Arthmoor Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Tossed in jail for waylaying a royal caravan on the highway, your trial was mere days away. Something is wrong though, the days have turned to weeks, and the weeks to months. You no longer have any idea how long you've been down here. The guards stopped checking your cell almost a week ago, and now the last of your food is running out. Your cellmate died months ago and they never removed the body. It won't be long before your bones decorate the cell as well. The Gods have forsaken you! Or have they.... Alternative Beginnings puts you in the position of the poor forgotten prisoner lamenting life's choices. You will be able to choose from several different options on how to begin the game, all from the discomfort of your dank prison cell. Your choices influence the circumstances by which the game begins, and hopefully the Gods won't forsake you this time around! Downloads AFK Mods TES Alliance System Requirements Official Patch version 1.2.0416. OBSE 0020 or higher. The Kvatch Intact variant requires Kvatch Rebuilt 3.0 or higher to be installed as well. Installation Copy the ESPs and both folders to your Data folder, then activate the ESP. Recommend using BAIN to manage the install. Make sure to load the mod after TIE or any other mod which directly edits the tutorials and the "Deliver the Amulet" quest (Charactergen, MQ01 and MQ02) otherwise things will not go well. Uninstallation Simply remove the ESPs and the files this mod adds from your Data folder. Strongly recommend using BAIN to handle this though. Short on mod slots? If you are occupying Geldall Septim's Manor at some point during the game, you'll want to remove anything you've left there, then you can uninstall the mod, but ONLY after you have retrieved the Amulet of Kings and at the very least delivered it to Jauffre. If you're using the Kvatch Intact variant, you need to be far enough along in the game for the Emperor to die and Kvatch to be invaded and destroyed before you can remove it. Bottom line: Do not uninstall the mod until you have delivered the amulet to Jauffre. Known Issues If OBSE is not detected, or an incorrect version is installed, the mod will inform you of this and then shut down all scripts relating to the chargen sequence. So if nothing seems to be working, check your OBSE setup to make sure it's correct. If you are starting with a lot of mods that have message spam, it's best to wait for all of those to settle before doing anything. Disclaimer This mod is not made, guaranteed, or supported by Microsoft, Zenimax, Bethesda Game Studios, or any of their affiliates. Starting the Main Quest If you did not choose the standard prison start, the main quest will not initiate itself without your intervention. In order to actually begin the main quest, you will need to travel the road from the IC to Chorrol. At Fort Ash, there will be a dead adventurer's corpse near the road which has a letter from Baurus along with the Amulet of Kings. Picking up the letter begins the MQ with you assuming the role of the dead adventurer. Read the letter to understand the situation, which will allow for you to slip seamlessly into the role. The tutorial dungeon will not be accessible to you unless you use the prison start. It will be assumed to have already been locked down by the Legion. Options Available There are several options for how you can start your life in Oblivion. Many of these have been done before in other mods, and probably won't seem terribly original. Each option is intended to provide some variety in starting locations and equipment. All start options remove the initial prisoner clothing as well as the wrist irons. You will also start with 5 apples for food, which should hold you over long enough to get your own if you are using survival mods. Prisoner in the Imperial Bastion The gods must not think too highly of you! From one prison to another? What could you possibly have done? You've only been down here a few days and that Valen Dreth guy just won't SHUT UP! This places you into the standard vanilla prison start and will proceed as normal, without the tutorial spam or further prompts to pick class or birthsign. You start with nothing but the clothes on your back, be glad they gave you that much. Note: This is not available with the Kvatch Intact variant. The prison sequence will be available through a different method. Immigrated to Cyrodiil You arrived in Cyrodiil by ship, looking to make a fresh start after leaving your homeland. You arrive wearing middle class clothing, carrying a weapon suited to your chosen skills, and a small amount of gold to get started with. Available ports are: Imperial City, Anvil, Bravil, and Leyawiin. Arrival in Bravil will require that Open Cities Reborn is installed. Arrival in Leyawiin requires either Open Cities Reborn or Better Cities. Own a house in a city You will begin the game owning the player house in the chosen city. Anvil will not be available as a start option due to the involved quest. You will begin with upper class clothing and a variable amount of gold. Each house choice will have a starting selection of fine steel weaponry. Due to necessity, the house quest in the city you choose to live in will signal its completion as though you just bought the last furniture voucher from the merchant who sells them. This will allow for other mods that check the stage on the house quests for configuring their options, such as map markers in OOO or OCR. By the power of OBSE, you can also choose to start in the player house in Bartholm. New member of a guild You can join the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Thieves Guild, or Dark Brotherhood as a new member. Joining the Fighters Guild will provide you with a complete set of either steel or chainmail armor depending on your major skill selections. Joining the Mages Guild will provide you with basic mages robes, two randomly chosen magic rings, as well as a basic supply of mana and health potions. Fighters and Mages both start in Chorrol. Joining the Thieves Guild will start you off with a set of leather armor, a dagger for a weapon, and 10 lockpicks. You will be ranked as though you had just finished the first quest in the storyline. Thieves start off in the Imperial City Waterfront, near the Garden of Dareloth, at 2am so Armand Christophe will be available immediately to talk to. Joining the