Introduction
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remains a cornerstone of open-world RPGs, celebrated for its immersive world, compelling quests, and, perhaps most importantly, the unparalleled freedom of character creation. However, let’s be honest – Oblivion’s character models have often been…criticized. The infamous “potato face” is a meme for a reason. But fear not, aspiring heroines of Cyrodiil! With a little patience and the right approach, you can craft a visually appealing and narratively rich female character who is ready to face dragons, close Oblivion gates, and carve their own legend into the history of Tamriel.
This article is your comprehensive guide to creating compelling female characters in Oblivion. We’ll explore the nuances of race selection, delve into the intricacies of slider adjustments, provide customization tips, and discuss the vital role of backstory in shaping your character’s identity. We’ll also touch upon the modding community and resources available to further enhance your character creation experience. Let’s begin the journey of building your perfect female hero in Oblivion.
Understanding the Basics: Races and Starting Attributes
The first step in forging your female character is choosing the right race. Each race boasts unique attributes, skills, and starting bonuses, influencing your character’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall gameplay style. Furthermore, race has a significant impact on physical appearance.
Imperials
Hailing from Cyrodiil, Imperials are known for their diplomatic skills and aptitude for speechcraft. A solid starting point, Imperials make excellent merchants, diplomats, or even spellswords, combining magic and martial prowess. Their appearance is generally considered the most “human” of the races, offering a relatively blank canvas for customization.
Bretons
The magic-infused Bretons of High Rock are naturally gifted spellcasters. If you envision your character as a powerful mage, a Breton is an excellent choice, granting bonuses to magicka and resistance to magical attacks. Their facial features often lend themselves well to creating elegant and intelligent-looking characters.
Nords
Hardy warriors from Skyrim, Nords are renowned for their strength and resilience. If you plan to play a fierce melee fighter, a Nord could be the ideal selection. They are built for a life of battle. Nords often have rugged features that are easily customized to create a strong, warrior-like appearance.
Redguards
Hailing from Hammerfell, Redguards are masters of the blade, possessing exceptional skill in melee combat and natural agility. Renowned for their endurance and martial prowess, they excel as warriors. Their darker skin tones and sharp features can be used to create striking and memorable appearances.
High Elves (Altmer)
The proud and magical Altmer, originating from Summerset Isle, possess unparalleled magical abilities. However, they are physically weaker compared to other races. They are a good choice if you prioritize spellcasting power above all else. Be cautious about magic weakness. Their pointed ears and refined features can create characters with an ethereal or aristocratic appearance.
Wood Elves (Bosmer)
The agile and stealthy Bosmer, hailing from Valenwood, are masters of archery and possess a natural affinity for stealth. If you prefer a sneaky character who excels at ranged combat, the Bosmer is a good fit. They are often more petite and can have expressive features, making them suitable for creating mischievous or playful characters.
Dark Elves (Dunmer)
Originating from Morrowind, Dark Elves are versatile characters. They are a blend of magical and combat skills. Their unique appearance, with ashen skin and red eyes, can be easily adjusted to create either beautiful or menacing characters. They can make a good fit for a character of nearly any class.
Orcs
The strong and fierce Orcs are renowned for their skill in battle and their berserker abilities. If you want to roleplay a powerful warrior, the Orc is a great choice. Their strong physiques and prominent features make them visually distinct, enabling the creation of imposing characters.
Argonians
Reptilian Argonians of Black Marsh possess exceptional swimming skills and resistance to disease. A strong choice for players that enjoy exploration and intrigue. Their scales and reptilian features offer unique character customization options.
Khajiit
Hailing from Elsweyr, Khajiit are feline humanoids known for their agility, stealth, and skill in unarmed combat. Excellent choices for thieves. Their fur and cat-like features provide exciting character customization possibilities.
Once you’ve chosen your race, understanding the starting attributes is crucial. The primary attributes—Strength, Intelligence, Willpower, Agility, Speed, Endurance, Luck, and Personality—define your character’s core abilities and influence their overall gameplay.
- Strength: Governs melee damage, carrying capacity, and fatigue when using weapons.
- Intelligence: Dictates magicka reserves and the speed at which you learn magic-related skills.
- Willpower: Affects resistance to magic and paralysis.
- Agility: Determines accuracy with ranged weapons, evasion, and stamina.
- Speed: Controls movement speed and overall agility.
- Endurance: Impacts health, fatigue, and resistance to poison and disease.
- Luck: A general attribute that subtly influences various aspects of the game.
- Personality: Governs your ability to persuade and interact with NPCs.
