You can be in several guilds at once. I'm pursuing the mage and thief guild storyline right now actually.

Anyone with the PC version experiencing any problems? I'm getting really poor FPS and I have most of the settings turned off or turned down low and even my mouse cursor is super laggy. I'm running the game with the following:

AMD 64 3400
2GB RAM
nVidia 6600GT 128MB
Sound Blaster X-FI
Logitech MX-518 Mouse

I know I don't have the recommended specs but I have better than minimum to run the game. I was just curious to see what you all are running the game with and if you're experiencing any problems. If you're not having any problems and are running the game with specs close to mine, would you please post what settings you're using. Thanks!

Not sure where you are in the game, but right after I got out of the sewers, I did a little dungeon (Vilverin) and must have picked up 30+ lockpicks in there. Maybe if you can find a nearby dungeon, you can find lockpicks in there.


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I tried playing the first Elder Scrolls game when it came out for the PC, but didn't really care for the gameplay or the interface, so this is my first ES game in a loooooong time.

I stayed up until about 3am playing this last night. It took a long time to get out of the prison/sewers (but then I tend to be a search every nook and cranny type of player), but once you're out, you really have a great sense of do whatever the hell you want. I didn't think the countyside was as wonderful looking as some here have described it, but it is a very nice looking game.


For anyone just starting, the game guide suggests saving the game right before you leave the sewers as you're given a chance to reset all your character traits before you leave the sewers. This way, you can restart a character without having to go through all that again. However, I have to say that while I didn't really look at the options that closely, I didn't see an option to change your birthsign. Still, it's nice time saving tip if you plan to replay the game with different characters.

I'm playing a Dark Elf (why did I think this would be unique ) custom Mage/Fighter character. I think I messed up in choosing my skills. Having lots of fun though, and looking forward to playing some more tonight.

If anyone is experiencing some slowdown theres a way to clean out the disk cache for the 360 version, not sure about the PC version but there probably is as well. I think you just hold down the A button when it boots (360 version)

Yep hold down A then power on the console, hold "A" till the Bethesda logo comes up and it starts a new cache.

your video card is the problem, also make sure you are using the latest drivers.

Get the VGA adaptor to hook up to a PC monitor. Voila cheap HD Screen for your 360! My second 360 is hooked up to my 19" CRT and it looks great. I have it set for 1280 x 720 or whatever that setting that uses 1280. If you want it in Widescreen just adjust your monitor to have black bars on top and bottom. Like widescreen DVD's do on a regular TV. The official adaptor will run you $40 fyi, or you can mail-order and Wait for a 3rd party one from liksang. They sell em for $14 plus shipping.

Minimum specs say you need at least a 5000 series GeForce to run the game so how is my 6600GT the problem?

Also, I've been reading people with lower spec systems than I have running the game fine.

How many of you are using VGA cables for an HDTV versus component? Any big pic quality differences?

I'm running an AMD 64 3000, 1 gig PC3200, same video card, and I have no lag as of yet.

I'm using one just to save a component input. Otherwise, if your TV accepts both, I wouldn't bother. There are slight differences (for instance, the resolution levels are set differently, and real videophiles, I guess, can go off about color saturation and brightness) but otherwise, just stick with the included component input.

Alright, crisis averted, after playing for like 4 hours today sans lockpicks i found someone who had some in bulk. Dear Lord that was irritating.

What kind of frame rates are you getting and what resolution are you running at?

Of course I still can't play the game as my MB hasn't arrived yet (screw you ASUS RMA process!). Once it does and I get everything set up, I should be able to give you some specs for a system with:
AMD 64X2 4400+
2GB 3200 RAM
nVidia 7900GT 256MB

I cannot wait to see how the 7900 chews through this game.

Getting frame rates of 15-20 and I'm running the game at 1680x1050 widescreen.

Until your MB arrives how about sending me your 7900 so I can use it.

The high resolution could be the problem. Did you try to run it in a lower rez?

I could but it would look like crap on my widescreen monitor. Native for my monitor is 1680x1050.

Yeah, the 6600 GT isn't the hottest for newer games at really high resolutions. At least, hasn't been in my experience.. 1024x768 tops.

I just bought a 256mb 6800GT AGP, not expecting a whole lot, but should let me crank a few more weeks of use out of this machine . Would have bought the 6600GT but CompUSA NEVER HAS ANYTHING IN STOCK, they apparently had 1.

I've checked and called everyday about Oblivion as well. And what do you know, THEY NEVER GOT IT IN STOCK. The $44.99... what a fucking con... really should try Best Buy, CC or Walmart.

I play at 1024 res, so it's not a big deal for me.

That high of a resolution is definitely the problem. The more you raise the resolution, the lower the frame rate becomes. Just curious, but can you run any 1-2 year old games at that resolution without massive slowdown? I wouldn't think so.

Something you could try:
1. Check your PC for spyware/adware and get rid of it.
2. Shut down all unnecessary background programs, including any anti-virus programs.
3. Defrag the hard drive.

That should help your PC run games better.

I've never played an ES game before, but picked this up today because it looked real impressive. I got out of the sewer and immediatly went straight for the Arena for some reason, and am moving up in rank. I'm having a great time.

Done all of that. All my drivers are updated too. I'll try running it in a lower resolution and see how it looks but since 1680x1050 is native I doubt it will look good. Guess I'm going to have to get a 7900.

same for me that's why I bought the xbox 360 versions

You might want to wait a little while. The DirectX 10 cards will be coming out sometime late this year/early next year. These video cards should be pretty powerful and will let you play the upcoming DirectX 10 games with all their new features enabled.

I'm still on the fence on whether to buy it or not. I enjoyed other rpg's like FF and Skies of Arcadia, but for some reason I'm not sure if I'll enjoy Oblivion. How is the story? So far it seems like it is just one side quest after the other from what I have read. Is there a continuous story throughout? Also how is the combat? It looks sort of like condemed from what I've seen, which I enjoyed, but I'm afraid that after the 100th odd time killing a wolf it will become tiresome and fall into one of those games where you spend more time avoiding battles.

So anyone have any thoughts as to if I would like this game?

OK, Elder Scrolls noob here...I'm a male Orc Mage. I know that sounds odd, but the guide suggested that if you want to be able to cast magic later (and my ideal character is a great all-around character), you should pick Mage. At the same time, I want to be a good fighter, hence the Orc choice. Will this work out the way I want it to? (having an all-around character)

This game is absurdly massive. I just got out of the sewers, and I can't decide if I should go to the main quest, or try to do some other stuff to level up.