This is my build:

-Conjuration

-Destruction

-Restoration

-Enchanting

-Illusion

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Trying to mix it up tactically

Yes, forgive me if I generalize too much. I'm still only on my first play through so my theory might have some holes in it but in general I think a mage needs to combine more schools.

I would just like to state that, I do agree my wording for the title was bad. And I apologize.

Oh definitly, more schools for mage the better in the long run. I just like being able to blast powerfull spells and still being able to chop heads off if need be.

Choose perks and level-up bonuses wisely and your destruction powers feels over powered.

Some perks reduce magicka costs and some others makes your bursts more powerful.

Put your level-up bonuses on magicka, and you will gave a living cannon for a character.

I don't think the new Magic system is bad.

I do think the new Magic system could use some further tweaking.

I find the magic system doesn't progress properly with the game, some schools more particularly than others. Conjuration works great, especially the bound weapons, but that's more a result of melee progressing with the game just fine. Conjuration is a solid school. Destruction progresses less well, with magicka costs to damage amounts to enemy difficulty range by time of __-to-100 progression in the tree not meeting up (and that's if you focus on destruction completely, barring all else, if you pick stuff up elsewhere you'll find damage numbers fall behind level progression of the content around you even more).

However, that's something that they can fiddle with in patches, and that the community can mess with in modifications.

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It's not bad, it's workable for now and can be tweaked in the future.

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(please note, that takes perks into account, quit simply a max level enemy versus a max level destruction spell isn't something comparable). Destruction isn't the only one that suffers, but I'm assuming it's the one most people care about. Still, other schools like Conjuration and Alteration excel wonderfully, so there's plenty of magic that doesn't fall behind in the least. In fact Enchanting is easily the most powerful school of magic (I dare say it's one of the most potent skills you can learn in the game, period), as enchanted armor and melee weapons can quickly reach levels of defense and offense that nothing else can match. So there's stuff in there that scales just fine, I imagine some might even suggest it's a little too good.

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For those with magicka troubles, the amount of Magicka you have is only one part of if, you need to reduce casting costs of your spells through perks (as well as enchants that cut costs as well). In fact you need to attend to your Magicka regen as well, I'd almost say that's more important. There are two perks in restoration for Magicka regen, and you can get even more through gear (which Enchanting can add to any armor your require it be on, in addition to other enchants you might want/need). So if you're having trouble be sure you're paying attention to that triad of:

1. Magicka Amount
2. Magicka Regen
3. Magicka Cost

Where your perk/gear choices are concerned.

This is correct

I am going to have to go the battlemage type with a few perks in other areas. I wont go heavy armor though only light.

i love the magic in the game
destruction left hand sword the other works great for me

really really great

I originally set out to be a destruction mage, but I quickly got sidetracked by restoration + conjuration with some alteration on the side. Armored and Damage Shields from Alteration, Wards and Heals from Restoration, summoned minions and summoned weapons from Conjuration. I'm really loving the Ward + Bound Sword combo against magic users while a damage shield an dual bound swords cleans up most melee opponents. Then of course a bound bow against dragons is tons of fun.

That's what I've been doing, and also experimenting with the same spell on each hand.

Frankly, I'm not going to fault the OP for his view of magic, since those of us who have seen many systems in fiction or games have our preferences. For me, there's more utility in comparing Skyrim's system to the systems in previous games, and in that vein, the Skyrim is far superior, IMO.

I have noticed progression issues, as others have posted, but I'm not playing a pure mage, and I'm not trying to max the system.

You have plenty of tactical choices when it comes to magic. The way the system is set up makes it harder to depend on one spell or school in combat. You have to find the combos and approach that works. Stealth and illusion for example, is pretty cool. Seems to be what the guy above did.

Oh, and OP, the shouts already work in the way you want. They have a fairly long recharge, but they get the job done. Then there are all the items you can use to boost your skills in a variety of ways.

The point is simply this:- If you don't like the way a particular spell works, try something else. You have a LOT of options. Seriously.

I realize that now with some experiment of my own mage character.

this

I stopped reading this thread here to comment one this one above quote. It should take one to two Fireballs. Fireball is awesome.

Anyways, I get what your saying, reading the read of what I didn't quote about making it have quicker attacks for less mana. But that's what lower rank spells are for. Put them on your favorites menu and hotkey them with numbers. Like, for example, to conserve mana, switch to Flames or a weapon after Fireballin' something to 10% health and continue the fight. Also, don't forget to learn other spells, there are TONS of awesome spells (Raise zombie, for example or Summon Flame Atronach) that could provide great support against many enemies.

I will try and refrain from being an irritated RPG enthusiast and just simply say...This is not meant to be hack and slash, FPS, etc type of game. I think its already irritating enough that they are holding your hand practically throughout the entire game as is. You have several modes of fast travel, several modes of navigation and rushing through quests, the character creation has been extremely nerfed to where a toddler can do it....my point being is if you want it to be easy find yourself some cheats (if your on the pc) put it on novice and 1 hit enemies to your hearts content. I am sorry if I sound a tad frustrated I just hate seeing RPGs that have so much potential go down the tube because the gamers today rather just plow through things instead of think, another example of this madness would be DA2 but I am not here to argue that.

I've always wanted to go full mage in an Elder Scrolls game. It was never possible before, but this time around the system actually allows it! I no longer carry any weapons or armour, and I'm getting along just fine. Love the way the spells work, even the charging time adds to the experience for me (echoes of Dune.... 'MuuuuuaaaaaaaaDIB!... Your name is a killing word'). If you don't have enough mana, enchant and learn alchemy; potions and enchanted items are your mana buddies.

Nice, but why the lightning instead of fire? the lightning costs more magika as it drains magicka and does dmg. the fire is just dmg so cheaper to cast. I enjoy hearing how others use the spells

No it's not.