For example, if you envision your female character as a powerful mage, prioritizing Intelligence and Willpower would be essential. Conversely, if you aim to create a fierce warrior, focusing on Strength, Endurance, and Agility would be more beneficial. Consider your character’s personality and goals when allocating your starting attribute points.
Mastering the Sliders: Facial Sculpting and Customization
Oblivion’s character creation system is… notorious. Its slider-based interface can produce unpredictable and often comical results if not approached with care. The key to crafting a visually appealing female character lies in understanding how each slider affects the overall facial structure.
The Forehead
Adjusting the forehead depth and height can significantly impact the overall appearance. A lower forehead can create a more youthful look, while a higher forehead might suggest intelligence or wisdom. Be careful to not make it too large, as it can dominate the entire face.
The Eyes
The eyes are the windows to the soul, and in Oblivion, they’re also a crucial element of character creation. Fine-tuning the eye size, spacing, and angle can dramatically alter the character’s expression. Larger eyes can convey innocence or vulnerability, while smaller, more focused eyes can suggest determination or cunning.
The Nose
The nose is a defining feature of the face. Experiment with the nose length, width, and bridge height to create a nose that complements your character’s features. Avoiding extreme settings is crucial.
The Mouth
A character’s mouth expresses more than you might think. The mouth shape and size influence your character’s personality and appeal. A wider mouth can suggest confidence or cheerfulness, while a smaller, more pursed mouth might hint at refinement or sophistication.
The Jaw
This is often overlooked, but arguably one of the most important. It provides the framework for your character’s face. Adjusting the jaw width, height, and prominence can dramatically change the overall shape of the face. A softer, more rounded jawline can create a more feminine appearance, while a sharper, more angular jaw can project strength and determination.
The Cheeks
The prominence and fullness of the cheeks contribute to your character’s overall facial structure. Fuller cheeks can create a more youthful or approachable appearance, while more hollow cheeks might suggest a hardened or weathered look.
Beyond the sliders, essential customization elements like hair, eye color, skin tone, scars, and markings contribute to your character’s individuality. The available hairstyles often reflect the culture of each race, so choosing a hairstyle that aligns with your character’s backstory is important. Matching eye color and skin tone to the race is also very important. Scars and markings can add depth and backstory, hinting at past battles, hardships, or unique affiliations.
Beyond Appearance: Roleplaying and Backstory
Creating a visually appealing character is only half the battle. A compelling backstory breathes life into your character, informing their decisions, motivations, and interactions within the game world.
Develop a detailed backstory that explores your character’s origins, motivations, and aspirations. Consider questions like: What is their family history? What were their childhood experiences? What events led them to become the hero of Cyrodiil? Are they driven by a desire for justice, power, knowledge, or revenge? This background will inform everything about your character.
Align your character’s appearance with their personality. A battle-scarred warrior might sport a rough complexion and short, practical hairstyle, while a refined mage might possess elegant features and flowing robes. A character’s scars and marks can offer a lot of context to their personality. Consider how their physical appearance reflects their inner self.
Finally, select a class and skills that complement your character’s backstory and playstyle. A sneaky thief might prioritize skills like Sneak, Security, and Acrobatics, while a powerful mage might focus on Destruction, Restoration, and Mysticism.
Modding and Community Resources
For players seeking greater control over the character creation process, the Oblivion modding community offers a treasure trove of resources.
Body Replacers
Mods like HGEC or Robert’s Female Bodies replace the vanilla body models with more detailed and anatomically accurate alternatives. These mods offer a wider range of customization options and can significantly enhance the visual appeal of your character.
Face Texture Packs
Mods like Detailed Faces or Ren’s Beauty Pack enhance the textures of the faces, providing more realistic skin tones, improved facial features, and greater overall detail. This can make a world of difference to how your character looks.
Hair Packs
Mods like Apachii Sky Hair add a variety of new hairstyles to the game, offering a broader selection of options to suit your character’s personality and style.
However, be mindful of mod compatibility and installation procedures. Always back up your game files before installing mods and consult the mod’s documentation for instructions.
Don’t hesitate to explore Oblivion character creation forums, image galleries, and tutorials. The community is a valuable resource for inspiration and guidance.
Conclusion
Creating a compelling female character in Oblivion is a journey of creativity, experimentation, and self-expression. By understanding the nuances of race selection, mastering the slider system, crafting a detailed backstory, and leveraging the power of mods, you can create a unique and memorable hero who is ready to face the challenges of Cyrodiil. More than anything, take the time and enjoy the process. Have fun!
Now, go forth and create your perfect Oblivion heroine! We encourage you to share your character creations in the comments below and inspire fellow players with your creativity. What kind of character will you bring to life in the world of Oblivion?
