Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-10870829-20130706015706/@comment-4057437-20130708065830

Many have posted about their negative experience with Oblivion's scaling. We addressed this at the start of our reply;  the Hero can choose when to level, so use that. They usually don't level up any higher than the minimum required to do all the daedric quests and have finished the game several times at level 20.

Not leveling means they aren't as strong, but spells can compensate. It means loot isn't as valuable, but they just collect more (using Feather spells), etc.

As for getting higher level armor and weapons, the Hero has killed Umbra at level 2, using paralysis potions and enchanted weapons gotten through side quests. That gives them ebony armor at level 2. They also get the Honorblade of Chorral at level 2 as well. A weightless ebony sword that can't break, is effective against ghosts, and doesn't require the smithing skill enchanted items do.

Other tactics help as well; a Hero of any race/sex can leave the sewer with sneak and atheletics at journeyman level, if they are willing to spend the time, by sneaking and jumping,  Baurus is ideal for this as he just stands there guarding the Emperor's body.

Every character starts with a few basic spells. They can be used in the sewer to train. Conjure skeletons and destroy them with flare or hand to hand. Get injured by jumping to heal themself and train both atheletics and restoration. Use some imagination!

Enemies don't scale to the Hero's skills, they scale to the Hero's level. Take advantage of that!