First Oblivion Expansion Details (PC)

[Gorvi]

Computer and Video Games (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=153278) is reporting the first details on the upcoming Oblivion expansion Shivering Isles.
Revealed in the latest edition of PC Zone magazine, word is that the expansion will offer 30-plus hours of new adventuring, features new quests, monsters, expanded freeform gameplay - quest lines that branch more than before, for example - and a new land "that you can watch change according to your vital life-or-death decisions".

And you thought you were done with Oblivion.

[Dr.Finger]

Now if we could just get some news on the 360 version of the expansion ;)

[AntB]

Oh god. I'm 50 hours into that game, still don't feel like I scratched the surface and another expansion is coming.

Although, I did spend an hour or two beating the Mehrune's Razor quest.

I can't allow my self to buy new games until I finish the ones that I already have, god damn it.

[Gorvi]

Now if we could just get some news on the 360 version of the expansion ;)

I'd be willing to bet that we see a boxed release for the PC and a download for the 360/PS3. As far as I'm aware, the only console games to ever offer expansions at retail that didn't include the original games were Final Fantasy XI and Everquest Online Adventures.

[ReaverX]

Crap, I JUST started Nights of the Nine and I still haven't done Mehrune's Razor.
I'll never be finished with this game... I love it. :D

[51|RandoM]

It will be boxed for 360 too... if they want to sell very many of them. There are lots of people on Live, but there are still a very significant number of people who aren't.

[Gorvi]

It will be boxed for 360 too... if they want to sell very many of them. There are lots of people on Live, but there are still a very significant number of people who aren't.

Damn, good point. I keep forgetting how many people don't have their consoles online at all.

[JazGalaxy]

Both of my brothers spent, like, 130 hours in Oblivion. That's absolutely nuts for our family. We don't play games like that. We're usually "play it to complete it and then move on" gamers. Not "hunt for every sidequest and collectathon to get 100%" gamers...

[Citizen Philip]

Urmm.. I played Oblivion for around +30 hours and lost interest. It was interesting but it apparently was not for me.

[ldi222]

I finished the main storyline on PC and am about to play through it again on the 360. First time through I went mage and then finished the main storyline. This time I picked the birthsign that gives me +100 magika but am planning on making my character more of a battle warrior / destruction mage. Can you do knights of the nine and the dark brotherhood quests simultaneously?

[joruussuun]

I played Oblivion (PC) for like 60 hours... I'm not sure exactly why I stopped... I didn't finish the main quest but I was most of the way through it. I had the best house decorated to perfection. It might've been that I found a way to kill the Umbra (??? on spelling - the sword who takes over people) lady probably way before I should've been able too. So I had full ebony armor and 2nd (or 1st) best sword in the game fairly early (when ebony armor was "ZOMG AWESOME").

[Savok]

So Bloodmoon without the werewolves then?

[The Bashar]

The game was fun until realized that my assasin character could not be killed. I would walk into a dungeon find a shady little corner and rain death down up my enemies without them knowing I was there. I should probably play as another character but a word of wisdom. Don't play stealth based chacters, you become way to uber way too fast.

[YoungAlCapone]

I played and enjoyed Oblivion, but without the mods I use I don't find it nearly as compelling.

I use Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul, which completely gets rid of the game leveling alongside you, so now there is actual challenge and missions/dungeons that cannot be completed by early level characters. It makes it feel like an RPG. It also adds a bunch of new content and changes the way a lot of things work. Plus Martigens Monster Mod which adds a bunch of new monsters and changes up spawns and NPC behavior. Makes the spawns and behavior of NPCs much more natural and interesting. Plus the Telvanni codex, which adds a bunch of the Morrowind spells back into oblivion, including levitate. And Septim mansion, my estate contained within the pages of a book. Plus various cosmetic and environmental mods.

It is a good game, but becomes epic great with the mods. Hopefully it wont take to long after the expansion ships for support to be added in OOO and MMM, because I won't play Oblivion without them.

