Introduction: Shaping Your Destiny in the Heart of Cyrodiil
The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Just the name evokes images of vast, vibrant landscapes, perilous dungeons, and a world brimming with adventure. Released years ago, Oblivion remains a cornerstone of the role-playing game (RPG) genre, a title renowned for its expansive open world, intricate questlines, and, perhaps most importantly, its deeply customizable characters. The ability to forge your own unique identity, to decide your race, your appearance, your skills, and your very destiny, is a hallmark of the Elder Scrolls experience.
Now, imagine the possibilities of a remastered version. While no official “Oblivion Remastered” has been announced (yet!), the desire for an enhanced experience, a visual upgrade of this beloved classic, continues to burn bright in the hearts of fans. This article explores the exciting and potentially transformative process of character creation, delving into the myriad choices that shape your hero’s path, and considering what a hypothetical Oblivion Remastered might offer. This will guide you, should you want to revisit Cyrodiil, through the crucial initial steps of crafting your character. Ready to re-enter the world of Tamriel? Let’s begin.
Choosing Your People: The Races of Tamriel
One of the first pivotal decisions you face in Oblivion’s character creation is selecting your race. This choice goes far beyond mere aesthetics; it profoundly influences your character’s starting attributes, skills, and even their interactions with the world. Each race offers unique advantages and disadvantages, forcing you to consider your desired playstyle and how you wish to approach the challenges of Cyrodiil.
Consider the robust Nords, hailing from the icy lands of Skyrim. Their inherent resistance to frost makes them excellent warriors, capable of withstanding the harsh northern climates and the chilling blasts of enemy spells. Conversely, the elegant High Elves, or Altmer, possess a natural affinity for magic, boasting high Intelligence and powerful innate spells that can decimate foes.
The stoic Redguards, fierce warriors from the desert of Hammerfell, excel in combat, exhibiting impressive skill with blades and a knack for enduring hardships. The graceful Wood Elves, or Bosmer, are masters of archery and stealth, perfectly suited for ranged combat and navigating the shadows. Dark Elves, or Dunmer, are another good choice with good magic and good combat skills. The Empire of Cyrodiil is mostly made up of Imperials and their affinity with diplomacy makes them great choices. The beast races, such as the Argonians, are skilled swimmers and have good base stats that makes them good choices for players. The Khajiit, feline humanoids, excel in stealth and acrobatics, perfectly suited for a life of shadows. The Orcs, born from the harsh climates, are tough warriors. The Bretons have great skills in magic and are useful mages.
So, which race will you choose? Will you embrace the strength of the Nord, the magic of the High Elf, the stealth of the Wood Elf, or the cunning of the Khajiit? Your decision is the first brushstroke in the creation of your unique hero.
Building Your Foundation: The Attributes That Define You
Once you’ve chosen your race, it’s time to delve into the core attributes that underpin your character’s abilities. These attributes are the building blocks upon which your skills and overall effectiveness are constructed. Properly allocating your points during character creation is essential to building a character you can enjoy and be successful with.
Strength governs your physical power. This attribute affects your maximum carry weight and the damage you deal in melee combat. A high Strength score is vital for warriors who rely on close-quarters combat and the ability to wear heavy armor.
Intelligence is the engine of your mind. This attribute determines the size of your magicka pool, the resource used to cast spells. A high Intelligence is indispensable for any aspiring mage, allowing them to unleash devastating spells and manipulate the arcane arts.
Willpower dictates your resilience and mental fortitude. This attribute influences your fatigue regeneration and resistance to magical effects. A strong Willpower allows you to endure longer battles and resist enemy spells, making it a valuable asset for both warriors and mages.
Agility reflects your nimbleness and coordination. This attribute impacts your chance to hit in combat, your chances of dodging attacks, and the rate at which you level your skills. It is especially important for those looking to be a thief or archer, but can be useful for all classes.
Speed is a measure of your swiftness. This attribute dictates your base movement speed. It is not as important for combat, but it dictates how fast you move, which is a useful skill.
Endurance determines your vitality and stamina. This attribute affects your health pool and stamina. A high Endurance is crucial for surviving battles, allowing you to take more damage and engage in combat for longer periods.
Personality, a lesser-used attribute, influences your ability to persuade others, affecting Speechcraft skill. This attribute is useful for those wanting to be a good salesperson.
Luck is the final attribute, and perhaps the most subtle. This attribute affects all your skills to a degree, and while its direct impact is less noticeable than other attributes, a high Luck score can provide a small but consistent edge in various situations.
