Starting up a non armor mage character on master, but I'm not sure what to go with. Here's what I'm thinking, either:

• Mage, uses destruction, illusion, conjuration, restoration, alteration (no armor) and enchanting.
  
• Mage (using atronach stone + perk), uses destruction, illusion, restoration, alteration and enchanting.
  
• Vampire mage, uses illusion, destruction, conjuration, alteration, restoration, and enchanting.
  
• Vampire mage (using atronach stone + perk), uses destro, alteration, restoration, sneak and enchanting.

For race either Dunmer or Altmer. Altmer for obvious mage reasons and Dunmer for fire resistance (vamps have a fire weakness).

I want to use the atronach effect for absorbing spells (obviously), but it mucks up the conjuration spells, so those two together are a no go. Having 80% atronach effect will make enemy mages/dragons much easier whilst also regenerating magicka. I will use enchanting on all characters, but not for 100% spell reduction. I will probably go for the archmage robes and my own enchanted items.

I would probably use alchemy for all the characters, but only perk it at higher levels. Also for any of the vamp mages, I would probably invest in sneak slightly.

Don't shout about destruction, how weak it is blah blah, I'm fine with using destruction on master as I have before at high levels.

The most appealing one at the moment is the second option as an Altmer, but what are your thoughts/experiences?

If vamps were worth it, I'd say to do #4, but sadly they have no questlines, so I'lm gonna say pass on that.

I'm also gonna say to look into sneak regardless, since it's been a lifesaver with me. I'll say to do #1.

Still rewarding, the drawbacks don't really affect the character. Magicka -regeneration won't be a problem due to robes. The big problem is the fire weakness, if I had the atronach effect it would be okay though.

Also tempted to use block for the last vamp mage, block works well with sneak (+movement speed) and it will help with my defense.

What is your favoritie color OP? Cause that's what the answer comes down too. Everyones playstyle is different........

I agree with Role on the looking into sneak... Besides the fact that it can save your life at times it can be seriously entertaining to drop a summoned Atronach straight into the middle of a group of enemies (with quiet casting of course) and watch the mayhem ensue...

Also vampirism in Skyrim just isn't worth it since there are no quests and pretty much only downsides as none of the powers you gain from it are actually that good... Don't get me wrong I'll play a vamp at some point just not anytime soon...

I have an under leveled altmer that only uses Destruction/Alteration/Enchantment with the acronach stone, works fairly well. However my next play though will be with a Dunmer Vampire with illusion, destruction, alteration, and restoration.

Vamps aren't as good as they should have been .

I wish that the atronach effect didn't stop conjuration spells, must be a bug. Can't see why it would be intended.

I'm deciding between the first two, not going to be a vamp now. I'll do one of the first two, using block as well.

Not sure whether the atronach effect is worth ditching conjuration. Hm.

For my next character, I'm definitely going to focus more on conjuration, smithing, and alteration. My current character is pretty low level in those categories.

Go for the one you like best.

I would go the first one, I find Conjuration to be one of the best magic skills, it's really the one that makes me feel like a mage. I just love being able to summon powerful demons and bring the dead to life.

I have conjuration on my warrior character at the moment, I've used it on a previous one too. I'm tempted to just use it for the necromancy side of conjuration, I usually always go for the atronach side. I have a feeling those spells aren't affected by the atronach thing, does anyone know?

Yes the atronach perk messes with conjuration due to its spell absorb effect.

For your race, it doesn't matter much, as a vampire, level 1 is only -25% fire resist, which isn't that hard.
For the vampirism, if you want to be one, you WILL need to sneak.

I would suggest if you going to be a mage vampire, to invest some perks in Illusion for the silent casting perk. As noted above, sneaking will be required in many cases so you will want to maximise you chances of getting spells off without being detected, and thats where the illusion perk comes in to play.

If you want to focus on sneak then use the illusion "Muffle". This way you won't have to waste perks on the sneaking skill. Everything else is well thought out.

Yeah I have experienced this irritating bug, but I have a feeling it doesn't affect the raise undead spells, which I could use. Then move on to the thrall spells at higher levels.

Well not necessarily, I probably would do due to the bonus. You don't get any physical weakness (if you stay in the dark), and if I had the atronach effect mages would be pathetic against me. I would also be dunmer so 50% fire resistance.

I will go for all the illusion perks as well, they are all useful. Except the magicka reducing perks, I probably won't need them if I'm using the majority of my points into magicka.

Play a race that you like the look, and background. All race are viable, even with vampirism.

For the magicka reducing perk, i think Destruction need it the most.

Usually you will only cast 1 or 2 illusion spell at a time, an invisibility or one frenzy. But destruction, your are going to cast much more spell per fight, perk are more than welcome if you want to rely on destruction.

Definitely, thats the biggest problem with destruction, which is why most people just go for 100% reduction.

The expert destruction spells (per cast) cost more than the expert conjuration spells, which is ridiculous. Like you said, you only need to cast illusion or conjuration once or twice in the battle, destruction is constantly used.

I generally find I don't have a problem until I move to the adept level spells, I try and get the illusion fear perk as soon as possible, to boost flames and firebolt. Flames then hits for 18 per second (without +50%), killing most things pretty fast on master in the lower levels.

I would likely play my Altmer completely against the thalmor, but not necessarily the empire. I would probably improvise that bit depending on how I'm treated during the game.

60% or 80% and destruction perk are enough on Adept. No need (on adept) to go up to 100%