[Slack3r78]

I played about 10-15 hours in, realized it was just a prettier Morrowind, and lost interest.

[Johan]

What I'd love to know is when they're going to package all this shit up together, like Morrowind: GotY Edition.

I'll buy it when it's a bundle. Til then, it's a slow bleed from my wallet, so I wait.

[Disgustipated]

I submitted this too. Bastards.

[The Bashar]

I use Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul, which completely gets rid of the game leveling alongside you, so now there is actual challenge and missions/dungeons that cannot be completed by early level characters.

This sounds interesting. Most interesting indeed.

[Gnomesbane]

I use Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul, which completely gets rid of the game leveling alongside you, so now there is actual challenge and missions/dungeons that cannot be completed by early level characters. It makes it feel like an RPG. It also adds a bunch of new content and changes the way a lot of things work. Plus Martigens Monster Mod which adds a bunch of new monsters and changes up spawns and NPC behavior. Makes the spawns and behavior of NPCs much more natural and interesting. Plus the Telvanni codex, which adds a bunch of the Morrowind spells back into oblivion, including levitate. And Septim mansion, my estate contained within the pages of a book. Plus various cosmetic and environmental mods.


Damn. Here I'd been loving my 360 version but your post has convinced me to seek out a copy for PC just so I can see these mods in action. Damn you.

[YoungAlCapone]

Trust me, you will not regret it.

Use the Oblivion Mod Manager and read a little about load order first, it scares some people away but it really is very simple stuff. Exceptionally simple even, but you will want to know it.

As for Slacker, Oblivion is not a prettier Morrowind. Morrowind was better all around, with the exception of the "feel" of combat, especially the world. It is a little older, and thus older looking, but the art direction and design of the world for Varrdenfell was much better than that of Cyrodiil. Much more fantasy oriented, instead of real world boringness. Matter of opinion really.

[Panthera]

I agree with everything YoungAlCapone said. Overall, I do believe that Morrowind is the better game for story, gameplay, writing, setting and art. I was terribly upset to see the Dunmer utterly robbed of their character in Oblivion, as if Morrowind never happened. I think the biggest mistake they made was voice acting - it was obvious the game's writing was limited. Voice acting works great for a few basic phrases, like in Morrowind, but not for every word.

Oscuro's mod is fantastic. He did a wonderful job balancing everything and making rare items rare. One might even say that it's the patch that adds the fun.

[YoungAlCapone]

Word, and welcome Panthera.

[jadkins555]

I played through Oblivion soon after it first came out for the Xbox 360. I want to go back through and play it again, but all of these little addons, big and small, are overwhelming. I wish they would release all of the addons for a low price as I don't feel like spending, 3 bucks here, 5 dollars there, 99 cents here, and so on for what comes together as a lot of money.

I think the biggest mistake they made was voice acting - it was obvious the game's writing was limited. Voice acting works great for a few basic phrases, like in Morrowind, but not for every word. That just shows that everyone has different tastes. I loved the voice acting in the game and it really helped get me into the game. To be fair though, Oblivion was my first Elder Scrolls game so I had no real expectations or a past game to compare it to.

I think Oblivion really was the overall game of the year. I am now playing through FFXII, so when I complete that I may change my mind. But I thought that while Gears of War was such a great game, Oblivion eclipsed it in scope and detail, and overall length and content. I think the reason so many people place Gears of War above it is simply because GOW was just released, so it is fresh in everyone's mind.

[BigJonno]

Biggest disappointment with Oblivion after Morrowind? Factions. Morrowind had around ten full-size factions, Oblivion has four. The lack of a playable Imperial Legion was particularly sucky.

[Kem0sabe]

And you thought you were done with Oblivion.

I am done with Oblivion...

[Panthera]

Thanks, Mr. Capone!

[mos]

I never did finish the main quest in Oblivion, mainly because I had reached a level where nothing could touch me. I'd walk into the Oblivion gates and waltz to the orb at the top of the tower, with a train of high-level monsters beating on me the whole time.

