Just hit level 17 with my Destruction mage. Also, just finished the College of Winterhold questline. So I'm following up some College business, delving into some tomb looking for some books for that Orc.

I quickly noticed, however, that my Magicka was barely dented when I dualcast fireball; when I cast a lower-Magicka spell, the blue bar didn't even show up on the screen.

I checked my active effects, and since I'm wearing Archmage robes I have Magicka Regen fortified to +100%. I have another 12% or so of Regen fortification from another minor enchant.

My total Magicka is around 285, with gear.

With gear, my cost-reduction for Destruction spells is around 30%. That's not enough of a reduction to give the results I'm getting.

My Destruction is 68 or 69. I have the Adept perk, but not the Expert one.

Just a day ago, I could only cast a couple of those Fireball spells before I'd need to switch to something else, but I ran through that dungeon without ever needing to stop. It was insane.

Since I just got the 1.5 patch, I wondered if that could have been causing something like this. But I've had the patch for a few days, so I would have noticed it previously.

The only other thing I can think of is that I recently completed a radiant quest for the College with the Illusion guy - the one where you have to
Any ideas? Feels like a cheat running around like this.

It's the quest that does it. It gives you a bugged two-hour buff that gives you ridiculous magicka regen.

The wells give you insane regeneration. Enjoy it while it lasts, it's a one time only thing.

Thanks! I was worried I might have to abandon the character, as it seemed too cheesy.

Wait till level 40, then you will wish you had insane magicka regen. When every enemy takes 3-5 dual cast incinerates/thunderbolts on adept, and high level enemies take 8-15 you will really wish you had that much magic.

Then you will get 75% or higher destruction cost reduction just to make it playable.

Currently level 70 mage, playing dead is dead. Well by now not pure destruction, I had to level a few combat skills to get to level 70(plus had to change it up from time to time to stave off boredom), but primarily stick to destruction.

Thanks, my level-49 character has at least 21 more level ups to think about then!

My level 49 dunmer has the arch-mage's robes, but I prefer the master robes of destruction (-22% destruction cost +150 magic regen). I have the dragonpriest mask that gives another +100 magic regen. I also found a ring somewhere that gives another +100 magic regen. I can defeat all but the toughest enemies with pure destruction magic. With the blood and elder dragons I find myself using some healing potions and restoration, too. Note the restoration perk that allows for enhanced magic regeneration, too? I consider that a must for magic users.

You can easily get back to having it that way with Magicka reduction gear. My mage has gear that drops Incenerate cost to 12 magicka. I could have gone further with enchanting but that was only using gear I purchased or found. No crafting involved. It's only for destruction though. But yea that quest reward doesn't last very long at all. It's basically enough to get through the next part of the quest which can be pretty tough if I remember correctly. Well pretty tough for the level I was at the time. I remember thinking that it would have been much harder without the buff.

It is a common bug associated with the quest line. It will pass in the most inopportune situation

Is it really a bug, though? Seems like a temporary quest reward to me.

It is a bug, to me it seems they mean to give 25% mana regen because it is such a fast and simple quest.

eg: Regen bonus should be +0,25 and not 25.

So you get 2,500% or 10,000% regen depending, though I have not been able to get the 10,000% in patch 1.5 (that seemed to be a bug ontop of a bug)

You get this doing the mana well cleansing quest for Drevis Neloren

I wondered what was going on. Too bad it's temporary.

Oh you'll worry about it soon, trust me on that, when you get up to master level spells your going to need 5/5 perks in it and some enchanted armor to reduce the cost or you'll find yourself with not even enough magic to be able to cast them.

That doesn't explain the mana regen while casting/charging

if your dualcasting fireballs, you dont even need that buff... just use archmage robes, morokei, and your good to go (especially if your a high elf). try to level up your ?alteration? using muffle

I loved being able to keep a permanent ward up without ever draining magicka.