I don't get it, I love my mage. : V

» Thu May 10, 2012 11:52 pm

After a few reboots of the first 5-10 hours of the game, I finally settled down on a pure mage (conjuration, alteration, destruction, restoration, illusion, enchantment, (some) alchemy.

I don't get what all the hates about. Maybe its because I'm only level 15, but I think its a blast.

I'm thinking too many kids think playing a mage means only using destruction.

» Fri May 11, 2012 8:20 am

After a few reboots of the first 5-10 hours of the game, I finally settled down on a pure mage (conjuration, alteration, destruction, restoration, illusion, enchantment, (some) alchemy.

I don't get what all the hates about. Maybe its because I'm only level 15, but I think its a blast.

I'm thinking too many kids think playing a mage means only using destruction.

I went in wanting to be a conjuror after playing the previous games, so its been pretty easy for me. I am pretty let down by the lack of spells in the game, but it's definitely not hard. Especially now that I have frost atronarch.

» Fri May 11, 2012 5:14 am

I love the mage aspects...I generally go for the more warrior-esque skills but always dabble in a bit of conjuration and alchemy

» Fri May 11, 2012 1:15 am

I'm just trying out a pure mage at the moment. I've clocked about 30 hours into my assassin and I'm going to switch over to a battlemage (heavy armor caster points into enchantment to make my heavy armor as good as robes for casting), I've been enjoying the first hour or two as mage, so i'm not sure why people hate on it so much either.

» Fri May 11, 2012 9:54 am

I think people are only using destruction.

Using destruction plus conjuration and illusion is much much better.

Speaking of mages, is there an unlock spell yet?

» Fri May 11, 2012 3:25 am

Most people are having an easy time with a mage. I've seen more "mages is overpowered" threads than I have people complaining that it's not good. I think it comes down to bad builds at the end of the day.

» Fri May 11, 2012 9:57 am

I'm with you, I got bored with my 2 handed warrior and rebooted a mage (Conjuration, Destruction, Alteration with enough Restoration to get the 50% magika regen) and I am just owning things on expert. Companions and Minions make it pretty easy. Only gripe I have is your pretty much forced into choosing an Altmer due to their overpowered racial traits

» Fri May 11, 2012 5:42 am

After a few reboots of the first 5-10 hours of the game, I finally settled down on a pure mage (conjuration, alteration, destruction, restoration, illusion, enchantment, (some) alchemy.

I don't get what all the hates about. Maybe its because I'm only level 15, but I think its a blast.

I'm thinking too many kids think playing a mage means only using destruction.

I've played two pure Mage characters to level 20+ so far and I've had no issues with either. I imagine the people having issues are the ones boosting skills up like Sneak, Illusion, etc to abnormally high levels for their character level and then wondering why they can't kill anything.

I could stand around in Whiterun casting Muffle over and over to get my Illusion to 100 but I don't do that because I'm smart enough to know it will make enemies harder.

» Thu May 10, 2012 9:21 pm

After a few reboots of the first 5-10 hours of the game, I finally settled down on a pure mage (conjuration, alteration, destruction, restoration, illusion, enchantment, (some) alchemy.

I don't get what all the hates about. Maybe its because I'm only level 15, but I think its a blast.

I'm thinking too many kids think playing a mage means only using destruction.

It got easier after I finally got to the mage academy and bought some spells. Also having a companion helps a bunch.

» Fri May 11, 2012 10:36 am

After a few reboots of the first 5-10 hours of the game, I finally settled down on a pure mage (conjuration, alteration, destruction, restoration, illusion, enchantment, (some) alchemy.

I don't get what all the hates about. Maybe its because I'm only level 15, but I think its a blast.

I'm thinking too many kids think playing a mage means only using destruction.

I'm guessing it has to do with people specializing in destruction vs being a general mage. I'm trying to specialize in destruction but apparntly according to the forums I'm not allowed to do that. Tisk tisk, so much for play how you want..

» Fri May 11, 2012 12:16 pm

I use a mixture with my battlemage so I'm very happy. I'll use whatever I can to stay alive and if my magic isn't strong enough for something, I have a two-handed weapon that's plenty tough. With poison on it, it does just fine. I had an enchanted weapon that I wasn't using and had Lydia carry it and she used it and did so good, I took it back.

» Fri May 11, 2012 2:36 am

About 15 hours in, level 11 and I hate mine.

Destruction is too weak and costs too much mana, alteration and illusion are too costly, I have no armour and mana drains down too quickly an regens far too slowly. Even 1v1 against enemies is a slog, 2v1 or more and you are dead.

New favourites menus makes swapping spells an absolute chore. I hate it.

1 useless mage and a lot of wasted time. Wish I had been told at the start that Conan the barbarian was the only viable build.

» Fri May 11, 2012 11:01 am

Well i have trouble playing mage, i just got my frost atronach but 2 hits from normal bandits and its dead... I dont know why but i just seem so weak compared to everything else, i think im lvl 8

I use oakflesh for more armor and i also use healing and destro to dmg them, And my race is altmer and im currently using necromancer robe.

Also can you guys tell me why they even added raise zombie/reanimate/whatever the more powerfull ones are called, When they require a corpse and an atronach doesnt? The corpse evem turns into dust after use so you cant even reuse the same corpse.

» Thu May 10, 2012 11:01 pm

Most people are having an easy time with a mage. I've seen more "mages is overpowered" threads than I have people complaining that it's not good. I think it comes down to bad builds at the end of the day.

I think the problem is people compare class vs class and not kill by skill.

I think most of the game skills are very nice. I think enchantment is outright unquestionable OP if you perk it right.

