Although The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered lacks a formal Karma mechanic, it tracks the hero’s deeds through Fame and Infamy. These scores influence how NPCs react, unlock certain missions, and interact with other game systems. Choosing the best early-game build or the best classes for newcomers helps, but watching Fame and Infamy is just as important for long-term success.
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This is because Fame and Infamy are exclusive to the protagonist, and specific actions, such as some choices and quests, will raise either value. For players aiming to become revered heroes or infamous figures feared across the land, mastering these mechanics is essential for developing a memorable identity in Oblivion Remastered.
How Fame And Infamy Work In Oblivion Remastered
In The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Fame is a mechanic that measures the heroic deeds performed by a character throughout the RPG’s storyline. It can be gained through main quests, some side missions, or even by closing the Oblivion Gates scattered across the map. The best way to earn these points is by making virtuous choices during the adventure, like gathering support from various cities to help Bruma during the “Allies for Bruma” quest.
At the same time, Infamy serves as the counterpart to Fame in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. It tracks the crimes and morally questionable actions taken by the protagonist while exploring Cyrodiil. However, it’s not just about committing crimes, certain quests, especially those tied to factions looked down upon by society, such as the Thieves Guild, will also grant Infamy points to the character.
Fame and Infamy can be checked in the Character Profile, under the Details tab.
While not a central gameplay mechanic in Oblivion Remastered, both Fame and Infamy still influence certain aspects of the game. The first is NPC Disposition toward the protagonist, since a higher Fame can lead to better shop prices or unlock new dialogue options when speaking with NPCs.
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Infamy, on the other hand, affects NPC reactions based on their Responsibility attribute. The higher this value, the more negatively an NPC will respond to the player’s Infamy, reducing their disposition. Conversely, characters with low Responsibility may react positively to high Infamy, seeing the protagonist as someone aligned with their own values.
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Additionally, a few specific quests can only be triggered once the player has reached a certain Fame level during the journey. Similarly, the most expensive houses in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, located in Chorrol and Skingrad, are only available to characters with a strong reputation.
How To Earn Fame Points In Oblivion Remastered
There are roughly 200 Fame points available in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, earned through a mix of main storyline progress and side quest completions. Players seeking to boost their Fame, either to unlock content or improve merchant prices, can focus on several key activities:
- Advancing through the main questline
- Winning Arena battles
- Joining the Mages Guild
- Joining the Fighters Guild
- Obtaining Daedric Artifacts
- Closing Oblivion Gates
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In the early stages of Oblivion Remastered, the most effective method to gain Fame is by competing in the Arena located in the Imperial City. Each victory rewards Fame points while offering valuable combat experience. This activity also helps characters improve Major Skills related to melee or ranged fighting and provides a consistent source of gold, making it an ideal early-game strategy for aspiring heroes.
How To Earn Infamy Points In Oblivion Remastered
Unlike Fame, there’s no cap on the amount of Infamy players can accumulate in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. This value can increase indefinitely based on the player’s actions, especially those tied to criminal behavior. The main methods to raise Infamy include:
- Reaching a Bounty above 1000 gold (repeatable)
- Completing Dark Brotherhood quests
- Completing Thieves Guild quests
- Killing random NPCs or guards
For players who wish to commit crimes without raising personal Infamy, the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal offers a unique solution. Earned at the end of the Thieves Guild questline, this mask transfers all future Infamy to the identity of the Gray Fox instead. While wearing it, the character becomes a feared legend across Cyrodiil, allowing unlawful actions without staining their personal reputation.
How To Lower Infamy In Oblivion
Typically, gaining a few points of Infamy isn’t something that significantly hinders progress in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. Players can still commit a few crimes without facing major penalties. However, since Infamy scales infinitely, unlike Fame, it can eventually block access to certain items or prevent the activation of Heaven Stones, which grant powerful abilities.
Fortunately, there is a way to reduce a player’s Infamy in Oblivion Remastered. Since the game includes the DLCs, completing the Pilgrimage, a quest tied to the Knights of the Nine expansion, offers one solution. During this mission, players must visit various wayshrines across the map, and one of its rewards is resetting the character’s Infamy back to zero.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- April 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
