I've come back to Oblivion after a fair amount of time out and I'm not sure where to start.. basically. I have bad memories of constantly starting games and jogging on over to the Arena/Fighters Guild as the norm.

Now this is just as much of a discussion as it is a help topic really. First of all, what do you think I should do to kick-start my new load? Please, don't recommend mods. I'm planning on hitting the modded-world after this game. I'd like to, first, get re-introduced with Oblivion in all it's unmodded glory.

Secondly, what is your normal course of action? Would be interesting to see if people differ in how they approach the start of the game.

i always roleplay a particular class or build, and give myself limits as far as what that char would do, for example - my current char is an orc pilgrim - blunt, block, armorer, heavy armour, security, speechcraft, and mercantile - and as such he's more of a towny than a wilderness dude, and he's into lore and history and stuff like that, so he reads books and makes journeys based on places of interest.
He visited the arena recently and, even though he's nifty in a fight, with high strength and endurance, actually fighting in the arena was not something that fit in with his character, so instead he placed a bet, and watched a match, and even then, decided it was too bloodthirsty for him.
This goes for quests too, I only accept quests that are likely for that particular char. And i tend to stick to my main skills, so the orc uses no alchemy and no spells except scrolls (he's a reader) and his racial and birthsign powers - again an rp choice - The Ritual (he's into faith and religion).
A certain amount of stat planning is required to be an effective character of course, but i like to balance it with rp decisions.

obviously rp is not for everyone, but i find this kind of approach really makes the game interesting to play, rather than running around doing absolutely everything and rushing through quests with fast travel etc, which i get bored with easily.

also i play permadeath, which adds an intensity to the whole experience, and forces you to take care every step of the way, but again, this is not for everyone.

The first thing I do ALWAYS on every character is head over to Vilverin to test my character out. Do you not want to do any guilds right now, or just not the two you mentioned? If you don't feel like doing any of them, then I would say make your way over to the strange door in the Niben..... thats always a fun place to start

I like to give the Amulet to Jauffre, then actually live in Weynon Priory for a while. A good test is try to get the Pilgrim's Grace power with no fast travel, no armour, and only using hand to hand. Prove your devotion to the Divines!

I have no idea what my character is going to do. I can only report what she has done.

Regarding the beginning of her game, some 600 hours ago, once free of the prison, she turned a few of the items she had picked up into gold. She then made her way home to Bravil to get back to the simple life of a bow hunter that had been so rudely interrupted during her visit to the big city. Old enough now to join the MG now, she did so. Her guild head convinced her to try and get a University education, so entering the University became perhaps her first major endeavor. And thus her path to becoming a mystic archer began.

I'm a roleplayer, so if you're not take this all with a pinch of salt. Unless you fancy giving it a go, in which case, good on you!

I second Gimme H, roleplaying is what makes this game for me.

You mentioned you always do the Fighters/Arena quests. Why not create a Mage this time around and do their guild? It's an interesting questline and not to mention how different playing a Mage is to your average warrior. How about playing a Scholar who's only goal in Cyrodiil is to learn? I've played a character like this for a few days (I played DiD for him, and he got ambitious in an Ayleid Ruin).

That said, you may be more interested in stealth. How about a poor Khajiit thief who lives on the IC waterfront, or in Bravil (or perhaps Lewayiin), and steals to survive?

It seems you're into characters that do a lot of killing, so why not try one that isn't all about "crushkilldestroy"? Helena, my current character is a Healer, who's morals prevent her from killing any living thing. Naturally this is a huge challenge, especially for a level 1 with barely any spells.

The start of the game differs for all my characters. Ranger types might just dive into Lake Rumare, and head over to Vilverin, rather than going to the IC first. But Helena decided she needed a change of clothes and lunch before she did anything else. After that we were planning to pop over to Chorrol, but once she saw the Arcane University, she immediately jumped on a carriage to Anvil to join the Mages Guild there (specialise in Restoration in Anvil). She can't wait to gain admittance to the University.

I roleplay. Which means every character's experience is a little different. Most of my characters depend heavily on mods but I'll tell about them anyway.

My sole mage character headed to Chorrol to begin the recommendation quests and concentrated on those for many levels (it took awhile). After that was over she did the "Et In Arkay Ego" quests (one of my very favorite quest mods). She also cleared out any necromancer dungeons she happened across in her travels.

