Summary
With the sudden release of theOblivionremaster, many fans, both new and old, are now jumping back into the world of Cyrodiil to experience one of the best games not only in theElder Scrollsseries but in the RPG genre as a whole. A big part of the experience is deciding how to approach a playthrough in terms ofcreating a character that suits the playerand one they can enjoy throughout the long adventure ahead.
One returning aspect of character creation is thebirthsigns, which are effectively a character’s star sign that provides a nice starting bonus, ranging from basic stat buffs to entirely new spells. Some will be more useful than others, and for players looking to become the silent assassin they always wanted to be, there are some great options to give that playstyle a boost right from the start.
5The Steed
Nothing Better Than A Speedy Rogue
When it comes to traversing an area while avoiding the prying eyes of any nearby NPCs, one of the best stats to help the player pull off the perfect heist is speed. Moving through the shadows in between patrolling units can be quite troublesome at times, but havinga hefty bonus to one’s movement speedcan make certain areas incredibly easy to sneak through, and the Steed is a simple yet effective birthsign to give stealth players exactly that. Suddenly, gaps that were otherwise impossible to make it through without being seen become passable in a matter of moments, and getting in and out with that precious loot is so much easier when the player doesn’t feel restricted by their inability to move fast.
However, while the ability to move fast is pretty nice, there are certainly some trade-offs to choosing this sign when compared to some of the other choices. Aspects of the stealth gameplay, like lockpicking, pickpocketing, and sneak-killing, don’t really see much love from this sign, and for players aiming towards those approaches, this sign might not be the best choice. Still, the power is undeniable, and it is hard to switch back to another character without it after experiencing the sheer level of speed it offers right at the beginning of the game.
4The Lover
100% Pickpocket Success Sounds Like A Steal
Part of what makes a stealth build incredibly enjoyable is the ability to play through areas of the game completely undetected and to dictate the flow of combat in a way that suits the player’s strengths. But outside of the fighting, rogue characters love nothing more than getting some extra loot for their troubles, and one super fun way of getting a bit of extra coin is by looting the very enemies the player is trying to avoid.The Lover is a great birthsign choicethat delivers a surefire way of guaranteeing a successful pickpocket, letting the player lock out an enemy from performing any action and setting them up for the perfect steal.
The spell is pretty expensive for the effect, and only being able to cast the spell once per day can be quite annoying. Still, there are certain moments where being able to freeze an enemy for a decent period of time can be incredibly valuable both for combat purposes and for sneaking around. On top of that, having the choice to engage a tough enemy head-to-head or avoid them entirely in tricky situations where the stealth mission fails can bail the player out of some potentially life-threatening scenarios and set them up forthe perfect mission without the need for bloodshed.
3The Tower
Sneak Into Anywhere Possible
Something that brings restriction to the world ofOblivionin a realistic manner is the inclusion of countless locked doors and chests that litter the map.The lockpicking mechanic is incredibly satisfyingonce players get the hang of it, but with so many paths to open up and so much loot to uncover, there are bound to be a few breaks along the way that can be quite frustrating if the player doesn’t have a nice supply of stealing tools. The Tower partially solves this issue, allowing stealthy endeavors into secluded areas to go off without a hitch and making traversing through dungeons an absolute breeze thanks to an extra boost to the looting capabilities of the player.
The downside is that the ability only works on average locks and only once per day, which is useful but doesn’t do a whole lot later on when there are far more advanced locks that demand precision and skill. It is still nice not to have to worry about a lockpick breaking for simpler doors, and the added Reflect Damage spell makes up for at least some of the downside. It can turn a stealthy assassin into an aggressive fighter who can take a bit more of a beating. There are plenty of examples where the player needs to make a quick getaway, and having a better chance of surviving through the flying arrows and spells heading towards the player will make those attempts at breaking into restricted areas way more successful and more fruitful for the player.
2The Shadow
Hilarious And Ridiculously Good For Spying
There really is no better feeling than being able to sneak around completely undetected, pretty much in the face of the enemy, and then get away scot-free.The Shadow is a stealth player’s dream; it transforms certain quests into casual outings thanks to one simple spell that changes how large portions of the game can be played and approached. Although invisibility spells do become fairly common as the game goes on, being able to enter the shadows at the click of a button from the second the game loads up opens the doors for more than a few humorous encounters.
While it might not be the strongest or most groundbreaking birthsign inOblivion Remastered, the fun factor alone warrants choosing it so that players can at least experiment with the possibilities of looting certain areas way ahead of time or taking out targets who had no idea there was someone else around. The effectiveness certainly does drop off as the game goes on, but even when the player has access to consumables that accomplish the same effect, not having to worry about constantly replenishing them is pretty nice. Even though the effect may last only 60 seconds, that is more than enough time to cause significant mayhem and to get up to some amusing shenanigans that are well worth the lack of flexible power.
1The Thief
All The Stats A Great Rogue Could Ever Need
Aptly named The Thief, and for good reason, this birthsign grantsOblivion Remasteredplayersa pretty nice stat steroidright at the start of the game, all of which are beneficial to different aspects of the stealth playstyle. Agility, for instance, governs the player’s ability to sustain through staggers, increases their maximum fatigue, and raises ranged damage output, allowing the stealth archer approach to become pretty powerful right out the gate. The speed speaks for itself, as being able to run around quietly and quickly will make pushing past enemy patrols a breeze, and if the player needs to make a quick getaway, they will have no problem fleeing from an area in just a few seconds.
Luck is perhaps the most interesting and potentially powerful of the three stats, governing all manner of gameplay elements like gambling and skill effectiveness, which can be crucial in tough scenarios. But it also helps boost certain events going in the player’s favor, which makes traversing through areas with more than a few suspicious guards just that bit easier. It might not be the flashiest choice in the world, as it only provides some basic stat bonuses that can effectively be acquired with any other sign, but starting the game feeling a decent amount stronger can make early stealth sections feel significantly easier. On top of that, not being restricted by a cooldown or a spell allows the birthsign to be effective throughout all stages of the game.
