Hello everyone,

I have a question. I've been thinking about it for some time, and have seen discussion on the forums before, but this never led to any concrete answers. Now, my question is as follows: what is the difference between Spellsword and Battlemages?

Personally, I think a Spellsword is someone in either mage armor or light armour, using a sword in one hand, and a spell in another. The sword is there for dealing damage, the spell for some additional damage (Destruction) or support (Alteration or Restoration). Spellsword are quick on their feet, and adequate in both armed and magic combat.

Battlemages, on the other hand, wear heavy armour, and are essentially normal warriors, except for the fact that they use magic instead of swords and shields. They focus primarily on magic, and use Destruction as their main source of damage.

Now, these are the two definitions I give to the Spellsword and Battlemage, but I've seen people give multiple definitions. What are yours?

You kind of have it backwards. Battlemages typically wear no or light armor and focus more on summoning, and casting damage than using their melee weapons. Spell swords typically wear heavy armor and combine swords and spells equally.
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Classes

A heavy armor magic-only class you described though would probably be a sorcerer, pretty much a mage tank.

Battlemage= Little Armor, More Spells less weapons
Spellsword= More Armor, Equal Spell and sword
Sorcerer= More Armor, Magic Only