Oblivion

About this mod

Years in the making: MOFAM - MasterLix's Overhaul For Advanced Modding.
At approximately 550 mods we will also be using a multitude of tools, similarly to my MOFAM guide for Fallout 4, Lexy's guide for SSE & STEP guides found elsewhere. If you're familiar with it you'll be right at home.

MOFAM: Even Uriel can't believe his eyes.

Requirements
Permissions and credits
Changelogs
Donations
Please do spend a few moments to read the Prologue to grasp the background, intent & brief overview of the final-build. Certain key-technical, thematic & practical advice is given to shed deeper light on both the installation & final output.

Given its broad scope and wide array of mods & differing authors' input, I affectionately perceive MOFAM to be a celebration of the Nexus & modding community, and five years of my life well-spent & richly-rewarded.

But how to sum this up for you in a nutshell...

What differentiates MOFAM from other guides is it's purely MO2-centric: utilising its tools, additional plugins, and more modern techniques to maximise the value & potential of the load order with improved handling & QoL features.
It is also the resulting (and ongoing!) work of all my 5 years of modding the game, similarly to my other guide.


Welcome to MOFAM

Voted by you! Thankyou!




Testimonials from my discord for MOFAM: Fallout 4

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24chevyman
I am having a blast playing this. Reminds me of installing Lexy's guide.  Totally worth it.

Ekised
This list may be actually perfect. My computer isn't super powerful, by any stretch, but I'm getting solid frames, and I think this is the best I'veever seen it look. Gameplay-wise, it's just difficult enough for it to be hard, but not so much that it feels unfair. Literally the only downside to this guide is actually going through it, but I promise it's not that bad. It's just a bit more involved than Lexy's guide, so if you've done that, you can handle this. Don't be afraid to ask for help on the discord. 10/10 genuinely great stuff

klapot
I must say, this guide is fantastic. And long overdue. All of the promising mod guides for FO4 from early on,(that I'm aware of), have long been abandoned. This is one that should have everybody excited right now. Thank you so much MasterLix for your dedication and hard work on this


Mr. Pwntacular
Thanks! Great guide btw. I never really knew where to start with modding until I decided to follow your guide. Cheers!

asbestosbackpack
Hello all! First off, wow. I cannot convey the feeling I felt when first booting up my complete @MasterLix load order and entering my first Red Rocket load screen that lasted 2 seconds. It's natural to be perfectionist/greedy with load orders, and that's what makes Beth games still playable, but the year 2020 was truly a test of patience experiencing hundreds of CTDs and inevitable game corruption (Even following BRB's guide). Every game session was WAITING. 90 second DC load times, pip boy with quests I couldn't scroll, and horribly inconsistent damage balance, 12 FPS in Boston. But taking ML's guide fora short spin, I can tell I'm finally able to experience something special this year. Thank's for everything MOFAM team! Really excited to find out how I can give back

MonsterMeat
Finally got it all installed and up and running. Gotta say, the game looks great. Runs great too so far. Thank you to Masterlix for putting the guide together and everyone here for the help.

Wombleman1971
So genuine first message I sent ML back in December - "Have endorsed and left you kudos. Really exceptional piece of work!" Got to say, even with
the limited testing I have done, FO4 feels like a new and very different game. FPS is better than it has ever been and it feels a much more dangerous wasteland!  Kudos to you sir! Now to ruin it by adding a few mods of my own :-)

Penguin
I just wanna say thanks to everyone here, used to play with buggy 20-30 fps, stuttering here and there, and so many ctd's that idk how to fix (with my own mod list), but now I got stable around 60

wellden
Having had some time to take this fine build on a test drive for a couple of months now, I wanted to add a few lines about the guide. We always wondered several years ago, as a group of us were modding and became friends in this community, where Masterlix would go when he "disappeared" for some time. I knew it was Fallout, but what I didn't know was that it was the start of MOFAM. From top to bottom this guide is a blast to both build and play. The female theme is exceptionally well blended in with the quests, gameplay, NPC retextures and conflict resolution patches to give the player an all around FO4 experience. My build is rock solid as well. If you really like challenges, both in modding and play, look no further. Like Lexy's wonderful LOTD for SkyrimSE this guide will give you many hours of enjoyment. So, carry on wastelander...mission activated and accomplished

CatDroYD
I have been searching for a guide to play fallout 4 in an immersive and dangerous environment. Finally stumbled on MOFAM and got exactly what wanted. I want to give a thank you to MasterLix for this amazing guide, helpful and awesome community too.

Zero4711
While installing the Merge Patches now, I feel so much more confident of doing more than simple zMerge patches, ESL changes, or Cleaning files.
This guide and list has done more for me finding how to use these tools in tandem, than anything I've done since making OBMM's and Merges for
FCOM in Oblivion. I know the AM in MOFAM is a turn off for some, but the#guide-installation-help channel has been patient, helpful and kind with guiding me to think more critically about working within mods. I'm not even in the game yet and have really enjoyed taking my time to learn everything I can this week. Thank you so very much for the effort you've spent to teach people like me "how to fish" all over again.

Joshayy
I have to say, this guide is great. The amount of effort that has been put into MOFAM is impressive, and installing the guide has taught me a couple new things I can use to better mod Skyrim. Great job.

ih8disco
Holllllllly crap. Every time I tested while plugging away at the guide, I was impressed to see how things looked. I was super impressed on my alpha
mofam run even while I still had a huge mess of things going wrong because of my own stubbornness. Now I have a much more refined version that more accurately follows the guide and was impressed AGAIN seeing most if not all things working as intended. I've never had my jaw drop so many times over one modlist. Thank you, indeed.

sh23334
So after nearly 125hs playtime with this modlist (and a little my own personal touch), I think it's safe to say this is the second-best thing
that could ever happen to this 6-year-old game other than Horizon. You can really feel the dedication and the authors' love of this game. And do not be put away by the sheer amount of content this modlist offers! Join the discord server (which I'm willing to boost till the day Masterlix calls it a quit) and feel free to ask around! You will never know what ur missing out on until u make up ur mind to go through this super fun and educational (no cap, it really is!) guide. Again, kudos tothe mighty Masterlix and his friends for making me a better modder, andmore importantly, for making fallout 4 a better (actually a brand-new) game.

Sugar Cookie
I'm finally through a successful build! WOO! Every time I stopped to test I was blown away. The game looks, sounds and feels incredible, with surprisingly high performance on my 6 year old franken-toaster. I've leveled-up my moddingunderstanding and skills tenfold putting this together. With my newbiness it took me over a month to get it correct (mainly through mis-reading/misunderstanding/mistakes/stubbornness about abandoning old favorites etc. But now it's done I'm so, so, so, so, SO pleased. Thank you for making this! I'm so chuffed with this!

Ness
This guide is awesome! I run more than 1000h in FO4 and run through different mod list setups over the last few years, but yours is the bestso far. 110 GB of assets and it works great. Very, very good work. Another 1k hours of life goes into wasteland :D. Thank you!

Finn
after two days, got this done. thanks for the help when i got stuck. still many things to iron out like the MCM and ENB... also saw some pink trees
in the distance, think im missing a lodgen esp or something, may have to redo those steps. and fix unresolveds in xedit. but anyway, played for two hours and zero CTD. that's insane. it's stable. was looking for aFO4 version of lexy's, and this is it.

TommyKnudsen
First enemy I shoot after sanctuary Bridge is a 10-12 year old girl in yellowdress trying to shank me . Shook me to my god damn core. Thank you so much for this modlist. It's been a long time since I have felt this invested in a gaming experience

XSNomad
As I approach the end of my customized version of this many thanks to all the information in discord. I haven’t had to ask any questions really.

Proud Wingman
Wanna say thank you to all of the experienced people here in this discord. Instead of ignoring my problems I got real support here. Even low level
problems were taken care of. Thanks guys for your patience! I stay here and learn another two three things and maybe some additional builds with GFH later. Awesome and supportive crew here!  And MOFAM runs like hell on my rig.

Comatosedragon
Thank you for giving a jaded old timer a reason to play the game, rather than constantly tinker with my LO until it melts. This, as I have said
before, deserves to be right up there with DarkLadyLexy's LOTDB mod guide. Simply amazing
Consider a Patreon or direct PayPal donations, I'm sure I am not the only one who would like to reward you for your dedication and hard work.

lsmud
Thanks team, my gratitude is belated, but you guys and gals have taught me so much about modding. playing the game is now so much more rewarding than any game i've ever played out the box.

Catuṣkoṭi
Masterful ! The incredible fruit of many years of work, this list will take you on a journey through the great diversity of mods, seeking to retain only
the quintessential necessary to preserve the spirit of Fallout. Takes a lot of time and patience, but the end result is well worth it. I have more than 2000 hours on this game and I feel like I'm discovering it for the first time. A big thank-you. Respect to you, MOFAM Team
.

3LR4C1NG
Jokes aside, I learned a bunch of this guide and it's very elaborate with steps, I would have been very lost otherwise. Plus I love the amount of
help being handed out in the help channel. I commend the amount of community work put into this and the generous amount of patches made forit. Last time I followed a guide was the Nordic Skyrim & fallout guides. MOFAM's was so much more throughout on conflicts, merging & xedit work.

SirBaalzamon
Loved your guide. Been through it once and it was beautiful. Learned alot since then, about visand previs and so on. Now i am using alot of it as framework, since i am using bns and crp I have all the previs records intact and a completefluent 80 fps with enb. Thank you for an amazing guide.


Iglu
This guide is a masterpiece, something perfect and so comprehensive. I have read a lot of similar guides/lists and this one is hands down my favourite for how deep and complete it is. Thanks!

Krais
Just wanna say thanks for all this great work. Im trying to educate myself more on modding and the guide and all of this great info really helps and the hard work is really appreciated.

EidoPlays
Absolutely awsome guide my friend, i don't know how you managed to make this game look and play asif its a 2020's game but this will be the go-to guide ofchoice for me for the forseable future, thanks for putting in all the time and hard work in to share this with the community its well appreciated and needed.

BDogs
I followed your instructions to the letter and been having a great time. Been around 20 hours and no crashes or annoying stuttering. I appreciate all the hard work your team has done. This is extremely well done and brings a new element to a good game. Thank you for getting all these mods to work together flawlessly.

CptNemo
Serious. I cannot believe I am playing a 10 year old game.

Dylawn
Got this up and running after four days, my first setup was a failure so I just started from scratch. Thank god I kept all the zips archived. I learned so much, and it runs so smooth! LOTS of room for growth too but it feels complete. Thank you!

RVNSNV
Dear masterlix, i finally finished the guide and been playing for an hour now, and it's perfection thank you for this

Jeremy
Been playing for 5hours approximately, everything works and looks great and
I've learned a ton of stuff from following the guide. Thank you !!


Ricky Bobby
MasterLix, thanks so much for making this mod list. Can't imagine how much of yourtime and effort went into making it. I've finished installing and afterplaying for way too long, I can say it really does bring Fallout 4 into2022; the game even runs better than vanilla somehow with all these mods! I had a ton of fun just installing the guide, and learned a ton about modding along the way. Kudos man

Grimwolf 376
I am about 10 hours in and loving it. After playing vanilla fallout on the xbox for the last 4 years it feels good to get back on the PC with mods. Thank you for putting this together.

Aaronavich
Thank you to MasterLix for this awesome guide and for helping answer all my questions/troubleshoot my mistakes and thank you to everyone else who helped me at various stages, what a great bunch of humans you are!

DanosaurusRexx
Took me about 20 hours to get this up and running, I had to learn a lot of different techniques but everyone here was amazingly helpful along the way.  Thank you to everyone who helped MasterLix and especially thanks to MasterLix himself for undertaking this massive project. This is a phenomenal modlist and I can't wait to dig deeper into it.

fatihihtyrr_
Thank you for the amazing guide and your huge efforts. The list is helping me on both my modding and developing adventure.

Kingly
Thank you for the guide, the game looks amazing.

Aventinus
As far as I'm concerned, MOFAM is the absolute best, more complete and up
to date Fallout 4 modlist out there. Thank you for creating this!

Roc Ingersol
I’m loving MOFAM so far. Looks amazing and is great performance wise. Gameplay is super fun and after 400+ hours of FO4 it feels fresh while
still keeping with the vibe of Fallout. Thanks for the effort in putting it together. I can’t imagine the time that took.

Aurelianis
I just wanted to thank you for making me do all this work.... ? I have learned so much putting this together. I'm working on integrating some
of my own mods now (and removing some I don't want) and I feel pretty confident that I'll get everything working together smoothly. And I finally get why MO2 is way better than Vortex.

Mahmoud mohamed
I would just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, this mod list is one of the most comprehensive and beautiful mod list i have ever
used. I have been searching for a mod list like this since i start modding back in 2017.I pretty much used every modlist out there including the wabbajack ones but they are always seemed lacking in one category or another; the best of all it's very mod addition friendly. Not gonna sugar coat it to you but i added alot of mods (I think double the amount ) and somehow the mod list is still holding it together; thatmeans that the mod list was made by genius. So again thanks for your hard work and looking forward for more to come.

Cloudox666
Yep this guide is the best in Performance and up to date.  I never found a better project like this. Masterlix create the best and stable guide for
fo4. Ofcourse not all mods in there is for everyone. But the majority of good mods are there and for mo2 veterans a good guide line to start from there if they want to add more mods or remove. Kudos to him. I am happy to be a part of this. So many years are gone and all the years i just wish a stable guide but i never got it, till now.

peter677
Just wanted to give a big thank you for the guide. I just recently finished it and  I am definitely having fun playing Fallout 4 again.

