Optimising Oblivion v3.0: Into Modblivion

Must-have mods
Not quite as essential as, well, the Essential list but none-the-less great mods that you're sure to find a few favourites among.

[ thread : download ] - Adrenaline
A well balanced version of Action Oblivion, this great mod increases spawn limits and makes every dungeon crawl an awesome adventure. Really should be 'Essential' but is in this category because not everyone likes the increased pace.

[ no thread : download ] - Life
Adds a ton of life to Oblivion with over 100 NPCs added including children, militia, pets and more.

[ thread : download ] - Harvest - UPDATED
Awesome. Changes world texture models as alchemic items are harvested. Credit goes to mmmpld for the meshes that made this mod possible.

[ thread : weapon download : armor download ] - Steel hurts
Realistically and intelligently balances weapon and armor abilities.

[ thread : download ] - Combat Balance Mod
An enhanced version of Steel Hurts, and will eventually incorporate and replace it. Highly recommended!

[ thread : download ] - Turn off lights
Allows most candles to be snuffed, and even adds water arrows that can do it. Thief fans rejoice!

[ no thread : download ] - Generic Dungeon Drones
Brilliant sound replacement mod for dungeon music. Adds extra spookyness!

[ thread : download ] - Level Slow
Slows the ridicuously fast rate of skill learning and allows you to enjoy your game. Now superseded by 'Level Rates Modified', see 'Essential' list.

[ thread : download ] - Vendor all armor and weapons
Enables vendors to sell their full range of equipment, still levelled for balance.

[ thread : download ] - Short Grass
Makes the grass look shorter, for you short folk. Also improves framerate.

[ thread : download ] - Attack and Hide
No more enemies with a seemingly built-in X-Ray and radar automagically finding you.

[ thread : download ] - Reduced Backward Speed
"Because it's just not fun to outrun everyone backwards." Agreed!

[ thread : download ] - Tougher regen settings
Fixes the broken implementation of fatigue. Must have plus a fix.

[ thread : download ] - ReBalance Mod
Great collection of common sense, small, tweaks to the game. Note conflicts with most balance mods.

[ thread : homepage : download ] - ModMan's Custom Plugins
Excellent selection of modular, clever game-enhancing plugins.

[ thread : download ] - Imperial Guard Horse Armor
Adds the official Bethesda Steel Armor mod to all patrolling Imperial Guards.

[ thread : download ] - Elven Cartographers
New map and map icons, leagues better than the default

[ thread : download ] - Inebriation - Booze has drunk effects! - UPDATED
As the the title says, booze has physical and visual effects, including passing out!

[ thread : download ] - Realistic sneaking + throat slitting
Like playing a stealthy char? This mod is for you.

[ thread : download ] - XiDragon's Advanced Inns
Advanced room renting + bug fixes for all inns.

[ thread : download ] - Mighty Bows
Mixture of good tweaks marksmen will appreciate.

[ thread : download ] - Mighty Magick - UPDATED
Makes magic a potent force in the game. Must have.

[ no thread : download ] - Flak's Complete Names Project
Replaces generic titled NPCs with unique, semi-lore inspired names.

[ thread : download ] - Rain inside
Find it odd how you can't hear rain when inside? You can now!

[ thread : download ] - Kalikut's much improved green glass
Greatly improves the look of glass armor and weapons.

[ thread : download ] - Natural Faces - UPDATED
Tired of the blotchy face textures? Make them beauitful with this.

[ thread : download ] - High-res faces
Similar mod to Natural Faces, greatly improves face textures.

[ thread : download ] - Smooth faces
Similar to Natural Faces and High-res faces, but a little more extensive at the moment. Must have!

[ thread : download ] - Natural Wildlife
Brillaint mod to give wildlife more realistic reactions to the player. Now included in Hunters mod.

[ thread : download ] - Realistic encumbrance
No more 'just a wafer thin mint' syndrome for encumbrance.

[ thread : download ] - Security Rebalance
Brilliant mod adds disarmable traps, lock bash, better skilled thievery and more.

[ thread : download ] - Visually Enchanted
Enchanted weapons of fire, frost, shock and more now animate with their power.

[ thread : download ] - Improved Barter Gold
Allows you to better sell items for what they are worth, based on your Mercantile.

[ thread : download ] - OE Enhanced Races
Integrates a colleciton of common, good, mods that provide greater variety to character creation. Includes Natural Faces.

[ thread : download ] - Wilderness Creatures
Alters wilderness spawn lists to allow animal packs. Now included in Sagerbliv's mod.

[ thread : download ] - Weapons 300
Balances weapon damage (similar to Steel Hurts) and adds a blackjack to knock people out.

[ thread : download ] - Wilderness Creatures List
Makes wilderness creatres behave like them. Now included in most levelling mods.

[ thread : download ] - Horse AI
Gives the player ownership of successfully stolen horses.

[ thread : download ] - Bigger Dremora
Makes Dremora a touch larger and formidable in size.

[ thread : download ] - More Arena Spectators
The Arena is a bit bare isn't it? No more!

[ thread : download ] - More Sky Climates
Adds many more weather types made from high-resolution textures.

[ thread : download ] - Bounty reduction over time
Causes bounties to decrease over time, based on level of bounty.

[ thread : download ] - Lighter Alchemy Ingredients - UPDATED
Makes ingredients lighter and, optionally, aparatus too.

[ thread : download ] - Durable Equipment & Harder Repairs
If you use action mods like Adrenaline, this will come in handy!

[ thread : download ] - Marksman velocity
Increases speed of arrows based on material.

[ thread : download ] - Arcane Velocity
Makes direct magic faster, harder for your and enemies to avoid.

[ thread : download ] - Alchemy Perks
Adjusts the maximum number of quaffable potions depending on skill.

[ thread : download ] - Chase Camera
Improves the handling of the chase camera. Must have.

[ thread : download ] - Horses turn faster - UPDATED
As the title, horses turn faster while mounted!

[ thread : download ] - Spears, Polearms and Off-Hand Mage Staffs
Look like Gandalf, sword in one hand and staff in the other.

[ thread : download ] - Drop lit torch in combat - UPDATED
Automatically drop your lit torch to the floor when you draw your weapon. No more fumbling or fighting in the dark in dungeons. Now hotkey-able!

[ thread : download ] - Regional Bounties - UPDATED
Smash the global telepathic guard network and have bounties tied to regions. Use in place of 'Bounty reduction over time'.

[ thread : download ] - Evantal's Dual Wield - UPDATED
Adds over 30 off-hand weapons for dual-wielding that look awesome and act as shields in combat.

[ thread : download ] - Larger wildlife, a mod for Natural Wildlife - UPDATED
Expands upon Tag's Natural Wildlife with varying sizes of beasts. Bears are now truly to be feared! Now comes with compatible version for Hunters!

[ thread : download ] - Warrior Bandages - NEW
'I don't need no stinkin' magic!' here here!

[ thread : download ] - Horse Commands - NEW
Great mod lets your horse follow you and be called on demand.

[ thread : download ] - Guiding Beacons - NEW
Place lighted beacons and notes anywhere in the game world.

[ thread : download ] - Lock Bash - NEW
Why are big fat tough fighters expected to play with picks or learn wimpy spells? Open locks the He-Man way, with brute force.

Next, Interface mods.