Hi,
I am playing Oblivion IV on PS3 and am very very new to this type of game. I have created a Breton, Warior, Knight character. My question is
do you Explore the regions, and get a high level first before going into the main quests? or Start the main quest, then do the exploring?
Jim.
Seems that there is a lot of running around... to do..
Jim

Well, as you play the unmodded game, it ain't necessary to achieve a high level first, as everything is leveled. For instance, that little iron dagger you found on a corpse, would be a glass dagger if you were level 16.

But the main goal is to have fun. Want to bring the amulet to Jauffre right of the bat? It's your choice, although it wouldn't be bad to clear a few ruins to get some combat experience. But really, it isn't rewarding in a vanilla oblivion to clear some dungeons for rewards, in the early levels all you will get are some dirty pieces of iron or fur.

Welcome to the forums. Have a http://images.wikia.com/tesfanon/images/c/c4/Fishystick.jpg.

You're not sure what to do? What do you WANT to do?

You can do anything. I personally have only ever completed one major questline in 6 years of playing The Elder Scrolls (House Telvanni in Morrowind). I do other things instead. Like roleplaying.

Hi to responders,
Well I've pushed character up to level 3 and obtained Iron Greaves Carauses etc and a steel longsword and amber mace. I am currently on the Prophet Pilgrimage with the Wayshrines and have 3 activated, but I get too much stuff and become overencumbered and have to drop my stuff to carry on LOL. I tried buying a house but getting caught with stuff I have to pay my gold and haven't enough to buy House to store my collection.
Jim

Sell some of the stuff you don't use. Or just don't pick it up in the first place.

Are you saying you had to pay a fine? Yeah, you have to do that when you get caught stealing

The game is a sandbox RPG. you can go anywhere and do anything in any order.

As mentioned above you can do anything in any order.

Personally, from a role play perspective I prefer to:

1. Not do the main quest until later. Because (a) the main quest changes the world, and I think it's best to experience the world without that change for a while, and (B) it makes more sense for an accomplished character to complete the main quest vs a low level unskilled character right out of the sewers. Unfortunately, there is no good role play way to opt out of the main quest, so I just ignore the amulet for a long time. Maybe until a finish a few guild quest lines.

2. I don't finish all quests with one character. To me that seems to ruin role play. At a minimum I'd recommend creating a good character for good quests and a bad/evil character for other quests. And some quests are appropriate for both.

3. The Collector questline provides a great focus for exploring the world and leveling your character. Unfortunately in the General Forum I can't say much more about it.

But that's my opinion. You can "find your own path". Just one big piece of advice, save often and keep a bunch of saves around.

Good luck, have fun.

It is a good idea to drop into Weynon Priory and at least activate that part of the MQ. The priory makes a good base of operation and safe chest.

However, I normally do a massive amount of exploring first before heading down the main quest. The reason is that dungeon diving means heaps of combat, and THAT means heaps of opportunity to level up the armorer skill. Armorer is the key skill to getting the ability to repair magical items (at 50) and that really makes the game a lot easier. Armorer also helps lift endurance at level up.

The main quest also has heaps of combat, but I like to avoid human opponents early on- no black soul gems for me you see.....

I feel the mage guild recommendation is better to attempt at the start, so the character has access to the enchanting altar.

I always explore first. In every game, exploration first and everything else second. The MQ however is never something my Dunmer is concerned with.