Introduction
Oblivion. Even now, years after its release, the vast world of Cyrodiil continues to beckon adventurers. But before you can stride through the Imperial City or brave the Oblivion gates, you face a challenge almost as daunting: the character creation screen. Many a hopeful hero has spent hours wrestling with the infamous character sliders, only to emerge blinking into Tamriel with a face that could curdle milk. The struggle is real.
Oblivion’s character creation system is notorious. It’s lauded for its depth, allowing for a truly personalized avatar. Yet, it’s simultaneously ridiculed for its capacity to produce… well, let’s just say “unique” looking individuals. It’s a system that demands patience, a keen eye, and a willingness to embrace both triumph and hilarious failure. This article serves as your comprehensive guide to navigating the intricate world of Oblivion’s character sliders. We’ll delve into the underlying mechanics, explore the racial variations, highlight common pitfalls, and provide the tools and knowledge to craft the perfect champion (or the perfect villain – no judgment here!). Whether you’re aiming for breathtaking beauty or gloriously grotesque, prepare to become a master morpher of the Oblivion character creation screen.
The Fundamentals: Decoding the Sliders
The character creation screen in Oblivion presents a staggering array of options. It’s not just about choosing a class or birthsign; it’s about sculpting your character’s very essence. The sliders are the primary tools for this artistic endeavor, allowing fine-grained control over facial features and physique. Understanding what each slider controls is the first step towards achieving your desired result.
The sliders can be grouped into several key categories. Let’s start with head shape. Here you’ll find controls for aspects like the brow, influencing the perceived intensity or openness of your character’s expression. Then there’s the cheekbone slider, crucial for defining the overall shape of the face – high cheekbones can lend an air of nobility, while lower ones might suggest a more rugged or weathered appearance. The jaw and chin sliders work in tandem to define the lower portion of the face, contributing to its overall strength or delicacy. Don’t forget the nose sliders – these can dramatically alter the character’s ethnicity and overall aesthetic. The eye sliders affect their size, position, and slant, playing a significant role in conveying emotion.
Beyond the head, you have the body sliders. These are relatively simple, but their impact is considerable. The build slider determines muscle mass, influencing how physically imposing your character appears. The height and weight sliders, as you might expect, adjust those attributes accordingly.
Of course, no character creation system is complete without hair and skin tone options. Oblivion offers a selection of hairstyles, allowing you to express your character’s personality and style. The skin tone slider provides a range of hues, influencing the character’s perceived ethnicity and overall complexion. Finally, the choice of voice is important. While it doesn’t directly influence appearance, the pitch and style of your character’s voice contribute to their overall persona.
It’s crucial to understand that the sliders are interconnected. Changing one slider can subtly (or not so subtly!) affect the appearance of others. It’s what I call the Triangle of Influences. Adjusting the jaw, for example, might impact the shape of the cheeks or the prominence of the chin. This interconnectedness is both a blessing and a curse, allowing for complex customization but also making it easy to create unintended results. Be prepared to experiment and tweak sliders iteratively to achieve the desired effect. Remember: small changes can have big consequences.
Adding to the complexity is the influence of race. Each race in Oblivion comes with its own unique base template and slider ranges. A Nord, for example, will naturally have different starting characteristics and potential slider limits than a Bosmer. This means that the same slider settings will produce different results depending on the chosen race.
Race Considerations: Sculpting Across Cyrodiil
The race you select profoundly impacts your character’s appearance. Each race possesses unique physiological characteristics that influence the available slider ranges and the overall aesthetic possibilities. Understanding these differences is key to crafting a believable and visually appealing character.
Let’s examine each race in more detail. Imperials, the pragmatic rulers of Cyrodiil, tend to have balanced features, resembling a typical human baseline. They are often a good starting point for those unfamiliar with the character creation system. Bretons, known for their magical prowess, often exhibit more refined facial features. Nords, hailing from Skyrim, are typically strong and hardy, often characterized by rougher, more weathered features. Redguards, the athletic warriors of Hammerfell, often possess strong jawlines and striking features.
