Hello,
first: I am new to this forum and to TES-games (and not a native speaker, so excuse me for my lousy english)

However: I am not new to RPG/adventures (played all final fantasy's, Phantasy Star en the old zelda's) and I am really enthusiastic about oblivion and the middle-aged-setting. There was one thing I didn't like: the fact that all monsters and al rewards level up with you. Shouldn't be like that, becuase i do like a reward for leveling up. So I decided to start playing with from the start with Francesco levelling mod. Works fine and indeed the beginning is quite hard, just as told.

There is one problem: because the gamedesigners didn't use francesco's mod ... there are absolutely no hints when it's safe to go to which area or dungeon. (In other RPG's the storyline is a great hint, when your first main quest is in Area A, you can rest assured that there are no level 50 monsters there)

Right now, I advanced to Kvatch as a Level 2 Warrior and I really got my ass kicked, but I still have soms difficulty with the fighting controls, so that could also be the problem... Is there some general info (no spoilers) out there which area's are do-able at what level, *using Francesco's Mod*
Using Fran's mod, are those first Daedrae level 2 or level 6 or...???

I used the search function on this forum, but couldn't find the right answer (with Fran's mod in mind, that is),

At level 2 I'd imagine Kvatch would be difficult even without a mod. Try doing something besides the main quest for a little while and then come back to Kvatch once you have prepared. According to patch notes for Fran's mod - "Kvatch has been rebalanced, it is now a little harder at lower levs and easier at higher levs (Leveled Quests)". I recommend you start on a guild questline and get yourself some gear to suit your interests until you're ~7, then try and continue.

Edit- You could also lower the difficulty setting on the 'gameplay' section of the options menu.

That's great help, thanx! Where can i find those patch notes?

http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=oblivionmods.detail&id=268

-Scroll down to "Change Log".

For others with the same problem: I closed the oblivion gate without too much troubles as a level 4 warrior (nord; birthsign warrior, class warrior) with mostly finre iron and steel gear...

still my general question remains: is there some general info out there, which area's to avoid untill when when playing with Francesco's mod? Or some other tips on this subject. (I Can't seem to find any in game info or hints how strong my opponent is, untill I lay there on the floor, smashed to pieces... )

Fran's or not I would recommend doing fighters guild quests and arena at least to get the feel first and collect some funds to get better gear before heading out. Of course you can skip this part if you have a mod that gives you equipments to start out. If you prefer collecting XP instead of the vanilla style you should look into Oblivion XP. Search the Nexus.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/820948-scaling-overhaul-comparison/, but Francesco's is a mod that will still level the world around the player, so it is in principle the same as vanilla style of levelling (player centric), but much better implemented. This is in 180 degree opposite to the other classic style of world scaling - as done for example in Oscuros OOO - where the the world is pretty much static and some areas are easy while others are difficult and impossible to survive for a low level char (place centric). Then there is e.g. TIE which is totally unlevelled - or in other words random - and anything can happen at any time.

There are some not so well-known mods like David Brasher's Oblivion Overhaul, Oblivion Unleveled, Oblivion Intensity, RIBO and probably still more that change the game to various degrees between the above stated 3 "poles". I just bring them up to name a few outside of the conventional knowledge.

So in principle, Fran's being player-centric will still allow you to go (almost) anywhere and have a certain chance of survival, whereas in OOO you dig your grave pretty quickly if you go just anywhere early on. Case in point, you managed to do Kvatch at level 4 "without too much trouble", while my recollection of OOO is that at level 4, I simply could not do Kvatch and just had to return later (level 12 maybe, cannot remember precisely).

So don't be too afraid of poking around the Fran's world. Be patient with yourself, especially since you are new to the game.

