So I'm new to pc gaming and I started playing Oblivion.I'm falling in love with this game and I want to but the GOTY edition to have all the content.The copy of Oblivion I have came with Bioshock and there are patches out for it but I read somewhere if you patch it (original game)then you get the expansions you will then have to delete the patch and put the expansion patch or something.Being that this is all new to me since I'm planning on getting Oblivion GOTY is it alright that I don't patch this game or should you always patch games.I'm sorry for the dumb questions but I really don't want to mess it up and not be able to play the game.Thanks in advance.

I think it's ok to patch it, from what I've read, as long as you dont use any of the beta patches. I've looked on the Bethesda FAQ and it does not mention uninstalling the game if you are patching Shivering Isles and have a patched Oblivion version. There is also an 'unofficial' patch for it which work as mods and can be disabled and deleted. That is as far as I know, your question is not stupid at all and hopefully someone else will be able to clarify further...

Thank You I appreciate it.I'm new to the forums as well as Oblivion (what a game) .

My game version is 1.1.425

If you're going to buy the GOTY edition, just uninstall the current one (that doesn't lose your saves, so don't worry). Then just install the GOTY and it will have the official patches in place. These fix the bugs in the game engine. The reinstalled Oblivion will recognize your old saves.

There are a whole series of Unofficial Oblivion Patches that fix bugs in the quests and dialog etc. as well. These are built as plug-ins that install just like the DLC's, and while I'm mentioning those, Battlehorne Castle is not in the GOTY, so you'd have to add that if you want it.

It should be mentioned that the retail GOTY edition actually does not (!) come with all the content made by Bethesda. It contains Oblivion, Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, but it doesn`t contain the DLCs (there are 8 of them I think). To get everything you`ll need to buy the DLCs separately from the https://orders.gamesas.com/dlc/ or simply buy the Steam Oblivion GOTY Deluxe Edition that costs 25 bucks and updates everything automatically for you. And you can use all mods with the Steam version too. Have fun!