Let's get this out of the way first - I'm a freak.

Now the questions:

Is there an online checklist for quests and books? Or anything close to that?

Are there any completionists out there with a bit of advice?

Just a word of advice. You could completely spoil the entire game, by looking at this http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Main_Page. I did not check the wiki or this forum for about three playthroughs. Just talk to the people in-game, to find all your quests. And if you do get all quests, there are some that are never-ending, and will always be in your quest log, the Arena comes to mind. I choose to roleplay my characters, haven't even done the Main Quest yet, and I'm level 30. You can choose to do all quests or none, do whatever you like, that's why I love Oblivion. I'd stay in the General Discussion forum, so as not to spoil yourself. Good luck!

I don't know of checklists per se, but UESP wiki has some info that probably has all the data you need. I hope these links may be of some help:

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Quests

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Books

I know that I used the 'Places' link at UESP to come up with sort of a checklist I use to track dungeons explored.

I'm not a completionist at all, so can't help you on that one. :foodndrink:

You can also down load some http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=27872 and a printable http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16999. You may find both quite useful.

There is no such thing as never ending quests. The 'never ending' quests are really only repeatable ones. The quest log does not purge them upon completion (to keep it free from clutter) like other games do though.

Yes. Don't.

If you try to "complete" Oblivion you'll only give yourself a headache. Theoretically you can finish every quest and get to the highest level your build will allow, but that alone would take you hundreds of hours, even with fast travel. And if you used fast travel, you'd miss the hundreds of dungeons to explore. And even if you explored every dungeon and looted every chest, you still wouldn't be done. And then there's always your next character.

You can't beat Oblivion, so don't try to do so.

I second with powermapler

I'll third him

You can visit every place and do every quest, but you'll probably never, ever find every item. Partly due to random loot generation, and partly due to leveled lists. For example, there are several different pieces of enchanted fur armor you can find as random loot, but once you reach a certain level, they stop showing up. So, if you wanted to find them all, you'd have to keep your character at something like level 3-5 for quite a long time. and then do something similar for all the leather, chainmail, etc. random loot pieces. Not worth it. I like collecting that lower level stuff, but I just content myself with however much of it I do manage to find as my character levels up.

Okay - here's what I'm learning:

One doesn't check off or complete Oblivion. One lives Oblivion.

Oh, I endorse that heartily! Well put! I find it most rewarding to simply let my character live her life in the beautiful but dangerous land of Tamriel.

My path there was not direct though. For a long time I created numerous characters and did everything the game could offer. I don't regret it, nor would I trade that experience, for it taught me much and satisfied my curiosity. It is what enables me to comfortably accept when my character balks at a quest - I don't mind because I know what it entails and don't feel that I must go see it again. I bring up that option because you did mention OCD . . . .