Wednesday 3 May 2006

Pic of the day: Lila the lesbian alchemist warrior and her trusty longsword Samson.

Oblivion: Sentient weapon

This is another brilliant example of user-made content for the greatest role playing game of all time. As such it is only available on the PC, not on Xbox 360. That's what you get for being cheap! ^_^ -For those who have paid the price of a PC that can actually run Oblivion, however, this mod is definitely worth it. Actually, it is free, so that doesn't say much. What I mean is, it is worth your time and your attention. Actually it will take some time, and possibly some frustration, but I still recommend it. Like the two previous mods I have written about, this is an example of what is possible. The fact that it is also useful is incidental, but it sure doesn't hurt.

The name of the mod is "The Sentient Weapon" and it is made by NarkyBark. I guess it should be pretty easy to find online if it still exists when you read this. Links to such things tend to change pretty fast, but Google is your friend. As is the ElderScrolls.com forum.

***

As the name implies, the main object of the mod is a weapon. It is a talking weapon, like the sword Lilarcor which I have written about before for Morrowind. (There is also a Lilarcor mod for Oblivion, but I have not tested it.) But The Sentient Weapon is not just talking: It has a limited awareness. Not only does it know whether it is in the scabbard or being held or being used in a fight; it may even make comments based on what kind of enemy you are fighting! It may also boast when delivering a critical hit or when winning a fight.

When I say it "may" do this or that, I don't mean that I'm uncertain of whether it can. It can. But it depends on the personality. The weapon comes with one of 3 personalities... or all of them, in which case it switches between them at random times (usually at least half an hour between switches, though, probably more... it may depend on use). The personalities are very different: Fred the coward, Atkivir the murderer and Samson the would-be hero. They also have different preferences for magic attacks.

Yes, the weapon is magical, and each time you hit with it, there is a chance of a magic effect. It is not a sure thing, but it happens fairly often. The extent of the magic will increase as you level up, but the weapon itself does not level up with use like Lilarcor did. Even without the magic effects, however, it would have been a decent weapon. Not quite the best you can get in the game, but in the major league. And unlike the other magic weapons, it does not get spent over time, so does not require you to trap animal or monster souls to recharge it.

Fred the coward prefers a spell that makes enemies run away. Not the most useful normally, but then again Fred makes no pretense of being useful. This soul is from a wage slave, a pessimist, an almost-pacifist. His comments reflect this, and are delivered in a surly, grating voice. (Amazingly, all the voice acting is by NarkyBark as well. It is not much inferior to the paid professionals in the actual game, if I were to judge.)

Atkivir the murderer does critical hits which cause massive damage. He speaks in a low, pleasant, thoughtful voice. His messages are creepy, factual and fitting for an unrepentant murderer. Sometimes he laughs creepily.

Samson does crippling damage that permanently reduces the combat abilities of your opponent. (And, alas, your friends if they get in harm's way, which they tend to do.) He is the one who boasts, in a booming, self-assured voice. (Yes, they are all enacted by the same guy, who also speaks the lines of the weaponsmith.)

***

You don't just find the Sentient Weapon. You have to do a series of small quests for a weaponsmith, who then puts the weapon together. The benefit of this is that you can get any type of weapon, not just a sword. One-handed or two-handed, sword or mace, even a bow! You have to stick with one, though.

You don't have to stick with one soul, though. You can have all three, which has its benefits and malefits. You don't control when they switch places, which could be in the middle of a fight. When they do, the weapon disappears from your hand and a new with the other soul appears in your backpack. Any fast-keys that refer to the weapon are erased. Any poison put on it is gone. If you have the expert weaponsmith skill that lets you upgrade a weapon to 125% effectiveness, this bonus is also lost. On the bright side, if the weapon was worn, it is now good as new. Since most players can't repair magic weapons until quite a bit into the game, and then only if they specialize in the skill, this comes in quite handy. And you get three times as many different lines, some of which are pretty hilarious.

You can currently not have 2 personalities, only 1 or 3. But the mod is still being improved on, and more personalities may be part of later versions.

The quests have a problem, which is intentional. There are no quest marker except for the very last part. You have to search based on detailed verbal descriptions. I have a good verbal memory, but poor visual skills, so was stuck on the second part and also spent a long time on the first. Due to massive whining from users (including me), NarkyBark put up a spoiler page with maps and pictures, which can currently be found via the thread on the ElderScrolls.com forum.

***

Whether or not you're in the market for a decent magical weapon that doesn't run out of steam, you should definitely get this one just to admire the creativity that goes into it. Be very careful about using it together with the companion mod I mentioned earlier, or indeed any companion or escort, as the characters like to throw themselves between you and the enemy. Apart from that, recommended.