Now, I don't know if there is a spoiler and tips thread for Fran's. However, the tip of your Nord warrior to join the fighters guild and the Arena is definitely good and valid. In addition to these, try to find Goblin lairs and wreck some havoc among them. Goblins are good training creatures. One of the early fighters guild assignments involve Goblin hunting, BTW. If you venture in any lair, be prepared that with each level you dive down (new rooms) the enemies may be tougher. That was certainly the case in OOO.

I don't know if Fran's changed the occupants and inhabitants of lairs, but if it does not, there is one Goblin cave in the "southern hemisphere" of the IC isle (don't want to be more precise), and one right along the way from IC to Chorrol. Also there is one right along the way to Skingrad, when coming from the east. Also look inside the first room of Vilverin, maybe you can do something there. It's fairly large, but it is only one room. Maybe you can dive further. Just be careful though.

Goblin lairs are quite easy to spot actually. Most of time if you approach their lair you will be more than likely to be attacked. Also around the entrance you will notice skulls stuck on poles. That's a pretty good sign that you have found a goblin lair.

It is not so much about your level at times as it is about how many hit points you have, your skill in offensive weapons, and your strength. Armor Class is a biggie. if you get your AC up to 50+ through armor, rings, and amulets, you will be able to withstand some powerful creatures (provided you are not mobbed). Regardless of level, you see a tough opponent who does not seem to take much damage from you but drains your health by half in one blow, run. have them chase you and let others help kill him, then get his better gear.

Use shield spells and any racial major power battle enhancements. Make shield potions.

At low levels, goblins and bandits (they will have fur or leather armor) are your match at the early levels most of the time. Use poisons and healing potions to their full potential.

thanks again for all the help.

Better reading of Fran's description proves your right: I think OOO is more what I was looking for, except that it might be a little too hard in the beginning.

next question:
Can I use OOO without starting a new game? Or does it only work from the start?

(Right now I a am level 6 warrior and doing some sidequesting, since i delivered Martin to that 'secret' blades-hideout-thingy, with a paved road from the nearest city...)

Unlike most hardcoe players i probably won't play the game many times around, so I would like the gemapley to be good (not perfect) the first time around. The vanillia scaled leveling is imho a dealbreaker, so i try to fix that as best as possible. I seek no hardcoe modding. I was just looking for a month or so of good medieval rpg-gameplaying, during my holiday. (and btw: i am a quite stubborn head-first-think-later-melee-fighter who actually likes going into the woods for a day (a day IRL) to level my character up to the next challenge)

My next holiday will probably be in Skyrim

You can add it to the existing game. You just have to use wrye bash to update NPC levels (all that is in the readme). Wait out the respawn time before moving into the world.

You can also use OOO and Frans together but keep it simple for now.

You may have more fun sticking with Fran's for now... OOO is pretty hard-core.

If you still want to try out OOO, yes you can install OOO and keep playing your character. However, you need to do a "relevelling of NPC's". This you do most easily with Wrye Bash on a savegame, IIRC. The exact procedure slips my mind now, but I think you make a savegame with your new OOO installation, exit the game, do the WB procedure on that savegame, and continue your game with that processed savegame.

Let somebody else confirm me on this. Or read the WB help file, it may be described in there.

Since you are only level 6, I would recommend you start a new game though. Be prepared to do Kvatch later...

Suggestion: Copy your whole Beth/OB/... game directory with the Frans install plus the associated savegames to another backup location. In case you find out you liked Fran's better, delete (or copy away and then delete) the OOO install and re-copy the Frans install. There are tools for that too, one is called MOM, the download is on Tesalliance website.

Now don't confuse the OP Peter.
You should have clarified that OOO and Francesco's can only be used in an FCOM configuration.
To use Oscuro's as a stand alone Frans must be uninstalled. A really good combo is Mart's Monster Mod with OOO if you don't feel you want to go down the FCOM route but want a little more umph in your game.
Or use Mart's with Frans. See the MMM readme for details.

I stand corrected. There is no FransForOOO. It's MMM that is for everyone. Thanks for the catch.