Hello,

I'm pretty new to the modding scene, and was wondering if you guys could help me. I want to make my next playthrough of Oblivion as beautiful as possible, but dont know where to start. Can you reccomend me some mods? I'd truly appreciate it.

First, http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1143824-oblivion-graphics-extender/
Then, http://devnull.sweetdanger.net/obliviontextureoverhaul.html
And Finally, http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1145975-the-unique-landscapes-project/

Just do not install http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=OblivionMods.Detail&id=2420 if you really want to play the game.

Second that - RAEVWD is fine for just about anyone.

QTP will cover the major stuff. For the rest, here's what I use:

Fearabbit's Darker Cathedrals and Better Gold/Silverware

Stained Glass Replacer

Darker Regal IC

Diverse Grasses

RPGBlackDragon's LowTriPolyGrass (good for performance, and it's pretty!)

Koldorn's Caves and Sewers

Isathar's Ayleid Retexture

Better Book Jackets

Better Spell FX (a must-have if you're going to play a mage)

Enhanced Vegetation

Better Skies (Day and Night - there are several of each)

Hi-Res Oblivion Plane Textures (if you plan on closing Oblivion gates)

A lava replacer (lots of those too - I prefer Visually Realistic Lava, myself)

I just re-installed again as well (got a new system), unfortunately I downloaded QARL's in a 12-part OMOD, but I activated it and nothing's changed in game, and none of my OGE shaders show up. Le disappoint.

I've successfully installed both before on my previous install, so it's especially frustrating. I've checked through all my steps, I don't see where I could be wrong.

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2536 does a lot to make the game gorgeous. You get better looking and a greater variety of weather types that make the sky look awesome, great color variety for summer days vs. winter days and sunrise and sunset, the moons look cooler. Also it rescales the vegetation - trees are realistically taller etc. making the forest a LOT better. You even get birds and insects flying around.

And you get bugs too! But not of the insect variety, instead of immersion breaking, shouldn't use the mod variety. Don't use the weather system, Natural Weather, of Natural Environments. I suggest you use another weather mod that's not bug-ridden, such as http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18305. It's by far the superior weather system available at this time and for the foreseeable future. If you decide against All Natural for whatever reason then I'd suggest http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16544 as a nice alternative.

There are other alternatives for vegetation and water too. http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=23783 is excellent and has multiple scaling options. As for water mods just search around, there are many available. You're bound to find one that suits your tastes.

The only part of Natural Environments I suggest you use is Natural Habitat. Since there is not really anything out there to replace that aspect and it does the job very well.

Check out http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?showtopic=960829 for a great selection of what's available.