For anyone interested in Oblivion

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:32 pm

Anyone got any advice on picking locks? I must have gone through 20 something picks on one door and broke every last pick.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:57 pm

LOL, I broke 40 of them on one lock my first night playing! It was a difficult lock, but I always got SO close...

Best thing to do is get some lockpics, and try to find easy level locks to open, the more success you have the higher the skill will go.

Now where to find the locks is anybodies guess. Most of the dungeons around will have chests in them with locks that are fairly easy to open, so finding them will help the skill go up faster.

TheTruth · Post by **TheTruth** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:00 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Anyone got any advice on picking locks? I must have gone through 20 something picks on one door and broke every last pick.

I believe the Alteration magic skill allows you to use magic to unlock locks. So you could always re-roll your toon if you want....

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:15 pm

Problem is you only get "open very easy lock" as a spell, and you can't learn the others until you increase in aptitude. Apprentice gets Easy, Journeyman gets average, etc. So then you have to find SPECIFIC locks to even be able to experiment.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:04 pm

How do you pick a lock without spells?

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:35 pm

Anybody play this on PC? If so, how is it?

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:55 pm

I have the PC version. Plays reasonably on my low end (p4 2Ghz, 1GB ram, 9700 pro) machine at 1024x768.

Some people on elderscrolls.com are complaing about PC controls, but I don't have any trouble.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:58 pm

I'm a dumbass. Will somebody please pm me the way to close the first oblivion gate?

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:09 am

Foppish complaint of the day:

I really wish you could see the clothes before you buy them.

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:23 pm

Man, I suck when it comes to fighting! I keep accidently clicking the right stick and changing from 1st to 3rd person in the middle of the fight. While I am a thief and more of an archer, I think I might take on the arena fights at some point to get better at this. Maybe I should just practice on rats.

I have light armor as a major skill, but I can't really see the advantage over heavy armor. Is it that with light armor you can move faster and avoid hits and thrust faster than with heavy??

I have tried to avoid reading stuff on the fan boards, because there are too many stupid questions and cheats listed and I want to experience the game for myself. I am not really playing to "win" as much as to explore - and focus maybe 1 hour out of 10 on the main story. I got bogged down in town and decided to just head off into the wild and sleep under the stars. This game is turning me into a total geek.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:30 pm

kevinpars wrote: I have light armor as a major skill, but I can't really see the advantage over heavy armor. Is it that with light armor you can move faster and avoid hits and thrust faster than with heavy??

I haven't played or read enough to know this for sure, so this is just a guess, but generally heavy armors adversely effect your ability to sneak and do 'sneaky things.' (Pick pocket, etc)

And don't forget with lighter armor you have a lot more carrying capacity.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:32 pm

I did a little bit of the main quest last night, and I wont post any spoilers, but when you get to Cloud Runner Temple just head to the south wall overlooking the town below and then wait for sunset. Absolutely one of most breathtaking scenery shots I have seen thus far.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:32 pm

kevinpars wrote: I have light armor as a major skill, but I can't really see the advantage over heavy armor. Is it that with light armor you can move faster and avoid hits and thrust faster than with heavy??

Some clases, like magic users for example, need light armor instead of heavy armor. Heavy armor is much heavier, first of all, so it can limit how much you can carry. Also, each character I guess can only get really good at, and thus receive the bonuses for, one or the other, at least until you become a mega-high level guy.

For my guy, I can't afford to haul around the heavy armor, I can only carry lik 210 or so. I'm not a strong guy! Although my blade skill is good. But I have just stepped up a notch in light armor, while my heavy armor remains bottom floor. Might have something to do with never wearing heavy armor. . . .

Anyway, heavy vs. light armor is more of a class thing than anything else. If you have light armor as a major skill, you must be a class that is about quick movement, stealth (quiet, heavy armor is loud), etc.

Someone mentioned to me the strategy guide for this game. I've never used one, but this might be a game where it's worth it to get one, especially for relative RPG newbies. There is just so much stuff about the game that you may never stumble on accidently, and the guide could help open up a lot of stuff you didn't even know was in the game. It's not like an MMO where you can learn from other players. Although privat chat is kind of cool in this game. I don't know about the guide, though, as I don't want to spoil the quests or anything, or the wonder of discovering new places.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:35 pm

One thing for you sneaky types to keep in mind is that your sneak ability is affected by the weight of your shoes. I even though I'm wearing heavy iron armor at the moment, I have leather boots in my pack, ready to go when I head into a dungeon.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:51 pm

I have the guide and it is huge and contains a lot of information. Of course there is the main quest walk thru, then there are the quest walk thrus for the guilds and then the misc. quests. I'd say all of that is 30-40% of the book.

There is an extensive part on charcter creations, skills magic etc. there is a lot of information on weapons and equipmentsetc, which shows things like weapon speed (something I don't see in game). Of course there are lots of maps, lsiting overland locatiosn etc.

There is a lot of information in the guide which will help you play and understand the game better, without even looking at the quest information IMO.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:03 pm

Once I finally figured out how the persuasion mini-game worked, I got seriously addicted to it. Good thing, too... I headed north into the mountains early in the game, I'm in the city of Bruma, and there are two side quests where persuasion was key in progressing.

Anyone have a horse yet? How is it riding one in the game?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:13 pm

James_E wrote:I have the PC version. Plays reasonably on my low end (p4 2Ghz, 1GB ram, 9700 pro) machine at 1024x768.

