I'm looking to start yet another character. But this one is going to be using magic, which I've unsuccessfully attempted in the past. I just plain don't like magic.

Anyway, I've always liked Necromanders, my dad was one. I need some tips.

Alright, so I know for a fact CONJURATION will be what I need to focus on.

1. What race would you say is a decent enough race to begin with? Dunmer? (And I refuse to play Altmer).
2. Instead of buying weapon and armor like a warrior, I need to start buying spellbooks and mage robes, correct? Where do I get them... what is the 'blacksmith' variant of a mage?
3. I'm looking to focus ONLY on Conjuration (it can supply me with weapons and minions. Any suggestions and/or tips? Will CONJURED weapons make my weapon skills go up, or my Conjuration go up?

One of the best builds imo.

Yes, a Dunmer is probs the best race for that build.

You will want the Ritual Stone.

Your 1H skill and Archery skill will increase with usage and your conjuration skill will increase with casting the spell.

Mage robes can be found on bodies or bought at the college of winterhold and general stores.

I would also use enchanting so you can enchant the clothing of your choice if you don't want to be limited to just wearing robes.

Restoration is also a good minor skill to have, saying that you could afford to perk it if you wish.

I would only level your magicka.

Thanks for the reply.

You might want to make alteration a secondary skill.

I would start with the Mage Stone to increase your schools of Magic more quickly.

Buy spellbooks from Farengar initially and then Winterhold later on

Definitely get a hack&slash follower to soak up the enemies while you fire spells at them

No probs, ive edited my initial reply....i think my advice may be a little thin. Ritual Stone is awesome though and is a must.

I've decided a BRETON may be the race for a Necromancer.

They get +10 Conjuration, and they get a Conjuration skill when they start.

Breton it is!

And thanks everyone, for the replies.

If you're planning on using bound weapons you'll need to perk the appropriate weapons tree. Also alteration is very good for many reasons, but biggest one is you'll be awful squishy without mage armor if you don't plan on using ranged attacks of some sort. Enchanting is also highly recommended, for mana reduction and damage boosts for your bound weapons, especially later in the game

for some reason I laughed out loud at the crossed out "my dad was one" line.

But yea, id say Breton are probably the best for most anything involving conjuration if you don't want to go for Altmer. Any race will do though.

Bound weapons will level both conjuration and their respective weapon skill.

i also lol'd at that line.

You don't need to perk the weapon trees though....imo

Depends on how often he plans on using bound weapons....bound bow, maybe not, bound sword...might be a good idea to drop a few perks into 1h

That was pretty funny

yeah, you're right tbh

Breton is probably THE logical choice, but if you just like the Dunmer better, I'd say go for it. If you go Breton, the light color eyes can give them a real mystic look, expecially paired with a darker complexion.

Bound bow is great especially if you take the perk to add Soul Trap to it. Makes it easy to fill those soul gems.

Have fun!

I guess once you start playing the build, it starts coming to realization.

I currently have a Breton Necromancer. I have the Novice Mage Robes and Hood from Helgen, along with some Thalmor Boots and Thalmor Gloves I found at a Talos statue between Falkreath and Riverwood. I sold a lot of my stuff to Alvor and Lucan in Riverwood and made a bit of gold off of it which I then used to purchase the 'Raise Dead' spell from Lucan. All this time I've been using all Spellbooks I find, regardless of what school of magic it belongs it. I currently have 2 Conjuration spells (Summon Familiar, Raise Dead), 3 Destruction Spells (Flames, Frostbite, and Sparks), and I think an Alteration or Illusion spell (Clairvoyance), as well as the standard Restoration Spell (Healing). At the moment I have a Destruction spell hand and a Conjuration spell hand. I use Frostbite to kill a single enemy, then Raise Dead so they can fight the other enemies. Nice little combination for right now.

I need to stop playing though... been playing for a LOT this past week and a half. My game keeps freezing up sometimes, and I think I run my Xbox too long and it gets to hot. Need to hold off on it for a while.

1. Personally, Breton. Always did lke Breton mages.
2. Yep, buy tomes. BUT... no real reason not to go heavy armor since no magic penalty like in Oblivion. Except weight of course.
3. Conjured weapons make your weapon skill go up, and they also make your conjuration go up, so win-win. Same with summons, and reanimated minions. And in case you want to powerlevel conjuration, cast Soul Trap on a dead body.

If you have Dawnguard, there is a quest added by it that you might want to do that is really nice for you, and I'm pretty sure you can do it without starting Dawnguard.

Thanks. And I won't use Heavy Armor simply for the sake of consistency... or whatever. Thanks for the tip on powerleveling.

I have DG, but I deleted it for the time being.