After that, I decided to start over but throw in the mods (like the ones YoungAlCapone mentioned), but I started going overboard, adding just about anything that looked good. It became tedious trying to keep track of what fixed what, what added what where... Then something else came out (I forget what, Prey maybe), and I just never came back to it.

When the expansion comes out I'll pick it up and give it another whirl. I should be done conquering Europe (M2TW) for awhile at that point.

[Atticus_XI]

Concerning the question about Dark Brotherhood and Knights of the Nine: I believe you would have to do the Dark Brotherhood first, then the KOT9, because "bad" acts make you fall out of favor with the gods, and you'll lose your ability to use the Crusader items. I have no idea if joining the KOT9 automatically boots you out of the DB.

Also, regarding balance issues. While doing the Mehrune's Razor quest, a Marag Tong (sic?) assassin was lurking about and was killed by mobs (you free him during the quest). His armor is nuts, my Heavy Armor specced character switched immediately to most of the Light Armor pieces. With other items, I had like 80% resist normal weapons, high magic resist and reflection, and a high % of reflect damage. I could waltz through just about anywhere and barely get touched.

[Telefrog]

I'll be very interested in getting the expansion if/when it comes out for the 360. I just can't play the PC version due to my general sucky computer.

[Gunblade]

Oh bethesda. Trying to get as much money as possible for this title. Look at all these ports, and expansions and micro-payment options. It's dumb, and because of it all I am losing faith in their ability to make games. And they have Fallout 3 in their hands >_<

I was done playing Oblivion in about 20 hours. The game just didn't sum up to anything to keep me hooked and I was back to playing Elderscrolls III. There is a review that sums up everything I feel about it...but it's address I forget I will have to wait until I get home in a week lol.

But it covers how if you really get pass the graphics, to the real meat. There is not much to oblivion. You don't actually affect the world, there is supposed to be this great invasion and no. There is just silly little gates all over the world just sitting there all the same. Then they dumb down alchemy, etc. etc.

I could go on about flaws but hey! The highlights were the thieves guild, that one northern town those side-quests were great. The murder, the mystery, and then the quest with the map and the journal pieces through the mountains, and sneaking through the tunnel and picking off trolls with bow and arrow (omg physics!) great stuff. And then lastly the battle of kvatch or whatever. That was great. Made you feel important.

Everything else was well. Lets not make the post any longer. Most of my friends are hardcore morrowind fans, and it when it came to oblivion most of us just felt let-down (and happy we pirated it before buying <_<;). Where as my younger brother thinks it is the greatest thing ever. Of course he plays it on the 360, and has never really picked up a title like it. Everything is new to him. I guess with a title like oblivion it depends on where you coming from in gaming.

[miah]

I find it odd that people play the game as a specific thing and only do those quest lines.. My character is more of a stealth/theif character but i've completed every quest line and i just have to finish up mages guild before i finish the main quest. I've also done just about every side quest, there may be one or two that i've missed but I've got most of them. I've played all of the addons except nights of the nine, though I'll get that soon. I did all of the dark brotherhood quests and the warrior quests at the same time without any ill effects..

[Wokapto]

I might pick up the expansion, but only if there are no oblivion gates to close. God I hated oblivion gates. That quest where you had to close 6 in a row just about made me drop the game and never pick it up again. As it was I rushed through the last part of the game and didn't really enjoy it. Except for the paradise level, that level was actually pretty cool.

[Panthera]

No spoilers, dammit.

Also, I find it generally pointless to play Elder Scrolls games past level 25 or so. It doesn't feel right, since the games don't usually scale very well at that level, and you don't get to see/use more of the skills that you would creating new characters appropriate for the other factions.

Of course, it would help if there were more than four factions...

[Mister Pie]

I was playing oblivion last night and when I asked the archmage of the mages guild for rumors, he gave me some gossip about himself and referred to himself in the third person. Hilarious.

[easi]

I found this game incredibly boring. Not a patch on Final Fantasy VII tbqfh.

[GigaFuzz]

I found this game incredibly boring. Not a patch on Final Fantasy VII tbqfh.

