100% Oblivion Bounty Thread (WTF? DONE!!!)

[Anzai]

This is a double post cause I ran into a rather big snag while doing some quests and tests.

The mission A Nightmare, Darkly (precursor to the Bravil Mage Recommendation quest) was going fine until I got to the Test Of Resolve, where you face 2 Minotaurs. Of course, since I'm playing on the max difficulty, they destroyed me horribly. 2 hits and I died, even with the provided Dwarven Armor on. And the Magic Staff doesn't have enough charges to kill even one of them. Add to the fact that I can't heal (no magic or items allowed in Dream World, sadly), and it's the first real snag for the SDA.

Now, I did eventually complete the mission (by simply using the kill command in the console), but how would one manage to complete it in an SDA? I thought about finding a way of activating the Orb without killing them, but didn't find a way to do so (though I lacked the commands to test a few theories, and will probably retry with a new character) in my playing around. So does anyone have any suggestions/glitches/theories on getting past the Minotaurs? I can't go and skip the mission in the run cause it's needed to complete the Mages Guild.

If I run into any more snags, I'll edit this post (unless someone posts after this one) with what the snag is.

[Jiyuun]

This is a double post cause I ran into a rather big snag while doing some quests and tests.

The mission A Nightmare, Darkly (precursor to the Bravil Mage Recommendation quest) was going fine until I got to the Test Of Resolve, where you face 2 Minotaurs. Of course, since I'm playing on the max difficulty, they destroyed me horribly. 2 hits and I died, even with the provided Dwarven Armor on. And the Magic Staff doesn't have enough charges to kill even one of them. Add to the fact that I can't heal (no magic or items allowed in Dream World, sadly), and it's the first real snag for the SDA.

Now, I did eventually complete the mission (by simply using the kill command in the console), but how would one manage to complete it in an SDA? I thought about finding a way of activating the Orb without killing them, but didn't find a way to do so (though I lacked the commands to test a few theories, and will probably retry with a new character) in my playing around. So does anyone have any suggestions/glitches/theories on getting past the Minotaurs? I can't go and skip the mission in the run cause it's needed to complete the Mages Guild.

If I run into any more snags, I'll edit this post (unless someone posts after this one) with what the snag is.

Armacham used the staff you get in the opening dungeon (If I remember correctly) and killed one and did an attack/back off technique. I also used it when I played through following his vids. Worked for me. Dunno, just a thought.

[Anzai]

Yeah, I know he used the staff on one, and backpedaled the entire time for the other, but that would take ages to do, cause of the reduced damage the max difficulty provides for meleeing. Course, I don't know how much that would help, as I think the higher difficulty makes enemies use their jump/charge attacks more often, which can kill you in a single hit if you aren't paying attention.

[Jiyuun]

It took a while but, in the end I think it might be the only way to get past that part. I died a few times up on the ledge he used... Stupid things have a good reach to 'em.

[xud9dab2]

Through a Nightmare, Darkly is by far the hardest mission on highest difficulty. The only thing you can do is take the staff, whatever else is provided and avoid every single hit. I don't know how, IF those Minotaurs are leveled, so I'll have to check that. One thing I'll correct you on though:

I can't go and skip the mission in the run cause it's needed to complete the Mages Guild.

The Bravil Recommendation quest is getting that stolen charm staff, Kud-Ei gives you both quests and Through a Nightmare, Darkly is NOT part of the Mage's Guild

[Anzai]

I don't know if you can skip ahead and do the recommendation quest without Through A Nightmare, Darkly however. The Bravil Mage headmistress won't assign that quest until you complete her personal quest. You might be able to circumvent that however, if you can get the Staff without doing that quest. Will have to check and see, tomorrow when I do some more testing. Also, just a consensus, but Vampire is pretty useless, correct? I tried it out earlier and it's been nothing but problems cause I need to feed in order to fast-travel properly, when NPCs are awake/available to fence/assign quests. Also makes it impossible to finish missions that have a time limit, like the Forlorn Watchman.

[xud9dab2]

I don't know if you can skip ahead and do the recommendation quest without Through A Nightmare, Darkly however. The Bravil Mage headmistress won't assign that quest until you complete her personal quest. You might be able to circumvent that however, if you can get the Staff without doing that quest.

In short: Yes, you can. Yes, she does, though do to the many dialogue options she has you'll have to find the right one (can be a pain). If you accept TAND you can't do the recommendation until TAND is over, and vise versa. Simply not talk to Kud-Ei about the sleeping beauty and ask her for a recommendation to start that quest

Also, just a consensus, but Vampire is pretty useless, correct? I tried it out earlier and it's been nothing but problems cause I need to feed in order to fast-travel properly, when NPCs are awake/available to fence/assign quests.

I've only become a vampire ones: Pain. In. The. Ass. Unless you know exactly what you're doing and you absolutely HAVE to be one, it is not worth anything.

Also makes it impossible to finish missions that have a time limit, like the Forlorn Watchman.

What time limit? The only quest with time limits are Great Gate and A Brotherhood Betrayed (finish in 15 minutes and arrive at location within 24 ingame hours respectively)

[Anzai]

Errr, I meant a mission with a time requisite. Like Forlorn Watchman which requires you to talk to the Ghost at 8PM. That's what I meant. And yeah, I agree that being a Vampire is a pain in the ass, cause if you don't feed, you take damage outside, which restricts you to traveling from 7AM-8PM (or there about), which is not enough time to finish some missions.

[xud9dab2]

Errr, I meant a mission with a time requisite. Like Forlorn Watchman which requires you to talk to the Ghost at 8PM. That's what I meant. And yeah, I agree that being a Vampire is a pain in the ass, cause if you don't feed, you take damage outside, which restricts you to traveling from 7AM-8PM (or there about), which is not enough time to finish some missions.

Oh, like that. Well having to wait like that is only a problem if you're a vampire that can't wait outside, of course that is a problem in it's own right

[Anzai]

Okay, this is a slight detractor from my tests, but still relavent to the topic.

What is the ideal path (or close to one) for an entertaining path for Oblivion? I'm currently thinking of revisiting each town numerous times, to keep it fresh, as opposed to doing all missions for a given branch (Brotherhood, Thieves, etc) in a single go. I found that rather boring to watch in Armachan's run, since it means I could skip that given segment and not miss anything different. Now, the Arena could be done in a single (or two, given that Oblivion is sometimes unstable) segment, but I was also thinking of doing 1-2 fights per segment, if only to balance the lack of fighting in some missions.

But, I'm interested in what the potential viewers will be interested in seeing; a run that does all the Mage missions in 1-2 neatly packed segments, or a run that does 1-2 Mage missions in each segment. It not only staggers the entertainment value (as I've stated), but it also has the game/run end in a rather epic manner, with the final segment(s) consisting of a murder, a heist, a raid, and a duel with a Necromancer. Oh, and completely sealing Oblivion gates, of course.

[armacham]

What is the ideal path (or close to one) for an entertaining path for Oblivion?

I'd like to see an optimized path (little to no backtracking) like most people were wanting the first go around. I followed a 100% faq point to point for each questline for convenience and not speed. If someone can string together an optimal route and execute, it would be pretty great.

As for entertainment I dunno. I tried watching my run a few times and there's nothing to see, same quest over and over with a few exceptions. A good route and execution is about it.

[Anzai]

What is the ideal path (or close to one) for an entertaining path for Oblivion?

I'd like to see an optimized path (little to no backtracking) like most people were wanting the first go around. I followed a 100% faq point to point for each questline for convenience and not speed. If someone can string together an optimal route and execute, it would be pretty great.

As for entertainment I dunno. I tried watching my run a few times and there's nothing to see, same quest over and over with a few exceptions. A good route and execution is about it.

The problem with a purely optimized path is that it would be impossible. You can't do all the Skingrad quests in one sitting as you need to hit certain milestones (like say, the Mages Guild to retrieve the book the Count holds) in order to trigger certain missions. And those quests need other milestones (the recomendations to get into the Guild) which are in other towns.

Yes, it would be interesting to watch, but I don't think it'll be possible without tons and tons of planning and tests, which is counter-productive as 100% Oblivion won't be submitted to the mainsite and be presented to a broader audience.

[armacham]

Armacham used the staff you get in the opening dungeon (If I remember correctly) and killed one and did an attack/back off technique. I also used it when I played through following his vids. Worked for me. Dunno, just a thought.

Do this shit at level 1 by the way, they're weak enough that the staff will have enough juice to kill them all if you dont miss. Melee is not recommended.

I'll have to read the last few pages and see if there's anything else I can add. This new bounty will be less cheese but goddam, a lot more time consuming, I can see why you wouldn't want to bother optimizing route.

[Anzai]

Well so far, meleeing will be out of the question for a major skill and attack skill. As has been stated (by me and others), the damage it does is laughable, though I supposed it does help me grind those skills later on, when my summon is attacking. Through A Nightmare, Darkly is the only quest that will probably be skipped, cause of how impossible it is for the max difficulty, or at least the only mission so far.  Illusion will be something I'll look into for a major skill cause the Necromancers are really killing me, since my summon tends to engage their summon -.- If I could get a reliable way of getting my summon to hit a Necromancer while I aggro/lure their summon, I could possibly avoid Illusion, though the Charm spells are useful for missions that require a lot of Disposition to get info.

The Goblin Shaman Staff is one I'm thinking of grabbing, the only problem is I'd need to kill the Goblin that holds it. Since this is at the max difficulty, that'll be tough with how much damage it takes to kill even a regular Mudcrab at level 15, let alone a rat at level 1. However, I could always lure it into a trap later in the dungeon, and steal the Staff at that point...

And yes, I'm aware this run will take a little more time than yours (which clocks in at around 15-16 hours, if I remember correctly), but I'm sacrificing time for more entertainment, since I found your run rather bland once I figured out that all the fighting was done through Summons and sitting in place with Invisibility. It was still an entertaining run, but it did get tiresome later on when you fought a lot of people.

[armacham]

I think later on (I'll try and get some more levels and better gear tomorrow) it might even out, as your gear will allow you to survive

Unless you plan on doing the 100% reflect and require the better leveled items then it's only going to be harder to survive the more you level. Your enemies will likely outpace what little gains you recieve from attribute points which really aren't that important.

I see little difference between "summon, invisibility, wait, repeat" and "summon, run, wait, repeat"

Exactly. If you are going out of your way to be slower you may as well make it challenging.

The Goblin Shaman Staff is one I'm thinking of grabbing

The quest with the minotaurs gives you the staff I'm talking about. I have no idea how that goblin staff would perform. If the quest is the only reason for the staff then I wouldn't waste time getting it.

I'm sacrificing time for more entertainment

I dont know how, but if you say so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Oblivion combat, and the game in general, doesn't lend much to entertainment unless it is executed and planned like a SDA quality speed run.

It was still an entertaining run

I'll have to disagree with you there. Fun to make sure, and it was pretty cool sharing with a few people who enjoyed it, but I can't imagine watching it. I mean no disrespect to what you're doing or anybody that did watch mine, but you'd have to pay me to watch the whole 15 hours. I'm just saying do this for your own enjoyment first and foremost. I plan on skimming your run, who knows maybe it will be so good I will watch it all.

Oh yeah and xud is right, just dont wear boots if you gotta sneak.