Morrowind actually had level scaling, but no one complained about it because it was done right. Bethesda took level scaling in Oblivion to such a gross extreme that it caused a community wide backlash. It's easily the most criticized feature of Oblivion. I'd be surprised if Bethesda hasn't taken note and decided to change the way they do scaling. Fallout 3 turned out okay.

When it comes to removing level scaling from Skyrim... There'll be an app mod for that.

 

Unfortunately not. Did it as a 'look what I can do', it wasn't one of the class' major skills. I think I levelled once from restoration, though, but still - the mobs didn't noticeably change.

 

Get into CS, man - the best mods are the ones you make yourself. Removing level scaling on the first machine I ran it on took a half hour at best. And despite my noskills at programming, I built a functioning feudal subterranean village, a pirate fortress, etc, etc, which as long as you don't mind the masses of bugs were fucking awesome.

And doing the faction battle thing (a hundred NPC's of one hostile alignment and a hundred of another planted in Bruma, solely to fight) and just watching the chaos erupt is one of the most bitchin' things ever.

Lol very sensible. What a pain that it has to be taken to that extent to make vanilla playable :facepalm

Despite it being pretty rad to be able to kill everything in a game with your fists, I have hope for Skyrim. Or something like hope.

 

There is one particular mod titled "OOO" "Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul" mod. I think I got the first O right, but not sure. Anyway, the mod changes a lot of stuff to the game, adds a few things, etc. Balances it out too, I think. The mod's a few hundred megabytes, but worth it. There's also a crap-ton of mods at tesnexus, too. So spend your time looking over there.

There's also a bunch of "house" mods there, as well. Download those and you'll be able to buy more houses than Vanilla, but be careful that the houses aren't built in the same place.

Edit: I almost forgot, there are quite a few "texture" mods too, that make the ground, trees, grass, rocks and water a lot better looking; but will also add more stress to your video card.

 

When I mentioned the mod to remove level scaling, I was thinking specifically of whatever Skyrim's equivalent to Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul will be. I don't know how balanced a game I'd be getting if I just removed level scaling myself, so OOO is what I'd try.

Someone was looking for essential Oblivion mods? I haven't played the game in a long time, but this article seems a good place to start: Ten Essential Oblivion Mods. It was written in July 2010, so it's far more current than any list I'd come up with.

 

Thanks dude, but I've held up on installing mods because I just don't know whether all these mods will work together. Can I install every mod in the list simultaneously?

 

Whenever there are conflicts between mods, the community's mod manager will warn you first. You should be able to turn off just about any mod by unticking a checkbox in your mod list. Glance at the mods' readme files first, take note of any mentions about conflicts and load orders.

Martigen’s Monster Mod, Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul, and Francesco’s Leveled Creatures and Items Mod will probably not play nicely together. You should pick just one of those, if any at all. Just about every mod tries to make sure that it's compatible with OOO, and if it isn't, it'll warn you in the readme.

 

Actually, FCOM let's you play all of those at the same time, along with a few other well-known and much-loved mods.

FCOM is fucking difficult to install, though, but it's worth it. Detailed instructions and features below.

http://devnull.sweetdanger.net/convergence.html

 

Can anyone recommend a mod to provide a more realistic assortment of people to the NPCs of Oblivion? I want to see children, teenagers, the elderly, pregnant women, cripples, pets, things that a real community would have. Every time I see Oblivion's people it's like I'm watching a stagnant society of barren adults on the verge of collapse. A nation that's as good as dead.

Anything that helps to turn the folks of Tamriel into a living, breathing society would be good.

 

Lol, if only it were so. I seem to recall your armour takes the brunt of any and all blocking damage, whereas a shield or weapon would otherwise. And no bruised knuckles was just another Bethesda oversight.

There are definitely a couple out there, but I haven't been active in that community for a long while and, if memory serves, nothing ran reliably (without serious bugs or conflicts) when I left. Tamriel NPC's Revamped springs to mind as one that attempted to at least make the NPCs into different people, but it didn't go so far as children and cripples. Wasn't there one called Crowded Streets/Towns that worked solely on population?

I'll have a butchers and edit in if I find anything.

 

That Game Informer article came out. Scans are everywhere.

http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/8384.html
http://www.gamingeverything.com/2011/1/elder_scrolls_v_scans
http://gamegasm.wordpress.com/2011/...van-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-zijn-een-feit/
http://www.systemwars.com/forums/showthread.php?89264-Skyrim-Scans-and-GI-Info!!

I found some direct links on another forum.:

-Main Pages-
Page 47
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50 and 51
Page 52
Page 53 is missing.
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56
Page 57

-Snippets-
Unknown Page 1
Unknown Page 2
Ice Wraiths
The Radiant Story
Sprinting

I haven't bothered reading the scans yet, but someone else summarized the important points.

 

Looking at those screens I feel the need to quote my good friend churchill: oooooohhhhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeeeessssss.

I am a bit disappointed in the fewer amount of skills and as ever will remain sceptical of the leveling system. Saying that though I feel they handled New Vegas leveling quite well and it certainly sounds like a better experience so I do have a small hope for an improved experience.

How they handle dragons will be interesting in that it is an open world experience. Will I be on my merry way to a cave only to have my day ruined by a sudden onset of 'holyshitadragonimgonnadieitus' or will they only feature in the main quest. It shall be interesting to say the least.

As expected, it looks brilliant.

Edit: Having finished reading the links dragons are described as a 'real and regular' threat to the player. If they incorporate this well I fear I will spontaneously combust from the sheer amount of awesome I will experience upon first coming down with the previously mentioned 'holyshitadragonimgonnadieitus'.

I want this game so hard

 

First Gameplay Trailer

A couple of very nice looking in-game scenes.

 

They really nailed the music, reminds me of the Theme but even more epic.
Edit: On second listening, you can hear the Oblivion Theme too.

 

Fuck. Yes.

More info from OXM:
No dynamic levelling
Screenshots
Dark Brotherhood?