Choosing these attributes will change the way your character will perform in-game. Be sure to select attributes that align with your playstyle and that give your character the best foundation.
Mastering Your Trade: Understanding the Skills
Skills are the practical manifestation of your attributes, the tools that your character uses to interact with the world and overcome obstacles. Choosing the right skills will influence your combat prowess, your magical ability, and your overall versatility.
The skills are broken down into many categories. Blade, Blunt, Marksman, Block, Heavy Armor, and Armorer are all combat-related skills. Destruction, Illusion, Restoration, Conjuration, Alteration, and Mysticism are all skills in the magical area. Security, Sneak, Acrobatics, Light Armor, and Speechcraft are all useful for stealth.
Major skills, the skills you choose at character creation, level faster than your minor skills. You can choose which skills level up faster, making it easy to level up and find your play style.
Consider the role you wish your character to play. If you want to be a mighty warrior, invest in skills like Blade, Heavy Armor, and Block. If you aspire to be a master of magic, hone your skills in Destruction, Conjuration, and Illusion. For a stealthy rogue, skills like Sneak, Security, and Light Armor will be invaluable. A versatile character would be well-rounded in many skills.
Considering Your Origin: Classes and Birthsigns
In Oblivion, character creation is further personalized through the selection of a class and a birthsign. These choices add further depth to your character’s identity and playstyle.
The game offers a selection of pre-defined classes. The Warrior excels in combat, the Mage is a master of spells, the Thief is a master of stealth, and many more. Choosing your class will help determine what skills you choose to level, and will further influence your character’s playstyle.
Additionally, selecting a birthsign grants your character a unique advantage or ability. Birthsigns range from the Mage, granting bonus to magicka, to the Thief, offering buffs to skills like sneak and security.
Carefully consider your choice of class and birthsign. These choices are not set in stone, but they can significantly shape your character’s early progression and overall effectiveness. A well-chosen class and birthsign can give you a significant advantage in your chosen playstyle.
Refining Your Look: Appearance Customization
A well-rounded character creation would not be complete without detailing your appearance. This element adds an extra layer of personal expression and immersion.
In Oblivion, you will have access to a range of customization options for creating your unique persona. Consider the shape of your face, choose the color of your eyes, hair, and facial hair. Consider the size of your muscles, or choose tattoos to make your character even more distinct.
This process lets you make a character who reflects your vision of what they should look like. Whether you strive for realism or embrace the fantastical, the character creation allows you to make your perfect persona.
Building Beyond the Basics: Advanced Character Creation
For those seeking to create a truly optimized character, a few advanced techniques can give you a significant edge. Consider your race, your skills, and your preferred playstyle.
For example, if you aim to be a master of destruction magic, consider choosing a High Elf for their innate intelligence bonus, and selecting Destruction as a major skill. This approach allows you to maximize your magicka, and ensure that you can use those skills as efficiently as possible.
Think about how your attributes will mesh together. For a warrior, focus on Strength and Endurance, ensuring they can be formidable in a fight. For a stealth character, agility and speed will come in handy.
Potential Enhancements in a Remastered Version
While the idea of an Oblivion Remastered is currently a wish, it’s interesting to speculate on what the character creation system might hold. Modern gaming offers more expansive customization options, allowing for greater creative freedom.
One likely area for improvement is appearance customization. We might see more detailed facial features, hairstyles, body types, and possibly even the option to add scars or tattoos. The addition of improved textures and details could further enhance the visual appeal of character models. The UI of the menu could be upgraded for easier and more refined use.
A remastered character creation system might also incorporate quality-of-life improvements. More intuitive menus, clearer descriptions of skills and attributes, and visual aids to illustrate the impact of your choices would improve the character creation experience.
While these are mere speculations, a remastered version of Oblivion would bring about a character creation system that would allow you to refine and create the ultimate hero.
Conclusion: Embrace Your Destiny
Character creation is the foundation of your journey. By carefully considering your race, your attributes, your skills, and your appearance, you can craft a character perfectly tailored to your playstyle and roleplaying preferences.
Will you become a mighty warrior, a cunning thief, or a powerful mage? Will you explore the world as a Nord, a Dark Elf, or an Imperial? The choice is yours. Choose your race. Choose your skills. Choose your destiny. And prepare to lose yourself in the immersive world of Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. The gates of Oblivion are waiting. Now, go forth and conquer!
