Introduction
Oblivion, the beloved fourth installment in The Elder Scrolls saga, continues to captivate gamers with its expansive world, rich lore, and unparalleled freedom. Even years after its initial release, the whispers of a potential *Oblivion* Remaster fuel the excitement of longtime fans and entice a new generation eager to explore Cyrodiil. While the specifics of a remaster remain shrouded in mystery, one thing is certain: the character creation system, a cornerstone of the *Oblivion* experience, will play a vital role in shaping the adventure ahead. This *Oblivion Remaster Character Creation Guide* aims to arm you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions, crafting a hero perfectly suited to conquer the challenges and embrace the opportunities that await in Tamriel. We will navigate the nuances of attributes, races, birthsigns, and custom classes, ensuring you’re ready to embark on an unforgettable journey when the *Oblivion* Remaster arrives. If the rumors hold true and we do get this remaster, the tips and tricks in this article will give you the upper hand on forging your character.
Understanding the Core Mechanics
Whether the *Oblivion* Remaster stays true to the original or introduces subtle tweaks, understanding the fundamental mechanics of character creation is paramount. While a remaster might bring visual upgrades, the underlying principles of how your character functions will likely remain similar. A solid grasp of these mechanics, even if you’re a seasoned veteran, will allow you to fine-tune your hero to perfection in the *Oblivion* Remaster.
Let’s start with Attributes. These represent your character’s inherent strengths and weaknesses, directly impacting your effectiveness in various aspects of the game.
Strength
This is the backbone of any melee warrior, dictating how much damage you inflict with weapons and how much you can carry without becoming encumbered.
Intelligence
A high Intelligence score provides you a larger magicka pool, allowing you to cast more spells. This attribute is also important for how quickly you learn new skills.
Willpower
This attribute governs your magic resistance, helping you shrug off enemy spells. It also influences your fatigue, which depletes as you perform actions like running and attacking.
Agility
Agility is critical for archers and stealth characters, influencing your accuracy with bows and your ability to remain undetected.
Speed
A high Speed score makes you move faster, both in and out of combat, allowing you to outmaneuver enemies and traverse the world more quickly.
Endurance
This attribute determines how much health you gain each level, and also influences your fatigue. A higher endurance is crucial for survival, especially in the early game.
Personality
Personality affects your ability to persuade others in dialogue, and it also influences the prices you get when bartering with merchants.
Luck
While its effects are subtle, Luck influences almost every skill in the game. A higher Luck score gives you a slight advantage in a variety of situations.
Next up are Skills. These represent your character’s learned abilities and proficiency in specific areas. They are divided into three main categories: Combat, Magic, and Stealth. Improving your skills requires active practice: the more you use a skill, the faster it will level up. The attribute that governs a skill influences how quickly that skill will level.
Lastly, we must touch on Classes. *Oblivion* offers two approaches: pre-made classes and custom classes. Pre-made classes provide a convenient starting point, offering a balanced set of skills and attributes geared towards specific archetypes. However, creating a custom class allows you to tailor your character precisely to your preferred playstyle. When creating a custom class, be sure to choose your major skills wisely. These skills not only determine your starting abilities but also directly influence your character’s leveling speed.
Race Selection: A Foundation for Your Build
Your choice of race is more than just an aesthetic preference; it’s a fundamental decision that shapes your character’s strengths, weaknesses, and starting abilities. Each race in *Oblivion* comes with unique attributes, skill bonuses, and special powers, making it a crucial element of your *Oblivion Remaster Character Creation*.
Imperials
These are the diplomats of Tamriel, boasting balanced attributes and a bonus to Speechcraft. They are well-suited for characters who want to excel in both combat and social interactions.
Bretons
Bretons are natural mages, possessing inherent magic resistance and a bonus to magicka. They excel as spellcasters, particularly those focused on restoration and alteration magic.
Nords
These hardy warriors hail from Skyrim, boasting frost resistance and a focus on melee combat. They are ideal for players who prefer to wade into battle with heavy armor and devastating weapons.
Redguards
Redguards are renowned for their martial prowess and Adrenaline Rush ability, granting them a temporary boost to attack and defense. They are excellent warriors, particularly those focused on blade weapons.
High Elves (Altmer)
Altmer possess a significant magicka bonus, making them powerful mages. However, they are also vulnerable to magic, requiring careful planning and strategic spellcasting.
Wood Elves (Bosmer)
Bosmer are skilled archers and stealthy hunters, boasting bonuses to Archery and Sneak. They are ideal for players who prefer a ranged or stealth-based playstyle.
Dark Elves (Dunmer)
Dunmer are resistant to fire and skilled in Destruction magic. They are versatile characters, capable of excelling in both combat and spellcasting.
Orcs
Orcs are fearsome warriors, possessing the Berserk ability, which temporarily boosts their strength and endurance. They are ideal for players who want to play as a powerful, unstoppable force.
