My issue with Oblivion (Rant and Resolution)

[Morda]

Ok, now I love the game. I played it like 6 or 7 hours straight yesterday and then into the night as well. The game is beautiful, it's immense, it's innovative and all that jazz.

But I'm having trouble because it's too damn hard. Now, maybe it's just me, and I just can't seem to grasp the new combat system of button blocking and power attacks vs regular attacks. But I don't know, I can't stay alive for more than 15 minutes.

For example....

I was strolling around after coming out of the tutorial dungeon. Ok so "go see this guy at this town" and "talk to him" about "this objective". Sure. So I'm wandering around and I see a ruins. Go exploring, find a cave. Now, mind you I'm still level 1, and in Morrowind there were many times where you walk into a cave or mine and immediately get killed by 3 level 10 mages. Fine, I can accept that. So I muddle my way through the cave, die maybe 5 times. I get to the end and there are 2 goblins at once. So I have absolutely no chance. I die 3 or 4 more times and give up and leave.

So I get outside and start back towards the town I'm supposed to go to when I get accosted by a highwayman who is demanding 100 gold or my life. I say, yeah ok, I'm a warrior, who do you think you are? demanding money from me? Phaw!. So I die 4 or 5 more times before I realize I have to walk way around the other way to avoid him.

So I continue on my way and get accosted by a wolf. Ok, so now I realize I'm where I should be and need to level once or twice by feasting on wolf, rat and bear remains. Wolf kills me.

Fast forward to Level 3 and 4.

Walking down the path and see another wolf. Wolf doesn't kill me, but brings me to the brink of death. Wait one hour heal, continue along.

Another Highwayman. Kills me.

At this point, I make a realization, I'm not having as much fun as I should with this game. I'm spending way too much time reloading the game and dying. Am I really that retarded, that I can't beat a wolf on the road, or a magic using goblin? Am I doing something wrong? So what do I do? I turn the freaking difficulty level down to about 50-55% instead of the 75-80% it starts at.

And you know what. I'm not ashamed! I'm sure as I progress a little, I'll bump it back up. Maybe I'll get a better handle on combat. But right now, I want to enjoy the game, not get frustrated and have to save every 5 minutes because my next step could lead to certain death.

[RoninRacer]

i think you're just a noob :smt003




seriously though, they have a difficulty "slider" in this game? does it adjust the health/damage of enemies by a percentage? that's kinda cool.

[Morda]

i think you're just a noob :smt003




seriously though, they have a difficulty "slider" in this game? does it adjust the health/damage of enemies by a percentage? that's kinda cool.

Yes there is a slider. I'm not sure exactly what it effects because there seems to be 100 or so ticks on the slider. I first tried just bumping it down a couple at a time but I didn't notice any difference. It took a big chunk to see anything change, but most likely it just lowers the offense of the enemy and the hit points.

[HeartbreakRidge]

My first question would be to figure out what your equipment is like to see if maybe you need to work on getting better weapons/armor? Also, what about using buffing magic and/or potions on you (or poison on your weapons)?

Also, what sort of character are you? Attacking from sneak always gets big bonuses as well.

Something that might get overlooked is repairing your weapons and armor, as they degrade with use. Armorer skill is a lifesaver.

[Motown5150]

I'm not great or anything, but as soon as I started using magic more (spam'in em with fireballs, etc), I ended up doing better in battles, where before I was getting it handed to me with just blades alone.

[Morda]

I'm a hack and slash warrior. My blades is over 50, my sword is a 6 and my armor is like 17-19. The only spell I use is Minor Heal. Armorer is one of my major skills and my stuff it almost always fixed up.