In Oblivion Remastered, persuading an NPC involves a mini-game that aims to increase the NPC's disposition (how much they like you), which can unlock benefits like better prices or additional dialogue options.
How Persuasion Works
- To start persuading, talk to an NPC and select the "Persuading" button at the bottom left of the dialogue screen
- This opens a circular menu with four possible actions: Admire, Joke, Coerce, and Boast. Each action must be chosen exactly once per round
- The NPC has hidden preferences for these actions, categorized as Love, Like, Dislike, and Hate. Choosing an action they love or like increases their disposition, while disliked or hated actions decrease it
- Each action corresponds to a wedge on the circle, and the size of the wedge affects how much disposition is gained or lost. After selecting an action, the wheel rotates clockwise by one quarter turn, changing the alignment of wedges for the next choice
- The goal is to maximize disposition gain by selecting actions when their positive wedges are largest and minimize losses by selecting disliked actions when their wedges are smallest
- The NPC’s facial expressions give clues to their preferences when hovering over each action
- The mini-game is timed, and disposition gradually decreases over time, so you must act efficiently
Additional Features in Oblivion Remastered
- The remaster adds color coding to the wedges after the first persuasion attempt: red for hate, orange for dislike, yellow for like, and green for love, making it easier to identify preferences visually
- The wedges also have concentric bars indicating the strength of influence, helping players strategize their choices better
- You can also bribe NPCs to increase disposition instantly, though it costs in-game currency
- Speechcraft skill affects persuasion: higher skill reduces disposition loss over time, allows free rotation of the wheel, lowers bribe costs, and eventually prevents disposition from decreasing while persuading
Summary of Persuasion Strategy
- Identify NPC preferences by observing facial reactions or using color-coded wedges.
- Plan the order of actions to maximize positive disposition gains and minimize losses.
- Use free rotations and bribes wisely if you have the Speechcraft perks.
- Act quickly to avoid losing disposition due to the timer.
This system is a strategic mini-game that rewards careful observation and planning to improve relationships with NPCs for gameplay advantages