NPCs & Companions

Navigating the vast world of Cyrodiil often means interacting with its diverse inhabitants. From quest-givers to merchants, and even potential allies in combat, understanding the NPCs (Non-Player Characters) and the few companions available can significantly enhance your Oblivion experience. This section details key interactions, strategies for persuasion, and how to effectively utilize the limited companion system.

Persuasion: Winning Hearts and Minds

The Persuasion mini-game is a crucial tool for gaining information, reducing prices, and even initiating certain quests. Mastering it can save you gold and unlock dialogue options you might otherwise miss.

The Persuasion Wheel: When you initiate persuasion, a wheel appears with four options: Admire, Boast, Joke, and Coerce. Each NPC has varying preferences for these actions, indicated by their reaction (happy, neutral, unhappy).
NPC Disposition: The larger the wedge for an action, the more effective it will be. Your goal is to raise the NPC's Disposition towards you to 100.
Strategy:
1. Identify Preferences: Start by using each action once or twice to gauge the NPC's reaction. Pay attention to the size of the wedges and their facial expressions.
2. Prioritize Large Wedges: Always use the action corresponding to the largest "happy" wedge. This yields the most significant disposition increase.
3. Avoid Small "Unhappy" Wedges: Conversely, avoid actions with very small "unhappy" wedges, as these will drastically lower disposition.
4. Rotate Actions: After using an action, the wedges will rotate and change size. Continuously adapt your strategy based on the current wheel configuration.
5. Save Before Persuading: If you're struggling with a particularly stubborn NPC or a high-stakes conversation, save your game beforehand. You can reload if you fail to achieve the desired disposition.
Skills and Attributes: Your Speechcraft skill directly impacts the effectiveness of your persuasion attempts. A higher Personality attribute also makes NPCs more receptive to your advances. Consider investing in these if you plan to rely heavily on persuasion.

Temporary Companions: Allies in Adversity

Unlike some other Elder Scrolls titles, Oblivion offers a limited number of permanent companions. Most allies you gain are temporary, assisting you during specific quests. However, understanding how to manage them is key to their survival and your success.

Key Temporary Companions and Quests:

Martin Septim: Your most significant companion during the Main Questline.
- Questline: "Weynon Priory," "Cloud Ruler Temple," "Dagon Shrine," and subsequent main quests.
- Survival Tips: Martin is essential to the story and cannot permanently die. However, he can be knocked unconscious, which can be problematic in combat. Equip him with the best heavy armor and a powerful two-handed weapon you can spare (e.g., a good Daedric Claymore or Glass Claymore) to maximize his effectiveness. Keep him healed with Restoration spells or potions if he's taking heavy damage.
Jauffre: Grandmaster of the Blades, encountered early in the Main Quest.
- Questline: "Weynon Priory," "The Path of Dawn."
- Survival Tips: Jauffre is a capable fighter. Ensure he has decent equipment, especially during the defense of Weynon Priory. He can be a valuable tank.
Baurus: A Blade agent found in the Imperial City.
- Questline: "The Path of Dawn."
- Survival Tips: Baurus is crucial for infiltrating the Mythic Dawn. During the "Dagon Shrine" quest, he'll accompany you. He's a skilled swordsman; try to keep enemies focused on you or Martin to prevent him from being overwhelmed.
Mazoga the Orc: A potential companion after completing "Mazoga the Orc" and "Origin of the Gray Prince."
- Location: Leyawiin, White Stallion Lodge.
- How to Recruit: Complete her personal questline. She will then offer to accompany you.
- Combat Style: Mazoga is a powerful warrior. She excels in melee combat.
- Management: She will follow you indefinitely until dismissed or until she dies. She can be equipped with new armor and weapons. Be mindful of her health, as she can die permanently.
Dark Brotherhood Initiates (Dark Brotherhood Questline): After becoming Listener, you can recruit two initiates.
- Location: Sanctuary in Cheydinhal.
- How to Recruit: Speak to them after completing the Dark Brotherhood questline.
- Combat Style: One is typically a stealth-based archer/assassin, the other a melee fighter.
- Management: They are permanent companions until dismissed or killed. Like Mazoga, they can be equipped with new gear and can die permanently. They are excellent for distracting enemies or adding extra damage in tough fights.

General Companion Management Tips:

Equipment: Most companions can be given better weapons and armor. Simply open their inventory (if they are a permanent or semi-permanent follower like Mazoga or the Dark Brotherhood Initiates) and transfer items. They will automatically equip the best gear for their combat style.
Healing: Keep an eye on your companion's health. Use healing spells (e.g., Healing Hands) or give them healing potions (they will often use them automatically if in their inventory).
Combat Strategy: Companions can be a double-edged sword. While they add firepower, they can also draw unwanted attention or get in your way. Try to lead them into combat strategically, letting them engage enemies while you flank or focus fire.
Dismissal: Most temporary companions will leave once their associated quest is complete. Permanent companions like Mazoga and the Dark Brotherhood Initiates can be dismissed by talking to them.
Permanent Death: Be aware that most companions, with the notable exception of Martin Septim, can die permanently. If a companion is important to you, save frequently and reload if they fall in battle.