Oblivion first time playing , Modded or not?

[illiciTWraith]

So I picked up oblivion but never played it only like for 2 hours doing nothing, are there exceptions of mods that I should download?

[Leeux]

I'd suggest at the very least to install OBSE + EngineBugFixes + Blockhead, + the Unofficial Patches + Character Overhaul... that's the closer I'd ever play to vanilla myself, if I'm feeling particular masochistic :P

(Perhaps I'd include myself DarN UI too, because I really dislike the vanilla UI and probably some other QoL UI mods, like Toggeable Quantity Prompt, Container Menu Overhaul and Loot Menu... but they're not required at all!)

[Esoteric]

I'd rather kill myself then play the vanilla version.

[cyäegha]

bare minimum is OBSE, UOP, USKIP and the knights of the nine patch
enginebugfixes is a godsend as well, and depending on how powerful your system is, OSR

i'm a minority in the sense that i believe tweaked oblivion reloaded is also a necessity, simply because of how good its memory management module is, but i wouldn't recommend that for a first-timer

OCOV2 (and blockhead) and QTP3 are also fairly safe choices for a - reasonably - vanilla+ experience

[Ankou]

As far as gameplay and new content go: try it for a while first, decide what you can't stand, then mod it and start over. Oblivion is a deeply flawed game but it's best to get a feel yourself for what your own issues are going to be with it and how you'd like to fix them.
Oblivion is one of those games I personally consider not worth playing unmodded but it's important to form your own opinion.

Graphics are pretty harmless to start modding straight away if they aren't to your liking. The guide I link has a mass of graphical suggestions but all you really need to fix things up quickly is Qarl's Texture Pack III Redimized, Oblivion Character Overhaul, and if you have a decent PC something like Really AEVWD so ruins can be seen from a reasonable distance.

As far as the engine and bugs, the game is a dumpster fire. I highly recommend to do the Stability Mods, OBSE Plugins, Fixes and Patches section of this guide.
https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/47591
But follow it intelligently. Read what things do, why is suggests the fixes it does, and change what the guide suggests you tweak.

[illiciTWraith]

Thank you all for replying ill be sure to mod the game, ill play it for a while unmodded and then i'll start modding it. Also should I use MO1 for Oblivion?

[Leeux]

I'd recommend Wrye Bash or OBMM... MO in any version I tested always had problems with Oblivion, but mostly related with installing OBSE plugins.

If you want to manage those separately and install them directly to the actual real Data folder, you can still use MO if you're familiar with it... but that means that you will get some Data clutter from those OBSE plugins.

[illiciTWraith]

Originally posted by Leeux:

I'd recommend Wrye Bash or OBMM... MO in any version I tested always had problems with Oblivion, but mostly related with installing OBSE plugins.

If you want to manage those separately and install them directly to the actual real Data folder, you can still use MO if you're familiar with it... but that means that you will get some Data clutter from those OBSE plugins.

Ok thanks, ill go for Wrye Bash.

[Kongha]

modded.

[Faded]

vanilla. then after you've actually played the real game you can mod it. You gotta see what its really all about before you install mods. so you can know what its like

[Kieldoozer]

vanilla is the only way, its not oblivion if u mod it.

[illiciTWraith]

Originally posted by Killdozer:

vanilla is the only way, its not oblivion if u mod it.

Yeah but mods make the game better

[Kieldoozer]

Originally posted by Captain_Magsire:

Originally posted by Killdozer:

vanilla is the only way, its not oblivion if u mod it.

Yeah but mods make the game better

thats debatable imo, they sure make it different tho.

if anything play vanilla for a while and if u wanna mod it after you will have an idea of what to change so it suits u better.

i personally dont mod at all as it breaks my immersion and any sense of progression.

[LGG11]

Originally posted by Funhouse:

vanilla. then after you've actually played the real game you can mod it. You gotta see what its really all about before you install mods. so you can know what its like

I agree with that. Vanilla first. Then mods may seem twice as amazing for u to. The only thing maybe mod is bug fixes

[Esoteric]

Here are some must have mods: Unofficial Oblivion Patch, Unofficial Shivering Isles Patches, Unofficial DLC Patches, which fix the countless bugs, Oblivion Character Overhaul V2, so the characters don't look like ♥♥♥♥, Basic Primary Needs, so that your character needs to eat, drink, and sleep, and last but certainly not ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ least No Psychic Guards, so that they no longer instantly know whenever you commit a crime and teleport near you.

[yewed]

i've been playing it vanilla recently because of nostalgia