Finished the main quest, finally! : IV

» Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:22 pm

I recently finished the main quest for the first time. In fact, I had never gotten farther than escorting Martin to Cloud Ruler Temple. But, back in January, I put together the following modlist and ave been playing nearly without change since then. (I did add Nuska's Character Overhaul. Wow! What work!) My aim was to build a personal "best of" in terms of gameplay, as well as to include the many large quest mods I've wanted to try. Since many of them require pretty high level characters, I figured this was a good long-term build plan.

Combat difficulty was almost perfectly balanced throughout. (I am close to level 30 right now.) The exception was Oblivion gate closing. Way more very high level Dremora would spawn than my character could handle. Maybe I just svck? I don't know. I did the first two gates for real, but the tedium of using so many potions (over a hundred) outweighed the fun, so for the rest of the gates that were required, I just turned on god mode to get through. The Rune Skulls, too, I would do without if I were to start over. Luckily, just about the time I decided they were overpowered, I had my op'd runeskulled up super sword knocked from my hand in a fight and lost to clipping issues. So, rather than use the console to find it, I let it go and started to get familiar with a new weapon. From then on I just ignore the runeskulls.

Money, too, worked really well. I'm never so rich that I don't have to ever think about making money. Some time ago I posted about the tedium of making money, and I tried several alternatives (automatic reaping, that kind of thing), but I ended up settling for just harvesting very high value things and letting the rest rot where it falls.

I'm 80% through the mage's guild quests, too. I'm really enjoying the main quest and these way more than I thought I would. I like the mounting tension of the mage's guild line. The initial guild recommendations were hit or miss, but after those were through, I thought they grew in fun. And the main quest suffered a little from fetch-itis, but overall I really liked it. Cameron's realm was a nice twist. The final fight was a lot of fun to be present at. And the game didn't end artificially right there! Awesome! Oh, I did the Nines quest also, but it was more forgettable.

So now I have a great setup and a good character and a bunch of quest mods to go through. How fun!

Thanks, modders!

Active Mod Files:

