Ok, back after a long break ... I used to run the AF mod and KOBU's mod.

Also I heard about nGCD and Oblivion XP.

Haven't tried the latter two, though. Also, perhaps new stuff got released within the last 1,5 years or so ...

What would you recommend and why?

TVMIA! :twirl:

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=13879

I'm using this one cause' I've had multiple problems with nGCD and Kobu's mod is a bit outdated, but RL works absolutely perfect for me.

nGCD doesn't have problems. It is remarkably configurable via the .ini file, and it may take some work to understand how to configure it to your particular liking. But, the mod works great, and the default settings are pretty good, if you don't like fiddling.

Oblivion XP is what I'm using now. I like it because of its similarity to old-school rpgs: do stuff, get xp. Level up, spend the xp on stats. Also highly configurable, so you can choose what gives you more or less xp, how many points you can spend on level-ups, etc. It's wonderful.

gothemasticator

I could not agree more, Oblivion XP is great. B)

nGCD + Progress is best for me. Realistic Leveling is OK too. Oblivion XP didn't work out so well, but it was kinda fun for a (short) while.

Thanks everyone so far!!!



"Progress"? :unsure:

I use Realistic Leveling + Progress, no leveling "per class" and updated skill "per use", with this two mods the leveling process in the end serves only for levelup health/magicka/fatigue ("more you use it, more you developing it" philosopy) and for a "levelless" RPGer like me is better than good for a computer RPG :intergalactic:

Realistic Leveling + Progress for me. Just because I want to somewhat immerse myself into the game without the need to fiddle with numbers.

Voted nGCD too. Because it's awesome!

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14304 lets you adjust how quickly skills advance.

http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9914

This excellent mod lets you adjust the modifiers you get for your attributes on level-up. The basic and, in my opinion, best option is that these modifiers get determined by Specialization and Favored Attributes of your Class, as well as a secondary specialization. But there's also the option that you completely adjust the modifiers yourself... personally, I don't see the fun in that.

The basic mod works like this: It gives you a fixed +2 modifier on each attribute except for Luck, which only has a +1 modifier, and Personality, which always gets a +4 modifier. Then by choosing your Specialization (Magic, Stealth, Combat) during character generation, you determine which modifiers get increased by +2 (Magic means Intelligence and Willpower, etc.). Your Favored Attributes get increased by +1 on top of that. Finally, after leaving the Sewers a message pops up asking you about your secondary specialization (which can only be one of the two types you have not already chosen as Specialization), and these modifiers get another +1.

Example: Specialization Combat, Secondary Specialization Stealth and Favored Attributes Luck and Endurance will give you these modifiers:
Strength +4, Endurance +5, Intelligence +2, Willpower +2, Agility +3, Speed +3, Personality +4 and Luck +2. *

These modifiers will stay like that during the whole game. You don't have to take care which skills to increase or anything - you just level up and select the three attributes you want to raise. The system allows for a lot of tactical thinking - do I want a character who is soon very strong, but at high levels is barely able to increase skills anymore, or do I want a character who has mediocre attributes, but will eventually max them out? Things like that. It's a really good choice for people who like to plan out their characters, and the system is very intuitive.
I should also add that it's absolutely compatible with every mod out there, while other leveling mods sometimes have conflicts and issues.

*) This is a good choice for pure fighters. "Wasting" one favored attribute on Luck is always a good idea, because it'll take you only 25 levels instead of the usual 50 levels to max it out.

Realistic Leveling's stat recalc system has saved tens of hours of gameplay that I would have lost due to problems with other mods (Progress! FFFFUUUU-) had I been using something else. nGCD and RL are almost identical, but RL is much safer.

Wrye leveling. Completely money based, you pay to level. Complete control of how many skill and attribute points you get per level, how long to wait between leveling, and how much it costs per level. Ultimate control for leveling and an incentive to dungeon crawl to get loot.

Another vote for Realistic Leveling + (a somewhat modified version of) Progress.

I just use Kobu's KCAS Great Wheel system - I don't have to worry about anything. I really don't want to tinker with ini and progress levels lot (makes my head spin), so that's my choice.

I might look into Progress more as it has been so often recommended here and elsewhere!

It's perfect when it works. When it doesn't work you don't get any XP at all.

If you're using any quest mods you need to see if they're compatible first.

nGCD + Progress for me, too.

It gets more fun when you decide to know how to configure it. You can make it just like you imagine.

Only thing it doesn't do is keep the sleep to level mechanics from vanilla.

In this regard, OblivionXP is the best option. It also lets you have rested XP.

Realistic Leveling. Although I question the name. I have gained many levels in, e.g., heavy armor without ever having worn heavy armor. Or I am wandering through the IC and suddenly gain a level in H2H. All somewhat mysterious to me for the major and minor skills I don't actually use but I do like just playing the game 'naturally' without trying to max skill/attribute gains for leveling.

Care to elaborate on your problems with nGCD?
IMO it's almost perfect "out the box", but can be tweaked through it's ini file to do almost anything you'd want from a leveling mod.
With the exception of Oblivion XP it can be made to mimic any of the current crop of leveling mods.
Why look further?
Combined with Progress there's no limits to customization.

BTW, mod polls are a bad idea.

Aww... but I'm winning!

(...and that's why.)

Seconding Fearabbit's rec for SPAM. I've been using it for months now and wondering why I didn't use it sooner. It suits me to a tee.

Thanks, everyone!!!

So many good recommendations, actually I best use all of those mods. No wait, that's not possible ... well, I might start three different chars ... :twirl: