Introduction
Ever felt overwhelmed stepping into the sprawling world of Cyrodiil? The fate of the Empire rests on your shoulders, but before you can even think about closing Oblivion gates or confronting mythical creatures, your journey begins with the choices you make within the character creation screen. More than just picking a pretty face, character creation in Oblivion is the foundation upon which your entire gameplay experience is built. Your race, class, birthsign, attributes, and skills will all influence your strengths, weaknesses, and the countless paths you can take through the game.
It’s easy to get lost amidst the options, but fear not! This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Oblivion’s character creation system, offering valuable insights and strategies to craft a character perfectly tailored to your desired playstyle. Whether you dream of being a powerful mage, a stealthy assassin, a noble knight, or anything in between, understanding the nuances of character creation is the first step to achieving your goals. Prepare to delve deep into the options and unlock the secrets to crafting the perfect hero (or villain!) for your Oblivion adventure. A solid start in the character creator will shape your adventure and determine what play styles are most suited to your avatar.
Races of Tamriel
The province of Cyrodiil is a melting pot of cultures, and this is reflected in the diverse races available to you at the start of your adventure. Each race possesses unique strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and starting skills that will greatly influence your early game and beyond. Picking the right race is critical to an effective character.
Altmer (High Elf)
The Altmer are known for their inherent magical aptitude. They boast a significant boost to their Magicka pool, making them naturally inclined towards spellcasting. However, this magical prowess comes at a price: they are more vulnerable to magic attacks. Their starting skills often include Illusion, Destruction, and Mysticism, further solidifying their role as mages. An Altmer is ideal for players who want to embrace the power of magic from the very beginning.
Argonian
Hailing from the swamps of Black Marsh, Argonians are uniquely adapted to harsh environments. Their ability to breathe underwater is invaluable for exploration, and their resistance to disease makes them resilient in dangerous areas. While perhaps not as overtly powerful as some other races, Argonians are surprisingly versatile. They excel in stealth and make excellent swimmers.
Breton
The Bretons of High Rock are renowned for their connection to magic and their resistance to its effects. They possess a natural resistance to magic and a bonus to their Magicka pool, making them formidable spellcasters. They are incredibly versatile. With skills in conjuration, alchemy, and restoration, they are well-rounded and can adapt to various playstyles, functioning as a mage or a skilled warrior.
Dunmer (Dark Elf)
The Dunmer, hailing from Morrowind, are known for their resilience, cunning, and skill in both combat and stealth. Their inherent resistance to fire is a valuable asset, and their starting skills often include blade, sneak, and destruction, making them adept at both close-quarters combat and ranged attacks. Their balanced skill set makes them perfect for stealth archers, spellswords, or even assassins.
Imperial
The Imperials of Cyrodiil are known for their diplomatic skills, their love of trade, and their strong sense of community. They possess a bonus to Speechcraft, making them skilled negotiators and merchants, and their Luck bonus provides a slight edge in all endeavors. While they may not excel in any particular area, their versatility and social skills make them ideal for roleplaying characters focused on diplomacy and trade.
Khajiit
The Khajiit, feline humanoids from Elsweyr, are known for their agility, stealth, and nocturnal habits. Their Night-Eye ability allows them to see in the dark, and their agility makes them nimble and quick. Their starting skills often include sneak, acrobatics, and light armor, making them perfect for thieves, assassins, or anyone who prefers a stealthy approach.
Nord
The Nords of Skyrim are a hardy and warlike race, renowned for their strength, resistance to frost, and skill in combat. Their frost resistance is invaluable in colder regions, and their starting skills often include blade, blunt, and heavy armor, making them formidable warriors. If you’re looking for a straightforward and powerful warrior, the Nord is an excellent choice.
Orc
The Orcs, also known as Orsimer, are a strong and resilient race, renowned for their skill in combat and their Berserk ability. This ability temporarily boosts their strength and endurance at the cost of agility. This makes them a formidable force in battle. They are ideal for players who want to play a powerful and aggressive warrior.
Redguard
The Redguards of Hammerfell are a proud and fiercely independent race, renowned for their skill with swords and their Adrenaline Rush ability. This ability temporarily boosts their agility, speed, strength, and health, making them even more formidable in combat. If you favor a sword-and-shield combat style, the Redguard is a natural choice.
Bosmer (Wood Elf)
The Bosmer, or Wood Elves, are skilled archers and trackers. They possess a natural archery bonus and resistance to disease. They also have the ability to command beasts. They are lighter than most races.
Class Selection (or Customization)
After choosing your race, you must select a class. The class system defines your character’s strengths and weaknesses, shaping their progression throughout the game. You can either choose from a set of pre-defined classes or create your own custom class to perfectly suit your desired playstyle. The class is chosen at the end of the tutorial section, so make sure you know what you want to play.