Spoiler

00  Oblivion.esm01  Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm  [Version 5.0]02  Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm  [Version 5.0]03  Cobl Main.esm  [Version 1.73]04  Qarls_Harvest.esm05  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm  [Version 1.35Beta]06  Mart's Monster Mod.esm  [Version 3.8b1]07  FCOM_Convergence.esm  [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]08  Fundament.esm  [Version ision]09  NNWAEMaster.esm0A  CM Partners.esm0B  Knights - Revelation.esm0C  Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp  [Version 3.4.2]0D  UOPS Additional Changes.esp0E  DLCShiveringIsles.esp0F  Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp  [Version 1.5.1]++  USIPS Additional Changes.esp++  Shivering OOO.esp10  Francesco's Creatures and Items Resources.esp  [Version 5.0]11  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp  [Version 5.0]12  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp  [Version 5.0]13  Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp  [Version 5.0]14  Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp  [Version 5.0]++  FCOM_Francescos.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]++  FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]15  FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]16  Atmospheric Loading Screens - Random Quotes.esp17  OBGE - Liquid Water.esp18  WindowLightingSystem.esp19  ImprovedSigns.esp1A  Kyoma's Focus on Shrine.esp  [Version 1.0]1B  Q - More and Moldy Ingredients v1.1.esp1C  Qarls_Harvest.esp++  SkeletonShaders.esp1D  Walk to Oblivion - OBSE.esp1E  Willful Resistance.esp1F  Enhanced Economy.esp  [Version 5.4.3]20  Display Stats.esp  [Version 2.0.1]21  DropLitTorchOBSE.esp  [Version 2.4]22  Quest Log Manager.esp  [Version 1.3.2]23  Map Marker Overhaul.esp  [Version 3.9.3]24  Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp  [Version 3.9.3]25  DLCHorseArmor.esp26  DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.7]27  DLCOrrery.esp28  DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.5]29  DLCVileLair.esp2A  DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.8]2B  DLCMehrunesRazor.esp2C  DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.6]2D  DLCSpellTomes.esp++  DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.1]2E  DLCSpellTomes - OBSEfixer.esp++  MaleBodyReplacerV3.esp++  TFF_FantasyFigures_Base.esp2F  Explosives.esp30  ClassedBeginning.esp31  DLCThievesDen.esp32  DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp  [Version 1.0.11]33  Cobl Glue.esp  [Version 1.72]34  Cobl Si.esp  [Version 1.63]35  Oblivion WarCry EV.esp  [Version 1.09]36  FCOM_WarCry.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]37  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp  [Version 1.35Beta]++  OOO-Water_Weeds.esp  [Version 1.33]**  OMOBS_SI.esp  [Version 2.0]38  Mart's Monster Mod - Additional Enemy NPC Vars.esp  [Version 3.8b1]39  FCOM_Convergence.esp  [Version 0.9.9Mb8b1]++  FCOM_EntropicOrderRebalance.esp  [Version 0.9.9beta2]3A  FCOM_RealSwords.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB8]3B  FCOM_DurabilityAndDamage.esp  [Version 0.9.9]3C  Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life No Gates.esp  [Version 3.8b1]++  FCOM_NoAdventurersInGates.esp  [Version 0.9.9]3D  Mart's Monster Mod - No Carrion Rats.esp  [Version 3.8b1]3E  Mart's Monster Mod - Safer Quest Locations.esp  [Version 3.8b1]3F  Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp  [Version 3.8b1]40  Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp  [Version 3.7b7]41  Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp  [Version 3.7b7]42  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse WaterLife.esp  [Version 3.8b1]++  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot G&GD.esp  [Version 3.8b1]**  FCOM_Archery.esp  [Version 0.9.9]++  FCOM_ArcheryRealSwords.esp  [Version 1]++  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Wisp and VASE Addon.esp  [Version 3.8b1]43  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Creatures Expansion.esp  [Version 3.8b1]++  Mart's Monster Mod - RadiantAITweaks.esp44  Mart's Monster Mod - Mummies.esp++  Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 3.8b1]45  Qarls_Harvest addon_MMM.esp46  Geomancy & Gem Dust OOO.esp47  Ivellon.esp  [Version 1.5]48  HackdirtTheDeepOnes.esp49  BrotherhoodRenewed.esp  [Version 1.1.2]4A  