Tibus
Finished the guide yesterday, and started my playthrough this morning, I did notexpect that. Everything is smooth and nice looking. The gunfight are
far more challenging and the variety of ghouls roaming around keeps you on high alert. Love it, can't wait to see what's waiting for me in the commonwealth. A thousand thanks to everyone who had a hand in the making of this amazing guide

PoweredByPussy (Skelly)
Truly proud of this moment. With a few hiccups, bumps and scraps. I am finally able to enjoy this Guided Masterpiece. Thank you @MasterLix , @Erroneous , @Cloudox666 and of course @durbinh ❤️ . You 4 have helped me more than most, as I can be quite overwhelming. I appreciate you more than a thank you can serve. Here's to you!

durbinh
So after a slight misunderstanding, I went into a stupidly rage induced message deletion.  So I need to re-thank everyone for such a reinvention
basically of FO4.  I actually enjoy just being in discord to help more then I actually like playing modded FO4.  Thanks for understanding, I enjoy being part of this community.


Chrono
Unironically the best modlist I have used for FO4. All others I have used either arevery lacking in departments I consider important or just plain unplayable due to performance issues. Even with my old ass rig with a HDD, performs like base game but way better lol. Also massive thanks for peeps that helped me throughout the process and still answers my questions regarding the modlist lol.

Foxolotl
I've managed to get to Concord and end up in the Depravity mod, which I thought it was a mistake at first but opened up more than I thought,
very incredible what the modders can create with such a quality that rivals bethesda, you go guys. And infinite thanks for the incredible guide Master Lix.


JustAnotherDrunk
big props to @MasterLix and crew for a super fun re-jig of fallout 4 - also thanks to @durbinh for always helping out with issues! Haven't had this much fun in a Fallout game for a long time! I love being one-shotted by legendary lvl. 150 bloatflys almost as much as being accosted by legendary rad-roaches simply called 'Steve'.

aeliun
All Done! In game and smooth as butter. Thanx to ML and this fine community. Have had great help from many of the modding wizards. Be safe... and remember you do have Bullettime! ?

Secret Celery PhD
Thanks a bunch for the guide! amazing clarity, extremely stable, and i'm loving it (48 hours in)!

Hadasse
Amazing mod list. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me on this journey for their patience, without it it would not have been possible. I finally got it and I'm enjoying the best the game has to offer. Thanks

Fredrik
I spent a lot of time these past few days following this guide, and the feeling of finally launching the game smoothly without crashing was just
... chef's kiss. The entire process was handholding me just enough not to lose my footing, and I had a blast all throughough (except for sorting my plugins, that will never be fun)! Mad props to everyone involved - I don't think I can actually appreciate enough the amount of effort behind this

MeanOldCrow
Thank you all for your fantastic work in putting together this guide and answering questions here from the unwashed -- amazing results!

Zoferos
After 3 weeks of working slowly on this modlist it runs smoothly even on a HDD and looks amazing. A big thank you to @MasterLix  for creating such a developed modlist, @Marvesly  @Cloudox666  and @durbinh  for the help along the way and of course all the modders for their creations. Also a
thank you to @LucianoSamurai for the awesome video guides which helped me get this list done from having 0 experience with any tool used
whatsoever. Cheers!

PurpleHootis
I considered myself an experienced modder until I started MOFAM. I quickly found out that I had a LOT to learn. At first it was a little overwhelming, but thanks to this Discord, every question I had was answered.Thanks for the guide, Fallout is gorgeous, challenging, and completely fresh and new! Thanks to everyone that helped along the way and offered helpful advice. This is going to be a great experience!

Aventinus
MOFAM successfully reinstalled (after ~1 year) to my new PC. It looks a m a z i n g. Thank you for creating this!

Magink
fps is 150-100 now with reactor enb after following optimization in your guide. Thank you

scudmud
Thank you so much for all the hard, detailed, probably excruciating work in building a richer and more beautiful game!

Ichigo1997
Thank you very much for this guide. It runs like springwater plus its just awesome !

Lucky
Thank you thank you. Probably had more fun learning and installing the list than I will playing the game lol

mikkerlo
Thank you very much for modpack! It was quite an experience but it definitely worth it!


Ted
This was the single most demanding, challenging and sometimes frustrating modding experience i’ve ever had. And the frustrating part only came from the mistakes i made 😉Truly amazing work, amazing mods and amazing walkthrough

Corsair 00
Really want to thank Masterlix and the whole team for an excellent guide and set of mods🙌🙌🙌🙌. I have been using mods on Xbox since 2017 and recently moved to PC. This guide is the exact reason I switched, so many great options. I really enjoyed the installation and found this Discord so helpful. Thanks to everyone, am now off to use my brand knew FO4 game.

DirgePsy
all done 🙂 many thanks for the modlist - the visuals are amazing

Lex
Expertly crafted guide for anyone with a decent understanding of the modding tools used. Though not every mod in the list is exactly my flavor, they do all mostly blend together in a way that makes sense. Visually pleasing, performant, and fun! Well done @MasterLix and team

ephialtis
I'm not an avid Discord-er but I had to come here to share thanks and my amazement. I started through the modlist a week ago and was supremely
impressed that you had already caught the Luxor hide of mods that happened on 2/8. This is hands down the best mod list I have ever seen. It has totally breathed new life into one of my absolute favorite games.Thank you for putting this together and for everyone's help along the way. I'm completely blown away.







Part 1 - SETUP


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I use the term 'Advanced' in this mod title as I'm hoping & assuming this isn't your first rodeo with MO2, or indeed modding Beth titles. It is of paramount importance to have confidence in the basic toolset such as xEdit & MO2, as well as a solid grasp of core IT-literacy skills. My Discord is available for adhoc help & support if needed.

Some important points to illustrate:


  • An install of both a portable instance of MO2 & the official Steam GOTY Version of the game, with all DLC. I've never had the GOG version of the game so can only offer versioning advice around the Steam GOTY. For MO2 I simply extract in the root of a drive, away from the OS (e.g. D:\MO2-FO4).
  • You will notice from the screengrab above I like to have executables as shortcuts. I've also highlighted the two headers which are most commonly used for creating separators, empty mods, quick access to MO2's folders, etc.
  • A fairly commonly used practise in MO2 is merging mods in the left pane that come from the same download page (such as Main Mod + Update + Hotfix). I avoid this approach completely. Firstly it's terribly easy to forget that you have done (unless a note is added to the mod e.g. 'Merged Hotfix'). Secondly, it tends to brain-burp MO2's versioning system when you check for updates. It's better to understand what the hotfix or update included & provides improved visibility in the longer term (until the mod itself updates to deprecate the previous hotfix or update). Avoiding this common approach encourages & ensures basic traceability & version control management.
  • To enable a more aesthetically pleasing UI I recommend a dark mode such as any of the 'vs15 Dark...' options in Settings > Themes. I also recommend disabling the 'Log' from being visible at the bottom of the GUI as this rarely provides useful information.
  • Right click any of the headers in the left pane and ensure Conflicts, Flags, Content, Version, Installation & Priority are enabled.
  • Within MO2's Modify Executables ensure the following are downloaded & create executables including the info below.
  • I like to have the tools in chronological order of typical usage from left to right. This can be done by drag-and-dropping the executable
    names up & down in the MO2 Modify Executables popup menu.


MO2 EXECUTABLE SHORTCUTS



1. Oblivion  Follow this short tutorial on how to ensure OBSE & MO2 work properly. Check 'Force Load Libraries' is enabled and in the Modify Executables menu, select "Add Row" in the Configure Libraries window. Click the "..." button next to your new row and ensure "obse_1_2_416.dll" is in the name box. As of 2.4.4 of MO2 this process is automatic but it's good to check. I'd strongly recommend firing up the game & verifying this is running prior to proceeding with the guide. You can do this by simply starting a new game, invoking the console & typing 'getobseversion'. At time of writing the guide is using version 22.9.

2. Oblivion Launcher. This is added by default, however take note it can revert your Oblivion.ini if selected accidentally. Always have a backup of this file at the ready once it's configured (we create a 'Backup' folder soon for our vanilla DLC plugins so now would be a good time to create it in game root). I actually right click & remove mine to prevent this from happening.

3. LOOT Many would argue true modders don't need automation for plugin-sorting, however it's still a hugely useful tool to run to verify which plugins need QAC'ing. This is the principle purpose of it for us. I'll admit however, I did run the ordering tool initially & made finer changes to the LO for optimisation. Add the argument --game="Oblivion" to ensure it's pointed to the correct title.

4. BSArch Pro A hugely effective tool of which we'll use to pack certain mods throughout the installation. Users of CAO, Archive2 etc will be right at home.

5. Wrye Bash The tool that I'm sure all of us used when initially modding the game. Hugely capable, respected, and relied upon for years. I simply download the standalone executable & add to the game's root. NOTE: We are now using & referencing version 311 that went Live 05/23.

6. xEdit Create an empty mod in MO2 called 'TES4Edit Cache' & enable the mod for all profiles in use by also enabling 'Create files in mod
instead of overwrite' within the Modify Executables menu, and selecting the TES4Edit Cache mod from the accompanying dropdown.


7. xEdit QAC As above, point the executable to TES4EditQuickAutoClean.exe. Whilst there are certain MO2 plugins that automate cleaning, they've proved unreliable for 32bit titles so we're doing it the old
fashioned way here.


8. zEdit Use this particular version as I've found the latest version intermittently unreliable for merging, which is the principle reason we're using it - zMerge. Within the Merge Settings menu, ensure the Merge Output Path is your \mods folder. Given we will also use the now widely-adopted MO2 plugins for managing the merged plugins & profiles, ensure 'Disable plugins' and 'Disable Mods' are disabled in the Integrations.

9. xLODGEN Lastly, Object LOD. Similarly to the xEdit cache mod, create a 'TES4LODGen Output' empty mod & use this to 'Create files in mod instead of overwrite'.

We will also have a one-time use of BAE so make sure you have it installed.


MO2 PLUGINS



  • We will use merge plugins hide plugin so install this to the plugins folder of MO2. Essential for both syncing the load order
    across profiles & managing merged plugins. Here is the link. Restart MO2 & verify that in the Plugins menu, hide-type is 'optional' (note this is case-sensitive) and the other option 'true'.
  • A new plugin to hit Nexus for the sole purpose of QoL improvements for the merging process we run later is called Prepare merge; download and add to the Plugins folder of MO2. A great series of walkthroughs are provided here if you're new to the tool (although the videos are for SSE, the processes are identical).
  • Ensure 'Use profile-specific Game INI Files' & 'Automatic Archive Invalidation' in the MO2 Profiles menu are deselected.


TAGS/SUFFIXES

Please take note tags/suffixes are applied to a number of installs
:

  • [QAC]: This indicates the plugin requires running through Quick Auto Clean (shortcutted above)
  • [DP]: For several mods we run them through BSArchPro, however a Dummy Plugin will also be needed to connect the created archive where one does not exist already. This is also installed as part of the final Utilities separator for ease of reference, so have it on your desktop during the installation on the two occasions it's required.
  • [MI] indicates the Data directory is incorrectly set & requires a Manual Install. Simply right click the Data folder and select 'Set as <data> directory'. In some instances, further edits are required & these are explained on a case-by-case basis. As a reminder, within MO2 this is what is performed, highlighted bottom left in the images in the spoiler below.

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Now we have MO2 up & running, before we start this adventure there are two tools we also need to run on the base game to improve things.


1. 4GB RAM Patcher. Download & run the tool against the Oblivion.exe only. Note it's not required if you're using the GOG version of the game, however I'm on Steam so need to use it. I also install this as a mod in MO2 in the Utilities separator, for safekeeping.

2. Oblivion BSA Decompressor A relatively new tool from zilav, this genuinely makes a difference. IMPORTANT! Note this requires the DLC plugins to be present in the game root, hence we run it now prior to the next step of cleaning the DLCs.


DLC & PLUGIN CLEANING


  • Copy and paste the vanilla DLC esp's from the game's Data folder to a folder of your choosing (e.g. 'Backups'). Leave Oblivion.esm alone.
  • Using LOOT, reference the plugins that require QAC'ing. Allow the operations to perform one by one.
  • Create the first separator naming it 1 - CLEANED MASTERS. You'll notice each 'Part' of the install is a separator, so this helps keeping our
    numbering & referencing consistent.
  • Create an empty mod in MO2. Cut and paste the cleaned DLC esp's from the Data folder into this mod. I simply call mine 'Clean ESM' (yes, I know, they're not esm's; it's an old habit!) This also negates the unsightly 'Unmanaged' entries on the left pane in MO2.


BETHINI


Bethini is also hugely useful to run. Many of you in my Discord & other guide will already know automating ini's just makes me nervous, but given DoubleYou's also a Contributor to my server, my anxiety is alleviated somewhat!

Regardless, this is very tricky to broadly recommend to everyone. However, one thing we all share in common, is the fact the Oblivion engine is notoriously unforgiving & rarely benefits from whatever overpriced GPU nVidia throws at us.

Due to this, I set Recommended Tweaks, High Preset, disable AA, and leave everything at default within Bethini's tabs. Whenever there's a specific parameter to change arising from a mod install, I'll highlight this as we proceed.

There are however some recommended tweaks we can make now to mitigate save-file corruption. Apply the following using MO2's Ini editor:

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bSaveOnInteriorExteriorSwitch=0
bSaveOnRest=0
bSaveOnTravel=0
bSaveOnWait=0
bAllowScriptedAutosave=0







Part 2 - OBSE PLUGINS


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1. OBSE 22.9 Ini

With OBSE Installed in root as per Setup, I install the Data part of the OBSE download here.

2. Add Actor Values

Right click Oblivion > Data and select Set as Data Directory. Deselect AddActorValues_example.esp, and then expand the Plugins folder & deselect 'AddActorValues_CS.dll.

3. Better Auto-Walk OBSE (main file only)
4. Blue's Engine Fixes
5. Blockhead
6. Console Ignores Player (main file only)
7. Console Numpad Support OBSE (main file only)
8. Console Paste Support
9. Engine Bug Fixes (main file only) [MI]
10. Faster Sleep Wait (main file only)
11. Fractional Magic Damage

Note the mod is not setup properly. Right click <data> and select Create Directory. Call this 'OBSE', right click this once more & select Create Directory, naming it 'Plugins'. Lastly, drag the .dll into this folder & install.

12. Instant Continue Button (2nd main file)
13. Jump While Blocking
14. List Missing Mods on Load (1st main file)
15. Map Menu Doesn't Click While Dragging OBSE
16. Menu Alt-Tab Crash Fix
17. MenuQue - OBSE Plugin (version 16.0beta)

Install manually, right click Data & select Set as Data Directory. Within OBSE > Plugins, deselect OBSE_Kyoma_MenuQue.dll & install.

18. Message Logger[MI]
19. No Combat Music

Oblivion's OST is timeless in my opinion & does not need modifying. However, its one caveat is the flawed implementation & handling of the combat music, hence we use this mod to counterract this.

20. No Inventory on Alt-tab
21. No Lockpick Activate
22. OBL Mod Limit Fix
23. OBSE -Elys- Universal Silent Voice (version 93)

Similarly to mod 10, right click <data> and select Create Directory. Call this 'OBSE', right click this once more & select Create Directory, naming it 'Plugins'. Lastly, drag all 4 files into this folder & install.

24. Oblivion Display Tweaks

Once installed, open the Ini files tab of MO2 and make the following edits:

bFPSFix = 0
iMaxFPSTolerance = 120

Note the second parameter is set due to our cap of 60fps applied in Oblivion Reloaded Combined installed later.

I also highly recommend playing in Borderless Windowed mode given this plugin safely provides that with the other OBSE plugins installed here as well, so disable bFull Screen in your Oblivion.ini via the Ini Editor in the Tools header of MO2.


25. Oblivion Priority (optional file)

Note this mod is from the Skyrim portal, so download manually from the webpage & cut/paste to your download folder afterwards. Additionally, open the mod once installed & set the URL under 'Use Custom URL' in the Nexus Info tab.

26. Oblivion Magic Extender

Install manually, then right click the Oblivion > Data folder & select Set as Data Directory. Disable all the _example.esp's & OBME_CS.dll.

27. RuntimeEditorIDs
28. SkyBSA

Hugely important mod that also provides the Archive Invalidation function,
hence we have this disabled in the Profiles menu of MO2.


29. WalkBlessed OBSE Plugin (diagonal move) (main file only)
30. Skyrim Camera for Walkblessed






Part 3 - UNOFFICIAL PATCHES


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Part 4 - TWEAKS AND FIXES


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1. MigMaster Script Resources

Once installed delete SafeCloningFunction - Filter.esp

2. Migck's Miscellaneous fixes tweaks and additions

Be sure to read the modpage as this mod houses some very useful, as the separator suggests, tweaks and fixes! Once installed however make the following edit in MigMiscellanea.ini under the Misc section toward the bottom:

set zzzMigckQ.bBetterSkillup to 0 (simply change the boolean setting from 1 to 0)

3. Shambles Crash Fix
4. SB Weapon Drop Fix

Once installed delete the Optional folder.

5. SB - Skill Bonus Items (Fix for Skeleton Key - Gray Princes Training - and Night Mother's Blessing) (2nd main file, 'unbreakable')
6. Vile Lair DLC - Tweaks and Fixes
7. Quest NPCs Run (main file only)
8. Clickable Magic Gate
9. Market District Landscape Fix and Imperial City Landscape Fix (1st main file only)
10. Thieves Den Barter For Upgrades
11. No Annoying Conjurer Attack (Spell Tomes DLC fix)
12. Goblin Tribes Fixed
13. Less Maddening Shivering Isles Fetch Quests -- Place Matrices and Oddities in World
14. Jauffres' Skill Based Chest
15. Lava Does Fire Damage
16. Bibliophilia
17. Knights of the Nine - Improved Infamy System (main file only)
18. Guard Infamy Greeting Fix
19. Collection of Cleaned - Updated - Fixed - UOP Compatible Mods (Ayleid Well Message Instead of Messagebox - UOP Compatible)

Once installed delete ChapelMessageNotBox.esp.

20. DLC Lore Books

Within the BAIN Package installer, select 00 Merged only.

21. Creature Fix Compendium
22. Mesh Improvement Project (main file only)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select just 00 Core.

23. No Havoc Objects (all four files, install separately)
24. Fix For Havok Training Dummy

A custom-mesh fix from MyDestiny VAMP in my server; give him a kudos as another mod he's created for us is also installed later.




Part 5 - LOD

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1. Evenstars Colourwheel LOD Update [DP]

Within the BAIN Package installer, select:

00 Textures
04 Statues and Shrines

Once installed, pack the mod using BSArch & name both the BSA & your dummy plugin as Evenstars Colourwheel LOD Update, then delete the loose meshes & textures folders.


2. Optimized VWD for Unique Chapels Revisited (select Download at the bottom then cut/paste to your MO2 downloads folder)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core
10 Vanilla, Lit Windows

3. VWD For Leyawiin
4. VWD For Townhouses
5. VWD Ships (2 VWD Ships - KatKat74's Textures)
6. J3 Atlassed VWD 2 (main file: J3 Atlassed VWD 2 - Cyrodiil - BAIN installer)

Within the Options menu of the BAIN Wizard Installer, select 'Performance (no rocks)'

7. J3 Atlassed VWD 2 (optional file: J3 Atlassed VWD 2 - Shivering Isles - Bomret's Texture Pack for Shivering Isles)
8. Bruma Frostcrag Spire LOD (optional file)
9. Landscape LOD Textures by Xerus

  • Install manually, and expand the Landscape LOD Textures by Xerus > Shivering Isles folder.
  • Next, drag the Textures folder here over the Cyrodiil folder
  • Right click the Cyrodiil folder & select Set as <data> directory

10. (Create Empty Mod) TES4LODGen Output




Part 6 - UI & UX IMPROVEMENTS



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1. Link Plus Plus
2. DarnifiedUI FOMOD Conversion

Read the instructions on the modpage carefully - alternatively, within the posts tab of the mod OBLI33's thread (where you can see I posted too) covers the installation in more detail. This process ensures we have DarnifiedUI working as intended within MO2.

Within the fomod, simply accept all default settings (all Select Components enabled; Normal font size & Default Font1 Options; no Custom Options enabled).

Be sure to also make the Oblivion.ini edits otherwise the fonts ingame will be incorrect. I'd recommend firing up the game just to ensure you've done it correctly after this. For ease of reference, they are here:

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[Fonts]
SFontFile_1=Data\Fonts\Kingthings_Regular.fnt
SFontFile_2=Data\Fonts\DarN_Kingthings_Petrock_14.fnt
SFontFile_3=Data\Fonts\DarN_Kingthings_Petrock_16.fnt
SFontFile_4=Data\Fonts\DarN_Oblivion_28.fnt
SFontFile_5=Data\Fonts\Handwritten.fnt



Within MO2, I simply called my final mod 'DarNified UI MO2 READY' and copy/pasted to my downloads folder for future safekeeping.


Ultrawide Users only:

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From within your final output mod, open Menus/loading_menu.xml with an editor of your choice (e.g. Notepad++).

Search for <image name="load_main">

Given I'm on a 22:9 monitor, I applied the following edits (note, without the 'This changes the aspect ratio' text of course!):


<image name="load_main">
<visible>
<copy src="LoadingMenu" trait="user0"/>
<gt> 0 </gt>
</visible>
<filename> <copy src="LoadingMenu" trait="user1"/> </filename>
<depth> 1000 </depth>
<x>
<copy src="screen()" trait="width"/>
<sub src="me()" trait="width"/>
<div> 2 </div>
</x>
<y>
<copy src="screen()" trait="height"/>
<sub src="me()" trait="height"/>
<div> 2 </div>
</y>
<width>
<copy src="screen()" trait="height"/>
<mul>
<copy> 22 </copy><--- This changes the aspect ratio
<div> 9 </div> <--- This changes the aspect ratio
</mul>



So why DarnifiedUI after all these years still? Simply put, Oblivion's UI is timeless. Changing it for more (vanilla) Skyrim-esque layouts is a regression in my opinion, given the UI was designed for console-first. Its elegant aesthetic is kept intact for this build.

3. UHD Fonts for Darnified UI (main file)
4. Darnified Animated Menus

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select just 10 - Core Module - Main

5. Achievements for Oblivion
6. Dynamic Map

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 - Core
01 Elven Map

7. Elven Map for Shivering Isles [MI]
8. World Maps for All Worldspaces
9. Marking the Landmarks
10. Map Marker Overhaul Within the BAIN Wizard Installer:

Select Icon Style: Elven Map Redux Options
Ini File Installation Wizard: Default Settings

Once installed, open Map Marker Overhaul.ini in the INI Files tab & at line 156/7 set 'set tnoMMO.visibleDistance' to 0.

Quite simply the best map marker mod on Nexus. Remember to read the modpage to grasp its capabilities. I really make use of holding CTRL and using the varying options available such as setting locations as 'Done' as an example.


11. Unknown Undiscovered Colored Map Markers (Unknown Colored Map Markers for Map Marker Overhaul (MMO))
12. Loot Menu (main file & install Smaller Font separately)
13. Loot Feed (main file + My Universal Fonts, install separately)

Both 'Loot' mods are relatively new on the Oblivion modding landscape, and really help take the game's modernity to the next level in terms of UI & UX, proving familarity with modern titles is never a bad thing.

15. Follower Status

Once installed, open Follower Status - Config.ini in the INI Files tab & apply the following:

set dsFSQ.iVisibility to 1


15. Women Class Portraits
16. Extended UI (main file only)

Once installed apply the following edits to ExtendedUI.ini in the INI Files tab of MO2:

set ExUI.bEnableSpellFavourites to 0
ExUI.bEnableCyclingQuicksave to 0

17. QZ Easy Menus Update

Once installed, open the INI Files tab of MO2 and in QZ Easy Menus.ini, comment out set EasyMenu.iAltExitKey by adding a semi-colon at the beginning of the line.

18. Display Stats

Within the BAIN Package Installer, choose 00 CORE + 01 Darnified UI.

19. Stats Checker
20. Pick Me (main file only)
21. Enhanced Hotkeys (main file only)

Again, another Best-on-Nexus mod in my opinion. In terms of QoL there really are no substitutes. As merely an example, I like to have my main weapons cycled using 1, a touch-only usage of 2 for healing, cycling destruction spells with 3, and so forth. Get creative as this mod truly is a one-of-a-kind.

22. Book Tracker Updated (first main file only) [MI]
23. Better Enemy Health

24. Icons for Alchemy Apparatus (main file only)
25. Quest Log Manager

Within the BAIN Package Installer, choose:

00 CORE
01 Darnified UI

26. Dot Crosshair (smaller version)
27. Diverse Effect Icons

Once installed delete every esp.

28. Diverse Effect Icons OBSE
29. Better Letters [MI] [QAC]
30. Better Scroll Background
31. Vanilla Style Loading Screens Addon (optional file)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, choose 00 CORE

32. Upscaled Vanilla Style Loading Screens and MOO Themed Loading Screens - 4k and 2k versions (2k - Vanilla Style Loading Screens Addon and Vanilla Style MOO Themed Loading Screens)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select both MOO Themed Loading Screens + Vanilla Style Loading Screens





Part 7 - CHARACTER & NPCs


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You'll notice a huge fraction of this part is almost step-by-step from Dispensation's guide. I'll freely admit it was a reference tool for this particular section given it's quite simply flawless.

1. Oblivion Character Overhaul - Advanced Edition (Oblivion Character Overhaul - Advanced Edition (OCOv2 Hairstyles + Miscellaneous file, install separately)
2. AI Enhanced - Oblivion Character Overhaul version 2

Once installed, delete/hide the 'textures\characters\nuska\hair' folder.

3. Ragdolls for Oblivion (main file & optional file, install separately)
4. Light compatible Skeleton (version 5)

Install manually & right click <data> and select Create Directory. Call this 'meshes'.
Right click this new meshes folder & once more Create (a new) Directory, naming it 'characters'.
Lastly, drag the _1stperson & _male folders into the characters folder, and install.


5. Seamless - OCOv2 (Main file first)

Once installed, hide or delete:

EVE_ShiveringIslesEasterEggs.esp
EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp
Meshes > characters > Argonian


6. Seamless - OCOv2 (SR- OCOv2 Nudes)
7. Seamless - OCOv2 (SR- OCOv2 Wider Chin Dunmer)
8. New Brows for OCO v2
9. Detailed Mouth for OCOv2 (MO2 link)
10. Oblivion Texture Overhaul - Realistic Mouth ( Teeth plus )
11. New Eyes for OCO v2 (main file)
12. Beards in Tamriel
13. NPC Hair Matches Beard - Updated (main file, and also the 'Beards in Tamriel - Optimised Meshes' optional file, install separately)
14. OCOv2 Male Beard
15. OCOv2 Male Beard Extended
16. OCOv2 Uses Merged Teeth [MI]
17. Distinct Nord Stubbles for OCOv2
18. Lifelike Eye Normalmaps (1st main file only)
19. Warpaints scars and face markings for OCO2 (main file, then 'Argonian and Khajiit patch' & lastly 'Argonians patch for Seamless mod'; install separately in that order)

20. For OCOv2 - Reposition Teeth For All Races (main file only)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

001 core

21. OCO 2 glowing nostrils fix
22. OCOv2 Enhanced Beast Races patch (main file) [MI]

Once installed, hide or delete:


OCOv2 Beast Races Enhanced.esp
Textures > Characters > Argonian > Female
Textures > Characters > Argonian > Male
Textures > Characters > Khajiit > Female
Textures > Characters > Khajiit > Male
Textures > Characters > Nuska > Khajiit > headkhajiit (x2 files)
Meshes > Characters > argonian > headargonian.egt

23. Claws whiskers and Seamless tails only (from above modpage; optional file)
24. Enhanced Beast Races HGEC Argonian patch
25. Enhanced Beast Races alternate male Argonians
26. Improved NPC Faces for OCOv2 (main file only)
27. Oblivion Character Overhaul v2 - DLC Addon
28. Unused OCOv2 Eyes and DLC Characters Incorporated
29. Miscellaneous Patch Collection by Dispensation

Install just: Oblivion Character Overhaul version 2 patches. I'd also recommend naming the mod this way as will install this download multiple times.

Finally, delete DispMiscPatch_OCOv2 - VKVII Argonian and Khajiit Patch.esp.


30. OCOv2 Eyelash Mesh Fix



Part 8 - OVERHAULS: MASKAR

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This needs no introduction. Paired with Oscuro's below, this combination truly takes the game to the next level. Many may deem it 'hardcore' however we take certain steps during the guide to mitigate some of the overly harsh challenges the combo provides.

There is a gigantic pdf outlining the mod's features so if not aware of this mod's capabilities, do give it a read.


1. Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul (main file only)

A fair few ini edits are needed, so I'd recommend opening the mod in explorer to search for them. WIthin the main mod's ini, apply the following:

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set MOO.ini_levelscaling_reduced to 1
set MOO.ini_ability_climb_npc to 0
set MOO.ini_dungeon_light to -1
set MOO.ini_torch_brightness to -1
set MOO.ini_companion_disposition_min to 70
set MOO.ini_damage_combat to 1.5

set MOO.ini_add_redpanda to 0

set MOO.ini_weight_repairhammer to 0
set MOO.ini_weight_lockpick to 0
set MOO.ini_weight_skeletonkey to 0
set MOO.ini_weight_herderscrook to 5
set MOO.ini_weight_magnifyingglass to 0

set MOO.ini_spell_light to -1

set MOO.ini_ability_equipment to 0

set MOO.ini_disease_groups to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_creatures to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_airborne to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_shader to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_airborne_outdoors to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_airborne_dungeon to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_airborne_player to 0
set MOO.ini_disease_airborne_creature to 0




The changes are mostly due to compatibility with other mods, consistency with other aspects of this load order, and increasing
stability.


Lastly, within the Dynamic Lists.ini, add the following at the bottom:

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;======================================================================================================;
; Remove Arch-Mage gear from Master Conjurers (for mods like Fleshed-Out Necromancers, OOO Extended);
;======================================================================================================;

set MOO.ini_object_target to GetFormFromMod "Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul.esp" "405A5F" ; MOOLL0ClothingRegionConjurerMasterRobe
set MOO.ini_object_source to GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm"  "064F7F"; MageRobe
SetStage MOO 150

set MOO.ini_object_target to GetFormFromMod "Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul.esp" "23C5D1" ; MOOLL0ClothingConjurer2Robe
set MOO.ini_object_source to GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm" "064F7F" ; MageRobe
SetStage MOO 150

set MOO.ini_object_target to GetFormFromMod "Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul.esp" "23C5D2" ; MOOLL0ClothingConjurer2Hood
set MOO.ini_object_source to GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm" "064FE1" ; MageHood
SetStage MOO 150

set MOO.ini_object_target to GetFormFromMod "Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul.esp" "405A5E" ; MOOLL0ClothingRegionConjurerMasterHood
set MOO.ini_object_source to GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm" "064FE1" ; MageHood
SetStage MOO 150



2. Basic Harvest Install manually, and right click:

BasicHarvest_FilterPatch_V1.4 > 01_MOO_DefaultProbabilities & select Set as <data> Directory


3. MOO Themed Loading Screens (MOO Loading Screens - New Pics Vanilla Style)

Once installed, delete the textures folder.

4. Smaller MOO Backpacks (first main file)
5. Item Description Framework for Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul
6. Seamless Equipment - MOO
7. OCOv2 - MOO Patch (optional file)
8. MOBS patch for Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul




Part 9 - OVERHAULS: OSCURO


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Some may argue Oscuro's is outdated with Maskar's on the landscape. I beg to differ! The ingame 'handshake' between the two is almost seamless, with Maskar's providing features & functionality, using Oscuro's unforgiving yet hugely rewarding rewrite of the game's gameplay mechanics.

Again, if unfamiliar with this combination, rethink your perceptions of the game. Indeed if you've never played Oblivion before, then treat this gameworld lightly! I feel all great RPGs should be punishing at early levels, yet not too unfair to lure the player into a sense of achievement & progression when the proverbial 'barriers' are broken through. There are a whole host of ways to survive & thrive through the early game, and with certain mods & tweaks in this build, the challenges of Oscuro & Maskar's mods are lessened for a more forgiving but still challenging experience.


1. OOO - Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul - Updated (Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul BSA)
2. OOO esps  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp: [QAC]
3. OOO - KotN Patch

4. Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul (OOO) - Fixes 'n' Stuff

We are only using this for LINK support, so once installed, delete everything except:

Ini > Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.cfg

5. OOO Flavor Text for Extended UI[MI]
6. Seamless - Robert Male (optional file SE- Robert Male v5.2 all-in-1 Addons

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select 50 Robert v5 Muscular OOO

7. EVE HGEC Eyecandy Variants Expansion (EVE for Oscuro Oblivion Overhaul 1_3 BAIN) [QAC]

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core
10 Equipment Replacer Upperbody - Normal C-Cup
15 Equipment Replacer Lowerbody - Normal

8. Seamless - HGEC Female (optional SE- HGEC OOO 24078)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core
10 Equipment Replacer Upperbody - Normal C-Cup
15 Equipment Replacer Lowerbody - Normal

9. OOO Shivering Isles (main file + OCO Compatibility Patch + Exnem and HGEC Models - install separately)

From the main file, move OOOShiveringIsles_Optional_CrucibleEdits.esp to the optional folder.

10. Visually Improved Staffs for OOO





Part 10 - OVERHAULS: WAC

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Waalx's mod touches more than just populating the landscape with beautiful new animals & creatures. A healthy amount of new gear is
also added.


1. WAC Waalx Animals & Creatures (Download this file > WACv_1beta.7z only)

Install manually & deselect everything except:

Waalx Animals & Creatures.esm
WAC.bsa

Once installed, rename the WAC BSA file to WACIntegration. This ensures the handshake with the following mod's plugin.

2. WAC - Integration

  • Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core
01 Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul INI Files
03 Optional filter patch for mods

3. HGEC Equipment Replacer for WAC

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select 00 Data only.

4. WAC - Integration - Roberts Conversion
5. WAC - Integration - HGEC Gauntlets Conversion




Part 11 - BASELINE TEXTURES

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For users of my MOFAM: FO4 guide, our process with the following OUT mods will be familiar. Create the empty mod 'OUT Essentials' and download & install mods 1-5 whilst copying their contents to this empty mod. All of these are within the Optional downloads, and I simply rename them this way whilst installing them into MO2 for ease of reference.

1. Oblivion Upscaled Textures (OUT) - 2x Clothes
2. Oblivion Upscaled Textures (OUT) - 2x Weapons (note for this one there are two downloads, pick 'yeeeet' - although they're both seemingly indentical)
3. Oblivion Upscaled Textures (OUT) - 2x Armor
4. Shivering Isles Upscaled Textures (SIUT) - 2x Clothes
5. Shivering Isles Upscaled Textures (SIUT) - 2x Weapons
6. OUT Essentials [DP]

Once all of mods 1-5 have been copied here, pack the mod through BSArch. Name both the bsa & your dummy plugin as 'OUT Essentials', then delete the loose folders. I also delete mods 1-5 after this step to save on instance space, however that's optional.

7. Really Textured Normal Maps - Updated [DP]

Once installed, pack the mod through BSArch. Name both the bsa & your dummy plugin as 'Really Textured Normal Maps', then delete the loose textures folder.

8. Bomret's Texture Pack for Shivering Isles v1 with meshes from USIP
9. Detailed Terrain (main file + DT Texture Pack - Shivering Isles, install separately)

Note, some popups appear during the install. Select Yes to everything.

10. Daydream - Grass Texture Atlas (main file + update, install separately)

This combination of lanscape & grass is important; not only are all the seams addressed by Detailed Terrain, the performance is improved with optimised meshes from Daydream, whilst still adding beautiful colour throughout. Previously to Daydream I used LowPoly Grass and was thrilled to see this mod accomplishes the same only with improved aesthetics, fitting the following mod as well.

11. Let there be Flowers (main file only)

Once installed, using the Ini Editor tool in MO2, ensure 'iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure' is set to 5.

Note grass parameters in Oblivion.ini are as follows for me as per Bethini's HIGH setting. Given Oblivion Reloaded Combined's Grass controls this aspect, there is no need to change settings for (e.g.) iMinGrassSize or End & FadeDistance.

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[Grass]
bDrawShaderGrass=1
bGrassPointLighting=0
fGrassEndDistance=4000.0000
fGrassStartFadeDistance=3000.0000
fGrassWindMagnitudeMax=125.0000
fGrassWindMagnitudeMin=5.0000
fTexturePctThreshold=0.3000
fWaveOffsetRange=1.7500
iGrassDensityEvalSize=2
iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=5
iMinGrassSize=80




12. Improved Doors and Flora (2nd main file)[MI]
13. IDF Update
14. Improved Trees and Flora[MI]
15. Improved Trees and Flora 2 (1st main file)
16. ITF2Update

Once installed, hide Meshes > Plants > bwcattail01 + 02.nif's.

17. Oblivion 2020 Retexture Project (optional file: 2020 Retexture Project - Tree Shadows)
18. Harvest Flora Once installed:

Delete the NoMushroomStalks folder
Run Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp through [QAC]
Run Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp through [QAC]
Open Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp in xedit & remove the Worldspace group.

19. Improved Flora Harvest Fix
20. TreeOpt
21. Enhanced Vegetation repack

Vegetation Size: Vanilla
Timescale setting: 30 (default)
Texture Resolution: Normal Resolution
Shivering Isles: Vanilla

22. Rocks Retexture (1k)
23. Nice Ice a.k.a. The Hills Have Ice

'You call this a baseline?' I hear you cry.

I've found after extended gameplay sessions the engine simply cannot take large-scale 2k retexture baselines, mods with 1000's of loose files & begins to suffer. Mild stutters turn into judders, and with engine memory optimisation from OBSE & ORC (installed later), my focus is performance.

You'll be pleasantly surprised how great the game still looks with the variousretexture-parts we install, many of which I'm sure won't be new to you.

An important point to share is the far majority of our retexturing is in 1k. Only in interiors is 2k used, given how the engine & this Load order handles cell-changes & memory management.







Part 12 - WEATHER & LIGHTING

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1. Weather - All Natural All Natural - Real Lights.esp: [QAC]

Select 'All Natural - Full'
Select Yes for Shivering Isles support
Select Yes for additional weathers
Select Yes for Bash Filter patch support
All three options for weathers to use
Default - No Tinting
Select default fog distance
Select default nights
Select Default Timescale.

NOTE: MO2 can crash installing the mod, so simply reopen MO2 if this happens - the mod has still successfully installed.

No surprise to many of you I'm sure in having All Natural present given it's almost a mini-overhaul by itself, improving considerably more than just weathers.


2. Edited All Natural Interior Patch
3. Collection of Cleaned - Updated - Fixed - UOP Compatible Mods (No Rainboxes for Weather - All Natural)
4. Weather - All Natural Real Lights - Candelabra pathgrid fix
5. Realistic Aurora In Motion
6. Oblivion Fragrance (optional file: atmospheres natural ambience - mist only)

Install manually & right click the 00 core folder and select Set as <data> directory.

7. Cleaned & Corrected atmospheres natural ambience - mist only
8. Falling Leaves (1st main file)

Once installed, delete Falling Leaves - UL LushWoodlands Patch.esp.

9. High Quality Snowflakes by Xelus
10. Moon Replacer
11. DOWNPOUR - rain retexture

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select 01 Small only.

12. Simple Sunglare with Lens Flare
13. Improved Sky Textures
14. Oblivion NightSkies Overhaul (main file only)

Within the BAIN Installer Package, select:

01 - MESHES - Nebula 1 & 2 + Overlay
02 - TEXTURES - Stars - 2k
03 - TEXTURES - Nebula 1 - Version 1 - 2k
04 - TEXTURES - Nebula 2 - Version 1 (Vanilla 1k)
05 - OVERLAY - Aurora - 2k

15. Atmos4096 (install DustCloud & GasClouds separately)
16. Better Rainbows [QAC]
17. Lights of Oblivion - Road Lanterns (Fantasy Mesh)
18. Roads of Cyrodiil Patch - Others Version (optional file from above)







Part 13 - OBLIVION REALM


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The still-terrifying realm of Oblivion is timeless & exemplifies the game's thematic & aesthetic juxtaposition between the almost utopian Cyrodiil with this hellish nightmare. A simple & I'm sure very familiar suite of mods improve this area of the game, with the excellent Deadlands installed later.

1. Oblivion Realm HD
2. Oblivion Landscape  [MI]
3. Oblivion Trees[MI]
4. Oblivion Caves Retexture (2k)

Once installed, delete the Meshes folder.

Lastly, using MO2's Ini Editor, search for bUseRefractionShader and set it to 0. This fixes a visual bug with the Oblivion gates.





Part 14 - ENB & OBLIVION RELOADED COMBINED


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1. ENB Series (Oblivion)

Extract the d3d9.dll from the wrapper version and the enbseries.dll from the injector version to the oblivion root folder.

2. Cyrodiil ENB (1st main file)

Similarly to above, ensure the mod is installed into the game root, not MO2. Once installed:

  • Delete the Textures folder
  • Open injector.ini & within the [SMAA] section, replace 'preset = SMAA_PRESET_HIGH' with 'preset = SMAA_PRESET_LOW'

3. Cyrodiil ENB Tweaked Enbseries.ini

A tuned variant of the ENB for mod compatibility & enhanced visuals and performance. Simply download & replace the one from above.


Note the following mods are the first that are installed within MO2's separator.

4. OBGE_v31rc4-BAIN

Within the BAIN Installer Package, select:

00 Base
01 Core

5. OBGE_Skin_v31rc1-BAIN
6. Oblivion Reloaded Combined(ORC) (ORC 180) Once installed hide:

Textures > Effects > TerrainNoise.dds
Meshes > Characters > _1stPerson > Skeleton.nif
Meshes > Characters > _male > Skeleton.nif

IMPORTANT: We have isolated a rare crash that occurs for some users. Once the mod has been installed, fire up the game to the main menu & start a new game; then simply quit. The crash was occurring if the following ini edits were applied before the game had been started with the mod present.

There are a few Ini edits required (quite a few even, but be patient!), so open up ORC.ini & ensure the following are applied:


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[Main]
WaterReflectionMapSize=512
BordrlessWindowMode=0

[EquipmentMode]
Enabled=0

[Patches]
DialogsPatch=1
ReticlePatch=0
Gravity=240
DiagonalMovement=0
RandomDifficulty=0

[Optimisation]
WaterReflections=2
Multithreading=1
FPSCAP=60
SmartFPS=1

[Memory]
TexturesPatch=1   
HeapMode=1 (NOTE: As of 1.8.0 heap setting of 6 is recommended so feel free to try this; on my end there's little difference).
HeapSize=512

[SleepingMode]
Enabled=0

[WeaponsSpeed]
Enabled=0

[Shaders]
Grass=1
NightEye=0
Skin=0
HDR=0
SoftIntShadows=1
ExteriorShadows=0
Sky=1

[Effects]
AmbientOcclusion=0
Bloom=0
Cinema=0
Coloring=0
DepthOfField=0
GodRays=1
MotionBlur=0
Sharpening=0
SMAA=0

[Camera]
FoV=0
FakeFirstPerson=0

[Purge]
PurgeModels=0
PurgeVideoRAM=0
PurgeOnCellChange=1

[Dodge]
Enabled=0
AcrobaticsLevel=0

[Menu]
MainMenuRandomizer=0



Just one more. Promise.

Open up ORC\Fog\Fog.ini via the INI Files menu of MO2 & set both [World] & [Interior] Amount values to 0.0.

This last setting fixes a rare bug where the screen can occasionally turn blue when certain magic effects are applied to the player character.

Oblivion Reloaded Combined is a more performant variant of the mighty Oblivion Reloaded. We use it predominantly for its engine management features & smaller mods it also encompasses, hence the majority of its post-processing effects are disabled in favour of enb.

A personal favourite is the gravity setting. Replacing a similar mod by Elzee, this genuinely makes combat & traversal feel faster & more fluid, fixing the surreal Moon-like gravity of vanilla.


Now here comes the bad news. Since MOFAM went Live we've had some unfortunate reports in my Discord of the mod simply crashing the game for a small subset of users, after the main menu is loaded.

If this occurs for you, then consider an alternative to the mod such as
Oblivion Stutter Remover. There is also an optimised Ini file for it here, but take note of the MO2-specific bug, the fix of which is highlighted in the comments section. Do NOT use enboost, as we use ENB in this build & that will render it useless.

7. Vanilla Remastered 1k (Whiteflame Fix optional file)
8. Light beam and dungeon mist retexture for Cyrodiil ENB (both files, install separately)
9. ENB AO Hair Transparency Fix




Part 15 - INTERIOR RETEXTURES







Part 16 - TOWN AND CITY RETEXTURES


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1. Qarls Texture Pack III Redimized - QTP3 R

Once installed, delete everything except:

textures > clutter > castleinterior
textures > architecture > castleinterior
textures > architecture > castle

meshes > architecture > castleinterior
meshes > architecture > castle

Qarl's texture pack is almost legendary & has been widely used by all of us I'm sure. However, as time has passed, newer retextures have surfaced that have arguably overshadowed Qarl's texture pack. However, nothing beats his rugged & imposing Castle in my opinion, hence we heavily trim the mod for this sole addition.

Once installed, I simply call the mod Qarls Texture Pack III Redimized - Castles Only so feel free to adopt a similar naming for ease of reference.


2. TD_Tombstones retextures[MI]
3. VKVII Oblivion Imperial City (Medium)
4. Arena Of Awe - Retexture
5. Arena Poster
6. Beautiful Arena Spectator
7. Cheydinhal Retexture
8. Leyawiin Woodland (1k) [MI]
9. Leyawiin Woodland floor fix (Leyawiin Woodland floor fix -All Natural compatible)

10a. Improved Chorrol (main file Improved Chorrol) [MI]
10b. chorrolupdate
10c. chorrol2011

11. Improved Bravil (2nd main file then install 1st main file separately)
12. TD Unique Skingrad [MI]

During [MI], deselect TD_Unique_Skingrad.esp.

13. TD Unique Anvil [MI]

During [MI], deselect TD_Unique_Anvil.esp.

14. TD Aesthetics [MI]
15. Farm fence retexture and UV maps

Install manually & deselect the textures folder.

16. TD_Hutor - Oblivion farms retexture (main file)  [MI]
17. Collection of Cleaned - Updated - Fixed - UOP Compatible Mods (TD_Hutor - Oblivion farms retexture fix)
18. Kvatch HD (main file then update, install separately)
19. Khettienna's Mini-Mods (main file)

Within the (somewhat large) BAIN Package, select the following:

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KMM Chorrol Mages Guild UV Tweaks v1.0
KMM Crucible Sewage Retex v2.0
KMM Garridan's Tears Retex v1.0
KMM Hourglass Sand Retex v1.0
KMM Leyawiin Woodland Stonewall Normalmap Fix v1.0
KMM Mist Ground Effect Reduced v1.0
KMM Paint Palette Retex v1.0
KMM SE Beds Improved UV v1.0 Stone
KMM Skingrad Modular Door UV Fix for Mikal33's Improved Doors & Flora v1.0
KMM Yarn Retex v1.0



20. VKVII Oblivion Sidewalk Stonewall (Medium)
21. Unique Chapels (esp only optional file)
22. Unique Chapels Revisited (main file only) [QAC]

From within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core
01 Patches
10 All Natural Compatibility
20 AWLS Compatibility

Once installed, delete Unique Chapels OCR patch.esp & Unique Chapels OCC patch.esp.

23. Better Window Reflections
24. Retextured Inn Signs
25. Retextured Road Signs (1st main file only)
26. HiRez Architecture- Daedric Shrines




Part 17 - ANIMATED WINDOW LIGHTING SYSTEM


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1. AWLS Animated Window Lighting System (main file)

Plugin: Advanced Smoking Chimneys
QTP3: Skip
Options: Choose a combo pack
Pick a Complete Texture Pack: Orange - Brumbeck Recommends
Cathedral Windows Options: Orange - Brumbeck Recommends
Mages Guild Magic Circle Window: Purple
Imperial City Temple Windows Options: Blue
Shivering Isles Settlements Options: Brunbek Yellow Multi-Colour (Recommended)
Shivering Isles Palace Options: Dual Nature (Recommended)
Shivering Isles Crucible Options: Blue-purple (Recommended)
Shivering Isles Bliss Options: More Colours (Recommended)

2. TD and AWLS patch (all three files, install separately)






Part 18 - KATKAT'S LOCATION RETEXTURES


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Given they're non-Nexus sourced, use the 'Use Custom URL' function of MO2 within the Nexus Info tab for QoL. Katkat's an incredible retexture artist & we use dedicated separators for her work.

1. Katkat's FarmClutters [MI]
2. Katkat's White Gold tower [MI]
3. Katkat's Bruma HD [MI]

Once installed hide the textures > trees > branches folder.

4. Katkat's AYLEID RUINS HD (Install 'Base Metal' [MI] then 'Unofficial Oblivion Patch Meshes' separately)
5. Katkat's cloudrulertemple [MI]
6. Katkat's wayshrine [MI]
7. Katkat's basements [MI]
8. Ships from katkat74 AWLS [MI]

Once installed, open the Conflicts tab & hide the files that win over 2 VWD Ships - KatKat74's Textures (4 files)

9. Katkat's Bliss  [MI]
10. Flora Vilverin by Katkat74 [MI]
11. Katkat'S Waterfall [MI]
12. Katkat's Upper Class Furniture [MI]
13. KatKat74 Upper-class Stool Fix (main file only)
14. Katkat's VEGETABLE GARDEN [MI]
15. Katkat's well [MI]





Part 19 - CREATURE & ANIMAL RETEXTURES


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1. Mythic Creatures[MI]
2. Mythic Animals (low res)[MI]
3. Mythic Ghosts and Goblins

Once installed delete the Alt Ghost Texture (Rags) folder.

4. Mythic Madness[MI]
5. Beautiful Creatures - Spriggan
6. Beautiful Creatures - Spider Daedra (main file only)
7. Improved Flame Atronachs

Install manually, and right click the flame atronach replacer > Data folder & select Set as <Data> Directory.

8. Better minotaurs
9. Better Lorgren Benirus (Better Lorgren Benirus - No Staff Edit)
10. Diablo-like Goblins (Goblin Aesthetics Tweak - Mythic Ghosts and Goblins)
11. Mehrunes Dagon Retex by themythofstrider (optional file only)[MI]
12. Natural Vanilla Horses (1st main file)
13. Better Horse Eyes
14. Ducks and Swans for Cyrodiil (main file) [QAC]
15. Diverse Ducks and Swans

This mod requires installing twice. For each separate install, right click the Data folder in each of the 'ducks' and 'swans' folders & set as <data> directory, calling the installs 'Diverse Ducks and Swans - Ducks' & 'Diverse Ducks and Swans - Swans' respectively.

Similarly to the previous Katkat part, given they're non-Nexus sourced, use the 'Use Custom URL' function of MO2 within the Nexus Info tab for QoL.

16. Katkat's mountainlion (main file only) [MI]
17. Katkat's mudcrab [MI]
18. Katkat's Sheep [MI]
19. Katkat's slaughterfish [MI]
20. Katkat's wolf [MI]
21. MOO - katkat TW3 Wolf patch
22. Katkat's dog [MI]
23. Katkat's deer [MI]
24. Katkat's bear [MI]
25. Katkat's boar [MI]




Part 20 - WEAPONS ARMOUR & CLOTHING IMPROVEMENTS


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1a. Weapon Improvement Project (main file only)

Install manually & deselect the Textures and Meshes folders.

1b. Weapon Improvement Project (optional file, Town Guard Shields - Preview)
1c. Weapon Improvement Project - fixes (NO ESP)

2. Knights of the Nine_Weapon Improvement Project Patch (1st main file)
3. HiRes Iron Armor
4. HiRes Iron Weapons
5. Visually Improved Staffs

Within the BAIN Package installer, select:

00 Core
01 Optional glowing
02 Hrormirs Ice Staff
03 Staff of Indarys

6. Vanilla Gear Redux (1st main file)
7. Vanilla Gear Redux-Seamless OCOv2 fix (1st main file, 'Reasonable')
8. Patch for Vanilla Gear Redux Reasonable Flavor - Clipping and fpv fixes (main file)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select 00 Core only.

9. Blue Darker Glass - Armor and Weapons
10. Amber Enhancements (Amber Bow Replacer + Amber Sword replacer, install separately)
11. Mythic Amber Armor[MI]
12. Madness Armor and Weapons Retex by TheMythofStrider[MI]
13. Half-off Clavicusvile Mask remodel replacer[MI]
14. Gray Cowl of Nocturnal Reshaped
15. Goblin Totem Staff Icon[MI]
16. Cutlass Retexture[MI]
17. Banes Steel Helm Replacer
18. Closed Iron Helmet[MI]
19. Closed Ebony Helmet[MI]
20. Insanitys Ebony Sword Replacer
21. Insanitys Umbra Sword Replacer
22. Magical Arrows
23. Initial Glow Redux
24. SI Mania Clothing Fix
25. Retextured Rings
26. Retextured Amulets
27. Vanilla Amulets fix for HGEC
28. Dalls_Horse_Armor[MI]





Part 21 - CLUTTER & MISCELLANEOUS RETEXTURES


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1. Improved Fruits Vegetables and Meats
2. IFVMUpdate
 
Once installed, open the Conflicts tab & hide the 5 winning mesh conflicts over Katkat's Vegetable Garden.

3. TIBs Compact Quivers - Thinner Arrow Holders Install the optional files separately:

TIBs Compact Quivers - Manual Install
TIBs Compact Quivers - Manual Install - SI
TIBs Compact Quivers - Manual Install - Bonus Textures

4. TD_Lower_Clutter[MI]
5. Improved Skulls and Bones and Ironwork (1st main file only)
6. Book Jackets Oblivion High Res BAIN (main file only)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core Assets
01c Core Book Jackets ESP - Filter Version (Maximum Compatibility with Knights and UOP)

7. Book Jackets KOTN
8. Book Jackets KOTN HD update
9. Book Jackets for Misc DLC
10. TD Alternative Books Covers[MI]
11. Glowing Fractured Soulgems (Glowing Fractured Soulgems - All Colours with 1024 Textures)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 - Core Files
01 - Textures - Skyrim Inspired Colours
02 - Glow Map - Fractured Glow
03 - Meshes - Pulsing

12. HiRes Silver and Gold Clutter (both main & optional files, install separately)
13. HiRes Pewter
14. VKVII OBLIVION MAGES GUILD CLUTTER
15. Alluring Wine Bottles with Real Glass
16. Alluring Wine Bottles with Real Glass - Loose Files Patch for Mods
17. CM Better Wine - Shivering Isles (Better Wine - OriginalSI Update)[MI]
18. Retextured Potions

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select 00 Core only.

19. Paintings Variation (both main file & optional, install separately)
20. High-Res Varla and Welkynd Texture Replacer

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 High-Res Varla & Welkynd Textures
01 Fixed UV Meshes w. 2x UV Scaling
02 More Meshes w. New Iron Tex & 2x UV Scaling

21. Particled Ayleid Stones
22. HiRes Hay Bail Textures
23. Darooz Upperclass clutter
24. Darooz artsupplies
25. Kat's Actually Decent Enviroment Map
26. Luna's Ironwood Nut Retex

Install manually, and right click the LunasIronwoodNutRetex > Data folder & select Set as <data> Directory.

27. Azuras Star retexture (main file only)
28. HD Septim

Main: Textures auto-selected
Meshes: Normal Size Mesh

29. Little Baron Flower Pot Makeover - patched and adjusted (Little Baron Flower Pot Makeover - patched and adjusted)







Part 22 - EFFECTS


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1. Alternate ghost effect
2. Improved Fires and Flames (Improved Fires and Flames - Performance)

Once installed, open the conflicts tab & hide the 2 winning texture files over Katkat's Ayleid Ruins HD mod.

3. Smoking Firesources BETA - Project Ambience Install in this order, separately:

Smoking Firesources beta - Project Ambience - LANTERN PACK for VANILLA

Once installed, hide: Meshes > Lights > IronLampHangingShort01Fake.nif

Smoking Firesources beta - Project Ambience - CANDLES PACK
Hotfix for Candles pack
Smoking Firesources beta - Project Ambience - Torch MIP version

4. McMuffins Fireball Textures[MI]





Part 23 - COMBAT & MAGIC


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1. Combat Additions (first main file [MI] then New Dodge Roll Animations; install separately)

During MI, right click 1 Main Files & select Set as <data> directory.

A new mod recommended from within my Discord. Enjoy a more modern & familiar suite of combat mechanics that blend in seamlessly with the gameplay. A fair few ini edits are required for optimum gameplay & performance, so please be patient and apply the following:

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set LDQuest.DodgeBehavior to 1
set LDQuest.UseClash to 0
set LDQuest.CrouchRegen to 1
set LDQuest.EnemyAI to 4
set LDQuest.CreatureAI to 4
set LDQuest.AITimer to 3
set LDQuest.SkyrimBash to 1
set LDQuest.LockOnMarkerScale to 3
set LDQuest.MarksmanPOV to 0
set LDQuest.ShowCombatRating to 2
set LDQuest.UseConsumables to 0
set LDQuest.AddLightSpell to 0
set LDQuest.UsePCB to 0



2. Better Blood (main file only)

Once installed delete SkycaptainsBloodTime.esp.

3. Better Blood skin decal fix
4. Normal Map for Better Blood
5. StarXs Vampire Deaths [MI]

Once installed delete StarX Vampire Deaths.esp & StarX Vampire Deaths.esm.

6. StarX Vampire death Improved Extended Edition
7. Av Latta Magicka - Oblivion Magic Overhaul (main file only)

Once installed, open the mod's INI Files tab & apply the following to Av Latta Magicka.ini's Restoration section:

set almQ.bDisableREHEShader to 1
I've tried all the major Magic mods & this one's 'the keeper' in my opinion. Not only are balanced & thoughtful spells a key part of it, but also the milestones of each of the magic spells have been redone to great effect.

8. Miscellaneous Patch Collection for Mods by Dispensation (Install just Av Latta Magicka - Migcks Misc Elemental Fists Poison Patch, and name the mod this way)
9. More Effective Enchantments
10. Get rid of small Souls - Empty Soulgems (both main file & optional, install separately)
11. Better Traps




Part 24 - NEW WEAPONS & ARMOURS


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A very slim section here, given the huge amount of new weapons and armours are mostly provided in the overhauls installed earlier. However, these are too good to miss & improve upon some key aspects.

1. Weapons Of Morrowind (1st main file)

Once installed, pack the mod using BSArch & be sure to name your BSA as 'Weapons of Morrowind'. Then delete the loose Textures & Meshes folders.

2. Unique Artifacts for Unique People
3. Unique Artifacts for Unique People - Patches

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select just:

02 Extended UI Weapon Backstory Descriptions

4. Jaysus Blades (main file & hide Jblades!.esp)
5. Proper Jaysus Blades VOL 1 FIX
6. Local Guards Features [QAC]

Install manually, right click the Local Guards Features > Data folder & Set as <data> directory

7a. Local Guards Features Unofficial Patch
7b. Local Guards Features - Kvatch Addon

Once installed delete tbskGuardsFeaturesKvatchAddon.esp.

7c. Local Guards Features - Thorn Addon

Once installed delete tbskGuardsFeaturesThornAddon.esp.

7d. Local Guards Features - White Stallion Addon

Once installed delete tbskGuardsFeaturesWhiteStallionAddon.esp.

7e. Local Guards Features - Gaius Prentus Addon (Local Guards Features - Merged Vanilla Addons (Bashed Patch Mergeable))

8. Colorful Clothing - Collection - (Seamless OCOv2 main file)
9. AI Enhanced - Colorful Clothing - Middleclass (1k)
10. AI Enhanced - Colorful Clothing - Upperclass (1k)

11. Unused Magic Items Integrated
12. Travelling Equipment - Cloaks and Backpacks (main file only)







Part 25 - ARTHMOOR'S TOWNS


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Almost a staple in many Skyrim mod-builds, Arthmoor's towns are similarly of a seamless high quality within Oblivion as well. Do take note I have highlighted within the Known Issues part here a small caveat of using the mods - they're unvoiced. This shouldn't bother you however as to reiterate they're so effortlessly embedded in the gameworld.

1. Feldscar

Once installed, pack the mod's Textures & Meshes folders using BSArch, ensuring the BSA is named 'Feldscar', then delete the loose textures & meshes folders, as well as the Sound > Voice folder.

2. Frostcrag Village
3. Gottshaw Village
4. Molapi

Once installed, delete the Sound folder.

5. Reedstand
6. Sutch Village

Once installed, pack the mod's Textures & Meshes folders using BSArch, ensuring the BSA is named 'Sutch Village', then delete the loose textures & meshes folders.

7. Urasek

Once installed, delete the Sound folder.

8. Vergayun

9. Miscellaneous Patch Collection by Dispensation

Select just 'Compatibility Patches for Arthmoor's Mods' & name the mod this way. Once installed, delete every esp except:

DispMiscPatch_Ducks and Swans - Reedstand Patch.esp
DispMiscPatch_Better Forts - Vergayun Patch.esp
DispMiscPatch_BrumaGuildReconstructed - Order of the Lamp Redux Patch.esp




Part 26 - NEW & MODIFIED LOCATIONS



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You'll notice this part being particularly large. Whilst we're well balanced with not going overboard on retexturing, this allows a broader yet still conservative intake of new locations to discover without detrimentally affecting the engine.

1. ImpeREAL City - Unique Districts (ImpeREAL City - Unique Districts - All The Districts - Merged) [QAC]
2. The Imperial Waters [MI] [QAC]

During MI, right click Files & select Set as <Data> Directory, and disable The Imperial Water - BETTER CITIES.esp plugin.

3. Ice's Waterfront Tunnel

This trio of mods for the Imperial City act as replacers for Better Cities (as of 07.23 version of the guide), proving far more performant whilst still retaining the core aesthetics.

4. Add some flavor - Talos Bridge
5. ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Castles
6. Roads of Cyrodiil

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select just 00 Core

7. County Gates (County Gates for Roads of Cyrodiil)
8. County Gates - Town Guard Shields Preview Patch
9. Arena Champion's Villa[MI]
10. Knightly Orders for Cities (1st main file)
11. Unique Landscapes - Rolling Hills
12. The Hesu Mod Collection

Install manually & right click Hesu Mods > HESU The Valenwood Mine v1.2 & select Set as <data> directory.

13. Legion Forester Outposts Revisited (first main file)

  • Install manually, and expand Legion Forester Outposts Revisited
  • Expand 01 Diversity Addons > Drag LFO - All Races Addon.esp to the 00 Core folder
  • Expand 02 Local Guards Features Patch > Drag LFO - Local Guards Features Patch.esp to the 00 Core folder
  • Right click 00 Core & select Set as <data> directory.

14. Legion Forester Outposts Revisited (optional file: New OCO Eyes for All Races Addon)
15. Nobody Goes into the Mountains but Hunters (main file only) [QAC]

16. Better Dungeons (Main files Better Dungeons + Better Dungeons BSA, install separately)
17. Better Dungeons - Balance Patch

18. Bruma Guild Reconstructed
19. Better Forts
20. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) (Better Forts - Voiced Addon BSA)
21. Fix For Better Forts

A custom-patch for the build ensuring our Skingrad retexture & Better forts play nicely together.

22. ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts (main file only)
23. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) (ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts - Voiced Addon BSA)
24. Collection of Cleaned - Updated - Fixed - UOP Compatible Mods (ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts Update)
25. Enhanced Cyrodiil - Cities

Install manually, and right click Enhanced Cyrodiil - Cities > Standard folder & select Set as <data> directory.

26. Snowy Road To Bruma [QAC]
27. Snowy Road to Bruma Patch Collection

Once installed delete every esp except:

SnowyRoad-Feldscar Patch.esp
SnowyRoad-FrostcragVillage Patch.esp

28. The Well Diver (main file then WellDiver for Ayleidsteps v124, install separately)
29. Glowing Stones [QAC]

30a. Reworked Posts (Reworked Post - Carved Letters)
30b. Reworked Posts  (Reworked Posts and Roads of Cyrodiil Patch)

31a. Patch for Arthmoor Villages and Reworked Posts (Reworked Posts and Reedstand Village Patch)
31b. Patch for Arthmoor Villages and Reworked Posts (Reworked Posts and Gottshaw Village Patch)
31c. Patch for Arthmoor Villages and Reworked Posts (Reworked Posts and Sutch Village Patch)

32. SI Unmarked Locations

Once installed delete SI Unmarked Locations without markers.esp

33. SI New Sheoth Outskirts
34. SI Driftdwell
35. Deadlands (main file only)





Part 27 - NEW & MODIFIED NPCs


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Similarly to part 24, this part is quite conservative given there have been a whole host of new NPCs added by the overhauls installed already. Again, these iron out the remaining creases in my mind as to what should have been in vanilla.

1. Collection of Cleaned - Updated - Fixed - UOP Compatible Mods (Immersive Porters V2 - Wild Edit Fixed)
2. NPC Hair Matches Beard - Updated (Beards in Tamriel - Immersive Porters Patch)
3. Order of the Lamp - Redux (1st main file)
4. Vanilla Remastered 1K (Very Horny Knights)
5. Shivering Isles Raiders
6. Countess
7. Pinarus Inventius - Actual Hunter
8. Necromancer Battlemages (main file only)
9. Akatosh Retexture by themythofstrider[MI]
10. Tavern Goers 2 - Redux (main file, Merged)
11a. Street Vendors of Cyrodiil (main file)

Once installed delete Street Vendors of Cyrodiil.esp

11b. Street Vendors of Cyrodiil (Street Vendors of Cyrodiil v 2.8 - Not in IC)
12. Daedric Shrines Prodded With a Stick (main file only)







Part 28 - NEW & MODIFIED QUESTS



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Again, you may be thinking this is a very simple list. No huge overhauls such as Kvatch Rebuilt or Knights of the Nine Revelation. The two main drivers on the build for extra quests not only arise from the expansive overhauls already installed, but The Lost Spires (which was a precursor to the groundbreaking 'Legacy of the Dragonborn' in my mind), and The Ayleid Steps, a sprawling adventure with unexpected twists & turns. The remainder of the quest mods here are more tweaks & fixes to vanilla.

1. Progress Tracker - Quest Completionist's Companion
2. Configuration Items Begone

Options: Select both 'Apply filter patch for removing configuration items from mods' + 'Add LINK++ Support'
Options: Leave 'Don't add factions rating scroll' unselected
Options: Select 'Don't add torch hotkey item'

NOTE: MO2 may crash upon installing; simply reboot the app & the mod has installed successfully.

Two new additions to the separator that introduce some very welcome QoL updates.


3. Oblivion Content Restoration Project (main file [QAC] + optional file, install separately)
4. Miscellaneous Patch Collection for Mods by Dispensation (Install just Oblivion Content Restoration Project Patches, and name the mod this way)

5. The Lost Spires (The Lost Spires v.14 file only) [QAC] Alternative download here.
6. The Lost Spires - Cleaned Up Scribe Store Ruins (main file only) [QAC]
7. The Lost Spires - Tweaks and Enhancements (LS - Assorted Fixes)
8. Lost Spires Archaeology Guild Robe fix
9. The Lost Spires - ImpeREAL Forts Patch (QAC)

As a final step after QAC, open the plugin in xEdit & remove the Dialog Topic record group.

10. Bash-able Quest Delayers (Aellis Bashed Delayers v3129C)

11. The Ayleid Steps (main file only)  [QAC] (Note Cobl is a master so QAC cannot be run until after Part 32)
12. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) (The Ayleid Steps - Voiced Addon BSA)
13. The Ayleid Steps - The Guardian's Atlas
14. The Ayleid Steps - Compatibility Patches

15. A Brotherhood Renewed

Once installed delete the Sound > Voice folder.

16a. Better Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary [QAC] (Note Cobl is a master so QAC cannot be run until after Part 32)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Core Files (Required)
01 Cobl Version

16b. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) : Better Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary - Voiced Addon

17. Thievery in the Imperial City - Tweaks and Fixes (main file)
18. Bounty Quests Fixed and Polished

Once installed delete the Bounty Quests OOO Patch.esp

19. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) (Bounty Quests Fixed and Polished - Voiced Addon BSA)
20. No More Wild Goose Chases - Re-Patched and UOP Fixes Applied
21. Sinderion's Serendipity - Nirnroot Quest Reward
22. SM DLC Plugin Refurbish

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select:

00 Full Lite Plugin
01 OBSE Level Plugin
02 Compatability Plugins

23. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) (SM DLC Plugin Refurbish - Voiced Addon)
24. Fame Based Daedric Quest Requirements

Once installed delete DaedricRequirementsEASY.esp.

25. Rescue Menien From the Kvatch Oblivion Gate (Fully Voiced) (main file only) [QAC]

Once installed search for 0009812f within the FormID field in xEdit & remove the record from the plugin.

26. Shivering Isles - New Dukes
27. HackDirt The Deep Ones

Install manually & right click the HackdirtTheDeepOnes2.9 > Data folder and select Set as <data> directory.
Lastly, deselect HackdirtTheDeepOnes.esp.

28. Collection of Cleaned - Updated - Fixed - UOP Compatible Mods (Hackdirt The Deep Ones - Tweaks and Fixes)

Once installed delete HackdirtTheDeepOnes - Hardcore Addon.esp

29. Save Jake




Part 29 - ANIMATIONS



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Animation mods in this generation of modding simply made the game look utterly bizarre in this humble Modder's opinion. Below are a simple but staple selection in fixing what was sorely needed.

