Oblivion: Master the Market – A Guide to Investing in Shops for Maximum Profit

Introduction

Tired of grinding dungeons for chump change, constantly looting bandits for scraps, and feeling like Cyrodiil’s economy is passing you by? There’s a far more profitable path to becoming a wealthy adventurer: investing in shops! Forget endless questing; learn how to become a savvy merchant tycoon right here! This guide will detail how to leverage the hidden investment mechanics within The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to exponentially increase your wealth and gain access to the finest wares in the land.

In Oblivion, unlike many RPGs, you can’t outright buy shops and run them. Instead, you can invest gold into a shopkeeper’s coffers, boosting their available funds. This seemingly simple act has huge ramifications. It directly impacts what goods they stock, the quality of those goods, and how much they’re willing to pay you for your hard-earned loot. Investing is a crucial method to ensure you are getting the maximum price possible when selling to merchants, and ensures there is always a suitable amount of gold available for larger transactions.

This article will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the shop investment system in Oblivion. You’ll learn precisely who to invest in, how much gold to offer, and the best shop investments that will dramatically increase your profits. By the end of this guide, you’ll understand how to effectively leverage the system, making you a true master of the Oblivion market.

Understanding the Shop Investment System

The core of successful merchanting in Oblivion hinges on understanding how the investment system works. To invest, initiate a conversation with a merchant. If they are eligible for investment, and your Mercantile skill is high enough, you will see a dialogue option relating to money or business. Selecting this will offer the option to invest a certain amount of gold, generally five hundred gold.

Your Mercantile skill is paramount here. A higher Mercantile skill not only unlocks the investment option for more merchants but also maximizes the potential return on your investment. A fledgling adventurer with little experience in trading may not be able to leverage the system at all, so it is vital to level up before attempting to maximise profit.

When you offer an investment, the merchant will either accept or reject. Accepting increases their available gold. This boost directly translates to a larger inventory, better quality items for sale, and a willingness to purchase more expensive items from you. It’s a direct line to becoming wealthier faster.

However, the system isn’t without its limitations. Not every merchant in Cyrodiil welcomes investments. Some merchants are simply uninterested, perhaps content with their current business or lacking the necessary trust. Merchants also have a maximum gold capacity; investing beyond this point is pointless. More crucially, you can only invest in each merchant once per playthrough. Make your choice count.

Who to Invest In: The Best Merchant Candidates

Choosing the right merchants to invest in is crucial for maximizing your profits. Not all shopkeepers are created equal. Some offer far greater returns than others. Before throwing gold at the first merchant you see, consider these important criteria:

First, look at the type of goods the merchant sells. Do they specialize in weapons and armor? Are they an alchemist, offering rare ingredients and potions? Or perhaps they are a spell caster and can offer magical items. Invest in merchants selling items that are useful to your playstyle, and that are generally useful to others. This guarantees you will often be selling to the merchant as well as buying from them.

Second, consider the merchant’s location. A shop located in a major city like the Imperial City or Chorrol is generally more convenient than a remote store in a smaller settlement. Proximity matters when you need to quickly buy or sell items. Being able to easily run between several merchants ensures you are not wasting valuable adventuring time.

Third, examine their starting gold reserves. Merchants with higher initial gold amounts generally have a higher potential for growth, meaning investing in them can have a more significant impact. Check merchant inventories before investing to ensure their profits match your own needs.

Based on these criteria, here are a few highly recommended merchants to invest in:

• Rindir’s Staffs (Imperial City, Market District): A must-have for mages. Rindir offers a fantastic selection of staves, scrolls, and other magical paraphernalia. Investing in his shop expands his inventory and makes him a prime buyer for any unwanted magical items you find during your adventures.
• Seed-Neeus (Skingrad): For alchemists, Seed-Neeus is an invaluable resource. He stocks a wide variety of alchemy ingredients, making him the perfect place to offload your gathered herbs and buy supplies for potion-making. Investing ensures he always has the ingredients you need.
• A Warlock’s Luck (Bravil): If mysticism is your trade then visiting the warlock is an absolute must. Stocking a wide array of spells and items that are invaluable for the budding mage.
• Fire and Steel (Chorrol): This shop offers a decent selection of weapons and armor, and is a great place to invest for budding fighters. A wide range of weapons and armors are available from this shop, and investing ensures high value goods are frequently stocked.
• Best Defense (Imperial City, Market District): Another great option for weapons and armor. Best Defence provides a wide array of supplies for warriors and is also located centrally within the Imperial City.