Not the first game that comes to mind to compare Oblivion to...

[YoungAlCapone]

Not the first game that comes to mind to compare Oblivion to...


I cannot imagine why not. After all, they are both RPGs. Jeez, some people.

(I am quite sure I don't need to say this but, I am joking. Seems sarcasm has lost all comedic value as of late.)

[Predation]

Now if only someone would link my Oblivion mod guide that has been in the oblivion part of the forums that noone visits (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22534)

As for the expansions, I'll wait and see. I have been sorely disappointed with the microtransactions offered (horse armor, oh goodie! I hope the 10 minutes it took coding that was worth it). Honestly, the mod community has pumped out 100 times the free content (I don't consider that a hyperbole) that bethesda has come up with for pretty outrageous prices.

[YoungAlCapone]

Now if only someone would link my Oblivion mod guide that has been in the oblivion part of the forums that noone visits (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22534)

That is a damn fine list my good man. I think maybe you have a few internets headed your way.

[KingGorilla]

All I know is that it will probably be priced way too expensive.

[MacD]

-edit-
on preview, what Predation linked to, mostly. I don't use the "unoficial patch", as it's shit for compatibility with other mods in my experience and isn't that neccessary. At the very least BTMod, Natural Environments and the texture replacements are absolute musthaves for anyone, regardless of what you think of the game mechanics.
-/edit-

Personally I use:
-BTMod. Period. Unfuck Bethesda's clusterfuck of a consolised interface. FUCK YOU BETHESDA for not doing this yourselves, lazy arseholes.
- PlasticFoamMan's Unofficial Equipment Rarity patch, as it changes only what's really broken wrt dropped loot (no bandits with glass armour...pretty much ever; that kind of thing)
-Combat Behaviour (smarter combat by enemies...you have no idea how much you need this until you've installed it),
-LevelSlowx2/3 (slower leveling...fixes leveled creatures/bandits...it's nice if they get a bit harder, but because you gain more skills per level, you will outstrip them, and they don't use glass uber items)
-KajEyeToggle (kaijit night eye is a toggle WHY IS THIS NOT DEFAULT BETHESDA!?) in combination with replaced night eye shader (no fucked up the world is blue, but a very cool slightly desaturated grey with brightening effect...amizing effect, we're talking kinda LoTR movie elf dreamsequence look)
-Oblivion Cats (amazing how much difference cats make to this game...subtle but wow)
-Natural Weather/Vegitation/Habitat...you need these
-BookJackets...ditto...books like like books, and actually look different!
-texture replacements (like the distance maps, distance normalmaps and other texture packs....not very much memory overhead [if any] and a WORLD of difference ingame)

Various other mods, but the above are essential to play the game and enjoy it.

[miah]

I might pick up the expansion, but only if there are no oblivion gates to close. God I hated oblivion gates. That quest where you had to close 6 in a row just about made me drop the game and never pick it up again. As it was I rushed through the last part of the game and didn't really enjoy it. Except for the paradise level, that level was actually pretty cool.

Huh? I've closed off two or three of them.. I've taken my time its not like there is a clock that makes you do it all in a hour. The only Gate that has a timer on it is the very last one.. Though my char can run through a gate in ~30 minutes.

[Aneurhythmia]

Oh bethesda. Trying to get as much money as possible for this title. Look at all these ports, and expansions and micro-payment options. It's dumb, and because of it all I am losing faith in their ability to make games...
Because it wasn't already an expansive franchise before Oblivion, what with Elder Scrolls 1 - 3, Battlespire, Redguard, 2 Morrowind expansions, special and GOTY editions, etc. Not that you should care, if you're just going to steal the fucking game anyway.

[wezlypipz]

Looks like I'll have to keep putting off my dream of Gamestop going out of business with a better, friendlier, more reliable company taking their place...sob sob.