Some people on elderscrolls.com are complaing about PC controls, but I don't have any trouble.

Im not planning on getting a 360 til after I see what exactly is up with the PS3 so this is the way I will go.

I have a simular machine.

I know you said reasonably well...Im leveling a 2nd and 3rd alt in WoW and dont want to buy this unless Im sure I wont quit out of frustration.
Does it chug ?...crash?...have long load times?
Does it play at lower rez without losing its magic?

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:25 pm

Slumberland wrote:Anyone have a horse yet? How is it riding one in the game?

I don't have one yet, but while on one quest near a stable, a horse was standing in the road with no owner, and when I held the cursor over it it let me climb on and it wasn't considered stealing! I rode it around a bit, then left it near the stable to complete the mission. When I came back out it was gone. Maybe I should have taken it to another town or something first, who knows. It was cool though. The controls are a bit different than walking, but do feel like a horse.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:34 pm

XXXIV wrote:
James_E wrote:I have the PC version. Plays reasonably on my low end (p4 2Ghz, 1GB ram, 9700 pro) machine at 1024x768.

Some people on elderscrolls.com are complaing about PC controls, but I don't have any trouble.
Im not planning on getting a 360 til after I see what exactly is up with the PS3 so this is the way I will go.

I have a simular machine.

I know you said reasonably well...Im leveling a 2nd and 3rd alt in WoW and dont want to buy this unless Im sure I wont quit out of frustration.
Does it chug ?...crash?...have long load times?
Does it play at lower rez without losing its magic?

Doesn't chug. Average about 20fps in most areas and it seems pretty smooth. I downloaded omega drivers for my ATI card and it didn't bring the fps UP, but made the game smoother (no little "blips"). It does get slow when first loading up an area with alot of people in it, but it doesn't affect the game too much.

Never crashes

Load times are very reasonable.

Personally, I don't think it loses it's magic. It still looks pretty damn good...view distance is amazing. Last night I cranked up water detail/reflections/ripples and it didn't hurt my performance at all, and it really added alot to the water in the game.

I run at 1024x768, medium textures (still have to try high again... looks better and I don't think it makes a ton of difference to performance). I keep the fade sliders to the left so far, but I'll play some more with those to see how it goes. I haven't spent a TON of time tweaking the game since I want to *Play* it, but I try things here and there to see what effect it has.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:08 pm

Danimal wrote:I have the guide and it is huge and contains a lot of information. Of course there is the main quest walk thru, then there are the quest walk thrus for the guilds and then the misc. quests. I'd say all of that is 30-40% of the book.

There is an extensive part on charcter creations, skills magic etc. there is a lot of information on weapons and equipmentsetc, which shows things like weapon speed (something I don't see in game). Of course there are lots of maps, lsiting overland locatiosn etc.

There is a lot of information in the guide which will help you play and understand the game better, without even looking at the quest information IMO.

Yep, I picked it up too and agree. I finished Morrowind (about 80+ hours) without a guide, but I found the cities and geography much more intuitive in that game. I wanted the guide for the city maps especially.

As Danimal mentioned, the character creation material is EXCELLENT, and I may roll another toon just to check out some of the cooler stuff I read in the guide.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:56 pm

Gurantsu wrote:
Slumberland wrote:Anyone have a horse yet? How is it riding one in the game?
I don't have one yet, but while on one quest near a stable, a horse was standing in the road with no owner, and when I held the cursor over it it let me climb on and it wasn't considered stealing! I rode it around a bit, then left it near the stable to complete the mission. When I came back out it was gone. Maybe I should have taken it to another town or something first, who knows. It was cool though. The controls are a bit different than walking, but do feel like a horse.

Here's the easiest and quickest way to get a horse...legally. This might be a spoiler for some people so stop reading now.....

The first quest you get from the Emperor is to take the Amulet to Weynon or somewhere...can't remember the exact name. When you get there he tells you to go to Kvatch to find the emperor's son. He offers you anything in the chest like weapons and armor. After getting the best stuff he has, talk to all the other monks around there. Ask each one for assistance and one of them will offer you his horse. Then you will have your own horse.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:02 pm

I had a horse and killed it, I rode it cross country and up a slope, when we came back down the other and hit a step drop he would let out a bit whiney (is that a word??) anyway after 4 or 5 these he just collapsed and died.

I just found him on a road being attacked by a few wolves so its not like I lost money.

According to the guide their are 5 types of horses, the biggers ones are more durable and can't take damage. The smaller ones can jump better.

Also for whomever it was who figured out the mini game on persusaion, care to enlighten us to lazy to figure it out.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:09 pm

Danimal wrote: Also for whomever it was who figured out the mini game on persusaion, care to enlighten us to lazy to figure it out.

I didn't post, but it's pretty simple.

When you select a quadrant when you are persuading people, look at their expression. If they are pleased, you want to 'use' that quadrant when most of the pie is filled up. When they look angry or displeased by a quadrant, try to make the pie as empty as possible when you use it there.

The game then basically adds up the good hits you got, subtracts the bad ones and the time you took, and applies that to the NPCs score.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:10 pm

And oh, I agree, it gets pretty addicting!

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:42 pm

The key - for me anyway - is to not spend too much time looking at the pie chart. Take an educated guess at what way to go and start persuading. You end up losing points if you take too long. Also, you can move the pie one quadrant clockwise any time during the persuasion.

Danimal - after your horse died, did the PETA guards attack you?