Another character was a custom race whose members were routinely captured and sold as gladiator fodder to the folks who run the Arena. She was unable to leave the Bloodworks until she has attained the rank of Grand Champion, at which time she won her freedom and could leave the Bloodworks. Because I use an overhaul mod it took 19 levels before she could reach Grand Champoin. Because she needed to level up between matches I added a smith to repair her enchanted raiment, sell hammers and train her in Heavy Armor, and a working chaindoll she used to level up her Blade skill. When she left, she joined the Dark Brotherhood.

I created a Drow awhile back (actually Korana's "n Dywyl" race) in order to play the quests for the "Viconia DeVir - The Underdark Saga" mod. After that she did the "The Heart of the Dead" mod quests.

My current character started in Pell's Gate as the daughter of the gift shop clerk in Shezrie's "Pell's Gate" mod and has always dreamed of being an adventurer. She is the unacknowledged daughter of Uriel Septim. It's her dream to make a name for herself in the arena, so she has headed to the IC. After her second match she will get drunk and take a swing at a guard and get sent to jail, where she will meet her biological father for the first time and discover her true paternity. This is as far as I've gotten with her so far. Because she feels so connected to Uriel Septim (her name is Uriele) she will do the main quest (the first time I've done it since the game was released). She will meet her half-brother and they will develop a bit of sibling rivalry. Martin will take the Amulet away from her and sacrifice himself to save his half-sister.

Thank you guys. Dynamite. I'd like to avoid all guilds really but I'm not that fussed. Now you've all said that I don't know where to start.. heh.

Oh! In that case, how about creating a normal, every day person? Like a commoner who desperately aspires to be an adventurer? That way you don't have to be tied down to a guild, and you are free to do as you wish.

Being quite an avid reader of Drizzt I might take up the idea of a Ranger Dark Elf. Normal? Not quite. Avoid society and live on the outskirts? Maybe.

Ooh, a Dunmer Ranger. Epic idea, the race suits the class perfectly imo.

Good luck, sounds like he will be interesting!

From what I recall, Drizzt is a pretty brutal guy in his killing, is he not? (I've never read it, but one of my friends used to tell me about it).

From what I've read so far yes, however he kills what he has to. He left his home due to their Chaotic nature after all so I'll look to being good I suppose.

What would he wear though? Might have to look into some mods for that. Can't really see him running around in any of the armour currently in the game.

I roleplay, but my character evolved the further I went. In the beginning, he was a fortune seeking breton. But now he becoming moore and moore "careless" in his search for fame and glory. He do what is needed to earn money.
He is like a mage that uses his powers strengthen himself. His not a evil mage that practise necromnacy in any way. But he uses his skills to open new doors for him ( if you get what I mean ).
I have joined three guilds, DB, thieves guild and mages guild. He do not want to make a career in thieves guild, but he needs the contacts of the guild.

One habit that's hard to get out of is the compulsion to complete quest lines you start.

Mages Guild up to Arcane U entry gets you access to spellmaking and enchanting. You don't need to go further.

Arena for one fight gets you a reasonable starter armor. You don't need to go further.

Thieves guild first quest gets you membership and access to a fence. You don't need to go further.

Drop off the Amulet at Weynon Priory so you're not carrying it around for the rest of your life. You don't need to go further.

Deal with Rufio and say Hi! to the folks in the Sanctuary, or just ignore the invitation. You don't need to go further.

Once you kill the gatekeeper, you can go through the gates into Mania and Dementia. You don't need to go further.

I so agree with ghastley here. Why complete every questline? I have no problem not doing it unless I find it so much fun, like the Arena. Lothran is in Fighters, Mages and Thieves Guild but has not nor will he ever finish any of them simply because he doesn′t feel the need to do so.

Join any guild which provides you with the things you/your character like and stop right there. Being the head of every guild seems a bit.. unnecessary and unrealistic.

I am beginning to roleplay, tonight i am having an oblivion marathon. new character, i now started to play without crosshair too! i have had i since 08 and still never completed SI, fighters guild, dark brotherhood.

The first thing I do is plan what quests I shall do with the character. I only do the ones that suit the RP of the chracter.

- Then I head east, grab the poison apples.
- Work at levelling endurance.
- Dungeon dive a bit.
- Wander around, go to Weynon Prior, join the guilds at Chorrol.
- Grab the nice fine steel longsword and silver sword from the Chorrol FG and then take a deep breath before the horrible, horrible recommendation quests.