Im currently trying to create a mod for mages which balances mage gameplay with that of a melee class. I originally created a mod that increases your destruction damage by 1% for each destruction skill point (IE: 50 destruction skill == 50% damage increase). After playing with that for awhile, i started to feel overpowered with a lvl 20 mage (50 destruction and 75 alteration). When dual casting, I could 1 shot anyone with adept level spells in whiterun, and the dungeons i was playing, with the exception of a few mobs here and there where it took 2 casts. Morokei was a joke, killed him in 6 hits, and with the impact perk, he didnt even get to move.

I guess my question is, what do you guys think would balance the mage class out just alittle? Ive considered making new enchants which increase destruction damage by up to 25% (with 100 enchanting skill) per piece of armor. this way you can increase your spell damage just as a melee character can enchant / improve his/her weapons. If you have your own ideas i would love to hear them . Ive already decided to improve magikca regeneration rates while in combat from 33% to 66%, and dual casting went from 220/280 damage/magicka cost to 240/260. So far thats all ive modded.

TBH, I'm of the opinion that the flaws with Destruction Magic lay primarily in cost. Without very high enchanting, Destruction Magic is too cost prohibitive, especially for its tactically interesting spells - the Runes and Walls. Its offensive output is more than fine when you consider that as long as they can afford to dual cast, they can stunlock anything, regardless of what it's attempting to do. This is an inherently flawed mechanic, and once you get to 40 or 50+, that's when you start to feel Destruction's actual damage lagging - but that's when you can start to stunlock anything forever, thank you OP enchanting.

I don't think just stoking up the regen mechanic or flat-out lowering the costs is the right answer, because it only brings you faster to the point where you just yawn and spam with both fingers slammed down, spinning around like a deranged top to make sure you sweep everything nearby. When I get around to Destruction Magic (next week or so) in my mod, a drain magic or perhaps a magic combo system are what I have in mind to handle it.