*MODS and LINKS update*
OK time for a bit of an update on whats new and whats worth downloading.
PERFORMANCE and TROUBLESHOOTING
Still plenty of Oblivion woes rolling in so lets see if we can cast some more light.
firstly if you are experiencing any problems, look at the Bethesda hardware forum section first. Here is an unofficial FAQ which gives causes and solutions to most problems you will encounter.
FAQ Here
A promblem some people encounter, not related to stutter or low fps is big pauses and lag. This is caused by software codecs already installed on your machine. The FAQ above has a chapter on this and gives links to utilities to fix it.
(one of the lads here had this problem and found out the cause was a codec called "Vodei.". Thanks to Loadsamoney, whom had had this issue the problem was resolved and highlighted)
After 3/4 to an hour of gaming you may find Oblivion starts to noticeably slow down. unexpected pauses and general feet in custard syndrome.
This is a known software issue related to your inventories. It seems the more you dive into your inventory to swap out weapons & potions etc the quicker it starts playing up. If you use "Bag of holding" and a companion mod, with access to companions inventory. Then slowdown can happen in half an hour.
I don't know the technical cause but to combat this simply restart Oblivion when the slowdown happens.
Some people might have encountered a new "Black Screen of Death" since patch 1.2. it's not the nvidia 7*** series card BSOD. This one usually happens as you enter a door. you'll get a complete black screen (no tool bar) and a sound loop.
It would appear to be a Oblivion.ini config commmand problem.
If you go into the .ini file locate the command -
iShadowMapResolution=256. the value 256 was changed in the 1.2 patch.
change the value to its pre 1.2 value of 1024 ie -
iShadowMapResolution=1024
I had this problem and this fixed it.
Now time for a couple of goodies.
Performance mods that I've been testing. firstly -
STREAMLINE
This utility works to an intelligent schedule to actively clear the cell buffer and video RAM cache. Upon install it adds a signet ring to your inventory. activate this and you get a choice of how aggressive you want the buffers purged. the readme is informative and guides you accordingly to your pc spec.
Streamline is now version 2.1 (was 2.0) Simply download both versions, install 2.0 the delete the Streamline 2.0 plugin and replace with the 2.1 plugin.
I've been using this performance mod for a couple of weeks now. There
IS a noticeable improvement on reduced cell buffer stutter.
Recommended.
OPERATION OPTIMIZATION
This mod optimizes large meshes in the game. it claims to give a fps increase of up to 30 fps in some areas!!
In practice you get a small increase DEPENDANT on where you are ingame. Some locations are heavily optimized such as Sheogoraths palace, other locations you may not notice.
The mod is a self installer, click it and off it goes. Don't worry about the readme's instruction about the archiveinvalidation file entry. The 1.1 version (this link) does'nt need it.
I use this in conjunction with Streamline and have found my fps consistantly smoother with less stutter. They do not conflict and its well worth running them both.
(if you want to find out more there's a topic at bethesdas mods forum)
LOW POLY GRASS
If you find no matter what, when running around in the wilderness you still get low fps try this. Instead of clumps of grass you get "X" shaped clumps. These look fine from the side but if you're on a horse and look down you see lots of X clumpage!!
It does help in busy grassy areas at the cost of those X's.
In practice you don't notice them really and grass still looks good.
There are several variatants in the mod, choose which suits your machine best.
Im running this at present to test it but will get rid of it soon. By using the TWEAKGUIDE .ini alterations to grass density you can achieve the same purpose.
MODS
For an up to date list of mod links go here:
Mods A-List
It's a compendium of recommended mods which is regularly updated.
An ESSENTIAL bookmark.
The Oblivion Texture Overhaul
I think i've linked this elsewhere but The Oblivion Texture Overhaul site collects most of the texture mods in one place and gives advice comparisons etc.
(note. I think his mention on Jarrods textures (below) is obsolete and applies to Jarrods first texture pack not new one)
Lanscape Texture Mod
I've recently installed this new one -
Jarrods Oblivion New Texture Mod
Screenies for it
HERE
A bit subjective as there are no comparisons. However I can state it's a great texture mod. does'nt kill your pc like Quarls but you can instantly see the landscape texture looks better.
This is compatible with the borders and distant lands LOD fixes linked at first post.
Koldorns Ayleid Ruins Textures
These textures replace the interior of vanillas Ayleid ruins. Much more detailed and lovely.
