Was wandering can any one be a mage if they work hard at it and study ect, or is it gifted ability only to a few?

Anyone can be a mage.

So if any one can do it why isunt every one a mage as would make life more easey? Seems abit crappy to me if that is the case sure you not getting it mixed up with any player can be a mage?

Was hopeing there would be a system like harrypotter or starwars were only few people have the ability to manipulate the force or magic would defiantly make my mage rpg feel more satisfying!

well, assuming that it is a world where people abilities depends on perk trees and assuming everyone has their own perk trees, the answer is: anyone can be a "crappy mage", you read a book and learn a spell and you are a mage, not a good one tho.
If you want to be a good mage you'll need perks on the magic schools you wish to master, not everyone did that obviously.

Thats like saying everyone irl should study science. Yes, anyone can become a scientist, but not everyone has a natural affinity or even an interest it in. Same goes for magic in TES.

So your saying you need to be a geek to be a mage? LOL

lol, no I'm just saying its not something everyone has the patience to work at.

Some people would rather spend time in their swordsmanship than the school of magic.

But what I don't understand is why people still carry torches... I mean who wouldn't wanna learn candlelight?

Nords, for example, are highly distrusting of magic. It may owe to their conflict with the elves, especially Dunmer, who are more magically talented than them. Even with Candlelight, people tell me things like "Cast your fancy magic some place else." or "Is that magic? Be careful!" But at the same time they might also say "I have a lot of respect for the Restoration school. Skyrim could use more healers."

Some races are more apt for magick than others, with Altmer being at the top of the heap. And yes, it's magicK and magicka (not mana, damnit).

Everyone has potential to use magick, but you have to study to get the basics down, and it's not trivial. Driving a car is pretty simple, but if you never touched one, you might not even be able to start the engine, much less drive without wrecking. Magick is the same way. To learn even the basics, you need to go to a college (and pay), or find a wizard who would tutor you, which is neither easy nor cheap.

It is assumed that every TES protagonist has at least cursory familiarity with magick and therefore doesn't need the "basic training".

As for Nords. For all their distrust of magick, there were magick users among their greatest heroes (Hrormir the Icestaff for one), and the race overall is only second to the Altmer in magick aptitude (they are about on a par with the Dunmer). I guess they are kind of like Warhammer 40K's Space Wolves in that regard.

Ever wondered how when they pull the torches out they just light themselves?

Everyone has the flames spell.
Everyone.

Exactly majority must have 0 magika only explanation only a gifted few have only the basic amount of magika to cast simple spells let alone blast people with lightning bolts!

Miss read what you ment there more like the game developers haven't animated them lighting torches proves nothing.

Its a bit like music.
Everyone can learn to play an instrument, but only a select few are good enough to perform in a concert hall.

I`ll admit that I much more prefer the idea that magic is usable by only a talented few with the ability and that you`re lucky to have it.

I was dissappointed when I first played Morrowind and everyne including the peasant has magic. I like to play a Conan type warrior with no magic abilities at all and this was a bummer.

Ever since then I`ve had to really restrict myself with discipline and mods. It helps that I really hate playing wizards.

This is why I still like games like Dragon Age that still keep classes that restrict your magic. I can be a warrior in that with no fear of accidentally casting a spell.

There is something in the Oblivion code which suggests Jeanne Frasoric was at one point supposed to paralyse herself if her summon scamp failed. Just a bit of evidence to suggest magic can go wrong, and might only be used by those capable enough not to mess it up and put themselves in danger

You can always roleplay it that way. For instance, one of my characters is a Nord Warrior who never casts any spells ever. Another character is a high elf mage who never uses weapons, unless they are bound weapons.

In prior TES games, your choice of race made more difference as to whether you could become a powerful mage because of the magicka and attribute bonuses that Altmer and Bretons have, so while any race could become a mage, other races would never be as good as an Altmer or Bretton (although they could get close with efficient leveling). In Skyrim, the Altmer is the only race with a mage bonus and it is not as big of a difference as it was in prior games. So any race can really do anything in Skyrim.

Hey that`s another thing... magic never seems to go wrong either. I always liked the idea that as well as magic being exclusive you also had to be smart to use it or you could shock yourself or become a toad.

I guess all that got wiped for people who would not like it... sigh.

I use magic all the time for certain characters and I would love something like that, provided it was not overdone. I miss Morrowind, where magic didn't go wrong so to speak, but it did have a high probability of failure if you were not very skilled at it.

They're saying its "magic" that the torch lights itself. No flint and steel, no touching it to a brazier or bonfire.

It literally takes only a few seconds to learn Dead Thrall, a Master spell
You don't need patience in Nirn to learn a spell. All you need is enough Magicka to actually cast the thing.
Patience is only for creating new spells, like Brelyna's attempt or J'zargo's.

Dammit, don't remind me that some dufus Khajiit can create new spells and my almighty Altmer cannot.

Keep in mind that, though widely available, spells are dangerous. If you're Joe Peasant out standing in a field, do you really want to risk learning, let alone casting, a spell capable of setting your house on fire if you aim it wrong?

Because being good at swinging a sword or drawing a bow is FAR more powerful than being good at throwing fireballs and lightning bolts. Make sense? No. But that's how it is.