Oblivion Remastered: A Guide to Curing Diseases (and Avoiding Them!)

Introduction

With the prospect of an Oblivion Remastered shimmering on the gaming horizon, veterans and newcomers alike are bracing themselves for the adventures, quests, and, yes, the diseases that Cyrodiil throws their way. Disease in Oblivion, while a seemingly minor mechanic, can be a significant frustration, hindering your character’s abilities and impacting your overall experience. A simple rat bite or a brush with a skeletal champion can leave you weakened and vulnerable. But fear not, aspiring hero! Knowledge is power, and this guide is your arsenal against the creeping maladies of the Elder Scrolls IV.

Understanding how to cure diseases, prevent them from taking hold, and manage their debilitating effects is crucial to thriving in a remastered Oblivion. This guide will be your one-stop resource for navigating the sicknesses of Cyrodiil, so you can focus on closing Oblivion Gates and saving the empire.

What Diseases Lurk in Oblivion?

Diseases in Oblivion are a persistent threat, a subtle but significant form of adversity that can gradually wear down even the most seasoned adventurer. Unlike direct combat damage, diseases inflict lasting negative effects, damaging attributes (Strength, Intelligence, etc.) and skills, thereby impacting your character’s effectiveness in combat, magic, and even basic tasks like lockpicking.

The method of contracting a disease is often through combat. Many creatures, particularly those found in dank caves, ancient ruins, and the wilder parts of Cyrodiil, are carriers of diseases. Think rats scurrying in the sewers of the Imperial City, zombies lurching from the depths of forgotten crypts, and even some wild animals bearing unfortunate ailments. Traps, cleverly hidden throughout dungeons and abandoned forts, can also be a source of infection. A simple misstep could mean contracting a disease, slowly draining your character’s vital attributes.

When you are afflicted with a disease, the effects are often immediate and noticeable. Your character might become sluggish, weaker, or find it harder to cast spells. A pop-up notification informs you of the disease you’ve contracted, but understanding the long-term ramifications is key. If left untreated, diseases can significantly hamper your ability to explore and progress. Continued exposure can result in a cascade of negative effects, making even simple tasks feel like monumental challenges. Therefore, prompt identification and treatment are vital for maintaining your character’s health and well-being.

Common Ailments and Their Afflictions

Cyrodiil is a land teeming with a host of unsavory diseases, each with its own unique and debilitating effects. Knowing what to expect and how to identify these ailments is crucial for effective treatment. Here are a few of the most common diseases you might encounter:

• Rockjoint: This insidious disease weakens your muscles, diminishing your Strength. You’ll find yourself carrying less, hitting for less damage, and generally feeling like a wet noodle in a suit of armor.
• Wither: A truly nasty affliction, Wither targets your Agility, impacting your speed, your ability to dodge attacks, and your overall reflexes. Suddenly, those nimble thieves and agile archers will find themselves clumsy and slow.
• Rattles: This disease affects your Endurance, which impacts your overall health and fatigue. Adventuring becomes far more taxing, and you’ll find yourself tiring easily, vulnerable to enemy attacks.

These are just a few examples, and each disease has its own specific, measurable effects. The key is to pay attention to the notifications and understand how these effects translate to your character’s capabilities. Recognizing which creatures or environments pose the greatest risk also plays a significant part in avoiding these ailments in the first place. Areas with undead, disease-ridden animals, or dark, forgotten places are always prime disease-contracting zones.

The Paths to Restoring Health

When disease strikes, swift action is vital. Fortunately, Oblivion offers several paths to cure your character’s afflictions and return them to optimal health.

Potions for Healing

Cure Disease potions are your first line of defense against the many maladies that plague Cyrodiil. These potions can be found in various locations, including general goods stores in cities, alchemy shops offering herbal remedies, and as random loot scattered throughout dungeons and ruins. Wise adventurers always keep a few Cure Disease potions handy, especially when venturing into dangerous territory.

For the more resourceful, crafting your own Cure Disease potions through alchemy is a cost-effective and reliable way to manage your health. Several ingredients are known for their disease-curing properties, including garlic, lavender, and belladonna. Learning the art of alchemy will give you the means to turn these simple ingredients into powerful remedies. Certain regions are richer in these ingredients than others, so diligent exploration is key. Check around farms and gardens for a bountiful supply.

Sanctuaries of Healing

The chapels and altars found in major cities offer a convenient and readily available cure. Simply visit the chapel of your choice, offer a small donation, and receive a blessing that washes away all diseases. This method is particularly useful in the early game, when resources may be scarce and alchemy knowledge limited. While you will need to donate a small amount of gold, the convenience and immediate relief often make it well worth the price.

