Returning OB veteran... : IV

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:16 pm

Hi all !!!

I'm a long-time player of oblivion who has veered off to other stuff for the past year or so.

I would love to play once again but i"ve stupidly removed all my mods / guides etc.

I was wondering if there was a simple, step-by-step guide that would cover the following:

1. What utils I would need
2. The right way to optimize meshes (Pyffi)?
3. What order should things be done in (install, patching, optimizations etc.)
4. Critical .ini tweaks and changes

... and any other helpful hints for a first install

Best,

Starnaal

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:38 am

Greetings, starnaal!

I recommend this site -> http://tescosi.com/wiki/Main_Page as it provides the greatest wealth of information among all sites I am aware of.

Keep in mind that most mods have release threads here too, which are the correct places to ask specific questions relating to them. There is also the Mod Detectives thread, for mod-seeking queries.

The TES Nexus is highly searchable in a number of convenient ways, which are worth becoming familiar with.

The Wrye Bash Pictorial Guide ( http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=35230 ) will set you on your way with not only the single most useful and flexible mod utility for Oblivion, but the best mod installation/configuration/uninstallation tool, bar none, as well.

Be very careful with Oblivion.ini alterations.

If you have any other questions, fire away.

edit: Oh, and if you are using Windows Vista or 7, install outside of Program Files (or Program Files (x86)) - try installing under a custom directory like C:\Games instead. This is very important!

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:42 pm

the simplest thing i can suggest is...install one mod at a time. This allows much much easier debugging and makes sure you don't get ahead of yourself

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:54 am

the simplest thing i can suggest is...install one mod at a time. This allows much much easier debugging and makes sure you don't get ahead of yourself

Good advice, you might also find some helpful links in my generic thing:

If you want the most help possible it helps to give as much information, and uniqueness as possible.

Here's my generic written thing for these topics. if you want something specific give more details. I ask some questions in the below text as a small guide line. You can answer them if you wish:

Spoiler

Lists and resources for finding many popular mods, and some good mods:
(note the distinction between the two, don't just follow mindless peer pressure, try and make your own opinions and find what you'll like)

List of lists:
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?showtopic=1010109
Top 100
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/top/alltime.php
Files of the months:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/filesofthemonth.php
Hall of fame:
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=oblivionmods.HOF
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/categories.php, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/tags/search.php, http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/advancedsearch.php

General help in terms of installing, utilities, workshops, etc.:

http://tescosi.com/wiki/Main_Page/
http://www.oblivionmodwiki.com/index.php/Main_Page
http://tesalliance.org/forums/ (Check The Enclave forum, the Oblivion forum, or the Voice actor forum depending on your pursuits)
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/forum/87-iv-oblivion/ (Hardware/software for non mod related issues, Mods for mod users, Construction set for making mods.)

List of topics exactly like ~~yours~~ generic pleadings for "Any mods?" that have already been answered:
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1072579-the-any-mods-list-of-topics/
Read the AZERessential topics to get the basic "get wryebash, OBMM, OBSE, start slow" basic advice for starters recommendations

If you want any further help I suggest you tell us about yourself; what you like and what you're looking for... Here's some questions to get you started:

Have you played Oblivion already?
What sort of things interest you?
What type of Character do you usually play? (good/evil, theif/mage, roleplayer/random-no-story-hack-and-slasher?)
Are there specific types of mods you think would interest you? (Quests, graphic mods, gameplay mods, overhauls, etc.)
When did you leave?
What did you not like about Oblivion? What did Oblivion not have or need more of?
Male or female character?

For the occasional "What are your must haves?"

Mostly quest mods: http://kno.li/i

My favorite quests are:
http://theelderscrolls.info/?go=dlfile&fileid=349 (my most favorite)
http://www.tesnexus.com/modules/members/index.php?id=125368
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=21989
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17448
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6977
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6855
Ihttp://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19591

[b]Gameplay mods:

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25462
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25835
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22894
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25844
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25844
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=26196
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18442
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3409
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=21862(good for troubleshooting)
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20736
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20807
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20371 (Needed for Integration)
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22124 (Needed for Integration)

I'm mostly a quest mod player and I recently posted a big rundown for most of them that I've playedhttp://thenexusforums.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=157600&view=findpost&p=1349075 and http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=924363&topic=51137901.

(Some of these are probably outdated by now)
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?act=findpost&pid=15598757
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1147875-which-magic-mod/page__view__findpost__p__16778426
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=1073167&view=findpost&p=15602927 (Don't really want a lot top 10's or simple lists but I'm desperate for cop/pastes at the moment)
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=1075680&view=findpost&p=15650213