That sounds good Rowen. It's always been my advice to people who play Oblivion to not even go to Jaufree and forget about the main quest for awhile. Better to pursue the misc. or guild quests first.

I'm about to infiltrate the blackwood company and so am just about at the end of the fighters guild quest.

I really enjoyed the quest where you save the daughter of the orc that spoke so funny and used all the wrong words. I liked that his house was out in the wilds and that the inside of it was done so well. I think someone must have really enjoyed creating that quest.

They should make a mod that causes orcs of the opposite sex to your character occasionally and randomly come up and give you a big hug and a kiss. Its so out of character but those faces just crack me up and it seems like a waste not to have them do something a little silly. They could say something like "Sorry, but I just find you irresistible" or talk about one of your high stats "Sorry but Sneaky Nords just make me lose my head".

Now that I write this I realize its not PC or respectful at all BUT I do get such a kick out of the mouth full of teeth those orcs have.

Maybe they could just chew on your finger or something. "Sorry, My teeth got ahead of my brain, please accept this band aid with my apologies"

I better stop, I'm just digging myself into a bigger hole. I do like thier teeth and funny cute ugly faces.

speak to the orc smith in bliss on the shivering isles as a male.

I wouldn't worry too much. We're all far too busy, sneaking and stealing and murdering and romancing and saving the universe and creating mayhem, to be worried about being PC.

There are romances in Shivering Isles? That's something new to the series...can't imagine how they implemented it, though.

No romances in Oblivion -- but in many RPG's there are -- a general comment on how difficult it is to be absolutely politically correct in action/RPG's -- when one is, say, gunning down endangered species in a game such as Tomb Raider, for instance, or choosing the path of an assassin. 'Tis why they call it the Dark Side, non?

shivering isles has some interesting options for alternate 'relationships'. you can't take advantage of any of them, but if they wanted to include the options...

the owner of 'books of bliss', the orc smith of bliss, cutter in crucible, and the like could be atypical matches for the more disturbed, amoral, and such.

though maybe just me but the games i've played mostly goes with no love interests at all, or set up the classics where ya can tell after first meeting they'll be together.
i'd like to see a game where you can have options and pick the one you want, that is touched on to a point in the kotor games, but those kinda anti-climatic, at least in kotor2.

That is why Baldur's Gate is so good. I think the romances there are pretty well-written, and there are also a ton of mods for it...

I thought the KotOR 1 was written pretty well, but the second one was, as you say, extremely anti-climatic. The whole ending was, really.

granted i only ever got the romance with bastila to work, however juhani is said to be an option, but that one never really goes anywhere and really ya barely even notice she is a choice unlike bastila. so juhani is anti-climatic to me, and with kotor1 you don't really have a choice per say.

In Kotor 1 you can play as a woman and romance Carth, which is always an option. Carth is kind of sweet.

i know, just never got things to go with him. point is though ya have 2 options, one isn't really worth it due to how anti-climatic it is.

kotor2 pretty much all of em are anti-climatic.

i have played both kotor games as male and female cause i like the story arcs.

I must say I really like the dark side-ending a whole lot more. It seems wrong for such a dark game to have such a happy ending as the light side ending...especially with the real threat beyond the outer rim looming.

my problem with it was that you had all this build up, and though the hawk is shown moving to presumably join revan, it just seems like a nothing ending for all the build up. i think i read that originally there was set a different light side ending but the rush resulted in the ending being removed which really is a let down if true. but this is going by my memory which isn't the most reliable.

i get the ending and all, it is just anti-climatic cause it is like having a huge, spectacular fireworks show, then suddenly the fireworks stops and some guy comes on a p.a. saying in the most boring, slow monotone, "thank you for coming." while you are sitting there tunned and checking your watch to see if the event is really over.