Character Creation & Development
Your journey in Oblivion begins with the creation of your character. This foundational step involves selecting a race, defining your appearance, and choosing your starting skills and attributes. The choices you make here will sificantly influence your playstyle, combat effectiveness, and how you approach the challenges of Cyrodiil. A well-thought-out character build is key to a rewarding experience.
Beyond initial creation, character development is a continuous process. As you gain experience through combat, questing, and skill usage, your character will level up. Each level-up presents an opportunity to increase your attributes and choose new skills to specialize in, allowing you to adapt and grow throughout your adventure. Mastering this system is crucial for overcoming increasingly difficult foes and complex challenges.
Races of Tamriel
Oblivion features ten playable races, each with unique starting attributes, skills, and racial abilities:
| Race | Primary Attributes | Key Abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Altmer (High Elf) | Intelligence, Willpower | +50 Magicka, Highborn (Magicka regeneration) |
| Argonian | Endurance, Strength | Water Breathing, Histskin (Health regeneration) |
| Bosmer (Wood Elf) | Agility, Endurance | Command Animal, Disease Resistance |
| Breton | Willpower, Intelligence | +50 Magicka, Dragonskin (Spell absorption) |
| Dunmer (Dark Elf) | Willpower, Agility | +50 Magicka, Ancestor Guardian (Fire resistance) |
| Imperial | Willpower, Personality | Voice of the Emperor (Calm nearby creatures), Mercantile (better prices) |
| Khajiit | Agility, Speed | Night Eye, Claws (unarmed damage) |
| Nord | Strength, Endurance | Battle Cry (Fear nearby enemies), Frost Resistance |
| Orsimer (Orc) | Strength, Endurance | Berserk (Damage bonus), Resist Shock |
| Redguard | Strength, Endurance | Adrenaline Rush (Stamina regeneration), Resist Poison |
Attributes and Skills
Your character has seven primary attributes: Strength, Intelligence, Willpower, Agility, Speed, Endurance, Personality, and Luck. These attributes influence your effectiveness in various skills. There are 21 skills, divided into Combat, Magic, and Stealth categories. Using a skill increases its proficiency, and leveling up skills contributes to your overall character level.
Leveling Up
When you level up, you gain a bonus to your attributes based on how many times you've increased the skills associated with that attribute since your last level-up. Maximizing attribute gains requires strategic skill usage. For example, to maximize Strength gains, focus on using Blade, Blunt, Hand to Hand, and Heavy Armor skills.