just dump it somewhere. You could also bribe any NPC with thousands of drakes and RP that you were giving them charity (or having one Oblivion of a party). You could institute instant poverty for your character. Anyway, NPCBoom!, if you follow/escort the legion guards on horseback that patrol the main roads, then you will stay out of most trouble and still get from A to B. The guard may slay something on the road that you can use or help you slay it. Good luck!

Yes, indeed. If I've clearly already won the game and the rest is just tedious details, I get bored. If I clearly can't win the game, I get bored. Either case, time for a new game. Oblivion, so far, is "just right enough", at least.

Also, I used to play Adom and even legitimately got to the final battle a few times. "Hard" is not something that (generally) puts me off a game.

I actually, oddly, like Crusaders of Might and Magic. I think it's that the enemies fight intelligently (for the time); surrounding you, and fighting in a fairly tactical manner. Plus, at no point can you say "This enemy isn't a threat to me. I'll just walk right over them."

In order: What happens to dumped gold in Oblivion? I liked haggling in Morrowind. You had to figure out where the limits were. "Narf" works. I was at least a decade younger when I chose this name, and can't figure out how to change it. Anyway, it's a Pinky and the Brain reference, which I still maintain is one of TV's greats. Edit: Also, thanks, I'll try that.

You can't do that in this game. It's one of the features they removed.

An Admin can change your name for you. But these forums are going to be shut down soon (or so they've been claiming since the beginning of August). So you might as well wait and create a new username in the new forums.

Oblivion was my first Beth game and I absolutely loved it immediately, despite fighting against my computer I had at the time which did not like how I cranked up the settings!

I liked it too, at the time I played it. I remember the way some enemies would react when we hit them, combat was fun in that game! But looking back, it's too linear for me now. I'm not sure I could go back to linear.

I don't always want to give things deep thought, or wonder about motivations.