1. Basic Physical Activities
2. Smoother Horse Animations
3. Faster Horses
4. Faster Horse Dismount
5. Combat Stance Reanimation [MI]

During MI, right click & select Core and select Set as <Data> Directory

6. Stylish Jump - Animation Replacer (main file only)

Install manually & right click the 'Normal' folder and select Set as <data> directory.

7. Move while Encumbered (main file only)
8. Lich - Skeleton Hand-To-Hand Animations
9. Mehrunes Dagon Walking Animation

Once installed delete MehrunesDagonWalk.esp

10. Wrye Bash Collection of Mergeable Mods (Mehrunes Dagon Walking Animation - Mergeable)
11. Unique Wolf Animations Restored [MI]

  • Expand Unique Wolf Animations Restored
  • Expand 01 Patches
  • Drag Wolf Animations Restored - MOO Patch.esp into 00 Core
  • Right click 00 Core & select Set as <Data> Directory

12. NPC Idle Animation Restoration and Additions




Part 30 - SKILLS & LEVELLING


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1. Ultimate Leveling

Once installed, open the mod in Explorer & within Ultimate Leveling for advanced users.ini, apply the following edits:

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set ULVL.ini_xp_kill_show_level to 1

set ULVL.ini_xp_skill_cap to 200

set ULVL.ini_xp_level_mult to 400
set ULVL.ini_xp_level_base to 1000

set ULVL.ini_xp_skill_level_points_journeyman to 2
set ULVL.ini_xp_skill_level_points_expert to 3

set ULVL.ini_xp_skill_level_points_minor to 10

set ULVL.ini_xp_read_skillbook_minor to 4
set ULVL.ini_xp_read_skillbook_major to 8

set ULVL.ini_xp_train_minor to 5
set ULVL.ini_xp_train_major to 8

set ULVL.ini_horseshoe_total to 0
set ULVL.ini_UI_horseshoes to 0



Lastly, one edit in Ultimate Leveling.ini:

set ULVL.ini_add_horseshoes to 0

This is a gamechanger. Whereas I'm sure we all mastered our own techniques of power levelling in vanilla, this returns us to a more fluid & immersive way of levelling. Note in the Ini settings above, my 'arc' for levelling is acute for early levels & pans off toward 20+. This allows for a more forgiving early-game given we have MOO & OOO hardening the core mechanics.

Each level increases with the amount of XP in such a manner so that by level 20, you'll need ~20k in XP, at level 30, 30k XP, and so on.

There are certainly some power-levelling exploits you can take - such as camping with the XP bonus & indeed skill-training, but the higher level you are the more the diminishing return which is entirely as designed.


2. OCRAFT - Oblivion Crafting Framework

It's rare if non-existent for me to think 'If only Oblivion had this from Skyrim...' This mod is one of the few exceptions to that rule.

3. Fundament

Once installed delete Bundlement.esp.

4. FEA - Fundament Enchanting Addons

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select just 00 Core.

Once installed, paste the following into Custom Trainers.ini:


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set migFeaQ.customTrain to (GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm" 02D025);Uurwen
set migFeaQ.customLevl to 65
SetStage migFeaQ 1
set migFeaQ.customTrain to (GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm" 015EA9);Calindil
set migFeaQ.customLevl to 40
SetStage migFeaQ 1
set migFeaQ.customTrain to (GetFormFromMod "Oblivion.esm" 0222B7);Contumeliorus Florius
set migFeaQ.customLevl to 65
SetStage migFeaQ 1




Be sure to read the description page if unfamiliar with this mod.

5. PSO - Pickpocket Skill Overhaul
6. Dynamic Training Cost

Within MigTraining.ini, enable the following parameters by setting them to 1:

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set migTrainingQ.bDisplaySkillNumbers
set migTrainingQ.bTrainSkillAdjust
set  migTrainingQ.bTrainAttAdjust
set migTrainingQ.bTrainerSkillAdjust
set migTrainingQ.bTrainDispAdjust




7. Auto Update Leveled Items And Spells

Once installed open Auto Update Leveled Items and Spells.ini in the INI Tab of MO2 & change Set AULIAS.FotMCostMult to 0.

8. Auto Update Leveled Items And Spells - Script Patch (Main file only)




Part 31 - AUDIO & DIALOGUE IMPROVEMENTS



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1. Symphony of Violence - Combat Sound Enhancement
2. GOSH - Gecko's Oblivion Sound overHaul

Once installed delete GOSH Region Ambiance.esp

3. GOSH - All Natural Patch
4. Vicious Trolls Sound Replacer
5. Diablo-like Goblins (Goblin Aesthetics Tweak - Sound Replacer)
6. Dialogue Tweaks Fixes and Restorations
7. miguick Dialogue Tweaks Tweaked Trespassing
8. Horse Hoof Sounds (main file only)
9. Consistent Beggar Voices
10. Nightmarish Oblivion Gate Sounds
11. Expanded Greetings
12. Louder Chapel Bells
13. Voices for Female Dremora NPCs
14. Swearing Rats

OK; you might be thinking 'What?' Similarly to Skyrim's Swearing Mudcrabs, it injects some humour & sillyness, reminding us we're playing a fantasy  game after all. I can understand if you omit it, but it never fails to raise a cheeky grin.




Part 32 - COMMON OBLIVION (COBL)


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Warm fuzzy feelings embrace me with Common Oblivion present. It introduces such wonderful QoL features that blend seamlessly with the gameplay. Don't forget your luggage!

1. Cobl (main file)

Stable or Development: Stable
Packages: Tweaks
Options: Cobl Tweaks - SI
Misc: Nothing

Once installed, delete every plugin except:

Cobl Main.esm
Cobl Glue.esp
Cobl Si.esp
Cobl Filter Late MERGE ONLY.esp

REMINDER:

  • Revisit part 28's install of The Ayleid Steps & Better Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary for [QAC]

2. TIBs Compact Quivers - Thinner Arrow Holders (TIBs Compact Quivers - Manual install - Apachii and COBL)

Once installed delete the following folders:

meshes > weapons > Apachii
meshes > weapons > apachiiMale
textures > weapons > Apachii
textures > weapons > apachiiMale

3. Khettienna's Mini-Mods (KMM Higher-Res Welkynd Textures for Cobl Ayleid Meteoric Weapons)
4. Cobl Unofficial Patch

Once installed, delete Salmo the Baker, Cobl.esp

5. Pek COBL Book Jackets - Stand Alone

Once installed delete PekCOBLBookJackets.esp

6. Wrye Bash Collection of Mergeable Mods (Pekkas COBL Books Jackets - Mergeable Replacer ESP)
7. Cobl for DLC Homes (main file only)





Part 33 - GAMEPLAY & IMMERSIVE EXTRAS



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1. Improved Chests (Improved Chests (OOO Compatible))

Within the BAIN Installer, select just Improved Chests (OOO Compatible)

2. AutoHaggle
3. Crime has witnesses

Once installed, open the mod in MO2 & within the INI Files tab, apply the following to kuerteeCrimeHasWitnesses.ini:


set kCWWQuest.showWitnesses to 1

Lastly, delete the omod conversion data folder.


4. Crime Has Witnesses - Responsibility Tweak
5. Reznod Mannequins
6. Put it in its Place - Enhanced Grabbing (main file only)

7a. Greed Arena (AoG) [QAC]

Once installed, open the mod in MO2 & within the INI Files tab, apply the following to GreedArena.ini:


set aogArn.arena24 to 1
set aogArn.corpseLoot to 1


7b. Voiced Addons Collection for Mods (ElevenLabs) : Greed Arena (AoG) - Voiced Addon Loose

8. Camping

Once installed, delete the omod conversion data folder.

9. Note To Self

Indeed book writing kits are part of MOO but this mod allows the PC to have the capabilities from the get-go.

10. Simple Horse Utilities (1st main file)
11. Quests make friends[MI]
12. Weightless Arrows-Potions-Other Consumables
13. Weightless Varla and Welkynd stones
14. Respawning Hollowed Amber Stumps and Madness Ore Deposits (main file + optional, install separately)

Similarly to my other guide for FO4, having the principle items of note within the inventory to have weight (i.e. weapons & armour) without worrying about ingredients, potions & clutter, reduces the tedious gameplay loops involved. We also make some further weight-tweaks in the Bashed patch later, and Maskar's items have similarly been reduced in weight in my CR patch.




Breathe a sigh of relief. You've made it this far, and the end is in sight. Well done!
But you didnt think we could throw all this together and hope for the best?
Now comes the fun part of installing the remaining patches, conflict-resolving, running Lods & automation.


Part 34 - FINAL FILTER PATCHES


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1. Ragdolls for Oblivion - Filter Patch for Mods
2. OCOv2 - Filter Patch for Mods (main file)
3. All Natural - Indoor Weather Filter for Extra Mods
4. Basic harvest

Install manually & right click BasicHarvest_FilterPatch_V1.4 > 00_CoreFilterPatch, and select Set as <data> directory.

5. MOBSification of MODS - Weapon Balancing (main file)
6. Miscellaneous Patch Collection for Mods by Dispensation

I'd recommend calling the mod 'Miscellaneous Patch Collection by Dispensation - Filter Patches' as we've installed this download several times already. Select just
:

OCRAFT Patches
Street Vendores - People Live Here Patch

Finally, delete DispMiscPatch_OCRAFT - Better Camps Patch + DispMiscPatch_RadiantAI NPCs Alive Cyrodiil - OCRAFT Int Patch esp's.

7. OOO Harvest Containers Filter patch for mods






Part 35 - OSCURO'S PATCHES


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1. COBL Tweaks - MOFAM Patch
1. Better Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary - OOO Patch
2. Unique Artifacts for Unique People (Unique Artifacts for Unique People - Patches)

Within the BAIN Package Installer, select just:

01 OOO Patch

3. Weapons Of Morrowind - OOO (Extended) Patch
4. ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts (OOO Patch - All four forts)
5. ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts (OOO Patch - Update) [QAC]
6. Bounty Quests Fixed and Polished

Install manually & deselect everything except Bounty Quests OOO Patch.esp.

7. Retextured Potions - OOO Patch

8. Local Guards Features

Install manually & right click the Local Guards Features > Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul Patch and select Set as <data> directory.
Lastly, name the mod 'Local Guards Features - OOO Patch'


9. OOO Spectral Fix
10. OOO CoblTweaks Fix





Part 36 - zMERGED PLUGINS



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  • 3 Merges.
  • I would strongly recommend creating a new MO2 profile for each merge, naming it such as 'MERGE - PREBASH'. To do so simply copy the MOFAM profile from within the Profiles menu & name it as suggested. This will also help display your profiles within MO2 alphabetically.
  • Be sure to setup Integration settings within zmerge & disabling plugins in Merge Settings. We use merge plugins hide for this.
  • Merge type is always default, CLOBBER
  • IMPORTANT! The Bash Tags are provided in my Conflict Resolution mod so please be precise with the naming
    conventions as they have to match.
  • Id also suggest taking this part slowly if new to the process. Plenty of help online in the link just below plus my discord has been helping with zmerge for a few years now.
  • A new addition is Prepare Merge plugin. This is an incredible tool that automates creating the required per-profile Load Order for merging.
  • Some basic steps are below however if the process is still proving a headache, Blasphemous Wartotle's videos here (although made for Lexy's SSE guide, are still relevant) can help.

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1 - Ensure all plugins are active in the main MOFAM profile
2 - From the MO2 Tools menu, select Prepare Merge > Load active profile as base
3 - Navigate to or if new, create (e.g.) MERGE - PREBASH profile within MO2 Profiles menu.
4 - Copy all the plugins from the relevant section on this modpage.
5 - Within Prepare Merge, select Import entries from clipboard
6 - Select Prepare merge in active profile



1. OOO Patches Merged

Create a new profile called MERGE - OOO and using Prepare Merge, create the following output:

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Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul - Knights of Nine.esp
BDBS - Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul.esp
UAUP - OOO Patch.esp
Weapons Of Morrowind - OOO  (Extended) Patch.esp
PotionReplacer OOO Patch.esp
tbskGuardsFeatures OOO Patch.esp
OOO Spectral Fix.esp
OOOCoblTweaksFix.esp



  • Name: OOO Patches Merged
  • Filename: OOO Patches Merged

2. Merge Consistency Patch

Install this patch as it's included in the following merge.

