» Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:22 pm I recently finished the main quest for the first time. In fact, I had never gotten farther than escorting Martin to Cloud Ruler Temple. But, back in January, I put together the following modlist and ave been playing nearly without change since then. (I did add Nuska's Character Overhaul. Wow! What work!) My aim was to build a personal "best of" in terms of gameplay, as well as to include the many large quest mods I've wanted to try. Since many of them require pretty high level characters, I figured this was a good long-term build plan.
Combat difficulty was almost perfectly balanced throughout. (I am close to level 30 right now.) The exception was Oblivion gate closing. Way more very high level Dremora would spawn than my character could handle. Maybe I just svck? I don't know. I did the first two gates for real, but the tedium of using so many potions (over a hundred) outweighed the fun, so for the rest of the gates that were required, I just turned on god mode to get through. The Rune Skulls, too, I would do without if I were to start over. Luckily, just about the time I decided they were overpowered, I had my op'd runeskulled up super sword knocked from my hand in a fight and lost to clipping issues. So, rather than use the console to find it, I let it go and started to get familiar with a new weapon. From then on I just ignore the runeskulls.
Money, too, worked really well. I'm never so rich that I don't have to ever think about making money. Some time ago I posted about the tedium of making money, and I tried several alternatives (automatic reaping, that kind of thing), but I ended up settling for just harvesting very high value things and letting the rest rot where it falls.
I'm 80% through the mage's guild quests, too. I'm really enjoying the main quest and these way more than I thought I would. I like the mounting tension of the mage's guild line. The initial guild recommendations were hit or miss, but after those were through, I thought they grew in fun. And the main quest suffered a little from fetch-itis, but overall I really liked it. Cameron's realm was a nice twist. The final fight was a lot of fun to be present at. And the game didn't end artificially right there! Awesome! Oh, I did the Nines quest also, but it was more forgettable.
So now I have a great setup and a good character and a bunch of quest mods to go through. How fun!
Thanks, modders!
Active Mod Files:
Spoiler
00 Oblivion.esm01 Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm [Version 5.0]02 Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm [Version 5.0]03 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.73]04 Qarls_Harvest.esm05 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.35Beta]06 Mart's Monster Mod.esm [Version 3.8b1]07 FCOM_Convergence.esm [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]08 Fundament.esm [Version ision]09 NNWAEMaster.esm0A CM Partners.esm0B Knights - Revelation.esm0C Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.4.2]0D UOPS Additional Changes.esp0E DLCShiveringIsles.esp0F Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp [Version 1.5.1]++ USIPS Additional Changes.esp++ Shivering OOO.esp10 Francesco's Creatures and Items Resources.esp [Version 5.0]11 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp [Version 5.0]12 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp [Version 5.0]13 Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp [Version 5.0]14 Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp [Version 5.0]++ FCOM_Francescos.esp [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]++ FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]15 FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]16 Atmospheric Loading Screens - Random Quotes.esp17 OBGE - Liquid Water.esp18 WindowLightingSystem.esp19 ImprovedSigns.esp1A Kyoma's Focus on Shrine.esp [Version 1.0]1B Q - More and Moldy Ingredients v1.1.esp1C Qarls_Harvest.esp++ SkeletonShaders.esp1D Walk to Oblivion - OBSE.esp1E Willful Resistance.esp1F Enhanced Economy.esp [Version 5.4.3]20 Display Stats.esp [Version 2.0.1]21 DropLitTorchOBSE.esp [Version 2.4]22 Quest Log Manager.esp [Version 1.3.2]23 Map Marker Overhaul.esp [Version 3.9.3]24 Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp [Version 3.9.3]25 DLCHorseArmor.esp26 DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.7]27 DLCOrrery.esp28 DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]29 DLCVileLair.esp2A DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.8]2B DLCMehrunesRazor.esp2C DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.6]2D DLCSpellTomes.esp++ DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.1]2E DLCSpellTomes - OBSEfixer.esp++ MaleBodyReplacerV3.esp++ TFF_FantasyFigures_Base.esp2F Explosives.esp30 ClassedBeginning.esp31 DLCThievesDen.esp32 DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp [Version 1.0.11]33 Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.72]34 Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.63]35 