Exactly what I typed. I'm a level 29 Nord, I have 190 health level. I'm doing the "Remember Last Night" quest and I don't understand how is it possible for me to die with ONE FIREBALL from one of the mages in Morvunskar. I drink a Plentiful Restore potion, so of those 190 I have at least 150 points of health. Then I take a fireball and die! I'm wearing full Exquisite Elven armor, a ring of wielding, and an amulet that makes me block 10% more. Are you telling me this is supposed to happen? One of the mages died with one shot of my glass bow, and then another one is unimaginably powerful?

Before that I noticed another surprisingly deadly character: Captain Hagran, from the end of the "Lights Out!" quest. He killed me with like 2 strikes of his big dwarven hammer (I can't make that not sound dirty). I know he has a lot of those stupid warriors, but those I could handle. I always healed and yet with nearly full health I died immediately. Is this a glitch, or are these behemots intended?

Thank you in advance!

Sounds like you're on master difficulty and you have zero magic resistance.

I got 2-shot by f'ing lightning bolts on master difficulty. You need to get a spell breaker and/or agent of mara + lord stone.

NPC magic is beyond deadly. You'll need resistance.

Go to the temple of mara in riften and do the quests to bring people together in the name of love and when you do the third one you will get something that will help you against those pesky mages

And seemingly limitless

How can they spam wards for that long then unleash fireballs!!!!

NPC mages scale incredibly well.

That said, playing on master maxing out on magic resist is mandatory.

Unless you want to make a post about how a magic trap one shotted you

On a low level character I generally run if I see mages, unless I am one or have a follower to tank em.

Yeah NPC mages are tough. However I found it easier to take them on with my own mage character. With my new warrior character, the same mages my mage wiped the floor with are now the ones doing the wiping.

Shields with the elemental perk help tremendously... unless you're two handed

If only us had access to those spells

But seriously, mages are tough. You need resist magic or resist element gear and/or potions, once you see what spells the mage is using dress and drink appropriately. Also Unrelenting Force (with three words) gives you time whack them silly, or try combining Fungal Pods and Canis Root

Also works for high-level bandit bosses with two-handed weapons. Or use the Disarm shout, they aren't nearly as dangerous or intimidating armed with daggers

Captain Hagran or what's his name is the guy who decapitated me for the first time (adept). You can imagine what a shock this was, kill this guy, kill that guy, oh here's another fool.. hey what the... AAAAH my head! I had to sneak archery for 10 minutes to kill this guy.

Mages can be incredibly powerful too, no matter what difficulty. A 1-shot is possible, though rare, it's usually 2...

Magic damage ignores armor so with no resistances you're basically fighting NPC mages naked. Add the fact that NPC mages fight at range, are just as durable as melee NPC's and they heal themselves. Giants are massive pansies compared to the mages in this game; ESPECIALLY if you're not sporting as much magic resist as possible.

Wow this is like the greatest forum ever, I went to make some tea and when I get back I have like 7 replies!

On a game I usually set the dificculty to the second hardest setting, so I might be on Expert, although I might be on Adept too.

So you're saying I need to level my magic skills? But for example if I only practice Conjuration I won't get any better at resisting Destruction spells right? And even without the Destruction perks, just having a higher Destruction level helps me defend it better?
Does that also apply to melee, like if I skill One-Handed I get better at defending from NPCs attacking me with one-handed weapons?

And even if so, it doesn't explaint how did good ol' Cap'n Hagran kill me so easily, since he used a simple 2-handed dwarven hammer, which although is a good weapon, it wouldn't kill me with 2 strikes =s

Oh and also using a Magic Ward would be more effective against fireballs than an Elven Shield? Sorry for all the questions, but you're being really helpful.

They're a lot easier to fight inside a dungeon though, easier to get out of los and hope they come charging around the corner after you and into range. I've said it before but the slow time shout/paralysis potions help a lot for these guys. Especially if you're light armoured as you can close the gap faster.

No don't start lvling your magic skills. There are items you can find/purchase/enchant that will increase your resists to a school of magic such as resist fire or ice. You can enchant your armor with these or find them. Rings and amulets too

I do hate how the NPC mages are so strong, but my mage is so weak.

No, it doesn't work like that. To resist magic you need items (or a sign like Lord or Atronach) that gives resist magic or resist element. For Melee, you need armor rating. Lord is a good sign because it gives you a little of both. Atronach is better for magic only especially if you're a Breton because it stacks with your greater power.

Depends on your restoration skill. A lesser ward will mitigate next to nothing if the mage you're fighting is a high lvl mob. Go for the elemental resist perk in block if you've already spent points in that tree. If you're in light armour utilise your speed and try and close the gap as fast as possible. Power attacks to stagger them stops them from casting then you can go in and chop em down quick.

The Atronach stone has proved an extremely helpful tool against mages. Especially since I'm a mage. There is a 50% chance the spell will do nothing and just refill your magicka lol.

Find magic resist items; they give you a percentage resistance against all magic.

There are also some bonus abilities you can get that increases your magic resist.
And standing stones as well.

This is pretty much how it works if you get what I mean:

Fighter < Wizard < Assassin < Fighter

It is not necessary. I play an Orc on Master with almost no resistance at all. The strategy is: Use the shout to not receive any kind of damage, closer to the mage and use a potion to paralyze or other artifact (know what I mean) to have the same effect. When the mage is paralyzed beat him to death. You can also use a potion when he is paralyzed to make your death more quickly. Some magicians are still trying to get up, paralyze again kkkkkk.

Get the ice form shout, freeze them, run up to them and hit em with power attacks. They will be dead before they can get up again.

don't fight apprentice mages and you'll live longer.