[Gnomesbane]

Can anyone point me to a good source for modding tutorials? Specifically, I'm looking to import a new animated creature model. I've found a smattering of tutorials on specific parts of the process but a lot of it seems to be very old info and none of it is comprehensive. I'm not talking about how to model, texture and animate... I just need a good walk-thru of what is required to get the character into Oblivion. Any help?

Thanks!

[Aneurhythmia]

There's a tutorials section on the Elder Scrolls wiki, but I haven't looked at it in a while.

[Frogleg Special]

This expansion is quite overdue.

If Oblivion is geared for PC or made for PC only the expansion would come out earlier. Yet, Bethesda have to look at the implication of releasing expansion on X360 Oblivion gamers, which almost certainly they would ask or whine to release the same one in the said console.

[Wolvie]

I hope it's either DLC or a disk thats no more expensive the $20 for the Xbox 360. I still haven't touched the Knights of the Nine conent, so I'm not sure if I want to drop that much cash on another expansion.

[Mighty Jesus]

With Oblivion being such a success, I hope to god it's horrible fucking chinese fingertrap difficulty scaling doesn't become standard for RPGs.

[WileE.Coyte]

I just hope they don't put all of their effort into a bajillion word read fest. Some of those books have 30 pages or more. I didn't read a lot of them but the time it must have took to write it. They could have been doing other things. As far as the mods go I would actually pay for some of those, my comp is shit and will remain that way for the forseeable future. Since the 360 didn't even get a dumbed down modding kit the least they could do release a few of the better ones on live.

[EL CABONG]

I got about 160 hrs in. I am at level 50 done pretty much every thing ,but Knights of nine I just barely stared it. I guess I should quit dilly-dallying and plow through that before even more content hits.

Way back when My Chacter hit his cap I considered going to jail so my skills would go down so I could level up some more. I really like leveling up.

Dam I do love this game.

[Smoof]

I just hope they don't put all of their effort into a bajillion word read fest. Some of those books have 30 pages or more. I didn't read a lot of them but the time it must have took to write it. They could have been doing other things. As far as the mods go I would actually pay for some of those, my comp is shit and will remain that way for the forseeable future. Since the 360 didn't even get a dumbed down modding kit the least they could do release a few of the better ones on live.

If only they had some separate people to do something like that... you know... they could, like... PAY people who...hmmm...write professionally! Like a guy who pens all the lore and story for The Elder Scrolls. They could have a guy that does the writing and another that does the programming, so they wouldn't have to waste their time like that! Especially since programmers are probably shitty writers anyway!

Man... what a genius idea. Why hasn't anyone come-up with something like this yet? Who knows...

[WileE.Coyte]

Or maybe they should have just hired another programmer. If I had to judge the programmers of this game I would judge, understaffed or pure lazyness. I know Oblivion is huge and must have taken a lot of dedication and time but in less than one year of the games release OOO 1.3 comes along and fixes the leveled loot problem, adds a ton of new items, armor, quests, monsters and made most of the useless caves/forts etc... unique, "correct me if I'm wrong". Leveled loot seems to me as the lazy mans out for not putting more depth in Oblivion their flagship game. Or to kill fans with micropayments for more depth.

[OrangePulp]

Or maybe they should have just hired another programmer. If I had to judge the programmers of this game I would judge, understaffed or pure lazyness. I know Oblivion is huge and must have taken a lot of dedication and time but in less than one year of the games release OOO 1.3 comes along and fixes the leveled loot problem, adds a ton of new items, armor, quests, monsters and made most of the useless caves/forts etc... unique, "correct me if I'm wrong". Leveled loot seems to me as the lazy mans out for not putting more depth in Oblivion their flagship game. Or to kill fans with micropayments for more depth.

To be fair, the idea of leveled loot is also to provide replayability. I don't think their implementation of leveling loot/npcs was very good, but I don't understand how that kind of system in general is bad. A hand-crafted world is cool the first time you play through it, but what about the next time? You've already done it all before, all the drops are the same, etc. Maybe you never intended to play through Oblivion more than once, but I do. Being able to create your character yourself means you could have a completely different experience the next time.