Have you ever imagined yourself, not just as a hero, but as a shrewd investor in the vibrant, dangerous, and endlessly fascinating world of Cyrodiil? Perhaps you dream of amassing a fortune worthy of a Daedric Prince, or maybe you’re simply tired of perpetually scrounging for enough gold to keep your sword sharp and your potions plentiful during your dungeon crawls. Whatever your aspirations, the world of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* offers a unique environment for “investing” your time, skills, and, yes, even your in-game resources to achieve prosperity. This guide delves into the practical ways to become a savvy adventurer, building not just strength, but wealth, in the realm of Oblivion.
Navigating the Cyrodiil Economy
The first step to becoming a successful investor in Oblivion is understanding the very foundation of its financial landscape: the in-game economy. The currency of Tamriel, the Septim, is your primary tool. Everything you acquire and everything you aspire to own in Oblivion hinges on your ability to earn and manage this precious coin.
Septims are primarily earned through a variety of activities. Completing quests, from slaying monstrous beasts to delivering urgent messages, rewards you with a healthy influx of gold. Selling the loot you gather during your adventures, be it weapons, armor, or assorted trinkets, also provides a steady stream of income. Hunting, crafting, and even simple tasks like stealing (with varying degrees of success and legality, of course) can all contribute to your financial well-being.
Crucially, understanding *how* you spend your Septims is just as vital as earning them. The cost of goods and services, from basic healing potions to powerful enchanted weapons, can quickly deplete your coffers if you are not cautious. This highlights the importance of shrewd spending habits and strategic financial planning.
The Art of Bartering: Mastering Mercantile
One skill stands out as particularly crucial for any aspiring in-game investor: Mercantile. This skill directly influences the prices you receive when selling items to merchants and the prices you pay when purchasing goods. The higher your Mercantile skill, the better the deals you’ll make.
Increasing your Mercantile skill requires dedication and a little bit of strategy. Trading with merchants, specifically, selling items, will improve your Mercantile skill gradually. Some merchants also offer Mercantile training for a price. Investing in these classes can be an efficient way to quickly boost your skill. Finding skill books that can give you bonus points in Mercantile can be very useful, particularly early on.
Beyond simply increasing the skill, there are tactics to utilize the advantages of a high Mercantile score. For example, shopping around to multiple merchants before making a purchase ensures that you’re getting the best price available. Being aware of a merchant’s disposition toward you also helps; merchants who like you will often offer better prices.
Identifying Treasure: Recognizing Valuable Assets
Knowing *what* to sell is just as important as knowing *how* to sell it. The Oblivion loot system is vast and varied, and not everything you find is worth the same amount of gold. Identifying valuable items is key to maximizing your profits.
Enchanted weapons and armor are consistently in high demand and fetch impressive prices. The stronger the enchantment, the higher the value. Items made of high-quality materials, such as Daedric or Elven armor, also command significant prices. Specific ingredients, especially rare alchemical components, are often sought after by potion-makers and therefore can yield a good return. Keep an eye out for unique items that are part of quest rewards.
In general, it is worth more to sell an individual item as a whole, as opposed to its parts, as many merchants only buy whole items.
Investing in Your Character’s Potential
Your character, in a sense, is your greatest investment. The choices you make in terms of skills, class, and leveling have a profound impact on your long-term success and earning potential.
Strategic Character Building
The class you select at the beginning of the game is the foundation of your character. Choose a class that complements your preferred play style, which means considering the starting skills. For example, a character focused on melee combat may benefit from a class like the Warrior, providing high strength and weapon skills. A stealthy character might prefer the Thief, with its focus on skills like Sneak and Security.
Prioritizing Essential Skills
Certain skills provide greater returns than others. Early on, focus on building core skills like Blade (for melee combat), Restoration (for healing), Alchemy (for crafting valuable potions), and Security (for unlocking valuable loot chests) as they can be crucial for surviving difficult encounters and creating profit.
Efficient Skill Leveling Techniques
Leveling skills effectively is an investment of your time. Avoid simply grinding. Utilizing trainers is a key element. For example, a character struggling to find a use for restoration can use the “spell absorption” glitch to level up their skill without the expenditure of potions. The more a character prioritizes the skills which will benefit them, the more effective their build.
Investing Your Gameplay: Maximizing Your Time
Your time spent exploring Cyrodiil is also a valuable resource. How you utilize this time can greatly influence your financial success.
Questing for Profit and Reputation
Embarking on quests is not just a means of experiencing the game’s narrative; it’s also a primary source of income. Prioritize quest lines that offer substantial rewards, either in terms of gold or valuable items. Also consider the long-term impacts of choices made while completing quests and how it affects your in game reputation.
Efficient Loot Collection
Dungeon-crawling is a primary source of revenue. Therefore, streamlining your dungeon exploration strategy can improve your investment. Learn the locations of valuable loot chests, and plan your path to minimize travel time. Make a plan to carry the minimum loot needed to be efficient.
Furthermore, understanding the respawn mechanics of dungeons can be highly beneficial. Many dungeons will reset their contents after a certain amount of in-game time, allowing you to revisit them and collect more loot.
Embracing Exploration: Discovering Hidden Riches
Don’t underestimate the value of exploration. The vast world of Oblivion is filled with hidden treasures, secret locations, and valuable resources. Stray from the beaten path, investigate unmarked areas, and you may discover caches of gold, rare ingredients, or unique items that significantly boost your wealth.
The Art of Alchemy: Turning Ingredients into Gold
Alchemy is a powerful skill, and an investment of your time that can pay dividends. Gathering ingredients is your primary method of obtaining alchemy supplies. Experimenting with different ingredients and discovering potion recipes can lead to the creation of powerful potions that are in high demand. Selling your potions to merchants is a lucrative income stream.
The “Investing” in the In-Game Lifestyle
Once you’ve begun to amass wealth, consider some “investments” in your in-game lifestyle.
Purchasing a Home: An Asset for the Long Term
Buying a home is a long-term investment. A home gives you a safe place to store loot, and can have amenities such as storage, cooking, and display areas.
The Value of Rest and Planning
Prioritizing well-being will help you save money. The ability to create safe locations to relax and get back to 100% health will greatly benefit the player.
Conclusion: Become a Savvy Oblivion Investor
Investing in Oblivion is more than just acquiring gold; it’s about making calculated choices that amplify your success and maximize your enjoyment of this rich and immersive world. By understanding the Cyrodiil economy, sharpening your Mercantile skills, building a powerful character, maximizing the value of your gameplay time, and strategically employing your in-game resources, you can transform yourself from a humble adventurer into a prosperous investor, truly mastering the art of thriving in *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.* So, go forth, explore, and build your fortune!