Oblivion Remastered – Complete Speechcraft Guide & Persuasion Explained | Elder Scrolls IV

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It’s exciting to hear that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has been remastered! As more and more newcomers jump in without prior knowledge of its mechanics, it’s understandable why some are voicing concerns about certain complex aspects. The speechcraft skill continues to function as it always has since the game was first released 19 years ago, but for those who need a reminder or have yet to play it before, here’s an explanation of how it functions:

Speechcraft is a skill that influences your character’s ability to persuade and negotiate with others. As you use Speechcraft in dialogue options, your skill level will increase, allowing you to more effectively convince NPCs (Non-Player Characters) to do what you want or give you valuable information. The higher your Speechcraft skill, the easier it becomes to persuade even the most stubborn characters. Keep in mind that using Speechcraft requires speech points, which are depleted with each use and replenished over time, so be strategic in when you choose to employ this skill.

Hopefully, this refresher helps you make the most out of your experience in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion!

Complete Speechcraft Guide & Persuasion Explained | Elder Scrolls IV

In Oblivion Remastered, the speechcraft skill functions identically to its original version, much like many other game mechanics. Essentially, this ability influences how other characters perceive your character.

In simpler terms, someone who likes you will generally be courteous and sometimes offer fresh challenges or chances to negotiate better deals. Conversely, characters who aren’t fond of you might dismiss you rudely or even aggressively act towards you in certain situations.

To master this talent, you need to engage with the mini-game called ‘Persuasion’. You can do this by conversing with any Non-Player Character (NPC) and then clicking the ‘Convince’ or ‘Persuade’ button located in the lower left corner of your screen.

For those who might have missed the comprehensive walkthrough of the minigame or closed it prematurely, here’s a recap of the game’s operations:

1. Understand the controls and objectives
2. Explore the environment to gather resources
3. Use these resources strategically to progress through levels
4. Master special abilities for a competitive edge
5. Keep an eye on the timer, as each level has a time limit
6. Aim for high scores to earn rewards and unlock new content
7. Don’t forget to save your game progress regularly!

How the Persuasion Mechanic Works in Oblivion

When engaging in dialogue with an NPC, you’ll find yourself presented with four distinct choices, each of which can only be selected once per conversation. These options will either increase or decrease the NPC’s feelings towards you.

Each Non-Player Character (NPC) will respond uniquely to the four choices you present: adoration, bragging, jesting, and compelling. To determine their response, choose each option carefully and observe how their expressions shift. Notice whether they smile or frown in reaction to your selection.

In this scenario, two choices will be considered as either being highly favored (loved) or somewhat favored (liked), while the other two might be viewed negatively, ranging from disfavor (disliked) to intense disdain (hated). Remember, each Non-Player Character (NPC) has unique preferences, so it’s crucial to observe their reactions for maximum points.

For each option, there is a corresponding number of “levels” or “stages”. These “levels” serve to indicate the extent to which your selection influences an NPC’s mood or attitude. Naturally, fewer levels mean a smaller impact, while more levels will intensify the positive or negative outcome.

For instance, if you select an option they strongly dislike and it shows four symbols, their mood will plummet significantly. To prevent this from happening, ensure that you minimize the number of symbols on the undesirable option when you make your selection.

Instead, strive to select the choices they favor or appreciate, keeping in mind that they should have multiple options available. However, due to the fact that the arrangement for each try is unpredictable, it’s not always certain.

In essence, strive to grasp the mechanics of the wheel and maximize points while minimizing losses. Be mindful of time, though, as their disposition diminishes progressively during each try. It’s not just about making intelligent decisions, but acting swiftly as well.

This version maintains the original meaning while using simpler language that is easy for most readers to understand.

  • Red – Hate
  • Brown – Dislike
  • Yellow – Like
  • Green – Love

Using the initial attempt as a kind of trial run, don’t fret about its poor outcome. After you’ve discovered all the colors involved, you’ll find it simpler to replay the mini-game and complete it swiftly.

You’re able to keep on trying with the convincing mini-game until a message pops up saying you’ve “hit the limit for this character’s disposition”. Once that occurs, you can no longer improve it through the mini-game. However, you can offer them money as a bribe to increase it instead.

Skipping the persuasion mini-game can be achieved by opting for bribery, which requires spending a sum of money that varies based on several conditions. It’s best to avoid this method during the initial stages of the game since it can quickly deplete your funds.

How to Train the Speechcraft Skill

Previously noted, enhancing your skills in the area of speechcraft can be achieved through interactive gameplay. You’ll likely observe that each completed try significantly boosts your experience level in this skill.

To truly master this ability, you should engage in conversation with each non-player character you meet and aim to boost their affection towards you as much as feasible without resorting to bribery. It might appear tedious, but given the way leveling functions within the game, it can be advantageous to develop such a simple skill through this approach.

Additionally, you’ll unlock different benefits at each achievement level in the skill. Specifically, the following rewards await you as you continue to advance:

  • Novice (0 to 24) – You can start bribing people to increase their disposition.
  • Apprentice (24 to 49) – You are given one chance to rotate the wheel without picking any of the options, allowing you to hopefully get better results.
  • Journeyman (50 to 74) – The disposition of an NPC will now drop slightly slower over time while you are in the minigame.
  • Expert (75 to 99) – At this level, picking a choice that the NPC hates will now have a much smaller effect on how much disposition they lose.
  • Master (100 / max) – At the maximum mastery level of the skill, your bribes will now cost significantly less.

If you’ve fully mastered the skill, repeatedly offering bribes can allow you to bypass the mini-game altogether when you don’t feel like playing it. Therefore, if this approach appeals to you, remember to interact with every Non-Player Character (NPC) you encounter, such as guards, shopkeepers, and ordinary citizens wandering about.

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2025-04-28 12:41