Hey all, just a question regarding what appears to be an early game (as far as I know) disadvantage in terms of combat for pure mage classes.
So, for the second time in Skyrim (accidentally deleted a level 8 mage), I have delved into the Pure Mage Archetype, and for the second time, I feel ridiculously disadvantaged in combat when opposing higher level enemies, (Bandit Chiefs etc. ) I find that because I am not wearing armour and instead opting for Novice Robes, my health is absolutely obliterated by any enemy with a decent attack. I play on a fairly easy difficulty, Apprentice or Adept I think, but I feel there is no effective way of making up for the shortfall in not having armour as a mage. Sneak/Thief classes have the sneak extra damage ability, warrior classes obviously have the armour to protect them, but I feel I am just, in combat as a mage burning through copious amounts of potions while I try and zap bandits to death. I guess what I have been trying to ask, is there any effective way (other than Restoration, which detracts from my ability to kill) to counteract what I feel is a fairly blatant disadvantage in combat?
Thanks guys!

Shield spells in Alteration.

Dodge and use the terrain - never let enemies close with you. Use summons as distractions if you can. Use mmo-style pulling tactics to divide and conquer.

Which give some crap armor rating. Anyway in my opinion armor isnt the problem, its that you run out of magicka too quickly. Magicka regen is a third during combat, and even with those stupid robes that give what, 125% magicka regen? It isnt much because your base magicka pool svcks at the start.

For my 2nd mage character i got a mod that changed destruction, so i didnt have a problem. For my first mage character i cant really remember though. Maybe you could trying using flames or frost instead, and attempt to kite them if they come near. Since bandit chiefs often use 2H weapons, they're rather slow in terms of attack speed. Try to flamethrow them a bit, and when they get close you start running

Also, you could use conjuration.