BrotherhoodRenewed - Oblivion XP Patch.esp4B  EiAmod.esp  [Version 1.1]++  EiAmod_ShiveringIsles.esp4C  Mimics!.esp4D  NNWAREAyleidDungeons_Series1EV.esp  [Version 2.2b]4E  NNWAEDungeons-Series2EV.esp4F  NNWARE06-RhyeliaEmeroEV.esp50  Shivering Isles Root System.esp51  The Ayleid Steps.esp  [Version 3.4.1]52  The Crimson Queen.esp  [Version 2.1]53  Trolls Under Bridges.esp54  VHBloodlines 1.2.esp  [Version 1.5.6]55  DLCBattlehornCastle.esp56  DLCBattlehornCastle - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.8]57  DLCFrostcrag.esp58  DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.7]59  DLCFrostcragReborn.esp  [Version 1.4.7]5A  FrostcragRebornCobl.esp5B  Knights.esp5C  Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.1.2]5D  Knights - Revelation.esp5E  SM Plugin Refurbish(Merged).esp  [Version 1.30]5F  Mighty Umbra.esp60  Blood&Mud.esp61  Blood&Mud - EE patch.esp  [Version 4.2]62  MannimarcoComplete.esp63  MannimarcoRevisited.esp64  MannimarcoRevisitedOOO.esp  [Version 0.1]65  Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp  [Version 3.8b1]++  FCOM_MightyUmbra.esp  [Version 0.9.9]66  FCOM_Blood&Mud.esp  [Version 0.9.9]++  FCOM_Knights.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB8b1]67  ReclaimSancreTor.esp  [Version 1.0.5]68  HeartOftheDead.esp  [Version 6.5]69  Frostcrag Village.esp  [Version 1.0.7]6A  DLCFrostcrag Reborn - Frostcrag Village Patch.esp  [Version 1.4.7]6B  Harvest [Flora].esp  [Version 3.0.0]++  Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 3.0.0]++  Harvest [Flora] - DLCVileLair.esp  [Version 3.0.0]6C  Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp  [Version 3.0.0]6D  Auto Update Leveled Items And Spells.esp  [Version 1.2.5]6E  Better Dungeons.esp6F  HUD Status Bars.esp  [Version 5.3.2]++  Improved Elixirs of Exploration.esp70  Class Advantages.esp  [Version 1.01]71  Respawning Varla & Welkynd Stones.esp  [Version 1.2]++  SigilStonesUnlevelled - Adjusted.esp72  Soulgem Magic.esp  [Version 2.0]73  Ayleid Wells.esp  [Version 1.1]74  Enhanced Economy - House prices.esp  [Version 5.4.3]75  Alternative Beginnings.esp  [Version 1.4]76  StarX Vanilla Vampires Revised.esp77  StarX VVR_OOO_FCOM Patch.esp78  Chargeable Spells by grmblf.esp79  ConduitMagic.esp7A  Magic Effects OBSE Tweaks.esp  [Version 4.0]7B  kuerteeMagickaBasedMagicJeweleryLimits.esp7C  Fizzle.esp  [Version 3.0]7D  RshAlchemy.esp7E  RshAlchemyRecipes.esp7F  Lightweight Potions.esp  [Version 1.1]80  FundamentEnchantingAddons.esp  [Version 2.0]81  kuerteeMagickaBasedEnchantmentLimits.esp82  Armorer's Advantage.esp83  Kayo.esp84  Bundlement.esp  [Version ision]85  SDR_Core.esp  [Version 4.5.4]86  Oblivion XP.esp87  SDR_Perks And Patches (Oblivion).esp  [Version 4.5.0]88  Grandmaster of Alchemy.esp++  Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp  [Version 3.8b1]89  ZUAmberMadnessOverhaul.esp8A  TRAP.esp8B  Birthsigns Expanded.esp8C  Oblivion_Character_Overhaul.esp  [Version 1.0]8D  Automatic Timescale.esp  [Version 1.1.1]8E  MiniMap.esp++  Cobl Filter Late MERGE ONLY.esp  [Version 1.53]++  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul - Harvest Containers - SI.esp  [Version 0.99b]++  OOO Harvest Containers Filter patch for mods.esp  [Version 1.03]8F  Bashed Patch, 0.esp

» Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:48 pm

Congrats!

I think OOO/FCOM makes the oblivion realms a LOT harder, too; add to that the tedium of doing all those gates, and it's just too much for me. I use Oblivion Gate Closer Spell (spell that closes the gate and gives you the sigil stone) and just do the city gates.

As far as economy: I'm like you - grab the stuff that's worth selling (jewelry, high-end items, etc.) and leave the rest behind. I still end up with a fair amount of gold, but not millions (when I played Oblivion for the first time on Xbox, I gave up selling stuff after I'd racked up about 900K gold. It was insane). Enhanced Economy is one of those must-have mods.

» Sun Nov 17, 2013 3:51 pm

Good post. This would be a good reference to other players like myself though I use WAC for overhaul instead of FCOM. Anyway sounds like a congratulations is in order. Well done. :goodjob: I'm still working on my first play through after several scratches and back to drawing boards etc etc. :blink: :banghead: God forbid I don't have to start from the beginning this time. Haven't started the main quest yet. :whistling: :laugh: