I did the mage questline with my thief level 49 (sneak 100, archery 100, smithing 100....massive bow damage)

it was a) a cakewalk very short c) easy and d) wierd that my very limited magic skills still let me be archmage (wierder still that it was a non college member giving me the job)


so I am a level 3 dark elf destruction mage. have not worked out what kind of mage I will be (armor or not what other schools to focus etc.)

so I was wondering how hard it would be to start this questline now.

and I remember towards the end, there was this horrible "steal all my magicka" guy.... as a sneak archer with great shouts, nightingale etc, he was easy. but I am kinda wondering how I would kill him as a mage.


finally, any hints on what to completment destruction with-- I was wondering about conjuration, illusion, etc. and how people have managed. I read more than one thread by a newbie who was frustrated they could not use JUST destruction. I am assuming I need other skills just not sure what yet.

have not done that quest yet. But I find as a destruction mage, I decided to add conjuration...meat shield!

he svcks away your magicka? does it come back?

thanks skyrim. I am debating using armor like battle mage.

so, anyone on the mage quest line have thoughts?

i am still on my first character, a level 45 destruction mage. i have completed every faction questline and only used destruction. when magicka gets low use fire breath shout and run about dodging enemies until you have magicka again. also keep healing on favourites just incase and a few healing potions aswell. get the best destruction robes that you can and every enemy you encounter, kill it using destruction. i specialised with fire and never used frost or spark. on the rare occasions you encounter enemies resistant to magic, use shouts, run about, and whip out a sword such as dawnbraker or a dagger like mehrunes razor, it increases the one hand a little.

@velan that helps!

need to go get me some shouts....

That tough enemy near the end of the questline is a Dragon Priest and he can be really, really tough for a pure mage. Be very careful with Conjuration, he can turn your Atronachs against you. That really svcks. I've heard it suggested that you bring alone a tank like Lydia and use her to do the heavy lifting. Throw some fire or lightning at him, but focus your main efforts on dumping Healing Hands on Lydia to keep her alive. I've not tried that method, but I probably would have if I'd had the Healing Hands spell at the time lol. Be prepared to die a lot, that Dragon Priest is a beating...

also when attacking a tougher enemy, such as a giant, sneak up on them and if you remain undetected then your attack will do a lot more damage.