I did it again. I made a char here, like I did in OB, which is terribly vulnerable due to being poorly balanced. I figured to do a battlemage but didn't develop much armor - just some light. I wore various cloth garments which enhanced my magic level and regen speed.

My tactic was to conjure then step out of the action while my conjures took care of biz and I'd step in at the end if needed using my one handed skill (58).

It was livable until I did the Companion's Quest in Ysgorra's (sp?) tomb. That's the one where you free the dead chief of his wolf spirit. Anyway, this tomb was a tedious nightmare. The ghosts could see me even when in Sneak (48) and Invisible (I'm 76 in Illusion). The problem was that they'd often croak me with one hit or maybe two. I'd whack on them hard doing no particular damage.

So I had to hit, run, hit run, run run and save and save. Finally I made it through but obviously I need serious armor to finish this game.

I am going to guess that I can somehow fashion armor from dragon bones or scales or both but when I am carrying them & go to a forge, I don't see any way to. Is my sense right that these parts are more than just for sale? If I'm wrong, where or how can I forge or buy or whatever some GOOD light armor. Wearing robes only isn't cutting it any more.

Level your smithing skill. You can "exploit" it by making all iron daggers, or level it legit. If you are planning on using light armor, go up the left side of the smithing tree (i.e. elven/glass armor), you will get to dragon smithing at the top (100 smithing) at which you can make light and heavy dragon armor.

Dragon scales for light armour.
Dragon Bones for Heavy armour.

You will need 100 in smithing and the perk to make them.

OK, guys, thanks. I got a LOT of Smithing to go before I even approach 100. Once again I took mostly wrong paths. Good grief.

True, but heavy armor still requires some dragon scales to make, along with leather strips for both.

be careful leveling smithing tho, as takingit straight to 100 will also boost your level 4-6 times at least. That will also boost the enemy level, and even with the better armor, they're going to hit a lot harder too and your illusion spells will be less effective.

I suggest investing in health perks more often and using fortify health potions. If you're going to be in close combat, you should have at least half your level in health points (ie, level 20, 200hp. If you're a battle mage just ignore stamina, you can get it easily via potions but without magic/health, you will die a lot of frustrating times. Just my 2 cents.

Though keep in mind of all the noncombat abilities to power level. Smithing gives you the best return for the discrepancy between your combat capability and scaled enemies.

Level up Restoration and pick up Greater Ward. Blocks all spells and dragonbreath from hurting you. Suddenly those Ancient Dragons don't seem so scary to the lightly armored mage...

(experience: level 50 pure mage on Adept and no frustrations/problems to report)

I am in the exact same position on my duel conjured sword battle mage and i have to rely on my two dremora lords to tank all the damage. harsh world huh

I have a very low armor skill level because my summons and i dominated everything. Now at level 42 i cant even take a arrow to the knee


Solution?

Well im buying light armor skill levels and will invest in light armor perks.

Im currently using full glass + dragon priest mask. And i hope to use the lock pick's treasure hunter perk to get a some nice phat dragon armor later.

I have smithing on all my other characters so im trying to avoid smithing on this character at all costs.

It will be a tough road ahead until i get to a decent light armor skill level + some associated perks.


I find that i dont have enough perks at each level up to distribute
Perks im investing in:

Conjuration
1 hand weapons
Light armor (no perks yet :S)
Enchanting
Alchemy
Lock picking

I did start alteration with the intent of getting magical resistance and such, but that is on hold until i can fix physical damage problem ( i dont wana use wards all the time to prevent damage)

Thx. My specific problem isn't (at this point anyway) with magic but with my char being mobbed by many melee hitters at their high lvl. If you've finished the Ysggers Tomb (sp?) companion's quest you've been where I was and where I had to save, do, die, launch, do, die, launch over and over to get through it.

I'l do likewise.

I started late to Conjuration which makes it by far my lamest talent of all developed. Clearly I need to up that quite a bit so at least I can work up an Iceman. These ice things seem to be good fighters against melee types. The flamer I have is darned good against magic but the melee folks I recently have encountered seem to have good AI. They move past the flamer and right to me.

It was really disconcerting to be both in Sneak and Invisible yet the foes found me and killed me while in that state. I suppose Invisible isn't effective against ghost fighters.