Oblivion New Player Guide / Character Creation and System Mechanics

1. Difficulty Selection: Gradual Experience of the Storyline

For newcomers to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, choosing the right difficulty at the start is crucial. It is recommended that beginners set the difficulty to "Adept" or lower. The game's numerical balance is less than perfect, and high-difficulty combat can be extremely challenging, often leaving new players feeling overwhelmed.

Take the rats in the prologue as an example—their strength varies significantly across difficulty levels. Since experiencing the storyline is the core joy of this game, there is no need to force a high-difficulty challenge. Notably, the difficulty can be adjusted at any time, allowing players to gradually increase the challenge after mastering basic operations.

2. Race Selection: Choose Based on Playstyle Preferences

(1) Optimal Choices for Magic Builds

• High Elf: The top choice for magic-focused players, starting with a 100-point mana bonus that remains valuable throughout the game. However, High Elves have low resistance to elemental magic, which can be mitigated by enchanting armor.
• Breton: Known as the "toughest" race in the game, with a natural 50% resistance to elemental magic. Their racial skill temporarily adds 50% physical damage reduction and 50 mana, making them suitable for magic builds.

(2) Balanced and Versatile Options

• Dark Elf: A well-balanced race suitable for various playstyles, with a 75% resistance to fire magic—highly advantageous since most enemies use fire-based attacks. This makes them an ideal choice for many beginners.

While races have different starting stats and skills, all can be maxed out through progression. Players can also choose based on aesthetics, though racial differences have a more noticeable impact in the early game.

3. Prologue Tips: Experience Farming and Resource Collection

(1) Stealth Experience Farming

In the prologue, before approaching the cell door (to avoid advancing the plot), crouch and move against a wall. The game will register this as stealth, allowing continuous stealth experience gain. Players can even "afk" by propping up the controller to farm stealth levels, starting the game with maxed stealth skills.

(2) Weapon and Resource Gathering

After the captain of the guard falls in the prologue, loot their weapon for higher damage (note: it must be returned at the end of the prologue). Collect other weapons along the way for backup. Assign frequently used spells and equipment to the quick bar for convenience, reducing the need to open the inventory repeatedly.

4. Lockpicking System: Standard Methods and "Cheesy" Tricks

(1) Basic Operations and Standard Solutions

Lockpicking involves manipulating springs: use AD or the left stick to switch springs, W or up on the stick to lift them, and space (A button) to fix them at the top. All springs must be fixed to open the lock. However, spring停留时间 (停留时间) is random, making the standard method rely on observing spring speed and reacting quickly—a challenge for beginners.

(2) Efficient "Cheesy" Method

In the remastered version, a glitch can be exploited: hold W to continuously lift springs. If a spring drops significantly, reset and try again. Keep repeating until the spring hovers at the top; press space when you hear a "click." This method works on 99% of locks, even with level 1 security skills. Additionally, using the original game's bug (placing the lockpick under a raised spring and pressing space) can rapidly grind security experience, maxing the skill in 10 minutes. Be cautious: over-leveling non-combat skills can inflate character levels and increase game difficulty.

5. Skills and Progression: Understanding Core Growth Mechanics

(1) Skill Upgrades

Skills level up through use—e.g., jumping improves Athletics, stealth improves Sneak. Each skill unlocks talents at 25, 50, 75, and 100 levels, forming the basis of different builds. For example, leveling Athletics to 25 unlocks a dodge ability, vital for melee combat.

(2) Character Leveling

Skill upgrades grant character experience, which must be "banked" by sleeping to level up and allocate attribute points. Each level provides 12 "virtues" to distribute (except Luck, which costs 4 virtues per point). Only three attributes can be upgraded per level, with a maximum of 5 points per attribute (1 point for Luck).

(3) Luck Attribute Explained

At over 50 Luck, every 5 points boost all skills by 2 levels (10 points = 4 levels) for damage calculations, but do not unlock talents. Luck also reduces repair tool breakage and increases the chance to save lockpicks on failure, though it does not affect loot rarity. Starting Luck can reach 65 by choosing the Thief constellation and customizing stats, but Luck builds require heavy early investment and are controversial among players.

6. Alchemy System: Basic Gameplay and Efficient Use

Each ingredient has 4 effects, with only 1 available initially; the rest unlock as Alchemy levels up. Alchemy requires at least two ingredients with matching effects. Adding more same-effect ingredients changes potion weight but not potency. Potion quality depends on alchemy equipment (obtainable via the Mage's Guild). Alchemy is a key early money-making method, and maxing the skill allows using single ingredients for potions, boosting efficiency.

7. Constellation and Class Selection: Shaping Your Build

(1) Constellation Recommendations

• Beginner-Friendly: Pegasus (increased movement speed for mages/ranged), Warrior (eases early heavy armor use for fighters).
• Long-Term Powerhouse: Lord (15% physical/magic resistance, versatile), Atronach (100 mana + 50% spell absorption, but no natural mana regen—unsuitable for beginners).

(2) Class Creation Strategies

Custom classes are recommended. Choose a specialization (Combat/Magic/Stealth) to gain +5 to related skills and faster leveling. Select two preferred attributes (e.g., Strength for carry weight, Endurance for health). Pick 7 core skills matching your build—e.g., Heavy Armor, Athletics, and Blunt for a warrior; Sneak and Marksman for a stealth archer. After creation, you can still adjust your appearance or constellation before exiting the sewers.

With this comprehensive guide from character creation to core systems, new players can quickly master Oblivion Remastered, plan their progression, and enjoy the adventure. The next guide will cover early-game locations for free housing, artifacts, and guild入会 methods—stay tuned!