What are the popular mods for Oblivion? I picked it up off of the Steam sale so I can play through the game again, but with mods this time. I just don't know where to start.

http://www.reddit.com/r/oblivion/comments/cdmzf/the_reddit_beginners_guide_to_modding_oblivion/

http://knotstheinane.blogspot.com/p/oblivion-modding-guide.html

Qarl's texture mod and DarNified UI are essential. There are just so many though... go on TESNexus and browse the top 100.

When I moved over to my SSD I took a screenshot of my mod list so if I wanted to play Oblivion again I could remember the mods I was using. There's at least 50.

Qarl's texture mod and DarNified UI are essential. There are just so many though... go on TESNexus and browse the top 100.

When I moved over to my SSD I took a screenshot of my mod list so if I wanted to play Oblivion again I could remember the mods I was using. There's at least 50.

@AlisterCat said:

Qarl's texture mod and DarNified UI are essential. There are just so many though... go on TESNexus and browse the top 100.

When I moved over to my SSD I took a screenshot of my mod list so if I wanted to play Oblivion again I could remember the mods I was using. There's at least 50.

Make sure to click non-adult, or else all you'll see are sex mods.

You can try this steam thread http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306005
I really only used the Visual and Sounds mods from that thread though.

@Aronman789 said:

@AlisterCat said:

Qarl's texture mod and DarNified UI are essential. There are just so many though... go on TESNexus and browse the top 100.

When I moved over to my SSD I took a screenshot of my mod list so if I wanted to play Oblivion again I could remember the mods I was using. There's at least 50.

Make sure to click non-adult, or else all you'll see are sex mods.

Make sure you click Adult.

It's probably similar to Fallout 3 for mods, so I'd definitely recommend some of the texture mods.   
 
Also, I got to like 25 mods or so before I couldn't play it without it crashing constantly.  It was pretty amazing though right before I broke it!  

Planet Elder Scrolls is a good place. But in truth, you need to learn on your own. To learn to mod a video game is a very personal experience. I even learned how to make a mod in the Oblivion Construction Set. Good times, I made a thief hold in the market place. Bitch was right beside where I fast traveled.

Bumping this, what are the essential mods?

@Afroman269 said:

What are the popular mods for Oblivion? I picked it up off of the Steam sale so I can play through the game again, but with mods this time. I just don't know where to start.

Start with FCOM Convergence, branch out from there. My list of mods for the current playthrough I'm on:

[spoilers]

Active Mod Files:

00 Oblivion.esm

01 Jog_X_Mod.esm

02 All Natural Base.esm [Version 1.3]

03 Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm [Version 4.5bSI]

04 Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm [Version 4.5bSI]

05 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.72]

06 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.34]

07 Mart's Monster Mod.esm [Version 3.7b3p3]

08 TamrielTravellers.esm [Version 1.39c]

09 FCOM_Convergence.esm [Version 0.9.9a7]

0A Better Cities Resources.esm [Version 4.9.5]

0B CM Partners.esm

0C HorseCombatMaster.esm

0D DLCShiveringIsles.esp

0E Better Cities .esp [Version 4.7.0]

0F Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp

10 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp

11 Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp

12 Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp

13 FCOM_Francescos.esp [Version 0.9.9]

14 FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp [Version 0.9.9]

15 FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp [Version 0.9.9]

16 Fran Armor Add-on.esp

17 Fran_Lv30Item_Maltz.esp

18 Natural_Habitat_by_Max_Tael.esp

19 All Natural.esp [Version 1.3]

1A All Natural - SI.esp [Version 1.3]

1B All Natural - MMM Patch.esp [Version 1.3]

1C Immersive Interiors.esp [Version 0.8]

1D Immersive Interiors - Lights Addon.esp [Version 0.8]

1E Enhanced Water v2.0 HD.esp

1F 300_Combat Sounds.esp

20 Idle Dialogue.esp

21 AmbientTownSounds.esp

22 MIS Low Wind.esp

23 MIS New Sounds Optional Part.esp

24 Atmospheric Oblivion.esp

25 All Natural - Real Lights.esp [Version 1.3]

26 WindowLightingSystem.esp

27 1em_GiveAGift.esp [Version 1.2]

28 VipCxj_BulletCamera.esp

++ Item interchange - Extraction.esp [Version 0.78]

29 My Voice Extender.esp

2A Get Wet v0.92.esp

2B sycNiceToMeetYou.esp

2C Oblivion Graphics Extender Support.esp [Version 0.42]

2D P1DlookHereYou.esp

2E TT-EquipableBeardsLEVELEDLIST.esp

2F Zira's Horse Modpack - My Horses.esp

30 Zira's Horse Modpack - Heavy Legion Horses.esp

31 Zira's Horse Modpack - Friesian Horses.esp

32 Zira's Horse Modpack - Shadowmere.esp

33 Zira's Horse Modpack - Extra Horses.esp

34 Zira's Horse Modpack - More Horses.esp

35 ExnemRuneskulls.esp

36 FCOM_ExnemRuneskulls.esp [Version 0.9.9]

37 Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.72]

