Stopped reading there...

Fable 2 had the worst magic system EVER and Fable 3 was only a little better because of combining spells.

So what if spells are not instant? Their are a great number of diverse spells in the game and thats more than enough. Oblivion had a near instant cast magic system that could be used with weapons at the same time and it was almost as bad as Fable 2's whole magic system and mechanics.

The spell mechanics in Skyrim are more than fine, they are brilliant.

In other words, STOP whining.

Whoa, so you are allowed your opinion of the magic system but feel the need to bash someone else who disagrees? for shame

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To the OP, the frost spell was an example of how to do new tactics. If something is frost resistant then you have to get even more creative. My point was try thinking differently since I doubt the game makers will change the system now

Also if you have gotten as far as you have you should know that there is a true fireball that you click and release and flys forward and smacks da enemies and is not a press and hold spell.

So do you want it to be mind numbingly easy or what? A game with no challenge?

After reading all that, this line stuck out the most. I was like....what? no...I don't get it.

I'm actually playing a pure mage and loving it. I generally don't try to take on 5 crazy bad guys with weapons to bash my head in at the same time however. Although that would work fine in Fable this game was designed with a little more realism. If you want to be crazy powerful and take on 5 guys and not break a sweat, lower the difficulty.

Hell I don't even know why I'm posting. We should just agree to disagree. My tired brain thinks your request is hair brained though.

This.
Magic is such an improvement this time around. For the 1st time in an Elder Scrolls game, i actually want to play a full mage. I love the Sparks spell

I meant it's adaptation to CRPG like Baldur's Gate, where you can cast magic shield, spider web, iron skin, flame weapon at the same time and then shoot some stones with your sling while they are active.
And many RPG's adopted same system without even trying to question it. Bethesda had the same system in Morrowind and Oblivion. And they changed it at last.
It's great to see at last some thinking game-designers.

I'm playing with a Pure mage, as well. I think it's fine. Actually , better than fine. She is level 13.5 and has yet to cast her first destruction spell. Her bread and butter is Conjuration. That is followed up with, Alteration and Illusion. I'm having a blast. I always play on normal difficulty. I never understood cranking the diff way up. just to cause an enemy to take 50 shots to kill. The normal setting is fine with me.

As far as the charging of the spells, I think they handled it great. It makes sense to have a brief charge up, rather than having a semi automatic casting. It's magic, not an AK-47. It took a little bit to get the timing down. Hit them with a Summoned Atro, let your magicka charge up a little, ( I'm still running with the same +75% Mag Reg Robes, I had at level 1) pull the trigger
and wait until that Atro is gets weak.

I love it.

I have to agree on the conjuration part.

This is why I use Fast healing spells on my paladin, you need your other hand free quickly, cast 3-4 heals then boom shield up

I found a combo that works. I have an Apprentice spell and a Novice spell. Being at a weaker levels, it's all his magicka can handle.

I have:

-Firebolt in one hand

-Spark in the other

I weaken the enemy with a stream of lightning and then throw a firebolt at them. It finishes them off nicely. Except well the...guys with Wards that deflect my spells. But....I'll work on it.

This thread is barely even deserving of a "cool story bro."

ooh ive never thought of a pure conjuration class

This is just a different preference. I understand what you mean, that is the standard for how this type of magic is usually cast these days (also used in FPS games). The charge and fire thing. Maybe if there is enough demand for it someone will make a mod. However I don't think this one thing makes magic "bad", but perhaps it would make it "better" if it were changed (although of course that's a matter of opinion). In the situation that you describe with multiple enemies I just use "Flames" while backing away, usually does the trick. Or you could use a staff.

Dont know if this has been mentioned before, but when you're using dual destruction DoT spells (like the flame stream), just burst them and they will do tons more damage while consuming less magicka. Just release and re-click both mouse buttons (or triggers) right after the spell hit your opponent, and the spells keep redoing the intial damage count instead of waiting 1 second before the next damage count hits.

I like the new magic system. I feel like that's how it would be to cast a spell. I have to charge up (or speak the enchantment, whatever) before the spell is unleashed.

Seems great to me. If it bothers you so much, I'm sure we can mod it for you eventually. If I ever get my creation kit.

So are you saying you want to be able to pres the trigger and have a single fireball come out, and when you hold the trigger a more powerful version of that spell will come out?

Basically you have a gripe with the combat system of magic?

Maybe it's just me, but the AI is better and the opponents are stronger (Do more damage, detect you easier.) on master level.
It might just be me though. Why not try it before you knock it?

"Traditional fantasy setting?" Who are you or anyone to judge that? Spells do not take words or reagents in TES, and that's that.

I like the magic so far, though I'm relying too heavily on destruction and restoration. I want to mix things up with alteration and illusion too, but I need to remember to get the 50% cost reduction perks and use them more.

I prefer it by far.

I think Skyrim forces mages to use more schools of magic to survive than previous games (at least Oblivion), you can no longer play as just a destruction mage (unless you put on an armor and a weapon and become a battlemage-ish character) - you have to know a couple of conjuration spells, you need a ward etc.

I like that by the way, I like it a lot.

Fable 3? Ban this dude, now.

Kidding No, but, I think the magic is pretty good.

Hated the magic system at first, but now i love it.

Best spell i got so far is chain lightning...

Fire rune is cool especialy for undead.

I think the Magic in Skyrim is great. I use a companion as a tank and find normal difficulty just fine for a first run. I use dual casting for more powerful spell. Loving the game so far.

I don't know why. But every time I imagined magic, it wasn't a stream of fire from my hand. Instead magic was always like fire coming from the ground. Mystical energy surrounding the air. Mystical strings of magical essence binding your soul and the dead you have risen from their fresh graves. Or storm clouds appearing as lightning strikes.

Stream is just a fancier fireball.

I do agree my wording for the title was off. However, I have worked out a system and it works. I even now have conjuration for spellbound sword too now. And a few helpful staffs.

Im a battlemage without the armor, mostly destrusction, alteration for my stoneflesh, some heal (restoration i think), and bit of one handed.

I have the perk where if you wear no armor, alteration armor spells become more powerfull.