I haven't had any dirty disc errors yet. Have y'all tried clearing the cache? Hold down the A button when you turn on the 360 until the Bethesda logo comes up. Maybe that will help some.

I believe it is a permanent change. If you had sweet talked the guy who gave you the scroll he would have also given you a ring to protect you from this effect.

Yep, did that....one time, I kept the game on pause because I got a phone call...unpaused started to move and it froze...oh well.

Wow that sucks, is there any way to get that ring now?

I don't think so, you have to wear it when reading the scroll. I discovered this because i use my charm spell on everyone i talk to before talking to them.

Maybe a restore luck potion will work? Or getting cured at one of the temples?

It's not a permanent change, however a restore luck potion doesn't work. What I had to do is find a shrine. If you pray at the altar, your luck will be restorred to whatever level it was before.

I didn't get the guy's disposition up enough to get the ring from him either. It was hard to see his expressions for the little persuasion game.

How/where did you become infected?

I went to sleep in a Inn at Anvil City, I was bit while sleeping and still seeking the cure.

You weren't bit while sleeping. You caught the disease from a vampire in a dungeon somewhere. When you have the disease it takes effect when you go to sleep. If you get bit, you can cure it by using a cure disease potion as long as you don't go to sleep. Once you go to sleep and become a vampire you have to go through some quest to cure it.

When you start in the Arena and talk to the Grand Champion there (forgot his name, he looks like a half-orc), he tells you a story and asks you to find proof of something about his birth. There is a room in the cave/mine he sends you to that you don't really need to enter, and there are a few vampires lurking there. That's how I got infected, I'm sure there are many other ways.

Good Lord, why in the world did I go through the first Oblivion gate at level 1? I barely made it through the barron, demon infested land to get to the tower. Then the climb to the top was a death ridden debacle. The only way I got through the last part alive was to avoid all enemies, race to the top, grab the stone, and hide behind my pitiful shield I picked up in the sewers.

It's addictive, though. Time for some side quests and scoring some real equipment.

I went through as a level 1 also, and my reasoning is because I'm stupid, I still need to go back and finish the quests that come after closing the gate as being a level 1 really sucked after closing the gate and continuing on in that town.

Yeah, I did the first gate and a bunch of other things before I realized that you needed to sleep to level up. Needless to say, once I finally rested I gained like 10 levels at once.

Well to make you feel better i went into the gate at level like 12 and got my hindquarters handed to me. It was bad. I turned tail and fled to do the quest later, so obviously the area scales.

Funny ES moment last night:

I was walking down a road west of imperial city across the water right near the shore. When suddenly I see this big hairy thing ahead of me, I ducked behind a boulder and tried "sneaking" up to it and he seen me. I fought and fought and fought. I must have slashed him with my sword about 10-20 times (my sword has a damage rating of 8) and he was not getting dead. (btw, it was a TROLL) Anyhoo, he is beating the crap out of me (I dont know for sure, but I think I am around level 5 or so) and just when i think all is lost, along comes an imperial guard on a horse. He jumps off the horse and starts to HELP ME beat the troll. It was so funny the things the guard was saying to the troll as he was hacking away at him. Finally, and ONLY through teamwork the troll bit the big one. It was really cool having the guard help me. The rest of the walk down that road, I made sure I walked right next to him and his horse Also on the bright side, that troll meat or whatever its called that you get off the dead troll is worth some good money

Yeah, the first gate was difficult for me too (I was level 6).....when in the tower, those raptor things and guards with maces were attacking me....id kill one, then go into the adjacent room to rest (to get me health/magika/endurance back up).

I finally got to the top and got the stone....it was an awesome site thoguh! Felt like Mordor or something.

My 61in DLP really draws me into this world.

mmmmmmm troll meat

Its funny you should make that mordor reference. I was just talking to my friend the other day and mentioned to him, would'nt it be awesome if they could make a LOTR game out of the oblivion engine. Could you imagine the LOTR world recreated by the people who made this game? The characters, creatures (good and bad), the towns, weapons, ect, ect, ect.

Ugh.. I hate when things don't go as planned. One of the Dark Brotherhood missions gave me a little bounty. And the Imperial City guards chasing me all over, until I was able to get out of the city. I had to keep using invisibility to run away so they didn't catch me. I had to assassinate someone. Except the guard that I thought would move away, didn't. So, when I killed the guy, he saw me. I had to high-tail it out of there.
I wonder if I can pay off the bounty so I can go to Imperial City again and not worry about being arrested.

Though for not killing any guard, I did get a nice item that doesn't need to be equipped, just held. Nice stat bonus. Just gives a -2 to personality.

How do warrants or whatever go away (without paying or going to jail)? or do they?

I know Fable was kind of easy, in that, you leave the area and when you come back, its gone.

Join the thieves guild. Once you have a rank in the guild you can pay 1/2 the bounty and have it disappear.

Or just use a certain thief mask The crimes are attached to the title of Guildmaster

From my understanding, you either pay the bounty, where they haul you to the prison first to remove any stolen goods you have. Or, you go to jail. You can also try to run, but then you chance dying as the entire city guard force chases you.

I know, if you are part of the thieves guild, there are people that can take care of things. Guess I should try that route.

lol.. I don't have that mask yet.. I'm just a lowley apprentice in the Thieves guild.

Damn, this game has more layers than anything ive ever played!

does anybody know what the "Grab" button can be used for?