Increase Realism in Oblivion

May 26, 2020 by MyChaos

When i was exploring this Unofficial Elder Scrolls wiki on the section of the Elder Scrolls 4 I found this interesting guide.

I will put some the topics here.

Traveling

Slow down! You don’t need to run/jump everywhere. Take a walk in the forests.
- If you do run while you travel, take the occasional rest.
Only travel in good weather. If you must travel in poor weather, wear appropriate attire. Consider running to find a camp or cave to wait out the storm.
If you come across a village, don’t keep going. Unless you’re doing something important, stop by. See how the livestock and townspeople are doing.
Spend nights in inns or taverns. If you are caught in the wilderness at night, stop by the side of the road as if you were camping for the night.
Stop and pray at chapels during your travels.
For players who consider Fast Travel to be unrealistic, its use can be minimized or eliminated. Spending more time journeying across Cyrodiil can greatly enhance the aesthetic appeal of Oblivion; some of the lesser traveled places are stunningly beautiful.
Use your map and compass more realistically
- Use your map only when you are sheltered. If it is raining or snowing, your map could get soaked and most likely ruined.
When entering a dungeon, carry a torch and walk slowly, on the lookout for unknown dangers.

Horses

Take care of your horse more realistically.
Always leave your horse at a stable, in its paddock.
- Leave an apple or carrot near your horse.
- Chat with the proprietor and tell them to take extra good care of your horse and bribe him as payment.
When riding, take your horse’s fatigue and Health into account
- Don’t run nonstop between cities through the middle of the wilderness, jumping over boulders, running into trees, and swimming across lakes. When possible, stick to the roads.
- Only run full speed when you are attacked or urgently need to get somewhere. Slow down when your horse is exhausted or injured.

Eating

Eat three meals a day at the appropriate times (or less if you are poor). Eat foods appropriate for your character and the mealtime.
- Once you have eaten, wait for one hour to show it takes time to actually eat–you haven’t just instantly eaten your meal.
- If you find yourself a long way away from a house or an inn, then gather some nearby natural ingredients. Seeds, flowers and other things could make a meal.
Sit down in a chair when you eat.
Eat out at the local inn, socializing with others.
If you had a particularly good meal at an inn, tip the barman by bribing him.
For drinks, you can mix ingredients and call the potion “Juice”.

Sleeping

Sleep in a home appropriate for your role. If you can’t afford a house (or do not want one), rent a room at an inn or find a bedroll. Also, rent a room when you are visiting a city.
Put your armor in the cupboards, put your sword on the bed next to you, etc, before you sleep. Put on a simple outfit as “pajamas”.
Read a book before going to bed, like you fell asleep reading.
If you must wait instead of sleeping then wait under a balcony or a tree, or in a crevice in a wall, to simulate sleeping on the streets or wilderness.

Houses

Take off your shoes when you enter your house.
There are many options for decorating your house:
- Place appropriate items throughout: books on bookshelves, wine in wine racks, decorative armor on shelves, writing items on desks, food and dishes in the kitchen. If you are a mage put potions and scrolls everywhere. If you own a nice home (Benirus Manor, Arborwatch, Rosethorn Hall, Battlehorn Castle, etc.) put Cyrodilic Brandy on shelves as most nobles do.
- Create displays that commemorate your adventures, for example by showcasing items representing animals or people you have conquered: a minotaur horn in a display case or a Daedric Artifact on a shelf.
Flag your storage chests to give you a hint as to what they contain. Leave your favorite weapon atop your weapons chest, a pickaxe over the crate where you keep your Varla, Welkynd, and Sigil Stones, etc.
Have a butler in the manors. Get a follower and tell him/her to wait by the door and greet you when you come home.
Station the Adoring Fan outside so he lights up the doorway with his torch at night.

Equipment

Try playing the game using a realistic limit for the amount of items your character can carry. If you need to transport more items than a person could realistically carry, use a horse.
Wear clothing appropriate to the weather and/or activity.
Take off your armor and replace it with casual clothes when you’re in towns. If you use a shield in combat, equip a two-handed weapon or a bow when in towns so that you can use both hands without your shield getting in the way.
Wear clothing and use weapons that are appropriate for your character.

Combat

Simulate damage from combat beyond simply losing health.
- Rest after a fight so you are prepared for your next encounter.
- After a major battle or after catching a disease, take several days to gradually heal, slowly doing more physically demanding activities.
When your health drops below a certain level, flee from the battle, preferably to the nearest town and seek help from the guards (however, make sure the guards can actually defeat your enemies).
Don’t change armor after combat has begun.

Religion

Family

If you have a family, keep in touch with them, or create a scenario that discourages contact.
- If they died, that may change your opinion about the races, factions, or people involved.
If your parents or close family are rich or powerful, then you have great power where they live. In other words, if your brother was a Chancellor, you would have much influence.
- If you are part of a noble family like the Septims, throw your newfound power around. Also, enchant your gear and name it after your family.
Make your family race-appropriate so no Altmer fathers and Orc children.
Play with a race that has few last names, like Altmer. Other Altmer that you like, or even dislike, for drama, are your relatives.