Destruction on the other hand isn't up to par on other damage skills. Two-handed, One handed, and archery our perform Destruction. You will be stronger being almost a full mage with archery swapped out for destruction then a pure mage and arrows are easier to waste mindlessly then mana.

» Fri May 11, 2012 9:03 am

About 15 hours in, level 11 and I hate mine.

Destruction is too weak and costs too much mana, alteration and illusion are too costly, I have no armour and mana drains down too quickly an regens far too slowly. Even 1v1 against enemies is a slog, 2v1 or more and you are dead.

New favourites menus makes swapping spells an absolute chore. I hate it.

1 useless mage and a lot of wasted time. Wish I had been told at the start that Conan the barbarian was the only viable build.

Mages are viable. You're either doing it wrong or you're just bad at Skyrim.

» Fri May 11, 2012 1:01 am

About 15 hours in, level 11 and I hate mine.

Destruction is too weak and costs too much mana, alteration and illusion are too costly, I have no armour and mana drains down too quickly an regens far too slowly. Even 1v1 against enemies is a slog, 2v1 or more and you are dead.

New favourites menus makes swapping spells an absolute chore. I hate it.

1 useless mage and a lot of wasted time. Wish I had been told at the start that Conan the barbarian was the only viable build.

How many levels are you putting into Magika? At level 16 I've put every level into it, once I got my "half cost spell casting novice x skill" I hardly ever ran out.

Try using more CC (calm specifically) and conjured pets to soak up some damage.

» Fri May 11, 2012 7:30 am

Well i have trouble playing mage, i just got my frost atronach but 2 hits from normal bandits and its dead... I dont know why but i just seem so weak compared to everything else, i think im lvl 8

I use oakflesh for more armor and i also use healing and destro to dmg them, And my race is altmer and im currently using necromancer robe.

Also can you guys tell me why they even added raise zombie/reanimate/whatever the more powerfull ones are called, When they require a corpse and an atronach doesnt? The corpse evem turns into dust after use so you cant even reuse the same corpse.

Frost Atronach at level 8 seems pretty early on, your probably spending too much mana keeping that thing up. Make absolutely sure you get the Alteration perk "Mage Armor" if your using Oakflesh/Stoneskin, it's amazing.

In terms of the zombie skills, I've been wondering that myself. I think it may mean that the necromancy pets are slightly stronger, though I don't have any proof for that.

» Fri May 11, 2012 7:05 am

About 15 hours in, level 11 and I hate mine.

Destruction is too weak and costs too much mana, alteration and illusion are too costly, I have no armour and mana drains down too quickly an regens far too slowly. Even 1v1 against enemies is a slog, 2v1 or more and you are dead.

New favourites menus makes swapping spells an absolute chore. I hate it.

1 useless mage and a lot of wasted time. Wish I had been told at the start that Conan the barbarian was the only viable build.

It's not. You must just not be a very good mage. It's a ridiculously easy class.

» Thu May 10, 2012 11:03 pm

How many levels are you putting into Magika? At level 16 I've put every level into it, once I got my "half cost spell casting novice x skill" I hardly ever ran out.

Try using more CC (calm specifically) and conjured pets to soak up some damage.

Every level has gone into magica, have got novice and apprentice reduced-cost destruction casting ability, mana runs out very quickly. Regen rate in battle (even with 75% buff to regen) is so slow it might as well not regen at all. Out of battle the regen is quite reasonable thanks to the buff actually working.,

I use fury, I use oakflesh, but the damage comes so thick and fast that you are downing potions like an alcoholic and having to constantly hold healing just to stay alive.

» Fri May 11, 2012 10:31 am

I love playing a Mage. And I like feeling confident walking into a fight rather than feeling queesy with my palms sweating, which is what my lvl 2 Prisoner is feeling right now. And I'm surprised Alteration hasn't been mentioned. Water Breathing, Water Walking and Detect Life are essential to me, although I usually procure a water breathing ring/amulet asap.

» Fri May 11, 2012 12:43 pm

I don't care if mages are viable, I just want my damn spellcrafting.

» Fri May 11, 2012 1:26 am

Mages are viable. You're either doing it wrong or you're just bad at Skyrim.

Some of it is probably this. I honed my skills at building a mage in Obilvion and had my fail attempts back then and learned what worked best at building that type of character for my combat style. My Skyrim mage is doing fine. Also I use a range of magic skills (conjuration, destruction, enchantment, restoration) and I also carry a blade with enchantments on it. I'm not double wielding spells unless I"m stuck in a situation where everyone else is much stronger than I am/I'm outnumbered and I need that extra firepower. Other wise I stick to one spell and the blade.

» Fri May 11, 2012 5:05 am

I'm really enjoying mine. So far, been spec'ing in Destruct and Conjuration, I want to venture into the other magic trees though.

» Fri May 11, 2012 8:23 am

I played as a Mage in Oblivion. It worked because the damage output was acceptable for the penalty of having zero armour. In skyrim the penalty for having no armour is far greater than the benefits of being a pure mage.

» Fri May 11, 2012 1:48 am

Every level has gone into magica, have got novice and apprentice reduced-cost destruction casting ability, mana runs out very quickly. Regen rate in battle (even with 75% buff to regen) is so slow it might as well not regen at all. Out of battle the regen is quite reasonable thanks to the buff actually working.,

I use fury, I use oakflesh, but the damage comes so thick and fast that you are downing potions like an alcoholic and having to constantly hold healing just to stay alive.

Remember that mana regen stops while your casting. Another thing to consider is using Wards against enemy mages/ranged. When used correctly they almost completely negate incoming damage.

p.s.

What difficulty are you playing on? My OP is specifically about the standard difficulty, if your playing expert/master, I can't help you