38 Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.63]

39 Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp

3A FCOM_BobsArmory.esp [Version 0.9.9]

3B Loth's Blunt Weapons for Npcs.esp

3C FCOM_LothsBluntWeapons.esp [Version 0.9.9]

3D Oblivion WarCry EV.esp [Version 1.08a]

3E FCOM_WarCry.esp [Version 0.9.9]

3F Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.34]

40 OOO-Water_Weeds.esp [Version 1.33]

41 Alluring Potion Bottles v3.esp

42 Alluring Wine Bottles.esp

43 OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp [Version 1.72]

++ FCOM_Cobl.esp [Version 0.9.9]

44 FCOM_Convergence.esp [Version 0.9.9]

45 Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

46 FCOM_SaferRoads.esp [Version 0.9.9]

47 Mart's Monster Mod - Extra Wounding.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

48 Mart's Monster Mod - Looting NPCs & Creatures.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

49 Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

4A Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

4B Mart's Monster Mod - Farm Animals.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

4C Mart's Monster Mod - Slof Horses Complete.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

4D TamrielTravellerAdvscript.esp [Version 1.39c]

4E TamrielTravellers4OOO.esp [Version 1.39c]

4F TamrielTravellersItemsCobl.esp [Version 1.39c]

50 ShiveringIsleTravellers.esp [Version 1.39c]

51 ShiveringIsleTravellersFriendlyFactions4MMM.esp [Version 1.39c]

++ FCOM_TamrielTravelers.esp [Version 0.9.9]

52 FCOM_DiverseGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]

53 FCOM_BobsGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]

54 FCOM_MoreRandomSpawns.esp [Version 0.9.9]

55 FCOM_MoreRandomItems.esp [Version 0.9.9]

56 Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

57 OOO-WaterFish.esp [Version 1.34]

58 MMM-Cobl.esp [Version 1.69]

59 EM_CompInnsleeping.esp [Version 0.9]

5A BrotherhoodRenewed.esp [Version 1.0.12]

5B Clamshell_Cottage_v1.5_COBL.esp

5C FenrirTheWolf.esp

5D Gamblers_of_Cyrodiil.esp

5E Housewives v101.esp

5F Heroes of Cyrodiil.esp

60 Heroes of Cyrodiil Part 2.esp

61 Heroes of Cyrodiil Part 3.esp

62 Heroes of Cyrodiil Part 4.esp

63 Heroes of Cyrodiil Part 5.esp

64 Kragenir's Death Quest.esp [Version 2.1]

65 KDQ - Rural Line Additions.esp

66 The Imperial Water - BETTER CITIES.esp

67 Snow Dragon Temple v1.0.esp [Version 1.1]

68 TheWellOfMinlorada.esp

69 thievery.esp

6A Vampire Hunting - Order of the Virtuous Blood.esp

6B Apachii_Heroes_Store.esp

6C 24HrArenaAliveV2Towers.esp

6D Knights.esp

6E Shadowcrest_Vineyard_COBL.esp

6F Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

70 FCOM_Knights.esp [Version 0.9.9]

71 ElsweyrAnequina.esp

72 ElsweyrAnequina - Races HGEC-Robert.esp [Version 1.2]

73 Elsweyr plantations & co..esp

74 Walkabout.esp

75 xuldarkforest.esp [Version 1.0.5]

76 xulStendarrValley.esp [Version 1.2.2]

77 xulTheHeath.esp

78 XulEntiusGorge.esp

79 xulFallenleafEverglade.esp [Version 1.3.1]

7A xulColovianHighlands_EV.esp [Version 1.2.1]

7B xulChorrolHinterland.esp [Version 1.2.2]

7C xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp [Version 1.6.4]

7D xulBravilBarrowfields.esp [Version 1.3.3]

7E xulLushWoodlands.esp [Version 1.3.1]

7F xulAncientYews.esp [Version 1.4.3]

80 xulAncientRedwoods.esp [Version 1.6]

81 xulCloudtopMountains.esp [Version 1.0.3]

82 xulArriusCreek.esp [Version 1.1.3]

83 xulPatch_AY_AC.esp [Version 1.1]

84 xulRollingHills_EV.esp [Version 1.3.3]

85 xulPantherRiver.esp

86 xulRiverEthe.esp [Version 1.0.2]

87 xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp [Version 1.1]

88 xulImperialIsle.esp [Version 1.6.7]

89 xulBlackwoodForest.esp [Version 1.1.0]

8A xulCheydinhalFalls.esp [Version 1.0.1]

8B xulAspenWood.esp [Version 1.0.2]

