I just started a new game as a mage and wondering if there's any advantage of using mage clothing that has no armor but has magicka/regen enchant? What would be the different if I enchant light armor instead? I know the amount of extra magicka/regen would be marginally smaller at the beginning of enchant but I'd think it would catch up at some point? The biggest concern I have is my first character is a DW heavy armor and even then mele mini bosses would kill me in a 2-3 hits so I can't imagine what it would look like without any armor point at all .

On the side note what's the different between High Elves and Thalmor? I'm playing high elves for this mage and plan on joining the stormcloak and so far it's been dissapointing even talking to stormcloak soldiers that HATE Thalmor doesn't even care that I'm a high elf... I mean... what? O.o

Mages can get 80% damage reduction through dragonhide(or 300 armor via ebonyflesh w/ mage armor talents). So they aren't defenseless. However custom enchanted armor gives better benefits and isn't a spell that you have to keep recasting. The biggest thing as a mage though is magicka regen is borderline worthless since it's cut down to 1/3 in combat.

Some people like to wear heavy armor on their mages. I don't wear any armor and rarely do I use flesh spells. I can usually kill or distract enemies before they get close enough to kill me. Wards are a lifesaver against dragons and other mages.


The NPC's will usually treat you as a "neutral" race. Its a design choice so that new players aren't walking around like "Why does everyone hate me, I'm a cuddly Kajeeet!"

Thalmor are Altmer, but Altmer are not all Thalmor. If that makes sense.

Thanks for the answers. I guess I'll stick with enchanted light armors then since the benefit of mage clothing doesn't make that much a difference. I don't usually play mage, mainly because you have to cast a bunch of protective magic before entering battle as opposed to just charging in that warriors do but it will make me play the game in a different way so that's good.

Black-Tongue, yeah I guess I can that but still it's kinda dissapointing, while not All Altmer are Thalmor, prejudice usually wins over and from the game's own npcs sayings how much they hate the thalmor it seems unlikely that most Nords would take the time finding out if a high elves a Thalmor or not... I suppose I feel like it kills some of it's role playing aspect

Light armor is the best bet. Cloth is for the clueless. Mage armor spells are really, really bad.

I understand what you are saying. I was an argonian....

Imperial joining the Stormcloaks! Trolololol

A Mage should rarely take damage. The point is to use your head and unusual abilities to arrange death for your enemies. I will sometimes put on my Flawless Dragon Scale somewhat enchanted armor, then go bash some stuff with my soul collector mace, but usually I wear the Arch Mage stuff and enough rings, amulets etc to buff my major talents to a somewhat OP level.

Level 40 Destruction/Conjuror just did two Dragons at once ... no problem. You need to not get in front of them with no armor, kinda quick death, but two Flame Atronachs distract em' just fine. I have much tougher pets but the hot girls do Dragons really well and you can see where he is by watching them pelt him with fire. I only get hurt when I act brave, I try not to.

I tended to wear robes as a mage but not because it was the most effective way to play. I just think that mages should wear robes.

The problem with using alteration spells to boost your armor rating is that it drains your magica right as you're going into battle. The most effective mage would probably wear heavy armor.

PenGun: To be honest even now with my dw warrior I rarely take damage, Lydia sword/board usually charge in along with my doggie and atronach and the enemies usually focus on them, I go to their flank and cut them down one by one if I want to quick kill them or I just let my minion kill them slowly while I heal them to level up my resto xD, the problems came at early levels when even my companion tank goes down easy