So, it's been quite a while since I last properly played Oblivion, and I figured it's probably a lot easier to ask here than it is to trawl through nexus' 150,000 trillion mods to find the ones I recognise - so, what mods should I get?
I recall having FCOM last time, and while that was great fun, it was also a pretty heavy experience - so is there something... somewhat lighter? I'm planning to be some form of spellsword, so any mods that improve spells or base combat would be greatly appreciated.
Basically, I've been out of the game for far too long and have forgotten what I'm doing - help!

Unofficial Oblivion Patches

Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul + Martigen's Monster Mod should be less... overwhelming than FCOM. (or if you want something even lighter, check out Tamriel Immersion Experience... err, lighter modding-wise not difficulty, lol)

Less Annoying Magic Experience is a good choice for a magic overhaul.

Realistic Leveling for the leveling system.

Enhanced Economy - at the very least to do away with the bargaining sliders

Unique Landscapes Compilation OMOD

Alternate Start Arrival by Ship

Chase Camera Mod to fix 3rd person view

Dark UI'd Darn to fix the interface


Those are just some of the bare essentials... I suggest looking through the categories on tesnexus and sorting by endorsemants... you won't find everything you might want that way; but you'll find a lot.

I can recommend the mods I installed and that I like very much:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16513 is awesome, makes visiting cities a very pleasant experience.
Ofcourse the utilities http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22368, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20516, http://obse.silverlock.org/
And before you go install I would recommend reading the useful http://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/, and http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1084204-bain-mod-installation-projects/page__p__15797987&#entry15797987 also http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1090232-50-steps-to-stable-fcom/.
And now I definitely recommend http://devnull.sweetdanger.net/convergence.html but you need to look in the forum for the FCOM and UFCOM thread and read the info there also I would recommend following the walkthrough from TESIV Positive site, the BAIN install.
As for quest mods I recommend http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3027, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11598, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=13814, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22320, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14200, http://www.lostspires.com/, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=26219, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15412, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=13714, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14714, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11755, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9858, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5022
As for Homes : http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8235, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16308, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9769,http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3384
Companions: I prefer http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15200 and with her http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17743, and so you would get the whole experience you need the big quest mod http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=23153, also Companion http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=28977 is very nice
As for graphics: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18305, I use http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=oblivionmods.detail&id=3813
For body I recommend http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=24078, and for male bodies http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25365
For user interface I recommend Darified UI and there is a BAIN version uploaded by Wyre but I can't find the link anymore so you can search for it, and http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8958
And of course http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19370
As for tweaks I recommend: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12466, http://theelderscrolls.info/?go=dlfile&fileid=219, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22124, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=21104, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25078, and I think a must have mods are http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14304 and http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14065

Oh, I'd totally recommend FCOM, too, I loved it, and it really wasn't all that hard to install - but PLAYING it requires a fair amount of dedication that I, alas, don't have the inclination to right now. Plus I've put several hundred hours into it, something new would be awesome. Thanks for all the suggestions, guys, this should make this much easier

(Especially those quest mods - they sound awesome!)

If you get RBP and LAME, as linked to above, you might as well get Integration too - it's a massive quest mod that relies on both.

LAME and/or Supreme Magicka will do a fair bit for the magic side. Personally, I can't do without the former - I like having appropriate starting spells for my characters (assuming they can cast any at all...), and as far as I know, that's the only mod that allows that.

Yes, true, Integration: Stranded light is very nice, also Kragenirs Death Quest. I've added both to the links above.