How many more times can you listen to Valen Dreth ranting in that cell? If this is your hundredth playthrough, you're probably sick of those sewers and just want to play instead of repeating the tutorial. I've collected working alternate start mods for Oblivion Remastered so you can get straight to it.
If you're putting together your ideal setup, take a look at my dedicated Oblivion Remastered page for the mods and guides you'll need…
Alternative Start
This is a classic that simply works without making you jump through hoops. Instead of trudging through stuffy dungeons, you arrive in the Imperial City aboard a ship and skip the entire tedious tutorial. The remaster's quirks can cause minor visual bugs, but they don't break the game itself.
- Arrive aboard a ship instead of starting in the usual prison
- Baurus behaves properly instead of getting stuck in his scripts
✅ How it changes gameplay: You get your freedom immediately, without spending half an hour killing rats and goblins. Just activate the bed aboard the ship, then head out to explore Cyrodiil at your own pace.
Simple Start Skip — Alternative Start
The author hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel, just given you a convenient way to skip the opening. A special tombstone in your starting cell lets you configure your character. It's the best option if you can't stand running through the dungeons again.
- Change your race, birthsign and class through the tombstone's menu
- Teleport straight to the sewer exit with the Amulet of Kings in your inventory
- A starting chest outside provides basic loot
✅ How it changes gameplay: Ideal if you want the classic opening but value your time. Set up your build, step into the fresh air and get the quest to find Jauffre immediately, skipping the boring part.
Alternative Beginnings OBR
This one is for fans of proper roleplaying and a darker atmosphere. You're in prison as a forgotten wretch who's been rotting in a cell for months, rather than the chosen one the Emperor keeps seeing in his dreams (ahem…). You can choose different starts right from your cell, and perhaps the gods will be kinder to you this time.
- Choose your backstory and starting conditions directly from your cell
- The main quest doesn't start automatically or sit in your journal
- To become the hero, find the dead adventurer carrying the Amulet near Fort Ash
✅ How it changes gameplay: The story doesn't demand that you save the world from the very first second. You can simply live in it and play your chosen role until you deliberately decide to get involved in saving the Empire.
Alternate Start — Main Quest Delayer
Perhaps the most interesting concept if you want to see the world before the crisis. You don't start as a prisoner at all, and Emperor Uriel Septim is still alive and comfortably on the throne. No Oblivion Gates, no panic: just a peaceful life until you decide to spoil it all.
- The Emperor is alive and can be found in the palace, in perfect health
- The Dragonfires are burning and the Oblivion Gates are closed
- The main quest only starts when the guards arrest you for a crime
✅ How it changes gameplay: The world feels peaceful and intact before the disaster, which offers a unique experience. You can spend years as an ordinary citizen, join the guilds and only then kick off the story's chaos by going to prison.
Simple Fast Start — Adventurer’s Inventory
This is a refined version of the usual fast start, built specifically with survival in mind. Instead of a heap of random junk, you get a carefully chosen set of items based on your class and specialization. The author has cut the clutter and added things a traveler can actually use.
- Equipment chosen to suit your specialization, such as mage, agent or pilgrim
- Compatibility with needs mods: your supplies can include soap or food
- Randomized starting loot makes each new playthrough at least a little different
✅ How it changes gameplay: You don't waste time collecting forks and plates in the tutorial for a couple of coins. You start with the minimum you need to survive, balanced so you don't feel like you're cheating.
Mod Installation Recommendations
Installing these mods is usually straightforward, but pay attention to Plugins.txt and the folder paths. Above all, don't throw everything in at once: check that each mod works before adding the next.
- Extract the downloaded archive into the Data folder; its location depends on whether you use Steam or Game Pass
- Find Plugins.txt and add the name of the .esp file, such as SSS.esp
- If you use a mod manager, make sure your load order is correct and conflicts are resolved
If you've lost track of the folders, versions and text files, my detailed mod installation guide explains everything for anyone doing this for the first time.
Choose Your Own Path Through Cyrodiil
An alternate start is a real chance to rethink the whole game and its atmosphere. Stop being the eternal scripted prisoner in the same cell: become whoever you like and write a new story for yourself in Tamriel.
If I've missed a great mod or you've made something unique yourself, feel free to write to me. I'll be happy to test your mods and may add them to this list so other players can try them too.
If you often return to Cyrodiil and need mods, my Oblivion Remastered mod setup covers all the important improvements.
