Hey, everyone! I'm still a bit of a n00b at Oblivion- my character's only a level 15, and I'm really taking my time with things. But I've come across a few problems that I hope you can help me with.

Firstly, I've joined the Fighter's Guild, and one of the quests involves me giving some ectoplasm to some woman so that she will give members of the Fighter's Guild some jobs. What is ectoplasm, and where can I find some of the stuff?

Secondly, how do you deal with ghosts? Does magic affect them at all, and if so, what spells are the best attack to use against them? I've come across a few quests now that involve slaying ghosts, but I just can't seem to get rid of them!

And finally, concerning recommendations within the Mage's Guild- as far as I'm aware, I've gained all of the recommendations necessary, and I know for a fact that I've done what I needed to do in Chorrol, yet the map marker still remains on the place and it's still telling me that I need to get all of the recommendations. What do I need to do?

Sorry for sounding like such an uber-n00b, especially since there's so many of you here that have completed the game, and are absolute masters of Oblivion!

Your a noob, my character is only at level 5.

1. When a ghost dies, look for the blob on the floor, search it and get the Ectoplasm

2. Ive had trouble with this too..
Silver and enchanted weapons work against ghosts, so does magic, but i would try fire magic, i think they have resistance against frost attacks.

3. Not sure about that, you might need to talk to the guy again..
Look here and make sure you have all the guilds covered.

Recommendations

1)Ectoplasm is whats left behind after you kill a ghost now you could go and kill a ghost and take it... Or you could buy it either ways fine.

2)Magic/silver/Daedric/enchanted weapons... All these affect ghosts... If you can use the enchantment alter yet then just enchant a weapon with a very weak fire enchantment (example...Magnitude-3/area-10 or blank/duration-1) this wont cost much money and you'll only need a weak soul gem...So whats the point of doing that? ... well ghosts are effected by enchanted weapons whether there charged or not, so you will always be able to affect ghost with that weapon.

3)Eh, you just probably need to talk to someone to finish the quest... just go where it tells you.

Thanks guys! So, THAT'S how you deal with ghosts! I never realised that I didn't actually have any silver weaponry.

Thanks so much for helping me out!

quote lizardgirl

And finally, concerning recommendations within the Mage's Guild- as far as I'm aware, I've gained all of the recommendations necessary, and I know for a fact that I've done what I needed to do in Chorrol, yet the map marker still remains on the place and it's still telling me that I need to get all of the recommendations. What do I need to do?

Sorry for sounding like such an uber-n00b, especially since there's so many of you here that have completed the game, and are absolute masters of Oblivion!

No if he / she gave the book to teekeeus, then the quest is finished as far as the recommendation goes

but you would like the finger of the mountain spell as well as the recommendation, thats why there is a second part

If you are completely sure you have finished the quest(s) then go to the arcane university, and wait in the lobby until you see Raminus Polus or something, and then speak to him, and it usually skips the marker

I had the same problem, cause I had heard every mages guild master say: you got the recomendation blablabla

As for the spells: silence is nice, although it doesn't do any damage, and for the regular destruction magic, dont use fire, use shock instead because that will do more damage to undead than fire this doesn't count for zombies though

Yeah, I followed your advice, went to the Arcane Uni, and they let me in anyway!

Thanks for the advice!

Okay, here's another question- I've heard about a Skeleton Key that opens all locks in the game. What quest do I have to do to be able to get it?

This message was merged with other messages by shadowj (moderator)

Go up the road East of Leyawiin. Stay on the path, and eventually on your compass you will see the Daedric Shrine symbol, which is an image of a lady in a dress like thing on a platform. Talk to one of the people in front of the statue and say you want to speak with it. Then go up to the statue and begin the quest.

quote lizardgirl

I've heard about a Skeleton Key that opens all locks in the game.

It doesn't open ALL locked doors, just to make it clear, it's an unbreakable lock-pick called the skeleton key and is a deadric artifact given to those that would do service for the Deadric Lord (or should that be lady... do deadra even have genders?), Nocternal(sp). Even so, a master of alteration will be better at getting into places as they don't get seen picking locks (the lock level they can unlock is based on their skill rating...) and so the guards don't see the crime... as such =P.

Yeah, it's just a fancy looking unbreakable lockpick. Still, it's fun to tell your friends that you have the skeleton key... especially if they don't know what you are talking about. Then you get to watch their fake enthusiasm.

So, how exactly do you get this skeleton key anyway? I keep running out of lockpicks, and buying them from Thieves Guild members is always very expensive.

quote R3sistance

It doesn't open ALL locked doors, just to make it clear, it's an unbreakable lock-pick called the skeleton key and is a deadric artifact given to those that would do service for the Deadric Lord (or should that be lady... do deadra even have genders?), Nocternal(sp). Even so, a master of alteration will be better at getting into places as they don't get seen picking locks (the lock level they can unlock is based on their skill rating...) and so the guards don't see the crime... as such =P.

quote lizardgirl

So, how exactly do you get this skeleton key anyway? I keep running out of lockpicks, and buying them from Thieves Guild members is always very expensive.

Sitruc-Thanks for the advice- I've never really used the auto thing before, but it works pretty well!

There's another quest that I'm pretty stuck on- the one about Garrigan's Tears. I've got to the point where I'm actually in the glade where it's all cold and where Garrigan himself is frozen, but I can't seem to find the crystals that are meant to be his tears. I've had a really good look around, but they don't seem to be anywhere.