3. Prebash Merge

Create a new profile called MERGE - PREBASH and using Prepare Merge, create the following output:


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Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp
DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp
Av Latta Magicka - Rebalance Complete.esp
WeightlessAmmoConsumablesPotions.esp
weightlessstones.esp
aesrespawningamberstumpsandmadnessoredeposits.esp
aesrespawninggoldandsilverveins.esp
DLCVileLair - Tweaks.esp
DLCThievesDen - BarterForUpgrd.esp
FasterHorses.esp
Initial Glow Redux - Creatures.esp
Initial Glow Redux.esp
lGet rid of Small Souls - Soulgem Prices.esp
Bibliophilia.esp
Banes Steel Helm Replacer.esp
ReteroX_ClosedIronHelmet_v1.esp
ReteroX_ClosedEbonyHelmet_v1.esp
Imperial City Landscape Fix.esp
Alternate ghost shader.esp
Oblivion Content Restoration Project -- Knights.esp
Unique Chapels UOP patch.esp
SnowyRoad-Feldscar Patch.esp
SnowyRoad-FrostcragVillage Patch.esp
DialogTweaksTweakedTrespassing.esp
lVanilla Style Loading Screens Addon.esp
RoC+RP Patch.esp
xxReworkedReedstand.esp
xxreworkedgottshaw.esp
xxreworkedSutch.esp
Louder Chapel Bells.esp
PinarusInventiusActualHunter.esp
Unused Magic Items Integrated.esp
Voices for Female Dremora NPCs.esp
The Ayleid Steps - Patches.esp
lLet there be Flowers.esp
Enhanced Vegetation.esp
GuardInfamyGreetingFix.esp
AyleidWellMessage.esp
GoblinTribesFixed.esp
ExpandedGreetings.esp
tbskGuardsFeaturesMergedVanillaAddons.esp
DLCSpellTomes-No Attack.esp
SM Plugin Refurbish Lite Knights Infamy.esp
Bruma Frostcrag Spire LOD.esp
Quest NPCs Run.esp
LostSpiresImpeREALFortsPatch2.esp
ORC.esp
MehrunesDagonWalk.esp
Better Traps.esp
ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Forts Update.esp
DaedricRequirements.esp
OCOv2 Beast Races Enhanced.esp
WAC - HGEC Equipment Replacer.esp
Wolf Animations Restored.esp
The Ayleid Steps - Voiced Addon.esp
Shivering Isles Female Armor Displays.esp
DispMiscPatch_OCOv2 - Adoring Fan No Beard.esp
DispMiscPatch_Better Forts - Vergayun Patch.esp
DispMiscPatch_BrumaGuildReconstructed - Order of the Lamp Redux Patch.esp
DispMiscPatch_Ducks and Swans - Reedstand Patch.esp
WAC Integration HGEC Gauntlets Patch.esp
Merge Consistency Patch.esp



  • Name: Prebash Merge
  • Filename: Prebash Merge

4. Late Loaders Merged

Create a new profile called MERGE - LATE LOADERS and using Prepare Merge, create the following output:


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JauffreSkillChest.esp
WACIntegration - MOO Patch.esp
All Natural - Real Lights - candelabra pathgrid fix.esp
DispMiscPatch_Av Latta Magicka - Migck Misc Poison Fists Patch.esp
tbskGuardsFeatures_UOP_Patch.esp
LFO - Local Guards Features Patch.esp
Better Dungeons - Balance Patch.esp
DispMiscPatch_OCRP_VGR_Patch.esp
DispMiscPatch_OCRP - Original Brown Leather Armor Restored.esp
Auto Update Leveled Items And Spells - Script Patch.esp
GOSH - All Natural Patch.esp
Cobl Glue - Bravil Barrel Fix.esp
OCOv2 - MOO Patch.esp
MOO MOBS Patch.esp
Wolf Animations Restored - MOO Patch.esp



Name: Late Loaders Merged
Filename: Late Loaders Merged

REMINDER: Ensure the names are correct as the BashTags are provided within the Conflict Resolution mod installed later.

Once navigating back to your main profile & activating the merge, to use Merge Plugins Hide to hide all the plugins from the respective merge.

IMPORTANT: Users of my FO4 guide will know I'm a huge advocate of this, so make a habit of Error-Checking your merges in xEdit just to be sure.
Any <Error: Could not be resolved> messages warrant investigation.

When revisiting a merge, it's always good practise to Sync the load order from your main MOFAM profile (using Sync Mod Order from the Tools dropdown).


All of these plugins are initially tagged as 'mergeable' by Wrye Bash. We are simply using a more modern technique to maximise the potential of the load order whilst still focusing on a stable & enjoyable build as the premise.



Part 37 - PLUGIN SORTING


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Rather than provide complex LOOT rules or step-by-step manual intervention to share the LO prior to Conflict Resolution & Automation, some trusted Discord members have confirmed it IS POSSIBLE to paste the the loadorder.txt file into your MO2 profile, close & restart MO2 to have the plugins in order.

Please be conscious of this edge-case scenario & DOUBLE CHECK the Load Order is correct however.

I have also provided a Modwatch account; Here's the link.

Download the Load Order from my modpage here to begin.





Part 38 - CONFLICT RESOLUTION & AUTOMATION


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1. Bashed Patch

Prior to running Wrye Bash I recommend opening xEdit & Sort(ing) Masters for the whole Load Order. As of version 311 some extra steps are required, however remember once the tweaks & finer settings are applied, they need not be re-applied on subsequent rebuilds of the Bashed patch.

IMPORTANT!
Before opening Wrye Bash ensure the Conflict Resolution mod below is installed, as it contains the Bash Tags for the 3 merges we made earlier.

When building the patch, take note of the following:

  • Ensure the Bashed Patch is above Conflict Resolution and below Late Loaders Merged
  • Select the Edit header > Active Plugins > Deactivate All
  • Select the Edit header > Active Plugins > Activate Non-Mergeable
  • Locate OOO Patches Merged.esp & enable it (selecting the dot in the square icon to change it to a tick)
  • Right click Bashed Patch.esp & select Rebuild Patch


To reiterate, only these need be applied the first time the plugin is created:
  • Within Import Names 'Guard_Names.csv' is enabled
  • Within Tweak Actors, enable Irresponsible Creatures
  • Within Tweak Assorted, enable:

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Armor Shows Amulets
Bow Reach Fix
Clothing Shows Amulets
DarNified Books
Default Icons
Magic: Script Effect Silencer
No Light Flicker
Nvidia Fog Fix
Reweigh: Ammunition [0.0]
Reweigh: Books [0.0]
Right Hand Rings



  • Within Tweak Clothes, enable both 'Gloves Show Rings' and 'Robes Show Amulets'
  • Within Tweak Names, enable 'Rename Gold' [Septim]
  • Within Tweak Settings, enable:

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Arrow: Speed [x2.0]
Camera: Chase Tightness [ChaseCameraMod.esp (x24.75)]
Player: Horse Turning Speed [Custom (Turning and ramp-up speeds)]: 80
UOP Vampire Aging And Face FIx
Warning: Exterior Distance to Hostiles [1000]
Warning: Interior Distance to Hostiles [1000]



  • Within Leveled Lists, deselect 'Remove Empty Sublists'
  • Lastly, deselect NPC Checker

The building process shouldn't take more than 2 minutes or so.

IMPORTANT
!!: Make sure Conflict Resolution.esp is active after rebuilding the Bashed Patch.esp.

FINAL STEP: Open Bashed Patch in xedit & remove the CONTAINER group; this contains errors. Right click and Clean Masters, closing xedit & saving the plugin.


2. Conflict Resolution

The final plugin that ties the room together with outstanding Bashed Patch forwards, Bash Tags, tweaks & fixes, and ongoing minor bug fixing. All of its masters are detailed as Requirements on this modpage.

REMINDER
!!: Make sure Conflict Resolution.esp is active after rebuilding the Bashed Patch.esp.




Part 39 - TES4LODGEN


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Building & rebuilding LODs in this game is a far cry from your other projects I'm sure you'll agree. From start to finish it can take less than a minute, so this final piece on the load order is truly a moment's work.

  • Enable the TES4LODGen Output empty mod we made in Part 5.
  • Open TES4LODGen through MO2's executable shortcut.
  • Allow the operation to perform
  • Cut the DistantLOD folder from the TES4LODGen Output mod, and disable it.
  • Via the MO2 dropdown, select 'Open Game Folder'.
  • Navigate to the Data folder and paste the DistantLOD folder.

NOTE 1: If rebuilding the Bashed Patch or changing Load Order, ensure to rebuild your Object LOD as well.
NOTE 2: If rebuilding the LOD, ensure you have deleted it already from the Data folder.

I should mention that Landscape LOD after all my testing has a higher impact on performance than Object. Given Oblivion Reloaded Combined's
culling functionality keeps Object LOD at a sensible rate of impact on the engine, landscape LOD with all the extra triangles & draw calls provides very diminishing returns, given we also use a great retex to effectively tick that box.








Part 40 - UTILITIES & MO2 ADVICE


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1. 4gb Ram Patcher

Even though we run this during setup, I like to have it here for safekeeping.

2. Dummy ESP
3. FormID Finder
4. RefScope

3 & 4 are both optional mods to activate as-and-when you feel it's necessary. They're useful for debugging purposes should the occasion arise.

Don't forget if you're curious about any given item or NPC in the game world, more often than not the console will indicate the formID & the hex-ref can be referenced using LINK's menu, hence identifying the mod that introduced what was selected.


5. (Create Empty Mod) OBSE Logs & Inis

Over time MO2 will create logs & ini's from (e.g.) Blockhead, MenuQue, SKYBSA in the Overwrite folder. For minor QoL feel free to cut & paste them here.

6. (Created in Setup) TES4Edit Cache

I like to create further separators such as 'TO BE ADDED', 'TESTING', 'UPDATING' & lastly 'DEPRECATED'. For maintaining your load order & future-proofing QoL, I recommend doing something similar.



UPDATING:

  • Firstly copy the existing MO2 profile & rename it to the version (e.g. MOFAM  MM.YY). Navigate to this profile when starting to Update.
  • When updating my Modlist, regardless of game, installing the updated mod using the name + version (so it doesn't overwrite the existing mod it will replace) & placing these into the 'Updating' separator helps organise updating the build considerably easier.
  •  Once a mod that's been updated is replaced, I then move it to the DEPRECATED separator & add a 'DEP' prefix to the mod's name, as you'll find if you remove the versioning of the mod that's been updated you can't have 2 mods in MO2 named the exact same way.
  • Similarly, for mods I remove, I right click & send to separator > DEPRECATED. This helps keep your last MO2 profile intact in case of human-error.

Now would also be a good time (using Merge plugins hide) sync the load order across all profiles in use.

Whenever there is a change in mod order on the left pane, it's good practise to
keep all the profiles in use up to date, including the default.




Congratulations! This has been an epic journey & I hope you've also learned a few new tricks along
the way. It's time to jump ingame and enjoy the fruits of your labours.

HOWEVER! There are still some important tweaks to make once ingame, so don't
forget to incorporate the below for every new game you start.



Epilogue - INGAME SETTINGS


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Here are my game video settings. Note only a handful are required (e.g. HDR, Water Ripples & Anti Aliasing).


Texture Size: Large
Fade Values: 66%
Grass Distance: Full
View Distance: Full
3x Distant settings: On
In & Ext shadows: 3
Self Shadows: On
Shadows on Grass: On
Tree Canopy Shadows: On
Shadow Filtering: High
HDR Lighting: On
Bloom Lighting: Off
Water Detail: High
Water Reflections: On
Water Ripples: Off
Window Reflections: On
Blood Decals: High
Anti Aliasing: Off

LINK appeared on the Oblivion landscape relatively recently and acts almost as an MCM - so that's never a bad thing! However, both check and apply the following via the Mods menu:

Av Latta Magicka: Check Restore Health Visuals is Vanilla for Restoration
Loot Menu: Offset X at 1500; Set Label Icons to Hide
Extended UI: Enable all 5 'Skip Message box' settings in 'Menu Shortcuts'

All the other mods that can be tweaked via LINK are entirely up to you - the above I simply highlight as they're required.




Appendix: KNOWN ISSUES & FINAL THOUGHTS


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This is Oblivion; arguably one of the least forgiving titles to mod. Whereas in this build I've strived to have as little bugs as possible with solid performance & stability, there are still bugs. Honesty's the best policy (especially in software!) so below are the principle known issues:

  • Frame drops on certain Forts; Better Forts contributes to this.
  • Frame drops during heavy magic-combat if many NPCs are involved
  • Frame drops in certain interiors in Well Diver
  • An approximate 3 second pause when starting gameplay; this is the engine calling all the mod-added scripts & new assets
  • If you see both the Enchanting & Pickpocket skills with the copy NOT INITIALIZED, save/reload or restart the game.
  • Ensure you have a backup of the right pane in MO2 (the icon next to 'Active'). In the rare instance a hard-reset is required due to a crash, the plugin list can reorder itself.
  • A number of mods (e.g. Arthmoor's towns) are unvoiced; this is normal.

Now let's talk crashes. We all get them. Over the years however the build has improved considerably as I've pulled many offending mods that were purely unstable to work with. With the advent of certain OBSE plugins & our improved toolset, crashes are very few & far-between. It's not unusual for me to go for 20 hours of crash-free-gameplay then randomly get hit by one seemingly randomly. I've found if you truly stress the engine, such as go interior > exterior > interior repeatedly during hectic fights, or repeatedly load a save after dying multiple times in the same cell, this can cause instability. If & when you do crash, message logger outputs the last calls in a .txt file & can be quite insightful.

In terms of updates & updating MOFAM: luckily, unlike SSE for example, mods in general within Oblivion don't update at the same furious pace. Only if there is a major overhaul or removal-from-Nexus of a key mastermod will MOFAM need a once-over to resume its lifespan, which I've purposefully built to stand the test of time.

Id also like to highlight to veterans that this is my first large upload to Nexus's Oblivion portal. You may disagree with some of the mod choices, comments, and of course some of the content. I may have 'Master' in my avatar name, but I'm certainly not claiming to be a master of modding. If you're aware of a better process or approach, don't hesitate to share. We're a community.

Naturally, with a game of this scope, not even my 500 hours ingame can cover every plausible scenario. One of the founding principles of QA is no one person can find every bug in a piece of software. If you find problems that aren't down to installation-error or missing certain advice above, let's discuss it in the posts tab or in my Discord.

To sign-off, I'd like to thank all the mod-authors involved, Bethesda for creating the game & modding platform, the Nexus & staff for hosting it all, and last but not least yourselves.

I hope you enjoy MOFAM for years to come.

MasterLix.




ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


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I want to give a huge thankyou & shoutout to all the Contributors, Server Boosters, Mod Authors and growing number of Wastelanders on my Discord for their continued help, advice & guidance since December 2020 since my Discord went out with MOFAM: FO4. A special shoutout to durbin for kicking me up the arse to get this Live too!

Certain members of our modding community within the TES4 Portal such as Dispensation, Maskar, Mixxa77, DianaTESGotH, CarlosS4444, Katkat74 & the VKVII team...the list goes on. Amazing contributions that make this (what is now) nostalgic gem of a video game close to our modded hearts.

DarkLadyLexy and Evertiro & their whole team for the continued work & talent behind their SSE guides, of which were an influence for MOFAM.

Wellden for his now years of friendship online, Bevilex for getting me into modding from the now-legendary guide, and lastly OutdatedTV for rounding us all up on the TUCO Guide & Modding Team.

You guys rock.