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                          The Elder Scrolls IV
                            OBLIVION plugin

                            Ranger Armor v2.0
			   
			   by Dimitri Mazieres
		
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Index:
1. About this mod
2. Installation
3. Playing the Plugin
4. CUSTOMIZING THE PLUGIN
5. Saved Games & Conflicts
6. Known Issues & Bugs
7. History of Changes
8. Spoilers
9. Credits & Usage


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     1. ABOUT THIS MOD

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This mod adds a couple of new armors based on my Hashshashin Armor mod, suitable for a ranger kind of character, as originally requested by BigJonno on the Elder Scrolls Forums.
Also, as of version 2.0, a couple of scimitars based on the ones wielded by R.A. Salvatore's character Drizzt Do'Urden were added.
Finally, I've also added a Daedric light armor variation.

The "Light" version is set up as something in the level of Mithril Armor, although a bit more durable, and quite more expensive, while the "Heavy" parts are a bit tougher. The Daedric light armor is stronger than glass armor.
If you want to change this, you can do so in the Construction Set (DMRGR subcategory in the Armor tree [Daedric for the daedric greaves and gauntlets] -> double click on the item you wish to change -> change the AR rating to something you'd like -> Save the mod).

The scimitars are quite powerful, based on Ebony counterparts, so you may find them a bit unbalancing. You can change their stats in the same way as with the armors.


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     2. INSTALLING THE PLUGIN

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To install the plugin, unpack the Meshes and Textures folders, and the DMRangerArmor.esp plugin in your Oblivion\Data folder, click Yes when prompted to overwrite, and then activate the DMRangerArmor.esp file in the Data Files option of Oblivion's splashscreen.


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     3. PLAYING THE PLUGIN

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Take the West road from Cheydinhal and head to the Imperial City (or the opposite if you're coming from the IC ;-)). Your help is needed there...

If you need more specific directions, refer the the Spoilers section below.


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     4. CUSTOMIZING THE PLUGIN

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I've included a couple of extra options to customize your armor look. They're mainly discarded options that I thought someone could be interested in, so I've provided them in an Extra folder.

To use any of these options, just copy and paste the files from their folders into the correspondent folder of your Oblivion install folder.


- Alternate Heavy Cuirass (AltHeavyCuirass folder): This is just another heavy cuirass with different, smaller pauldrons.

- Alternate Greaves (AltGreaves folder): In case you'd like geaves without chainmail, this is the option you should use.

- Alternate Armored Skirt (AltArmoredSkirt folder): If you'd like to have your armored skirt coupled with the metal plates from the greaves, use the file in this folder to overwrite the original mesh.

- Alternate Brown Textures (BrownArmor folder): This folder contains alternate textures to turn all the green part of the armors into brown,

- Alternate Daedric Boots (AltDaedBoots folder): An alternate set of boots, using the Mithril boots' mesh.

- Alternate Daedric Greaves (AltDaedGreaves folder): If you'd rather have a set of greaves without the chainmail skirt, use the files in this folder.	

- Alternate Daedric Mask (AltDaedMask folder): If you don't like the mouth design on the standard Daedric mask, here are the textures for a mouthless mask.

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     5. SAVED GAMES & CONFLICTS

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This plugin should not invalidate your old saved games. But it never hurts to backup your saved games files.
It shouldn't conflict with any other plugins, though there may be slight conflicts if other plugins modify any of the cells affected by this one.
If you want to get rid of it, just delete the relevant files, and deactivate the esp.

Special Note: The equipment isn't leveled, so it may be a bit too powerful for a starting character, or weak for a higher level one.


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     6. KNOWN ISSUES & BUGS

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The skirt/pants mesh is originally for males only so, while there isn't massive clipping or other important issues when the item is worn by a female character, it may not look particularly feminine. Even so, the skirt part of the mesh covers much of the legs, so you probably won't notice it unless you try. ;-)


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     7. HISTORY OF CHANGES

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- 1.0 - Initial Release

- 1.1 - Fixed a wrong texture reference in the cuirass' mesh. Thanks to Ayslinn for the heads up!

- 2.0 - Toned down the green fabric saturation, added individual boots, gauntlets, a new Heavy cuirass, greaves, optional cuirass and greaves options, a new full set of light Daedric armor with optional content, and a couple of scimitars using Adonnay's excellent meshes.

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     8. SPOILERS

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On the road from Cheydinhal to the Imperial City, near the Barren Cave, you'll find a couple of Rangers that are being attacked by three bandits. Unfortunately, the bandits will prove too much for them. After beating the bandits, get ready to fight for the Daedric light armor. And I really meant that. ;-)

Note that if you have other NPCs adding mods (like Martigen's Monster Mod), you may find more NPCs taking part of the encounter.


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     9. CREDITS & USAGE

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A VERY BIG thank you to all of the following people, without whom this mod couldn't have happened:

- Original request by BigJonno, at the ES Forums.
- Original cuirass, bracers, boots, pants, pauldrons and hood meshes and textures by Bethesda.
- Separate Dark Brotherhood cuirass by Xifr.
- Original mask mesh and textures by Cryo_.
- Original hood's rim texture and normal maps' designs by Chiz.
- Xcom for the NPCs' scripts and Nightmare9870, grond and Big Brother for further help with them.
- XMarksTheSpot for mirroring the cuirass' pauldron and belt, as well as separating the plates from the iron greaves' mesh. Thanks a lot!
- Altair0 for testing v1.0.
- Adonnay for the original scimitar meshes and textures.
- Alien Slof for the original skirt and chainmail textures.
- Vagabond Angel for helping me to sort out the issue of the female greaves. Thanks again, VA! ;-)
- jesserevis1 of the Elder Scrolls Forums for testing the v2.0 update.
- TheTalkieToaster for helping to improve the scripts.
- All the people that provided encouragement at the Elder Scrolls Forums. :-)

- Me: Textures recoloring and tweaking, Daedric armor's textures, scimitars' textures.


This plugin may be uploaded to any distribution site without asking me for permission, as long as it is unchanged.

If you want to use any of the resources in this plugin, you don't need my permission (although I'd like a little note in the credits ;-), but make sure to contact the original creators, if needed, for their respective OKs, and give them proper credit.

If you have any reason to contact me, you can do it at dimitrithelegend@gmail.com, or you can also find me at the Elder Scrolls Forums here: http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?

Now, go play ;-)