IGN has a very good hands-on.  I'm chomping at the pit for this one (18 more days, 18 more days)

http://pc.ign.com/articles/691/691594p1.html

Few areas worth pointing out.  Sounds like class generation is the same as Morrowind

QuoteThough the guards were wary of letting me come along, one talked to me for a second, which provided for my last bit of identity: my class. The class structure in Oblivion is wide open. Not only are there a lot of pre-made classes to choose from but there's also an option to create a custom class. To create a custom class, it's a matter of picking to focus on combat, magic, or stealth, choosing two favored attributes (strength, wisdom, agility, etc...), and seven major skills which will all begin at much higher levels than other skills. The custom class is good when you just don't quite get the combo you're looking for. For instance, I really like the Battlemage, but I wanted a focus on combat instead of magic, so I simply went in and switched some things around to my liking. Once done, you can name your class for future use as I did with my Whackamol (minus the e thanks to word length restrictions) class.

Skills and leveling work the same

QuoteSkills themselves are built up through use. Bury swords in enemy skulls and the blade skill will increase. Play the human torch and throw fireballs all over the place and destructive magic will increase. Run around the world and athletics will increase. Once enough skills have increased by 10 points, it's a matter of taking a nap at the inn to level up to get better stats.

This new feature sounds like a great addition

Quotene of the best things about this map (and biggest improvements from Morrowind) is the quick travel feature. While you never have to use it to get places, those of us that are extremely impatient with traveling can simply open the map, find a known location (most major cities are already known at the beginning of the game), double click on that location, and travel there instantaneously. This makes some of the lesser missions that simply involve delivering a message (or something similar) much more enjoyable.

Combat seems a little deeper then before

QuoteWhile a little bit miffed that this guy tried to bully me right from the start, the battle re-taught a valuable lesson learned in a million other video games. Blocking is good. Putting that shield up can not only prevent damage, but also stun an attacker for a moment, giving all of the opening needed to press an attack. That brings me to an observation that while combat still is hack and slash, it seems more solid than it did in Morrowind. I suppose the most important thing to note is that I was having a lot of fun fighting, which should be the goal. The combination of fireballs, blocking, and stabbing served me very well indeed.

The insta-travel option seems overpowered... so you can travel out of the most nasty and dangerous area of the wilderness, which might require an hour of fighting and/or death, instantly, with no risk?

It seems you can only trasport to specific sites, like cities. That's good. But I'd also expect some sort of limitation, like only being able to insta-travel when you're within a particular area, say, city limits.

Quote from: Name LipsThe insta-travel option seems overpowered... so you can travel out of the most nasty and dangerous area of the wilderness, which might require an hour of fighting and/or death, instantly, with no risk?

It seems you can only trasport to specific sites, like cities. That's good. But I'd also expect some sort of limitation, like only being able to insta-travel when you're within a particular area, say, city limits.

Well further on the guy was saying how he was exploring from one city to the next and came across a keep (apperntly a significant area) once he'd been there it was added to his map as a travel point.  So it's more then just cities that get added to it.

As for being able to insta-port out of danger I don't know the answer to that.  But ultimately  it's your choice to use it or not.  It's no more/less of a cheat then saving before going through every door or any other in game allowable cheat that you can use.

Yeah, I'm being internet-fatbeard-whiny. But that's my ISP-given right!

One of the best parts of Morrowind was the random shit that happened just traveling from point A to point B. Doesn't sound like they're totally eliminating it, though, which is good.

Quote from: Name LipsYeah, I'm being internet-fatbeard-whiny. But that's my ISP-given right!

One of the best parts of Morrowind was the random shit that happened just traveling from point A to point B. Doesn't sound like they're totally eliminating it, though, which is good.

Hard to say until I have it.  But from what I've read the random things are still there.  The world is larger then the story and there are plenty of things to see if you just go out and explore.  The advantage now is that you no longer have to rely on temple teleports to drop off loot or other annoying methods to get back and forth.  

They've said that they are trying to make the story more engaging which is a big plus for me.  Morrowind is great, but I'll never think of it as a great game for the story.  In fact I only finished the story once and I had to force myself to do it.

I mean abolute worse case if Oblivion is just Morrowind essentially with a few tweaks and better graphics, that's good enough for me to buy it.  Hopefully some of those tweaks address the combat system (which it sounds like they may have) and the weakness in the levelling scale in Morrowind.  It was just way to easy to become godlike and remove any challenge from the game.

I am looking forward to this game.  My impression is the world will be as large and open as Morrowind was but with more direction for those that what it.

More direction would be good.

I lost track of the main quest in Morrowind early on I'm sorry to say.

-O

Quote from: obrynMore direction would be good.

I lost track of the main quest in Morrowind early on I'm sorry to say.

-O

Agreed, I had the exact same problem until the expansions came out with the quest log.  But this will be very exciting, I can't wait.  Any known difference between PC version and 360 version?

Quote from: eCK0Agreed, I had the exact same problem until the expansions came out with the quest log.  But this will be very exciting, I can't wait.  Any known difference between PC version and 360 version?

PC version has better graphics if your computer can pump them.  The controls obviously are difference.  But that's it.  Beyond that the PC version will have player mods that come out for it.  The xbox360 most likely won't suppor these.  However as far as the core game goes the games themselves are the same.

Will be getting the PC version than.  Do you know if system requirements have been published yet?

Yes, they have. A bloody shame. I made good money selling the secret specifications, and they just went away and made them public and kostenlos for all to see. Here is a copy of the poster they've glued in front of the Bethesda citadel:
*Hands a mysterious scroll to eCKO*

I can't wait for this game, I already warned the girlfriend she's going to lose me for a month or so.

Quote from: JanosI can't wait for this game, I already warned the girlfriend she's going to lose me for a month or so.

Month?  With over 16 virtual square miles I'm planning on disappearing for more than a month.  100% completion will probably take far longer.  Of course I don't do the playing for 2 days straight anymore.

News Flash

Oblivion out on around the 21st of March, nearly 2 weeks earlier than expected

Quote from: darkfireNews Flash

Oblivion out on around the 21st of March, nearly 2 weeks earlier than expected

Well that's exciting.  Less than a month!