Pre-defined classes offer a quick and easy way to get started, providing a balanced set of skills and attributes tailored to a specific archetype. Some popular pre-defined classes include:
- Knight: A heavily armored warrior skilled in melee combat.
- Mage: A powerful spellcaster who relies on magic for both offense and defense.
- Thief: A stealthy rogue who excels at sneaking, pickpocketing, and lockpicking.
- Warrior: A skilled combatant who focuses on raw strength and melee prowess.
Creating a custom class allows for greater flexibility and customization, enabling you to tailor your character to your exact specifications. The key to crafting a successful custom class lies in understanding the difference between major and minor skills.
Major skills are the core skills that your character will focus on, determining how quickly they level up. Each level gained will increase your attribute points. Selecting the right major skills is crucial for efficient leveling and developing your character’s strengths. Strategically choosing a spread of skills will allow you to control how fast you level.
When creating your custom class, carefully consider which attributes you want to prioritize. Each attribute governs a set of skills and influences various aspects of your character’s abilities. The eight attributes are:
- Endurance: Governs Health and Armorer skill.
- Strength: Governs carrying capacity and Blade, Blunt, and Hand-to-Hand skills.
- Intelligence: Governs Magicka and Alchemy, Conjuration, and Enchant skill.
- Willpower: Governs Magicka regeneration and Destruction, Restoration, and Alteration.
- Agility: Governs sneak and marksman skills.
- Speed: Governs Athletics and Acrobatics skills.
- Luck: Subtly affects all skills and events.
- Personality: Governs Mercantile, Speechcraft, and Illusion skills.
Here are a couple of example custom classes:
- Battlemage: Focuses on both melee combat and magic, using spells to augment their weapon skills.
- Stealth Archer: Relies on stealth and illusion to deliver deadly shots from afar.
Birthsigns
In addition to race and class, your birthsign further defines your character, granting them unique abilities and attributes. Your birthsign has lasting effects that enhance your gameplay and make you more effective in Cyrodiil.
- The Apprentice: Increases Magicka but grants a significant vulnerability to magic.
- The Atronach: Provides a massive boost to Magicka and the ability to absorb spells, but prevents natural Magicka regeneration.
- The Lady: Increases both Endurance and Personality, making the character more durable and charismatic.
- The Lord: Grants a healing ability (Troll’s Blood) but also a vulnerability to fire.
- The Lover: Provides a paralysis spell (Lover’s Kiss) that can be used once per day.
- The Mage: Simply increases Magicka, making it a straightforward choice for aspiring mages.
- The Ritual: Grants two spells: one that heals and one that turns undead.
- The Serpent: Grants a poison spell that damages over time.
- The Shadow: Provides an invisibility spell that can be used once per day.
- The Steed: Increases Speed, making the character faster and more agile.
- The Thief: Increases Luck, Agility, and Speed, benefiting stealthy characters.
- The Tower: Grants the ability to open average locks and detect nearby life.
- The Warrior: Simply increases Strength, making the character stronger in combat.
Appearance and Backstory
Oblivion allows for a decent level of customization when it comes to your character’s appearance. While this doesn’t directly affect gameplay, it contributes to immersion and roleplaying. Consider crafting a backstory for your character, even if it remains only in your imagination. This can provide motivation for your choices and make your experience more engaging. Your character creation doesn’t stop at the stats, it extends to the story you wish to tell.
Advanced Tips and Strategies
Leveling Efficiently
To level up efficiently, focus on training your major skills strategically. Avoid over-leveling certain skills, as this can lead to enemies scaling faster than your character’s abilities.
Min-Maxing vs. Roleplaying
There’s a constant debate between min-maxing (optimizing your character for maximum effectiveness) and creating a character that is fun to play and roleplay. Find a balance that suits your preferences.
Unusual Builds
Don’t be afraid to experiment with unconventional builds. Oblivion is full of possibilities, and creative character concepts can lead to rewarding experiences.
Conclusion
Character creation in Oblivion is far more than just a preliminary step – it’s a crucial foundation for your entire adventure. The choices you make in this early stage will dramatically impact your gameplay experience, shaping your strengths, weaknesses, and the paths you can take.
Take your time, carefully consider your options, and craft a character that resonates with your desired playstyle. By understanding the nuances of race, class, birthsign, attributes, and skills, you can create a truly unique hero (or villain!) who is ready to face the challenges of Cyrodiil. Armed with the knowledge in this guide, venture forth and craft your own epic tale within the world of Oblivion! Now that you have a deeper understanding of character creation, what story will your champion tell?