Oblivion WarCry EV.esp [Version 1.09]36 FCOM_WarCry.esp [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]37 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.35Beta]++ OOO-Water_Weeds.esp [Version 1.33]** OMOBS_SI.esp [Version 2.0]38 Mart's Monster Mod - Additional Enemy NPC Vars.esp [Version 3.8b1]39 FCOM_Convergence.esp [Version 0.9.9Mb8b1]++ FCOM_EntropicOrderRebalance.esp [Version 0.9.9beta2]3A FCOM_RealSwords.esp [Version 0.9.9MB8]3B FCOM_DurabilityAndDamage.esp [Version 0.9.9]3C Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life No Gates.esp [Version 3.8b1]++ FCOM_NoAdventurersInGates.esp [Version 0.9.9]3D Mart's Monster Mod - No Carrion Rats.esp [Version 3.8b1]3E Mart's Monster Mod - Safer Quest Locations.esp [Version 3.8b1]3F Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp [Version 3.8b1]40 Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp [Version 3.7b7]41 Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp [Version 3.7b7]42 Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse WaterLife.esp [Version 3.8b1]++ Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot G&GD.esp [Version 3.8b1]** FCOM_Archery.esp [Version 0.9.9]++ FCOM_ArcheryRealSwords.esp [Version 1]++ Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Wisp and VASE Addon.esp [Version 3.8b1]43 Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Creatures Expansion.esp [Version 3.8b1]++ Mart's Monster Mod - RadiantAITweaks.esp44 Mart's Monster Mod - Mummies.esp++ Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.8b1]45 Qarls_Harvest addon_MMM.esp46 Geomancy & Gem Dust OOO.esp47 Ivellon.esp [Version 1.5]48 HackdirtTheDeepOnes.esp49 BrotherhoodRenewed.esp [Version 1.1.2]4A BrotherhoodRenewed - Oblivion XP Patch.esp4B EiAmod.esp [Version 1.1]++ EiAmod_ShiveringIsles.esp4C Mimics!.esp4D NNWAREAyleidDungeons_Series1EV.esp [Version 2.2b]4E NNWAEDungeons-Series2EV.esp4F NNWARE06-RhyeliaEmeroEV.esp50 Shivering Isles Root System.esp51 The Ayleid Steps.esp [Version 3.4.1]52 The Crimson Queen.esp [Version 2.1]53 Trolls Under Bridges.esp54 VHBloodlines 1.2.esp [Version 1.5.6]55 DLCBattlehornCastle.esp56 DLCBattlehornCastle - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.8]57 DLCFrostcrag.esp58 DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.7]59 DLCFrostcragReborn.esp [Version 1.4.7]5A FrostcragRebornCobl.esp5B Knights.esp5C Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.1.2]5D Knights - Revelation.esp5E SM Plugin Refurbish(Merged).esp [Version 1.30]5F Mighty Umbra.esp60 Blood&Mud.esp61 Blood&Mud - EE patch.esp [Version 4.2]62 MannimarcoComplete.esp63 MannimarcoRevisited.esp64 MannimarcoRevisitedOOO.esp [Version 0.1]65 Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp [Version 3.8b1]++ FCOM_MightyUmbra.esp [Version 0.9.9]66 FCOM_Blood&Mud.esp [Version 0.9.9]++ FCOM_Knights.esp [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]67 ReclaimSancreTor.esp [Version 1.0.5]68 HeartOftheDead.esp [Version 6.5]69 Frostcrag Village.esp [Version 1.0.7]6A DLCFrostcrag Reborn - Frostcrag Village Patch.esp [Version 1.4.7]6B Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]++ Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.0.0]++ Harvest [Flora] - DLCVileLair.esp [Version 3.0.0]6C Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp [Version 3.0.0]6D Auto Update Leveled Items And Spells.esp [Version 1.2.5]6E Better Dungeons.esp6F HUD Status Bars.esp [Version 5.3.2]++ Improved Elixirs of Exploration.esp70 Class Advantages.esp [Version 1.01]71 Respawning Varla & Welkynd Stones.esp [Version 1.2]++ SigilStonesUnlevelled - Adjusted.esp72 Soulgem Magic.esp [Version 2.0]73 Ayleid Wells.esp [Version 1.1]74 Enhanced Economy - House prices.esp [Version 5.4.3]75 Alternative Beginnings.esp [Version 1.4]76 StarX Vanilla Vampires Revised.esp77 StarX VVR_OOO_FCOM Patch.esp78 Chargeable Spells by grmblf.esp79 ConduitMagic.esp7A Magic Effects OBSE Tweaks.esp [Version 4.0]7B kuerteeMagickaBasedMagicJeweleryLimits.esp7C Fizzle.esp [Version 3.0]7D RshAlchemy.esp7E RshAlchemyRecipes.esp7F Lightweight Potions.esp [Version 1.1]80 FundamentEnchantingAddons.esp [Version 2.0]81 kuerteeMagickaBasedEnchantmentLimits.esp82 Armorer's Advantage.esp83 Kayo.esp84 Bundlement.esp [Version ision]85 SDR_Core.esp [Version 4.5.4]86 Oblivion XP.esp87 SDR_Perks And Patches (Oblivion).esp [Version 4.5.0]88 Grandmaster of Alchemy.esp++ Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp [Version 3.8b1]89 ZUAmberMadnessOverhaul.esp8A TRAP.esp8B Birthsigns Expanded.esp8C Oblivion_Character_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.0]8D Automatic Timescale.esp [Version 1.1.1]8E MiniMap.esp++ Cobl Filter Late MERGE ONLY.esp [Version 1.53]++ Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul - Harvest Containers - SI.esp [Version 0.99b]++ OOO Harvest Containers Filter patch for mods.esp [Version 1.03]8F Bashed Patch, 0.esp
I'm still working on my first play through after several scratches and back to drawing boards etc etc. 
God forbid I don't have to start from the beginning this time. 
Haven't started the main quest yet. 
