Date last updated: May 27, 2008
I was asked what I would recommend to somebody that wanted to play through the game but without the major overhaul mods and will later checkout additional mods to add weapons, armor, quests and such.
Here is my recommended list for such a scenario.
Bug Fixes
=========
Unofficial Oblivion Patch - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5296
Unofficial Official Mods Patch - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9969
Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10739
Homes and Home Improvement
==========================
Arkenfell Manor - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4852
ArmoryLab - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3791
Bravil Sea Domes - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9388
Top of the World - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9169
Buildings
=========
Bank of Cyrodiil - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3172
Imperial City Library - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3868
Let the People Drink - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10223
Natural History Museum - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7593
Companions
==========
None
Cheats and God Items
====================
Bobos Summoned Chest - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3888
Creatures
=========
None
Dungeons and Locations
======================
None
Gameplay
========
Attack and Hide - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2443
or
Stealth Overhaul - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6359
Bounty: Regional, Decrease per Day - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3323
Cyrodiil Border Remover - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10030
Deadlier Traps - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1991
Distance Mod - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8626
Galerion Unarmored Acrobatics - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5067
House Map Markers (Fast Travel) - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3345
Lock Bash Total Compatibility - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4999
PJs Spell Compendium - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3892
Quest Award Leveling - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2119
Real Month and Day of Week - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7191
Realistic Ragdolls and Force - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5011
Reneer's Guard Overhaul - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5977
Guilds/Factions
===============
None
Magic
=====
Enchanting and Spellmaking - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6322
Miscellaneous
=============
Reznod's Mannequins - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7700
Complete Gardening - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3852
Gold Coin Bagger - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7452
Landmarks - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2502
Priests of Akatosh - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7011
Salmo the Baker - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8435
Thieves Arsenal - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9655
Oblivion Gate Map Marker Remover - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9151
New Lands
=========
Bartholm - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5022
Hair & Face Textures or Models
==============================
Beautiful People - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5175
Improved Facial Textures - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5643
Improved Argonian Facial Textures - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6611
Lockpicks - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9258
Body Mods
=========
None
Items, Objects & Clothes
========================
Com's Torch Compendium - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6472
Decorator Assistant - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6021
Fast Home Travel - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2154
Guiding Beacons and Generic Notes - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9393
Landscape & Environment
=======================
Almost Everything Visible When Distant - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7705
Distant Chapel Bells - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12993
Enhanced Water - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8011
Oblivion Stereo Sound Overhaul - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5861
NPCs
====
Crowded Cities - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6665
Crowded Roads - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4805
Random Encounters - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6174
Models and Textures
===================
Book Jackets Oblivion - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5570
Improved Signs - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9498
Improved Fruits Vetetables and Meats - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10487
Improved Amulets and Rings - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17147
Improved Trees and Flora - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11891
Real Lava - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6854
User Interface
=============
Cyrodiil Terrain Map - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2634
Colored Map Markers - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2537
Weapons and Armor
=================
None