Just started Oblivion last week and I have a few questions...

I am at the ship in Anvil where you need to kill the ghosts and get the Crystal Ball (?). Problem is, the first ghost I see kicks my butt! I have a silver sword and can do destruction spells. I am level 8. I also have conjuration and illusion, but havent done much with those schools.

My sword and 20pt flame don't seem to do much to the ghost.

Any tips?

I'd use some conjuration spells. Get yourself a skeleton or scamp that you can summon. They'll take some of the heat off of you so you can come around and attack from behind. Another option would be to get chameleon spells/items that make you invisible.

what Edstien said. Also make sure you get the right crystal ball, there are two of them on the ship. I spent a rediculous amount of time getting pissed off because the stupid ass woman wouldn't take the thing, turns out I didn't get the right one

OK. I will give it a try. I don't have the scamp yet. Is it good? The skeleton doesn't seem to last too long.

So, with ghosts, its better to hit from behind? My silver sowrd is OK for that?

Also, any tips to getting the ingredients I need to make health potions? I can never seem to find enough!!!

You have to use magic items against ghosts. You may need to add a soul stone to that sword with some fire or shock damage.

Take advantage of the nonlinearity of the game. Instead of getting frustrated with too-powerful creatures, just go off and start another quest. You'll level up eventually and the baddies wiill be easier to overtake when you go back to the quest.

Just remember that although creatures don't level up with you (except for the most powerful of wraiths), humans do level up.

I thought pretty much every creature leveled with you as well. I am sure there are certain creatures that don't but the majority do.

The game throws harder creatures at you as you level up in different areas, but the creatures themselves have fixed HP/attributes.

Some daedra will level up, won't they?

All deadra level with you and when you get to level 21 you get a new one called Xavali or whatever, those grey giant guys.

The higher the level the harder the enimies.

Oh and a tip for everyone on the last part of the emporer quest, bring a non-enchanted sword with you for the paradise quest.