playing on master as a mage seems to require alteration or the wearing of armor (or im missing something). the latter is not what i'de call a pure mage, so for this character at least, is unacceptable.

now even if i were to spend a bunch of perks to increase my armor buffs, it's still only 120s. imagine being a warrior and only being able to wear your armor for 60-120s before having to re-equip it...absurd.

please bethesda, make the duration for these spells something more like 12 in game hours. it's not like it's overpowered.

and make player summons banishable, there are times in tunnels when they play the part of wall all too well, and others when i just want them gone.

I recently retired my mage, the master alteration spell lasts for a measly 45 seconds maximum and takes a good 3-4 seconds to cast ... very poor indeed and tedious to cast repeatedly during fights. The master spells in general are very underwhelming for me. Take destruction were you can get more DPS by simply dual casting incinerate instead of the master flame spell which leaves you highly vulnerable while casting too.

alteration can be a pain in the butt. I love all the non-flesh spells of the school, (detect life is really useful for a stealthy character), but it gets so annoying when you have to constantly recast the flesh spells because they wear-off way too fast even if you duel-cast it. Think about all the magica your wasting. You could be using that extra magica throwing an extra thunderbolt.

The duration forces you to use tactics. If you're high enough in Alteration that you have Dragonhide, then you also have Mass Paralysis. So if you find yourself in need of a renewed sense of invulnerability, tell everyone to hold it for a second, then get your skin on.

If you are on PC. there are a couple mods that make the duration 6-8 minutes, which is much better. I do agree the stock duration time is pretty silly.. and very annoying.

I've never had to recast Flesh spells during a battle, as most battles are over before the spell expires. I just recast in between fights.

my mage is about to get silent cast...with rune buff and all element buffs, and conjure should be at 100 soon...meaning two +50% atronachs with runes, silent, and all the passive thief skills i think my mage will make it yet.

though i think im setting my self up to be a spectator at my own game....hmmmmm