So I’ve got to level 10 and finally decided to try and plan my character. I haven’t spent any perk points yet – been wanting to see how everything plays, combat, magic sneak….hoping that I’ll stumble into a preference before sinking in my points. Alas, I love everything, and as it’s impossible to play as a generalist, I’ve decided to make some decisions.

However, before I decide, I need some advice for people who’ve gotten to higher levels than me.

My question is simple, what amounts of magicka are needed for journeyman, expert and master level spells? I haven’t been able to find any reference in any wiki, and I haven’t travelled to the magic college yet.

I’m playing mostly melee – with a bit of magic and a bit of sneaking thrown in, right now. Fighting with sword and shield but also casting a summons, or an alteration shield spell, or even a destruction spell. I’ve calculated that (assuming I get to level 50) once I’ve gotten the combat perks I want, I’ll still have about 15 perks left. And I’m chewing over which way to go – a bit of sneaking (the assassin perk has me drooling) or a bit of magic, or something else.

I'm trying to get an idea about how to start distributing my magicka, health, stamina points. I can invest 5 perks into one school of magic and get a 50 percent reduction in spell cost for that school (conjuration probably)…and if I enchant up my gear, I guess I can increase my magicka that way – but what kind of amounts of magicka will I be needing.

Second question, what kind of balance between stamina and health should I be looking for? Right now (with 130 stamina) I hit a couple of power attacks and I’m down to zero. To get the most out of the perks, I’ll need more stamina – which makes me wonder about the wisdom of even trying to get a little magic into my build. Has anyone got a melee build with a few power and block perks opened? How much stamina do you need?

Thanks in advance for the help. I just know if I don't try and plan it a little, I'll only end up starting over again when I get to level 20 and find I want to take ti a different way.

I think the game is pretty well designed to let you play however you fancy really, my character is level 20 and I fight primarily with magic and bows, with a back up of a a big hammer and I enjoy swapping between them as and when I feel like. The game may be a little harder if you don't specialise but I'm doing alright so far.

By being multi talented it doesn't matter if you run out of stamina or magicka as you can then swap to the other while it regenerates.