Played three charecters and still not sure how this works ha. I'v always had to bribe people if i wanted them to like me. So can someone explain how this mini game works? Thanks

There's an excellent article here with some tips.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Speechcraft

In the beginning, I start the game and look at their responses. Memorize the two worst responses. Now put the smallest wedge in those quarters. Meaning you will always get a positive response. Keep doing it, until you are maxed, THEN resort to bribing.

look at their face to see how the action will affect them. Do not "charm" them until you have maxed out their disposition with the minigame

I've played 1500+ hours of Oblivion without ever having to figure out how to use Speechcraft, I just bribe people or use Charm spells/scrolls when I have to.

Yea, you look at their facial expression for each persuasion option. There's irritated, enraged, happy, and elated, basically.

Exactly. But as others have said, bribe and charm make the mini-game unecessary. The only advantage of playing the mini-game is if you are looking to raise your Speechcraft skill.

Actually, if you're using mods that make it harder to acquire a lot of money immediately after the tutorial and if you're an Atronach, you might appreciate Speechcraft quite a bit. Given that you can't afford to bribe every merchant and that you might need to watch your magicka pool a bit.

Contrary to Charming, Speechcraft gives a permanent disposition increase and doesn't require to be re-applied before every transaction or dialogue.
Contrary to Bribing, Speechcraft doesn't cost any gold.


I start out a Speechcraft treatment with a trial run, using the max wedge for a clear and obvious effect on the disposition, "memorizing" the two negative options. "Memorize" sounds worse than it is, really. You only need to keep the two negative options in mind for a minute or so.

Then, start with the treatment. The max wedge needs to be pushed into the two positive options each run, but not into the negative options. Push any but the max wedge into the two negative options. Aiming to get the min wedge into the two negative options also works, but you end up with a smaller increase in your speechcraft skill.

Repeat the treatment until the disposition is maxed out. The higher your skill level, the higher their disposition can be increased by this means.

When you're done and want another 10 point boost, leave the dialogue, draw your weapon, and give them another treatment until the disposition is maxed out again. NPCs don't like drawn weapons, so their disposition decreased by 10 points, and you can work with that. As soon as you put your weapon away, you'll have effectively increased their maximal disposition.



The only issue that I have with Speechcraft is that it turns into an incredibly stupid grind at the higher levels, if you want to increase it some more. But you can say that about most of Oblivion's skills.