About 25 hours in with my one and only character so far, Been busy creating a warrior who goes into every fight with a sword and shield. It was the best fit for my kind of play style and stood out to me as the best way to take on Skyrim. Plus im getting stronger and able to take down anything now...

I have never used magic and don't intend to, i suppose this will give me a completely different experience should i choose to create a new character later.

Am i missing out on anything by not using magic ? and do you find it gives you an advantage when taking on enemies ?

not really missing out, I don't think the magic is as good as Oblivion's anyway, there isn't a big variety of spells, it is however quite fun to use and it plays really well

I think you're missing out. Start a new character and do the College of Winterhold and see if you like it.

Missing out?

I made the mistake of making a Battlemage, and now I don't really find myself looking forward to making a pure mage or a pure fighter.

You can make a mage character and never feel like you've already done most of what you're doing. The sad part is, I'm playing my Battlemage like a Fighter: I'm not going to do Winterhold. I've only played for 60 hours or so, perhaps I should reroll to a sword&board character. Unless I can edit his perks and attributes, but ah well...

I love roleplaying as a pure mage. Great fun if you like that sort of stuff.

Exactly. Playing a pure fighter as your first character gives you the option to start entirely fresh, with a playstyle you haven't even touched yet. It adds replayability. That is, if you're into multiple playthroughs.

While I think you are missing out on part of the experience, I would start a new char, when you are done playing your warrior or play them at the same time.

I think it's better to play a warrior then a mage or the other way around, then maybe a spellsword or battlemage.

This is just the way I did/am doing it. Warrior- MQ, companions and some jarls quests. Mage- college, alot of exploring and maybe bards. sneak/dual wield conjeration- TG,DB, and deadric quests.

my test Char was a battlemage, but I really didn't play all that long, I just wanted to get a feel for how everything worked.

The magic part has never really appealed to me, i prefer exploring with just my sword and shield knowing that its the difference between me killing or being killed. Its special when fighting a dragon because at the end of it you have a sence of achievement knowing you brought it down with pure force and skill with a blade.

But in saying that, i wouldn't rule out creating a character in future who depends on magic, by doing that it would create a whole new experience and challenge for me. Plus i'd have to learn about magic etc and work on perks that i haven't even touched with my current character.

I'm on my third play through now and still haven't cast a single spell.
I will eventually get around to a mage character but not yet.
I don't think you are missing out on anything,play the game as you like.

It's not missing out exactly, it's just a different experience. So missing out on that experience. But everyone play's different. I didn't play a pure mage in Oblivion til about 3 week's before Skyrim came out. It was definetly different.

I have no problem at all with the magic system in Skyrim and I play mages. Just as you're doing with your warrior, it takes time and making choices with perks to get the build you're going for. I think going for a pure warrior is a fine build. I made a no-kill build and now a pickpocket who doesn't steal. Whatever you can imagine, you should be able to do and have fun with. There's so many different ways to play that I'll be playing for years...after all, it took them years to make Skyrim.

I do think it would be kinda cool to wander about Skyrim dressed in robes with a hood up, zapping everyone with electric hands like the pensioner/emperor idiot from Star Wars.

So i might try and create that when i decide to create a new character.

Wood elf, i use sneak and a bow to start a fight applying weakness to "insert element" poison to the arrow, Dual cast a rune, fall back and draw my shield and a mace to finnish off anyone who is still alive. Works like a charm indoors but out in the wilderness it's not so effective.

And then there's the difference between "using magic" (being a mage, using it for lots of stuff), and "using magic" (just little utility stuff & support).

Every character I've ever played in TES has used Restoration for healing. Fighters, Thieves, whatever - they all like being healed.

My Skyrim sword & board / stealth / ranger character? Used the basic Healing spell, Candlelight (for searching those dark rooms), and the basic Fire spell (to set things on fire, like oil & webs).

But I've never played an actual "mage" character.

What is really messed up---I am playing as a warrior, completing tasks/quests--then I get to a dungeon cave or something and I can't continue the quest until I join up the college,do some mage stuff and have a mage unlock this particular entrance.--to make a long story short I am now a lvl 49 warrior who is now head of the mages--with virtually no magic skills. I could make that little light or fireball to join the college, do some training and now I am the Head after finishing the line! I don't own mage clothing or staffs--I just disenchant or sell them all. LOL

an advantage? of course!

Paralyze
detect life / detect dead
shields
runes (traps)
ranged attack options
summons
charms/illusions

yeah - it will give you an advantage. It isn't required though.