Mages and Magic Users alike! I have a few questions... : V

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:28 pm

Been tweaking my "Psionic Ranger" build, which is essentially an illusion heavy archer that utilizes destruction runes and passive abilities from restoration. I'm a total magic noob, so I'm hoping you can clarify a few things for me. Here we go:

Necromage (Restoration): I'm assuming this will impact all of my illusion spells (after receiving Master of the Mind)-- am I correct? Also, does this impact the damage output of destruction runes?
Restoration (leveling): I don't want a healer class, but is there any other viable way of leveling Restoration besides simply healing myself? If I simply cast "turn undead" as often as possible will this level me? I want to eventually gain access to 2/2 Recovery, Avoid Death, Necromage, and so on...
Avoid Death (Restoration): Does regeneration affect this ability? (healing spells cure 50% more)
Destruction (+damage): The +elemental damage perks (i.e. augmented flames, intense flames, etc)... do they affect the related runes? For example, will augmented flames increase the damage of fire runes? If so, which element do you recommend?
Destruction (dual cast runes): Does dual casting a rune make it more potent, as in extra damage?
Conjuration: I would LOVE to go bound bow with this build, but I have a funny feeling that I'm going to be constantly putting the bow away to cast more illusion spells as they wear off. Does anyone have experience with using a bound bow but frequently un-equipping it to cast while in combat? If so, is it tedious or is it fun?

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:34 pm

anyone?

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:09 pm

Necromage affects all spells, runes included.
Leveling Restoration: you can turn undead, use wards, restore the health of your character and your follower's and gain experience from doing these.
Avoid Death: Not sure if it's affected by Regeneration -propably not.
Runes can be affected by Dual Casting.
Elemental damage perks do affect Runes too.
After switching to any other spell/weapon, you have to summon the Bow back (recast it). This, can be as problematic as it sounds. But the concept itself is quite attractive, if you're willing to live with this sort of drawback.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:25 pm

Curious to see how this will play out - I hope you post an update once you've played the character for awhile.

I would guess the most frustrating thing would be switching between bow and spells. So far in Skyrim, the only spellcasters I have made have either used no weapons or a single 1-handed weapon, making it pretty easy to switch-hit. Whether you use a bound bow or a physical one, that switching seems like it would be awkward.

I used to love making mystic archer types in Oblivion, but that was a much easier system for this kind of thing.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:38 pm

If you get the Equilibrium tome/spell you could use that with your healing spell to level up restoration. Though you will also level alteration as well. Might be kind of a cheezy way to raise your skills, but if that is what you want. Otherwise, heal, turn, ward as mentioned above.

As for #3 I believe Avoid Death is a set 250, that's it.

And with Archery and Illusion you might not have to worry so much about Restoration, though I know there will be times you might need it. Seems like it will be tough to level it with this build with all the ranged.

» Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:06 am

Oh, forgot to mention jumping off (and healing afterwards) the waterfall in Markarth, where Ghorza gra-Bagol, the blackmith, has set up shop

» Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:02 am

I play a destruction mage, and I'm 90% sure that elemental+ does not effect runes and wall spells. I know it does not effect wall spells, and I'm pretty sure the same goes for runes.

Leveling restoration. Get equilibrium spell. Cast it in one hand, and healing in the other. Do stop casting equilibrium when it comes close to killing you, committing suicide doesn't help you level anything. It will work faster than jumping off a cliff... not to mention be easy to manage. Also helps because it refills your magicka.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:13 pm

I second Noxious, Runes are NOT affected by the elemental perks. This makes them an extremly bad choice as spells, since they don′ t do much damage but cost a lot of mana.

» Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:05 am

I second Noxious, Runes are NOT affected by the elemental perks. This makes them an extremly bad choice as spells, since they don′ t do much damage but cost a lot of mana.

Yeah, they're pretty disappointing all around. They're only worth looking at if you've gone for zero cost spellcasting.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:43 pm

That's a shame. I hoped someone was going to come on here and say, "Why yes, runes/walls *are* affected by dualcasting and elemental perks, and here's my proof!"

Still, runes seem to have some tactical use. If there's a rune between my character and an enemy, I've seen the enemy npc pause, like they don't want to trigger it. That can give your character time to run away, recharge magicka, etc.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:02 pm

Conjuration: I would LOVE to go bound bow with this build, but I have a funny feeling that I'm going to be constantly putting the bow away to cast more illusion spells as they wear off. Does anyone have experience with using a bound bow but frequently un-equipping it to cast while in combat? If so, is it tedious or is it fun?

I cannot understand why you don't realize that the same thing would happen no matter what bow you use :facepalm:

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:41 pm

Runes and Walls act as if they are in a school of their own.

» Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:21 am

I cannot understand why you don't realize that the same thing would happen no matter what bow you use :facepalm:

Well, to be fair, a bound bow makes it worse because you can't re-equip it like in MW or Oblivion. You have to recast it so it wastes extra magicka.
Plus, you can't set up a shot while invisible with a bound bow because summoning it breaks invisibility.

» Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:10 am

I cannot understand why you don't realize that the same thing would happen no matter what bow you use :facepalm:

Um... Because you cast a bound bow and waste magicka... it's not simply tapping a hot key to re equip, So yeah, not even close to the same thing...

» Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:44 am

[*]Necromage (Restoration): I'm assuming this will impact all of my illusion spells (after receiving Master of the Mind)-- am I correct? Also, does this impact the damage output of destruction runes?
[*]Restoration (leveling): I don't want a healer class, but is there any other viable way of leveling Restoration besides simply healing myself? If I simply cast "turn undead" as often as possible will this level me? I want to eventually gain access to 2/2 Recovery, Avoid Death, Necromage, and so on...
[*]Avoid Death (Restoration): Does regeneration affect this ability? (healing spells cure 50% more)
[*]Destruction (+damage): The +elemental damage perks (i.e. augmented flames, intense flames, etc)... do they affect the related runes? For example, will augmented flames increase the damage of fire runes? If so, which element do you recommend?
[*]Destruction (dual cast runes): Does dual casting a rune make it more potent, as in extra damage?
[*]Conjuration: I would LOVE to go bound bow with this build, but I have a funny feeling that I'm going to be constantly putting the bow away to cast more illusion spells as they wear off. Does anyone have experience with using a bound bow but frequently un-equipping it to cast while in combat? If so, is it tedious or is it fun?
[/list]

1.Necromage affects all spells and is very useful against the undead.
2.Use turn undead your ward spells and circle spells if you do not want to heal in the restoration tree.
3. Regeneration does not effect Avoid Death as far as I know.
4.The augmented perks effect ruins they are elemental after all.
5.Duel casting does make them do more damage, but they have very low damage output.
6.As for your bound bow that is all basically based on if your willing to keep recasting the spell.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:30 pm

Well, to be fair, a bound bow makes it worse because you can't re-equip it like in MW or Oblivion. You have to recast it so it wastes extra magicka.
Plus, you can't set up a shot while invisible with a bound bow because summoning it breaks invisibility.

/sigh...

Magic continues to disappoint. So does the overall game.