Pure mage with a shield

Post » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:17 pm

Im thinking about rolling another char to play my first pure mage, still working on the story but so far its an Altmer stormcloak hehe. Anyhoo i was thinking if i used all magic but maxed out shield would this be a viable playstyle. I dont intend on using any melee or bows but shield bash will be in haha. Also if i do this would using a shield count as wearing armor?
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Claire Mclaughlin
 
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Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:33 am

Haha, you're insane! :)

The point of being a good mage is that you don't let the bad guys get near you... but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a shield in a pinch. As far as counting as armor (for the mage armor perks, I presume) a shield DOES NOT count as armor, so using alteration defensive spells with the Mage Armor perks will work just fine.

Good luck!
-Loth
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Conor Byrne
 
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Post » Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:02 pm

Yes it's a very viable playstyle, especially if you get your Enchanting up since you can put a Fortify Block and Fortify Health enchantment on your shield which helps a lot in close quarters combat. Also, you're lucky in that wielding a shield does not count as armor for the Mage Armor alteration perk, so you'll still get double boosts from Oakflesh Stoneflesh etc even while holding the shield.

The only true problem is that you can't really afford to invest in Stamina (or much Health for that matter) near the beginning of a game while using any form of mage, so Shield Bashes are limited. However, once your Enchanting gets up and you can put multiple Fortify Destruction etc enchants on your clothing, the extra Magicka means little. A Shield Mage can very happily have something in the region of 400 Magicka, 200 Health, 200 Stamina (before enchants) by level 51.

Hope that helps.

ps.
Spoiler
The Gauldur Amulet from the "Forbidden Legend" quest is excellent for this type of character, might want to keep your eyes open for that :biggrin:
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Kayleigh Williams
 
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Post » Tue Jun 19, 2012 4:33 pm

I made a character who used a shield in one hand, wearing heavy armor and a hood. It is fun.
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Jessie Rae Brouillette
 
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Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:06 am

I will look into that amulet, thanks for the advice. Last game i Played expert this time ill try master
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Mistress trades Melissa
 
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