Rainaer (formerly known as Rà ïñær®)Apr 2, 2006 11:46:34 am
* Increases in class levels cause corresponding increases in enemy levels
* Minor skill increases *do* contribute attribute modifiers when leveling up
* Minor skill increases do *not* contribute to increasing class level
* Attribute increases are capped at +5 for each class level
In the long run, attribute increases are more important than class levels.
"Power leveling" your class is counter-productive, as you'll get a measly +2
or +3 to only a few attributes and your enemies will more than compensate in
their increased levels. So you want to work the system to get the maximum
increases to attributes each time you increase your class level. To exploit
this system, it is required that you do three things:
* Use minor skills more than major skills
* Use minor skills that cover all your attributes
* Only use your major skills when you are ready to level up
Then, when you do level up, you should get an available +5 in every attribute.
You want your major skills to be skills you can use when you choose, without
being forced into using them. Essentially, you're controlling your leveling so
you earn your attribute modifiers and then start leveling your major skills
quickly so you can level up.
Good choices for major skills:
* Acrobatics (Speed): all you have to do is start jumping all the time
* Athletics (Speed): turn on Always Run and watch the ranks fly
* Speechcraft (Personality): go around Persuading NPCs
* Armorer (Endurance): buy repair hammers and repair everything you see
* Alchemy (Intelligence): start mixing those potions!
* Destruction (Willpower): head into the woods and tick off Smokey the Bear
* Blade/Blunt (Strength): use one for attribute gains, switch to level
Example:
Class specialization: Mage
Class attributes: Strength, Endurance (for encumbrance & Health)
Class skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Speechcraft, Armorer, Alchemy,
Destruction, Blunt
Pick a race with high Strength and Endurance. Wear Light Armor (Speed), use
Blades (Strength) and Block (Endurance). Sneak (Agility) a lot. Cast Illusion
(Personality), Restoration (Willpower) and Conjuration (Intelligence) spells.
Keep track of the ranks you gain. Once you've gained 10 ranks in each minor
skill (+5 modifier to governing attributes), go play with your major skills
and level up. Add +5 to three attributes.
Why? Well, attribute increases are the *only* thing you get from each level.
Therefore, maximizing the attribute increases maximizes your power at each
class level. Since your enemies keep up with your class level, but don't
necessarily maximize the attributes for each level, you should stay ahead of
the difficulty curve.
Of course, all of this is probably more trouble than it's worth. Good tactics,
keeping up with the Jones' in spells/armor/weapons and enchanting same and
wisely using potions and restorative magic should keep you alive. Make no
mistake, Oblivion is a hard game and gets harder as you increase in power--not
easier. If you're having a difficult time, it's either cheat or work the
system...
* Minor skill increases *do* contribute attribute modifiers when leveling up
* Minor skill increases do *not* contribute to increasing class level
* Attribute increases are capped at +5 for each class level
In the long run, attribute increases are more important than class levels.
"Power leveling" your class is counter-productive, as you'll get a measly +2
or +3 to only a few attributes and your enemies will more than compensate in
their increased levels. So you want to work the system to get the maximum
increases to attributes each time you increase your class level. To exploit
this system, it is required that you do three things:
* Use minor skills more than major skills
* Use minor skills that cover all your attributes
* Only use your major skills when you are ready to level up
Then, when you do level up, you should get an available +5 in every attribute.
You want your major skills to be skills you can use when you choose, without
being forced into using them. Essentially, you're controlling your leveling so
you earn your attribute modifiers and then start leveling your major skills
quickly so you can level up.
Good choices for major skills:
* Acrobatics (Speed): all you have to do is start jumping all the time
* Athletics (Speed): turn on Always Run and watch the ranks fly
* Speechcraft (Personality): go around Persuading NPCs
* Armorer (Endurance): buy repair hammers and repair everything you see
* Alchemy (Intelligence): start mixing those potions!
* Destruction (Willpower): head into the woods and tick off Smokey the Bear
* Blade/Blunt (Strength): use one for attribute gains, switch to level
Example:
Class specialization: Mage
Class attributes: Strength, Endurance (for encumbrance & Health)
Class skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Speechcraft, Armorer, Alchemy,
Destruction, Blunt
Pick a race with high Strength and Endurance. Wear Light Armor (Speed), use
Blades (Strength) and Block (Endurance). Sneak (Agility) a lot. Cast Illusion
(Personality), Restoration (Willpower) and Conjuration (Intelligence) spells.
Keep track of the ranks you gain. Once you've gained 10 ranks in each minor
skill (+5 modifier to governing attributes), go play with your major skills
and level up. Add +5 to three attributes.
Why? Well, attribute increases are the *only* thing you get from each level.
Therefore, maximizing the attribute increases maximizes your power at each
class level. Since your enemies keep up with your class level, but don't
necessarily maximize the attributes for each level, you should stay ahead of
the difficulty curve.
Of course, all of this is probably more trouble than it's worth. Good tactics,
keeping up with the Jones' in spells/armor/weapons and enchanting same and
wisely using potions and restorative magic should keep you alive. Make no
mistake, Oblivion is a hard game and gets harder as you increase in power--not
easier. If you're having a difficult time, it's either cheat or work the
system...