The elven races offer even greater diversity. High Elves (Altmer) are tall and elegant, often characterized by pointed features and a regal bearing. Wood Elves (Bosmer) are smaller and more agile, and their features can sometimes be tricky to sculpt to look “good” in the traditional sense. Dark Elves (Dunmer), with their distinctive ashen skin and piercing red eyes, offer a unique aesthetic.
Finally, we have the more exotic races. Orcs, with their green skin and imposing tusks, present a distinct challenge (and opportunity!) for character creation. Argonians, the lizard-like inhabitants of Black Marsh, offer a variety of horn and fin options. Khajiit, the feline people of Elsweyr, possess unique snouts and fur patterns, requiring careful attention to detail.
Each race presents its own set of challenges and opportunities. Experiment with different races to discover which one best suits your vision. Researching lore can provide inspiration for creating characters who reflect the unique cultures and histories of Tamriel.
Avoiding Facial Fails: Steering Clear of the “Potato Face”
One of the most common complaints about Oblivion’s character creation is the tendency to produce characters with what is affectionately (or derisively) known as “potato face.” This refers to a general lack of definition and a certain… roundness… that plagues many aspiring heroes. But fear not! With a few simple strategies, you can avoid this fate and create a character with distinct and appealing features.
One of the biggest culprits is the overuse of sliders. Pushing sliders to their extremes often results in unnatural and distorted shapes. It’s tempting to crank up the cheekbones to maximum, but this can easily lead to an unnatural or even comical appearance. Instead, focus on making small, subtle adjustments and observing the effect on the overall face.
Another common mistake is neglecting asymmetry. While perfect symmetry is rare in the real world, too much asymmetry can make a face look “off.” Pay close attention to the left and right sides of the face, and make small adjustments to create a balanced and harmonious appearance.
Ignoring proportions is another pitfall. A head that is too big or too small for the body will look unnatural and disproportionate. Experiment with the height slider to find the right balance.
Finally, remember that lighting is crucial. The character creation screen can be deceiving. Create your character, go in-game, and see how they look in different environments and lighting conditions. You may need to make further adjustments to compensate for the way the game renders your character’s appearance.
Advanced Techniques: Harnessing the Power of the Sliders
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can begin to explore more advanced techniques. Some character creators find inspiration in the “golden ratio” and principles of facial harmony. While not strictly necessary, understanding these concepts can provide a framework for creating aesthetically pleasing characters.
The modding community has also contributed significantly to improving the character creation experience. Several mods, such as Oblivion Character Overhaul and Improved Facial Textures, overhaul the base assets, providing higher-resolution textures and more realistic facial features. These mods can dramatically improve the quality of your characters. There are also mods that circumvent race locks, allowing you to experiment with different features from different races. Similarly, ShowRaceMenu mods allow you to re-enter the race menu after initial character creation, giving you more opportunities to refine your character’s appearance.
The Oblivion community is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Sites like Nexus Mods and various forums host countless examples of character creations, slider settings, and advice. Don’t be afraid to seek inspiration from others and share your own creations. Sadly, direct slider preset sharing isn’t a fully realized feature without mods, but communities often provide descriptions of slider settings to achieve particular appearances.
Conclusion: Sculpting Your Destiny
The character sliders in Oblivion are a powerful tool, capable of producing a vast range of results, from stunningly beautiful to hilariously bizarre. This article has explored the fundamentals of the character creation system, delved into the racial variations, highlighted common pitfalls, and provided advanced techniques for mastering the morphs.
Remember, the key to success is experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try new things, push the sliders to their limits, and embrace both the triumphs and the failures. Character creation is an integral part of the Oblivion experience. It’s your chance to define your character’s identity and create a unique avatar to explore the world of Cyrodiil. So go forth, experiment, and craft the perfect champion – or the perfect villain. The fate of Tamriel, and the satisfaction of a truly custom character, awaits!