Dark Brotherhood will supply you with a set of DB armor and begin as though you had just arrived at the Cheydinhal sanctuary after killing Rufio. You will have just spoken to Ocheeva and have been instructed to see Vicente for your first contract. Patron in a local inn Patrons of local inns will start off with basic middle class clothing, a weapon, and a modest amount of random gold. You will be credited with having paid rent for the available room in the inn, so if you want to sleep, you've got the room for the usual time period. The inns you can choose from are: Faregyl Inn, Roxey Inn, Gottshaw Inn, Brina Cross Inn, Olav's Tap & Tack, Drunken Dragon Inn, Five Claws Lodge, Wawnet Inn, and King and Queen Tavern. Gladiator in the Arena Arena starts will begin with basic middle class clothing along with credit for having joined the arena faction and completion of your first match. So it will be basically like getting a free rank. You will also start off with a reasonable amount of gold to reflect winnings. You will start off with a 2-handed weapon based on your choice of weapon skills. If no weapons skills have been selected as majors, it will default to a 2-handed claymore. The weapon will be chosen from the random lists of enchanted weapons. You will be equipped with the appropriate battle raiment for your chosen armor skills. An outlaw in the wilds You will begin with basic leather armor and either a waraxe or shortsword depending on weapon skills. You will have a randomly chosen amount of gold reflecting the fact that you've been somewhat successful at waylaying people on the road, along with some randomly chosen treasure items. This start begins the game with you manning your camp at Fort Ash, along the road between the IC and Chorrol. You will *NOT* be made a member of the bandit faction due to complications this causes. Be aware that this also starts you off with 5 infamy and a criminal bounty of 500 gold. So try not to get too close to guards until you're ready to deal with it. Shipwrecked off the coast Disaster! You were part of the crew of a merchant vessel on the way to Anvil. A storm rose up and wrecked your ship. Everyone aboard is dead except for you. You're trapped in an air pocket, the ship is going to sink, and you need to get out! You'll have the bare minimum - lower class clothing and a cheap dagger. If you explore the wreck before leaving, you may find some better equipment, but be warned, you could die as you'll need to go underwater to get to anything useful. You'll also need to go underwater long enough to reach the hull breach in the ship to escape and swim to the surface. You'll notice right away that getting to shore is no easy task. You're going to have to swim for it. Note: Fast travel is disabled until you've swam a considerable distance away from the ship. Squire in Geldall Septim's Manor Betrayal! You are a loyal squire in Geldall Septim's manor, when tragedy strikes. The Mythic Dawn have attacked the manor without warning and slain the Emperor's son. You were caught off guard and knocked out while on watch, and when you awaken, everyone save one lone Blade is dead! You are tasked with delivering the news of Geldall's assassination to the Imperial City. A horse awaits you outside and you can arm yourself with available equipment before departing. Report to the Palace at once before all is lost! You start off with nothing but basic middle class clothing, outside on a balcony where you were knocked unconscious during the Mythic Dawn's brazen attack on the Emperor's family. You may either follow through on the report to the palace or simply ignore it and run for the hills on your horse. If you choose to report the death to the Palace, you will be informed that the Emperor has been assassinated and that word has come of the slaying of the other heirs as well. From here, it's all up to you. Note that the building you start in is a permanent location. If you choose to remove this mod after initiating the main quest at Fort Ash, keep in mind anything you've left inside the manor will disappear. If you use one of the other starts, this location will still exist but you will have no association with it. Also, fast travel is disabled until you have exited the manor through the front door. Note: This is not available with the Kvatch Intact variant. A secluded Necromancer You will begin as a necromancer in Fort Cuptor, far from civilization. You will initially be placed in the necromancer faction so that denizens of Fort Cuptor won't attack you. This will not protect you from other non-aligned factions. You will start with 5 infamy, but no criminal bounty. You will start with basic equipment reflecting your status as a necromancer. Soul gems, appropriate ingredients, and a staff for a weapon. If you have chosen conjuration as a primary skill, you will be given two undead related summoning spells. You can return to your starting location and use the necromancer's area as a dungeon home. Upon leaving the fort, you will be removed from the necromancer factions to avoid compatibility issues with other mods. Upon returning, the necromancers will not be hostile toward you. A secluded Vampire Probably the most difficult way to start the game. You will be a vampire afflicted with the full strength version of vampirism. The game's clock will be adjusted to just after sunset, so you won't be stuck waiting in your cave all day before you can leave. You'll begin with basic middle class clothing, on the second level of Fort Hastrel. Before leaving, check the coffin you start next to for equipment. The vampires here will not be hostile toward you and you can return to use the starting area as a dungeon home. The coffin is safe storage. Upon leaving the fort, vampires in other locations will regard you as an enemy, so be careful. Ranger in a Remote Camp You have traveled far, with the promise of meeting one of the greatest rangers who ever lived. Unfortunately it seems as though Aerin is not going to show up. It's been you and Torbern camped out here for days. It's time to pack up and move on to bigger and better. A simple start, you will begin with basic fur armor, a shortsword/axe, a bow, and some arrows. Aerin's camp is high up in the Valus Mountains, almost to the border with Morrowind almost directly below Dive Rock. Be on the look out as you attempt to leave, because this is pretty far from civilization and you're on