I've thought of starting a game where I disable of don't use the compass or map but rely solely on landmarks, signposts, roads and such. How feasible is it? Anyone done it? How much will you miss?

Sadly, the quests are designed to be used with the quest markers. Otherwise you will have many problems finishing them.

Im doing it now, http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1042960 is a great mod. I love the fact you can remove the center on player, part on the map.

You wont miss alot, at least i arent, sure missions will become somewhat hard to complete as in game you wont really get any information on where etc. caves or forts you need to find is. But its alot of fun

Hmm... a lot, especially without previous experience with the game.

In Morrowind, it was okay, because you had in-game directions to where you needed to go. but in Oblivion, you don't. they just tell you "Go to cave X north of Y" and without a compass or map, you'll just wander aimlessly.

A reasonable compromise is to forgo the quest marker, and perhaps the player marker as well. That way, you've got the map, so you can sorta see where you're going, and the compass so you can see if you're approaching something.

DarnUI has the option to hide quest marker and I THINK player marker. Map Marker Overhaul can also do this.

To play completely without a map or compass would be very difficult, I think. At least unless you really, really know the land from your previous play. But how will you ever find the cave you're looking for if you don't have a map to show you that it is northeast of a certain landmark?

Playing without the compass should be possible, as the combination of map, visible landmarks and sun position should help you find the direction. I have considered trying that myself, but not gone that far. For the time being I use the options I have added with Map Marker Overhaul, which is the perfect balance for me:

I have hidden the player marker from both the local and world map, and made the world map not center on the player, so I know need help from the landmarks to find out where I am.

I have also hidden the quest marker from the compass (using DarnUI, but there are other options for this), and hidden the quest marker from the local map, but kept it in the world map.

That way I can look at the world map to find out where I'm supposed to go, but not where I am now - which is just how a real-world map works. But I cannot use the local map to find exactly where the quest target is, which also is immersive (though sometimes frustrating).

I've been playing with no compass on the hud and using Map Marker Overhaul to remove the center on player and the player icon. My main reason for doing so was because I also use The Ayleid Steps and I was finding that whenever I used a step I was automatically checking my map to see where it took me. By removing the map stuff I have to rely on landmarks and such to get an idea of where I am.

I like that it is possible to get completely lost. I teleported to a step on top of a mountain and had no idea where I was. I ended up going down the wrong side of the mountain and a ways into Morrowind before I realized my mistake :facepalm:

I play with removed compass, removed player and quest markers from both local and world map, and map not centering at me, and it IS much more fun to play.

It would certainly be more fun, but be wary that some quests can only be done with map markers (no morrowind style here i'm afraid) e.g. the quest where Arnora and Jorundar have a treasure near Bruma, they dont actually tell you where the treasure is, but rather make it magically appear on your map (precisely i might add) same goes for most quests that have a prize of a hidden treasure of some sort, just be wary that it will be extremely difficult to complete these quests without knowing where they are before-hand.

Finding locations isn't the problem, as far as I'm concerned. Finding far-wandering quest-related NPCs is the problem.

Is there not an option to just hide the HUD? :blink: