I have a problem, and the problem is that I never seem to have enough of it. NPCs are casting Fireball and Blizzard type spells at me, but even wearing every magicka-boosting item I can find I still can't seem to manage anything beyond Apprentice-level spells, and that's with the perks to halve the magicka cost: a single casting of Thunderbolt almost completely drains me. Am I supposed to be guzzling so many Restore Magicka potions, even using low-level spells, that I have to carry ten pounds of them at all times just to be able to function? What's a mage character meant to be like in this game, anyway?

ar eyou using any of the magicka cost reducton enchants?

I played a mage,My advice when leveling up sacrifice stamina for magika,otherwise you'll never have enough of it..to last through long fights,get appropriate perks and also level up your smiting and get a decent sword so you can hack your way through a couple of enemies if you run out of Magika.