I bought TES4 when it first came out and figured i would give the mod community time to settle in (and then lost the CD) Soo...

After patching the game to it's most current official patch.. is there:
- A set of mods that everyone should have? (unofficial patches, wrye bash, ObMM etc)
- Mods to change the combat system closer to Morrowind? (I hate the late game changing everything to be an Epic battle, exploration progression becomes incredibly slow at higher levels...)
- I loved Morrowind's vampire mods so anything close?
- Anything worth noting
I don't have the expansion so i can not use SI required mods, am i missing much if i don't get SI Expansion?

Pretty much essential:

Wrye Bash - for managing the mod list, install/uninstall mods, using the Bashed Patch (which is a necessity for such mods as FCOM) etc.
BOSS - for managing the load order and get tags for the Bashed Patch plus notes on the mods you're using.
UOP - The Unofficial Patch.

Not sure what you mean with Morrowinds combat system, but OOO is more unlevelled than the vanilla game so more akin to Morrowind regarding that. I don't think you want the actual combat system from Morrowind...

OBSE - Get latest version.
Deadlier creatures v2 - Fixes monster problems, just watch the video of it to believe.
Quiet feet max - If you have an on board sound card get this.
Mart's Monster Mod - This adds tons of new creatures!
Oblivion Stutter remover - Does wonders.
Streamline - Saves lives.


If you care about game performance and optimization you should read this
http://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/stabilization/oblivion

It guides you on ini stuff and mods to boost performance.

I would highly recommend getting SI. As you've pointed out some mods don't work without it, though many include either an alternative non-SI .esp or a no-SI patch .esp. Is SI still available separately?

I would also highly recommend the already mentioned TESIV:POSItive. I had previously only manually installed a very small hand full of mods but using TESIV:POSItive's guides, tips, walkthoughs I now have quite the set-up going on (148 .esm's & .esp's).

The route I took was:

I then followed TESIV:POSItive's MMMforOOO walkthough as well as choosing other separate mods for my install.

MMMforOOO is a combination of 2 large overhaul mods. Martigens Monster Mod adds loads of new creatures & relationships between them, so you don't feel like the centre of attention. Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul adds too much list! (same for MMM really), this will address your epic battle thingy somewhat. For example when you are low level you may stumble into an area where there are high level or even boss creatures/NPC's & get murdered horribly or when you are high level you will still see 'lesser' foes.

Now I'm in love with Oblivion all over again! :wub:

The other popular big overhaul combination is FCOM. I haven't tried it myself as the MMMforOOO seemed like a simpler route to go down for the beginner, although from what I've read looks amazing. Combines MMM, OOO, Oblivion Warcry & Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items.

http://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/walkthroughs/mmmooo

Don't forget to look at the previous steps though. Such as 'Preparing for mods' & 'Installing Oblivion'.

EDIT: Here's my mod list (no descriptions I'm afraid, just delete the .omod & any other junk, then plonk the word 'mod' at the end & search google. Nearly all are found on http://www.tesnexus.com/ or http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=oblivionmods.list.....
Mods installed :
Hope this helps!

Nah i was not asking for Morrowind's combat system, i don't think Oblivion's combat system feel's any better or anything as far as how vanilla goes about it (i liked vanilla morrowind's better tbh) but if there is a mod that gets rid of the current leveling system and replaces it (Similar to GCD for morrowind) i also noticed some interesting mods like (if i am thinking of the right one) deadly reflexes that enhance combat.

I'm in between jobs atm because i was taking care of a relative for a good while (and i lost my CD for morrowind and just found it since i got home) so getting SI is not too much of an option atm. I've been trying to find a site that allows me to sort through non SI required mod's easily but have not found the option yet... Probably missing something simple or looking in the wrong place but *Shrugs*

Edit: Anyway ty wasteduk i will look through your list and use it as a starter list - i think that should be good for what i need for now, I'll sort through it manually if i have to and figure out which are SI dependent.

Well, there's http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1090851-relz-wipz-tejons-thread-o-mods/.

For what you're talking about with late game battles turning too epic, Phitt's http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1089733-relz-damage-multiplier/ is probably the best solution.

You can have a good number of nice mods without getting ahold of Shivering Isles. The only mod I can think of that I've using that *needs* SI would be Fearsome Magicka, and while it adds some nice new spells, its hardly essential.

Try OOO and see if you like it. I've been hesitant to myself, but a huge amount of people in the mod forum seem to see it as essential, so it's probably fun

Find a post by CorePC and look at everything in his signature (MMM, Tamrielic travelers etc)

I tend to view MMM, COBL, and Midas Magic all as essential to a TES4 installation.
(
MMM adds monsters and loot and crafting of some weapons/armor
COBL adds a bunch of stuff too varied to enumerate here
Midas Magic adds lots of new spells, as well as a variety of quests in which to use them
)
After that its a case of seeing what you don't like in the vanilla behavior and how you want to change it.

I've found governing attributes is pretty nice and edits your skills in a way thats non-destructive.
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=24281

If you enjoy alchemy try Grandmaster of Alchemy and/or alchemy advanced
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16441
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25226

If you think the UI is huge and made for consoles and want a different approach, try Darnified UI
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10763

I personally like the mod Old Friends, it makes items better as you use them, thus letting you keep hold a sword you find early in the game and don't want to have to discard cause the new enemies are harder.
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19067

The ayleid wells --each well you visit gives you a small permanent boost to magicka, thus a reason to find them
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=OblivionMods.Detail&id=435

vaults of cyrodiil --adds small loot-filled vaults in the various castles of the realm
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9357

Shady Sam Plus --adds a new shadysam type person to each city

Advanced Magecraft --lets you do all sorts of neat stuff with spells and enchantments (could be easily abused, so avoid if you can't help yourself )

Vampirism2 --a different take on how you are as a vampire
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=26914

Landmarks w/ wells --gives map markers for ayleid wells, and stones.

Medic! --lets you give potions to NPCs, so all your escort missions arn't so heartpounding

for more quests, added items etc

The Lost Spires --excellent mod with new items/creatures/dungeons
http://www.lostspires.com/
The Ayleid Steps --much newer, but still well-made mod with new dungeons to explore, and new items courtesy of COBL
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16316

and thats pretty much my whole load order

I hope that helped...

Finished tinkering with things, ty for suggestions.