8C xulSkingradOutskirts.esp [Version 1.0.1]

8D xulSnowdale.esp [Version 1.0.2]

8E ApachiiHeroesStore-Snowdale patch.esp

8F xulCliffsOfAnvil.esp [Version 1.12]

90 xulSilverfishRiverValley.esp [Version 1.0]

91 KragenirsDeathQuest-UniqueLandscapes Merged patch.esp [Version 1.1]

92 FCOM_UnofficialFranArmorAddon.esp [Version 0.9.9]

93 Natural_Vegetation_by_Max_Tael.esp

94 Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]

95 Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.0.0]

96 Cliff_BetterLetters.esp [Version 1.2]

97 HUD Status Bars.esp [Version 4.2.1]

98 Oblivifall - Ambiant Dungeon SFX.esp [Version 1.2]

99 Scouter.esp

9A upperGothicClutter.esp

9B Alternative Start by Robert Evrae.esp

9C SupremeMagicka.esp [Version 0.90b]

9D SM_ShiveringIsles.esp [Version 0.90]

9E SM_OOO.esp [Version 0.90]

9F SM_MMM.esp [Version 0.90]

A0 SM_COBL.esp [Version 0.90]

A1 SM_EnchantStaff.esp [Version 0.90]

A2 SM_Scrolls.esp [Version 0.90]

A3 SM_SigilStone.esp [Version 0.90]

A4 MidasSpells.esp

A5 Enhanced Grabbing.esp [Version 0.5]

A6 Deadly Reflex 6 - Timed Block and 250% damage.esp

A7 Mounted_Spellcasting_Deadly_Reflex_Compatible.esp

A8 Oblivion XP.esp [Version 4.1.5]

A9 DMC Stylish - Specialanims.esp

++ Item interchange - Placement for FCOM.esp [Version 0.78]

AA CM Partners.esp

AB Capucines Character Expansion - No NPC Change.esp

AC _Ren_BeautyPack_full.esp

AD CM Partners Special NPCs.esp

AE CM Partners NPC.esp

AF CM Partners More NPCs.esp

B0 CM Partners Marker NPCs.esp

B1 CM Partners Extra NPCs.esp

B2 1em_Vilja.esp [Version 3.1]

B3 1em_Vilja_as_Custom_by_4GVN.esp

** 1em_Vilja MMM FCOM Fix.esp

B4 Arren.esp

B5 DAAragorn.esp

B6 DAJackSparrow.esp

B7 DALeonidas.esp

B8 OrcrestCMPartners.esp

B9 AMB.esp

BA Better Cities Full.esp [Version 4.9.5]

BB Better Cities - VWD of the IC.esp [Version 4.7.0]

BC Better Imperial City.esp [Version 4.9.5]

BD Better Cities Full FPS Patch.esp [Version 4.9.5]

BE Better Cities - All Natural.esp [Version 4.9.5]

BF Better Cities - Unique Landscape Barrowfields.esp [Version 4.9.5]

C0 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Chorrol Hinterland.esp [Version 4.8.4]

C1 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Cheydinhal Falls.esp [Version 4.8.1]

C2 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Skingrad Outskirts.esp [Version 4.9.1]

C3 Better Imperial City FPS Patch.esp [Version 4.9.1]

C4 Better Cities - COBL.esp [Version 2.1]

C5 Better Cities - Unique Landscape Imperial Isle.esp [Version 4.8.1]

C6 DS Flaming Arrows.esp [Version 1.2]

C7 qazFingerSnap.esp

C8 FCOM_Archery.esp [Version 0.9.9]

** All Natural - Indoor Weather Filter For Mods.esp [Version 1.3]

++ Cobl Filter Late MERGE ONLY.esp [Version 1.53]

C9 Fearabbits Bearded NPCs BETA - No RBP Requirement.esp

CA DeadlyReflex 6 - Combat Moves.esp

CB SM_DeadlyReflex.esp [Version 0.90]

CC Bashed Patch, 0.esp

[/spoilers]

That's 205 active mods, plus some that are merged into the Bashed patch.

@TheDudeOfGaming: Gimme a break, it's been so long since I've posted here I forget how to do spoiler tags.

This is the only mod you will ever need

@ellistron: While I have no idea what it is I just watched, I whole heatedly recommend that "mod" as well.

If you do go the route of modding Oblivion, be sure to make a backup of the final modded Oblivion folder. I have a 100+ hour Oblivion save that relies on several mods to function. My hard drive died, and I lost my Oblivion install. It took me several hours to rebuild the modded Oblivion install so that I could load the save.

I even had a Steam backup, but for some reason it wouldn't restore.

So, just to be on the safe side -- once you have a mod set that you are happy with, be sure to make a backup of your install, and keep it somewhere safe (perhaps alongside your backed-up saves?)

@ellistron: This thread is over!