My 81 mage is pure magic and it can be a challenging build. I actually made the character to have a tougher time by only giving him 200 health and the rest into magic. Some things I did that helped me out as a pure mage build:
-Use Alchemy, my fortify destruction potions make my spells infinitely more useful instead of svcking my mana dry to get that falmer to half hp
-Become Ethereal is a mage's best friend. Become invincible while I load up a master spell = so much utility
-Illusion/Paralysis can really help in a pinch when you need to get past someone. Especially since I play as a vampire, casting Harmony to chill the whole town thats hellbent on killing me
-Conjuration also is helpful when the aggression goes from you to your allies. I hate companions though because they always get in my way. I tend to use dead thrall on Orchendor and that one guy from the Mehrune's razor questline cus they have an unlimited mana pool and dont jump in front of my fireballs like lydia (however the constant 'nuuuuuuuhhhhhnnn' from general zombie followers can be really annoying)

That's interesting. Do you think that maybe it's because you prefer one system over another and that it really isn't a joke? I think I stated before that I didn't like magic in Morrowind or Oblivion because I felt like I was spending way too much time micromanaging and way too little time having fun. I approached magic in Skyrim apprehensively because of this, but gave it a shot anyway. I actually like it better because, to me, it's much less tedious. I'm already OCD when it comes to looting, clearing out dungeons, bartering, creating potions, etc. I really didn't want to have to do the same thing with my fighting mechanics either.

Call it *dumbed down* if you will, but I think that characterization is inaccurate and rather insulting. What it really translates into is "I don't like this system, I preferred the other ones... and I know better (knowledge apparently comes from getting used to a certain system). Those who like the new system like it because it's *dumbed down* enough to suit them".

The first time my workplace gave me a copy of the new Office suite, my first reaction when opening Word and Excel was, "What the heck did they do? Where are my menus? I was a master before!". I was irritated that they changed practically the whole interface, but I wasn't silly enough to say they *dumbed it down*. Like anything else in technology, I'm just going to have to learn to use it.

Once you get to the point where you can conjure a pair of Dremora Lords, things get a lot easier.

Pick up the Magic Scaling mod if you're on PC. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=8096

You will not be disappointed.. Unless you're not on PC that is.

Thanks, nice info.

I'm planning on creating a pure mage and because an altmer starts out with 150 magicka I can just put all points in health instead of magicka. As long as I choose enchanting to reduce destruction and/or conjuration costs close to zero, right?

Yeah, I have definitely noticed that I've been using Conjuration A LOT. Since I'm a pure mage I'm using all schools and it's interesting to me that Conjuration, Illusion, and Alteration are my highest levels (thus, the most commonly used) followed closely by Destruction (which I thought would be my first) and Restoration way back in the distance (I've used it mainly for wards when fighting other magic users, but it just svcks up magicka like crazy). But, yeah, I can't wait to get that double conjure perk.


Yeah, I'm not using the PC for Skyrim. Did for Oblivion. For the mods and the ability to tweak the heck out of graphics, I wish I had a great gaming PC for Skyrim. But, since i've already got the Xbox, I'll just stick to it. The Kinect feature is really nice.

There is nothing 'challenging' in any way shape or form about Skyrim.

I'm playing Dead is Dead character as a mage on Master. Her tactics is - carefully sneaking, taking few bow shots from shadows, then switching to dual flames and frying an anemy. At about 70% she stops casting, swithes to mace, shouts (12 seconds cd with amulet of Talos) and while enemy is stunned, hitting him. Magicka regens to almost full. Then dual flames again, repeat.
Level 11 atm

Yes, however I believe a more universal enchantment would be magic regen, because that affects your entire mana pool. I used the restoration glitch to get all my items to a perfect 100% regen and +100 magic. I believe it requires an enchantment potion of +93% with all applicable perks. Otherwise if you can't get enough items with +magic and +magic regen, then invest in the Extra Effect perk in enchanting and put a couple reduce magic cost enchants

Thing that svcks is it affects enemy mage npcs so their spelsl scale as well, then they just start getting absurd lol.

has anybody tried increasing magicka only? i'm level 54 and its getting pretty tough. the elemental protection mask has pretty much become standard.

that become ethereal trick is a really cool idea. although i'm not really interested in shouts for this character.

i totally agree what somebody said earlier: when magicka runs out mages are screwed but warriors can hack and slash forever. i'd call it a design flaw, but i suppose one could make a case that the inability to attack due to a lack of stamina might be too roleplay-ee

I have been. So far I'm level 27 and I've only devoted two level ups (20 points) to Health. Yeah, I'm pretty weak. Probably explains my utter reliance of followers/conjured minions and illusion (frenzy/calm) spells.


I had that feeling. Mainly it was from nostalgia (the days of Morrowind and the high elf wizards). I would have totally done it but a friend of mine created an Altmer mage before I started my character... and I wanted to do something different (another friend already accused me of copying him with my Redguard fighter).