Koldorns Cave Textures
Just like the Ayleid ruins, this one makes caves lovely.
Koldorns Improved Lava
Does what it sez on *** tin! makes lava more lava'ry!
Improved Trees and Flora
check out the link, makes tree bark look exceptional. Im downloading this fella now as it looks so good.
Female charachter enhancements
Since in Oblivion we deal with many npc's it's important they look right. Unfortunately the standard Cyrodiil female is a tad unflattering. There are tons of mods to make npc's and female characters more appealing. There's also tons of mods for clothing etc. Im going to list a female body replacer and associated clothing/armour plus beauty mods to make faces better.
As Oblivion is primarily an adult game there are many scantily clad armour sets and also naked mods. im not going to link anything naked as it's against forum rules. (you can find them yourselves....) I'll post some pics that portray female characters in the spirit of the mods.
I have'nt got any male body enhancers as it's against my man mind to do that sort of thing!
Female eye Candy Body Replacer
this is a female body replacer by an author called Exnem. Whilst it can't change the underlying skeletal structure it can replace Bethesdas questionable body textures and shape. As you can see from the pic it gives females a more pronounced hourglass Barbydoll look and improves muscle tone. there are new clothing and armour mods coming out almost daily for this body. i think it's going to be the most popular by far.
There is a version minus the undies..............
Here's link from UESP wiki which displays all the body replacers available. (no nudity)
UESP body comparison
To get faces looking better we ned to use several mods.
Firstly here's a facial texture replacer. It increases resolution so you don't get blockyness and smooths out features.
Improved Facial Textures
Now we need to get rid of vanillas dire hairstyles.
first up is -
Rens Beauty Pack
This adds hairstyles that suit Elvish type characters. There is also another race "Mystic Elves" which is popular with modders as the female version lends herself to the creation of a beautiful character.
There's a lot of hairstyles and some clip with modded armour etc. you have to experiment.
Another popular hair replacer is -
Soya 4 Hair pack
The screenies (in link) look a bit poor but if you look at the body replacer hair on the mystic elf lady thats a Soya hairdo.
Now we need to have better eyes.
Beautiful People
This contains many eyes of varying colours etc. It also packs Rens hairs and Mystic Elves. There's other versions that merge Soya hair as well.
Here's a character, Sia by a well named chap called Floydian1. It shows what can be achieved facially wise using above mods. (body not Exnems)
Here's a Mystic Elf called Niennor I've recently created. Uses all of the above mods (Go easy it's my first ever lady character!)
If you want to change your characters appearance any time in game. IE you've downloaded these mods but don't want to start a new character, go to the console and type "showracemenu". hear you can change race, apearance, birthsign etc etc. you also get the full construction set options of face editing so you have more options. when done, don't hit return. hit savegame then exit from the console to main menu. load up savergame and job's done. If you changed race then obviously all your attributes/skills etc will be different.
If you want to start a new game you'll need -
Custom Race Fix
The prisoner opposite you in the cells only has set dialogue for in game races. install this and you get a dialogue for any custom race such as Rens Mystic Elves.
Its worth pointing out if you want to start a new character, but want a completely different mod set than your standard character, you can install a second instance of Oblivion. you need another hdd or partition. simply create another program files/bethesda/ folder route on your drive which does not have your first oblivion on. then copy the whole oblivion folder. now paste it in your new location. (it's best if you have an unadulterated non modded backup to do so). now just create shortcuts from the oblivion.exe, oblivion mod manager and construction set. It uses the same Oblivion.ini and saved game folder so you don't need to edit the .ini again. you can also create a couple of folders in savegames to neatly keep each character in, just move out the save game you want. the only problem i've had is mod manger. because both instances of oblivion have different mods i find some mods are deactivated on one version if i've been playing with the other mod manager version. you just have to make sure you enter the respective mod manager before game and activate what you want. (probably to do with shared registry entries)
*Continued post 187*
More to come very soon.......
To be added:
Associated Clothing replacer
Associated Armour
The Quest "Damarask" once I complete it!
How to create an Omod simple guide
How to make powerful Enchants in Construction Set guide
If you have been using any great new mods don't hesitate to add here
i just asked incase some1 knew of one that was particualirly (sp too many beers ftl) good and to be fair, theres 1000's of mods to trail through and finding the decent ones could be a loong process...
