You'll notice a lack of evil character options, but its exclusion makes sense. Characters include a wealthy merchant, a priest, or even a skilled craftsman. You're now able to choose from a range of character options most comparable to classic RPGs. No longer will you find yourself acting as a substitute exterminator for Uriel Septim.
Fret not! The Alternate Start Arrive By Ship mod from Robert_evrae cuts out the rather laborious chore of an intro in favor of captaining a ship that just so happens to enter the port of either the Imperial City or Anvil. Oblivion's intro through the Imperial City's rat-infested prison catacombs can be a bit of a slog to get through, especially after repeated playthroughs.
