Guys/Gals/Elves/Beasts... I've been wrestleing with this damn build since Skyrim came out.

I could never seem to balance it in a way I like, always changing this or that. Tonight, I may have concoted a feasible wizard build at last.

The general idea: A wandering wizard skilled in four schools of magic (everything but conjuration, which is only used for familiars and soul traps), a blade, with alchemy (yes a tad pointless but I can't see this guy without it) and enchanting. And here is the build: http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000011111111111100000000000000001210021111101111100111121010131110134000011000000000000000000000000000000000000003011000000000000000410001

Now with these seven skills... how hard will it be to get to level 65? I ususaly only plan to 50... and how practical is this wizard in terms of... well... everything? Alright night/peace Skyrimmers.

One thing I would definitely swap out is master destruction. Expert spells with the dual cast stagger can be useful enough, and the master spells can take too long to cast. Replace it with dual enchantment, the 5th rank of alchemy or enchanting, or necromage. That's just my opinion, though.

I don't think you will have so many perks. I suggest you to give up some skills. Just my opinion.

But I like all the skills...

I was going for a sort of Gandalf in his younger days type character.

Yes this is a bump I did not want to make another topic about this, I just came back to it.

i say dont get the stagger perk for destruction, it can get repetative and less challenging.

Well, why didn't you just say Gandalf from the beginning?

I've tried this myself, but didn't get very high in level (I was doing sort of dead-is-dead, died, kept playing anyway, and then just got interested in other character concepts).

But, for what it's worth, here's how I would see this kind of character. You've probably thought of all this already, but I feel like typing:

Race - Imperial. Voice of the Emperor simulates Gandalf's authority over kings and enemies.

Restoration - OK, there's no description of Gandalf healing anyone, but this really seems to fit with the whole 'white magic'. I can also really see Gandalf casting Wards.

Destruction - I wouldn't necessarily take it to 100. Gandalf wasn't about 'flashy' magic. Cloak spells are thematic, but probably too weak for the cost. Runes seem to fit, too. Some occasional firebolts. If you have a sword (or staff) in the other hand, there's no need for dualcasting or Impact.

One-handed - self-explanatory.

Alteration - Protection is good, since you'll likely be wearing robes.

Enchanting - I'm torn about this, actually. Mostly I'm uncomfortable with the ethical implications of soul gems. There might be some conflict here with Gandalf's morality. And even without that conflict, does it fit thematically? You'll probably need to use (found) soul gems to recharge your staves/sword, though.

Speech - it would be great if this were easier to work up, because it would really simulate (like Voice of the Emperor) Gandalf's diplomatic side.

Illusion - I hadn't thought of this before, but I guess fear spells would be fitting. Maybe calm too. Frenzy doesn't fit the concept, really.


Apart from the above, you'll be using staves for damage as needed - like when you're maintaining a ward in the other hand.

True, but it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of thing. If you take the perk, you can stagger everything, every time. But if you don't take the perk you never stagger anything, ever.

Destruction is so botched in this game but they haven't done anything to fix it.