Spells of Restoration

For mages and spellcasters, Restoration magic offers another viable option. Spells such as the Cure Disease spell can instantly remove any diseases affecting your character. These spells can be acquired from spell vendors in various cities or found as loot in dungeons and other dangerous locations. However, casting these spells effectively requires a certain level of skill in Restoration, making it a more advanced option for those dedicated to the magical arts.

A Drastic Measure

In extreme cases, becoming a vampire and then seeking a cure to vampirism can indirectly cure diseases. Becoming a vampire initially alters your character’s stats and introduces unique abilities, but also renders you immune to disease during the early stages. However, the long-term effects of vampirism can be debilitating. Completing the lengthy and challenging quest to cure vampirism not only removes that condition but also eliminates all other diseases affecting your character. This approach is best considered as a last resort, given the complexity and risks involved.

Shielding Yourself From Sickness

Prevention, as they say, is better than cure. Oblivion offers a variety of methods to minimize your risk of contracting diseases in the first place.

Fortify Defenses

Fortify Health effects and Resist Disease enchantments can significantly bolster your resistance to ailments. Fortify Health temporarily increases your maximum health, mitigating the impact of any attribute damage caused by disease. Resist Disease enchantments, which can be applied to armor and jewelry, provide a percentage-based chance to completely avoid contracting a disease when exposed. The effectiveness of these enchantments depends on their strength and your character’s inherent resistances. You can either find pre-enchanted items or create your own using enchanting altars.

Potent Protections

Potions of Resist Disease provide a temporary but potent shield against infection. These potions can be bought from alchemists or crafted using alchemy. Before venturing into areas known to be rife with disease, such as caves or ruins, consuming a Resist Disease potion can significantly reduce your risk.

Racial Resilience

Certain races possess inherent resistances to disease. Nords, for example, have a natural resistance to frost and disease, making them inherently more resilient to the plagues that plague Cyrodiil. While race selection is a permanent choice, understanding the benefits of each race can aid in character planning and survival, particularly in the early game.

Awareness is Key

The most effective preventative measure is simple awareness of your surroundings. Avoiding areas known to be infested with diseased creatures and using ranged attacks to minimize physical contact can significantly reduce your risk. Being observant and cautious can go a long way in protecting your character from unwanted ailments.

Mitigating the Damage Done

Even with the best preventative measures, you may still find yourself afflicted with disease. In such cases, managing the effects is crucial to minimizing their impact on your character’s capabilities.

Restorative Concoctions

Potions that restore attributes can counteract the temporary damage caused by diseases. If your Strength has been drained by Rockjoint, a potion of Restore Strength can temporarily replenish it, allowing you to continue adventuring with minimal hindrance. Potions with similar effects are available for other attributes as well, such as Intelligence, Agility, and Endurance.

Time and Recuperation

Resting and waiting allows your character to gradually recover from the effects of attribute damage. While resting will not cure the disease itself, it provides a passive means of restoring your damaged attributes. Be mindful of your surroundings when resting, as you are vulnerable to attack.

Empowerment Through Experience

Leveling up can help offset the effects of attribute damage, as it provides an opportunity to improve your attributes and skills. A few extra points in Strength or Endurance can help to compensate for the temporary losses caused by disease, allowing you to maintain your effectiveness in combat and exploration.

Remastered Considerations

The prospect of an Oblivion Remastered raises questions about how the disease mechanic might be adjusted. Will diseases be more or less common? Will there be clearer visual cues for identifying diseased creatures? While we can only speculate at this point, understanding the existing system provides a solid foundation for adapting to any potential changes.

The passionate modding community has long been a cornerstone of the Elder Scrolls experience. Mods that alter the disease system, making it more or less challenging, are readily available for the original Oblivion. Hopefully, the remaster will retain modding support, allowing players to tailor the disease mechanics to their preferences.

An optimized user interface could greatly improve the experience of managing diseases. A clear and concise display of current diseases, their effects, and available remedies would be invaluable. Streamlining the process of identifying and treating diseases could significantly reduce the frustration associated with this mechanic.

Navigating the Plagues of Cyrodiil

Disease in Oblivion, while potentially frustrating, can be effectively managed through a combination of prevention, treatment, and careful planning. Understanding the common diseases, knowing how to cure them, and taking steps to avoid them is essential for thriving in the world of Cyrodiil.

Prepare yourself with knowledge, gather your potions, hone your alchemy skills, and step confidently into the Oblivion Remastered. With the right approach, you can conquer not only the forces of Oblivion, but also the insidious diseases that plague the land. Now, go forth and become the hero Cyrodiil deserves!