Argonians
Argonians are amphibious creatures, capable of breathing underwater and resisting disease. Their Histskin ability allows them to regenerate health quickly. They are well-suited for exploring underwater environments and surviving dangerous encounters.
Khajiit
Khajiit are stealthy and agile, possessing Night Eye, which allows them to see in the dark. They are ideal for players who prefer a stealth-based playstyle, focusing on sneaking, thieving, and assassination.
When choosing a race, consider how its strengths and weaknesses align with your desired playstyle. A Breton mage, for instance, will have a significant advantage in spellcasting, while a Nord warrior will excel in melee combat.
Choosing Your Birthsign: Adding Another Layer of Customization
Birthsigns further refine your character, providing additional bonuses to attributes, abilities, or powers. These celestial influences offer another layer of customization, allowing you to fine-tune your character to your specific preferences.
The Warrior grants a bonus to Strength. The Mage grants a bonus to Magicka. The Thief grants bonuses to Agility, Speed, and Luck. The Lover grants a bonus to Personality, and the Lover’s Kiss ability. The Shadow grants the Invisibility power. The Steed grants a bonus to Speed. The Apprentice increases Magicka but also grants Weakness to Magic. The Atronach increases Magicka, Spell Absorption, but also gives you Stunted Magicka. The Lady grants bonuses to Endurance and Personality. The Lord grants increased Endurance and the Trollkin ability. The Ritual grants Restore Health and Sacrifice abilities. The Serpent gives the poison spell. Lastly, the Tower grants the Tower Key ability and Detect Life spell.
Much like race selection, choosing a birthsign is a matter of considering your preferred playstyle. The Atronach, with its massive Magicka boost, is powerful but challenging for mages due to the inability to regenerate magicka naturally. The Lady, with its endurance bonus, is a good fit for warriors who want to be resilient.
Custom Class Creation: Tailoring Your Experience
Creating a custom class is the ultimate way to personalize your character in *Oblivion*. This process involves selecting a specialization, two governing attributes, and seven major skills.
Choosing a Specialization
This determines the general focus of your character: Combat, Magic, or Stealth.
Selecting Governing Attributes
These attributes will receive a greater bonus when you level up skills associated with them.
Choosing Major Skills
These skills determine your starting abilities and directly influence your leveling speed.
When designing a custom class, be sure to select major skills that you will use frequently and enjoy leveling. Consider skills that complement each other, creating a synergistic effect.
For example, a stealthy assassin might choose Agility and Speed as governing attributes, and Blade, Sneak, Acrobatics, and other related skills as major skills. A powerful mage might choose Intelligence and Willpower as governing attributes, and Destruction, Mysticism, and other magic skills as major skills. A heavily armored warrior might choose Strength and Endurance as governing attributes, and Blade/Blunt, Heavy Armor, Block, and other combat skills as major skills.
*Oblivion’s* level management is key in determining your characters effectiveness. Utilizing the 5/5/5 leveling strategy, where you max out three attributes each level, will have your character be at its strongest. You must also learn how to manipulate skill leveling to achieve desired attribute bonuses.
Early Game Tips Based on Your Character Build
The early game in *Oblivion* can be challenging, especially for new players. Understanding how your character build impacts your early game experience is crucial. Focus on quests that align with your character’s strengths. Take advantage of early skill training opportunities to boost your abilities. Prioritize making money and acquiring essential equipment that complements your chosen playstyle.
Potential Remaster Changes and How They Impact Character Creation
While the specifics of the *Oblivion* Remaster remain unconfirmed, speculation abounds regarding potential changes to the character creation system. Could we see updated skill trees or perks? Will there be changes to attributes or leveling mechanics? Could new races, birthsigns, or classes be introduced? Will the graphical enhancements impact immersion and roleplaying?
If the remaster introduces significant changes, be prepared to adapt your character build accordingly. New skill trees or perks could necessitate a re-evaluation of your chosen major skills. Changes to attributes or leveling mechanics could alter the optimal leveling strategy. Stay informed about any official announcements or leaks regarding the *Oblivion* Remaster, and be prepared to adjust your approach to character creation.
Conclusion
Careful character creation is paramount to a fulfilling *Oblivion* experience. The decisions you make during this initial stage will shape your journey through Cyrodiil, influencing your combat prowess, magical abilities, and interactions with the world.
Experiment with different combinations of races, birthsigns, and custom classes to find a build that suits your unique playstyle. Embrace the freedom and flexibility of *Oblivion’s* character creation system, and forge a hero that is truly your own. We hope this *Oblivion Remaster Character Creation Guide* has provided you with the knowledge and inspiration needed to embark on an unforgettable adventure.
Now that you are armed with knowledge and can make informed decisions, it’s time to forge your hero. We welcome you to share your favourite character builds and why in the comments!