These merchants are just a starting point. Explore Cyrodiil, talk to shopkeepers, and experiment to discover other promising investment opportunities.

How Much to Invest: Maximizing Your Return

While offering the default five hundred gold investment is a good start, maximizing your return requires a deeper understanding of the system. The core objective should be to invest enough gold to reach the merchant’s maximum gold capacity. This capacity is influenced by your Mercantile skill and the merchant’s inherent trading ability.

While the game doesn’t explicitly state each merchant’s maximum gold, you can infer it by observing their inventory and sale prices after you invest. If you invest five hundred gold and the merchant’s stock improves significantly and they offer higher prices, you’re on the right track. If there’s little change, they may already be close to their maximum.

The benefits of maximizing a merchant’s gold are substantial. You’ll see a noticeable increase in the quality and quantity of items they stock. More importantly, they’ll be willing to pay you much higher prices for your goods. This is particularly valuable when selling rare or enchanted items.

Consider this example: You invest in Seed-Neeus in Skingrad. Before your investment, he offers a paltry sum for your rare Nirnroot. After your investment, his gold reserves increase, and he’s now willing to pay a significantly higher price, substantially boosting your profits.

Tips & Tricks for Successful Investing

Mastering the Oblivion investment system requires more than just knowing who to invest in and how much to offer. Here are some essential tips and tricks to elevate your merchanting game:

First, prioritize raising your Mercantile skill. A high Mercantile skill unlocks investment opportunities and influences merchant behavior. A trader is nothing without the ability to haggle, so get practicing. An easy way to level up Mercantile is to sell items in bulk. Haggling prices up and down will provide a bonus to skill increases.

Second, time your investments wisely. Investing early in the game provides the maximum long-term benefit. As you level up, you’ll find more valuable items, and having merchants with ample gold reserves to buy them from is invaluable.

Finally, keep track of your investments. You can only invest in each merchant once, so it’s essential to remember who you’ve invested in. Use a notepad or the in-game journal to record your investments and their effectiveness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned adventurers can fall prey to common investment mistakes. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

Avoid investing in merchants who are likely to die during quests. Research questlines beforehand and be cautious about investing in NPCs who might be essential to future events. Losing your investment along with the merchant is a frustrating setback.

Do not invest before leveling your Mercantile skill. A low Mercantile skill limits your investment options and reduces the potential return. Invest time in improving your skills before spending your precious gold.

Another mistake to avoid is ignoring the disposition of merchants. Improve their disposition before selling items to get the best possible prices. A friendly merchant is a generous merchant.

Conclusion

Investing in shops in Oblivion is more than just a way to make money; it’s a strategic advantage that enhances your entire gaming experience. By carefully selecting merchants, maximizing your investments, and avoiding common mistakes, you can unlock a new level of wealth and access to the finest goods Cyrodiil has to offer.

So, take your knowledge of the market and make some gold. Try the techniques described in this article and watch your fortune grow. With a little investment and cunning, you too can become a wealthy entrepreneur in the dangerous world of Cyrodiil!

FAQ: Common Investment Questions

Common questions about the Oblivion shop investment system.

Can I invest in DLC merchants?

Yes, you can invest in merchants introduced in the Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine DLCs, provided they meet the investment criteria.

What happens if a merchant I invested in dies?

Unfortunately, your investment is lost. This is why choosing your investment targets wisely is crucial.

Does investing affect a merchant’s disposition?

Investing itself doesn’t directly impact disposition, but the act of trading with them afterward can increase it if you’re successful.

Is there a limit to how much gold a merchant can have?

Yes, each merchant has a maximum gold capacity. Experiment to determine the optimal investment amount.