your own. Attacked and left for dead While out traveling, you have been waylaid by bandits! They've taken everything from you and left you for dead somewhere off the beaten paths! Are you up to the challenge of surviving a trip to the nearest civilization, with no weapons, no armor, and no money? Recruited Secretly Available only with the Kvatch Intact variant, you will be approached by a courier. This courier will deliver a message from his "employer" asking you to meet them at the Temple of the One at midnight. Accepting this quest will provide a new entry point through which to follow the vanilla prison start. Simply do as the mysterious employer asks and you will be transported inside. The standard vanilla prison sequence will then play out and the main quest will begin as usual. Decline this quest (by ignoring it) and you will eventually find that the Emperor's assassination moved forward anyway. Kvatch will be invaded and the vanilla ruined city will be the only accessible version until the Kvatch Rebuilt quest gets underway. The main quest can be picked up in the usual manner from this point by going to Fort Ash and looting the dead adventurer's body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwip Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 No chessboard. (but cool) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Awesome... gratz :)Will def try it sometime ... soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 It's a tiny download too. :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I checked this out last night. It's really, really cool. Awesome work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Darn, that reminds me that I haven't been back into Oblivion yet this month. :sigh: I can't believe how busy things have been around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Just wanted to say thanks again. Because this is so easy and quick to use I'm trying a new character idea.Thus, Kya is born. She's a vampire race, welcomed with ease as a new Sister of the Dark Brotherhood. She'll live in Deepscorn Hollow (Vile Lair DLC), inherited from her uncle, where she'll secretly carry on his plans for the Crimson Scars while worshipping Sithis. This'll be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Ooo, love the hair and those wonderful green eyes! The story idea is pretty good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Question: Is there some reason you start in the Chorrol Fighters Guild when all the quests start in Anvil or Chey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Yes. Because you have to go to Chorrol to actually join and the start is supposed to pick up from the point at which you join rather than the point at which you'd go to get your first contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Erm.. You can sign up for the Fighters Guild in only three cities: Anvil (talk to Azzan), Cheydinhal (talk to Burz gro-Khash), or Chorrol (talk to Vilena Donton). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 You know, I don't even know why I thought it was only in Chorrol you could join. Well, Cheydinhal doesn't have many results that lead there, so I'll see about moving things for the FG start there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Yay, updates and new beginnings!Oh, hey Samson, you forgot to update your own thread about the new release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 So it would seem. OP updated. This is why I try to avoid multiple release threads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Version 1.2.1 * Synced necessary dialogue changes with the UOP. * The All Natural climate selection for the shipwreck and manor starts was not operating properly. * Starting weapons in the city houses have been adjusted to fit with the social class of the property. * Captain Montora's quest stage to hand over the manor was being triggered incorrectly. * The prison start was not enabling player controls consistently when the Blades left the cell. * A _far.nif has been provided for Geldall's Manor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Geldall's Manor front door needs the door sounds added when you leave the manor. Not sure about entering yet. A silent door is just weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 Heh. Yep, I suppose that might be nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Oh, you got here too fast, I was going to add more. :)Confirmed entering the house needs door sounds too. Also, I left the house and then went back in, now all the containers are red-handed. And where do I get the key for the family crypt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 Yep, all the doors in the mod needed sound cues. Yes, leaving and then trying to go back inside turns everything red-handed. That's intentional. The key to the crypt comes later, after the MQ has been allowed to develop some. Find Captain Montora at Cloud Ruler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hana Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Oh, ok. So I guess I don't own it yet until I at least start the MQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted August 5, 2011 Author Share Posted August 5, 2011 Version 1.2.2 * The doors in Geldall Septim's manor made no sounds. * One unused door model was removed from the mod. * The adventurer's corpse is prone to disappearance. Hopefully fixed now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Version 1.2.3 * Moved the start marker in BC Leyawiin to avoid clashing with a guard tower that was added to BC after ALB's release. * Starting clothing for the player when choosing a city house has been adjusted to fit the social class of the property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Version 1.2.4 * A bug in the Septim Manor would cause the Palace Courier quest to become enabled when it shouldn't be. This results in the player being removed from the Blades faction and Captain Montora to deliver a bad line of dialogue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwip Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Did you at least fix the horse thing too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Yes, apparently I did. When Captain Montora passes ownership, the horse will become owned by Playerfaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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