Oblivion New Player Guide / Core Quests and Guilds

1. First Steps in the Open World

Upon emerging from the sewers, the first priority is to open the map and mark a destination. En route, hunting deer for meat and combining it with previously gathered mushrooms can craft healing potions—a practical survival tip for the early stages. Upon reaching the target location, enter the inn and interact with the invisible innkeeper to trigger the "Remove Invisibility" quest. Completing this quest rewards a permanent free bed and storage chest at the inn, essential for early resource management and resting.

Quest Tracking and Map Mechanics

• Quest Prioritization: Main quests are highlighted with a golden background in the menu, while others are side quests. Only one quest can be tracked at a time; select it via left-click or the A button on a controller, with destinations marked on the map and compass. Some quests lack explicit markers, requiring players to deduce objectives from dialogue and quest logs, enhancing the game's immersive storytelling.
• Map Utility: Press M or the down arrow on the D-pad to open the map; zooming fully reveals detailed layouts. The map labels all doors and even shows enemy corpses in dungeons, aiding looting efficiency. Red markers indicate cross-scene travel (via doors/portals), while green markers denote accessible locations within the current area.

2. Persuasion Mini-Game: Strategies for Maximizing Rapport

Interacting with NPCs often involves a persuasion mini-game, where four dialogue styles ("Highly Favored," "Favored," "Disliked," "Highly Disliked") are paired with a randomized power wheel. The goal is to achieve a net gain in favorability over four rounds.
Optimal Strategies:

1. Initial Round Testing: Use minimum power to cycle through all dialogue styles in the first round, observing NPC reactions or color cues in the second round (green = "Highly Favored," red = "Highly Disliked").
2. Power Allocation: Deploy maximum power on "Highly Favored" responses and minimum power on "Highly Disliked" ones to mitigate negative effects.
3. Wheel Manipulation: If power distributions are unfavorable, use "Favored/Disliked" responses to adjust the wheel sequence and create advantageous scenarios.
   Rapport Benefits: High favorability reduces shop prices and may convince guards to overlook minor crimes. Prioritize building rapport with all NPCs early.

3. Early Resources and Gear: Monastery and Hidden Artifacts

After completing the inn quest, fast-travel to the main quest's monastery to receive starter equipment and a second storage chest upon delivering the Emperor's amulet. Speak with Friar Pinna to obtain a blocking skill book, then request assistance from the knight-captain to acquire a free horse (note: horses cannot be summoned on demand but will spawn nearby after fast-traveling, except in towns).

Hidden Artifact: Underwater Breathing Helm

Teleport to the stables outside Anvil and travel to the western island on the map. Dive from the island's rocky shore and swim along the sea floor to locate a waterbreathing helm between two rocks, granting night vision and life detection—ideal for early underwater and dungeon exploration. Note: Most gear stats are fixed upon acquisition, so delay retrieving "endgame" items until higher levels to avoid early obsolescence.

4. Guilds and Factions: From Accessible to Hidden

(1) Accessible Guilds: Mage and Warrior Guilds

• Mage Guild (Anvil): Join by speaking with the receptionist if not wanted. Access alchemy stations and basic spells (e.g., Fireball, Lesser Healing), and sell excess materials to the guild merchant for early gold.
• Warrior Guild (Adjacent to Mage Guild): Apply to join via Azan to receive basic weapons and complete contracts to level combat skills.

(2) Hidden Organizations: Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild

• Dark Brotherhood: Trigger an invitation by assassinating an NPC, such as "Arquen" in Bruma's east gate (no plot impact, and he respawns). Use a Fireball spell on low difficulty for a quick kill; pay a 40-gold fine if caught, then sleep in a tavern. A黑衣人 (black-robed assassin) will invite you to join at night, initiating assassination missions.
• Thieves Guild: Steal in front of guards, choose to serve time in jail, and sleep in a prison bed. After release, wait during the day for a mysterious letter to start the入会 (initiation) quest, unlocking theft-related skills and missions.

(3) Arena: Early Gold and Combat Training

The capital city's arena offers betting or participating in fights (cannot do both). Participating boosts combat skills and earns gold, making it a valuable early resource for experience and income.

5. Pirate Stronghold: Long-Term Strategic Value

The pirate stronghold near Anvil is a key early-game asset. Clear the outer skeleton enemies, then challenge the powerful captain in the cabin (equip potions and spells). After claiming the stronghold, invest gold to upgrade it over time, eventually deploying pirates on weekly looting missions for passive rewards—highly recommended for early acquisition.

6. Early Game Roadmap: Establishing Advantages

1. Foundation Building: Complete the inn quest → secure free lodging/storage → obtain gear and horse from the monastery.
2. Skill and Resource Farming: Leverage persuasion to improve NPC relations → loot Mage Guild alchemy stations → craft early potions and spells.
3. Guilds and Exploration: Join Warrior/Mage Guilds → conquer the pirate stronghold → unlock Dark Brotherhood/Thieves Guild.
4. Long-Term Planning: Retrieve fixed-stat artifacts at higher levels → develop the pirate stronghold → accumulate resources via arena and quests.

By following these steps, players can quickly establish a strong early-game foundation in Oblivion Remastered, unlocking diverse gameplay and immersing themselves in the open-world adventure. Stay tuned for mid-game quest strategies and advanced gear guides!