Anatomy of a Mage

Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:13 am

I haven't really settled on a favorite race for a mage. Breton's the easiest, but that makes it sort of dull. Altmer (particularly with the Atronach) are the most powerful, but that also makes it sort of dull.

My favorite so far is my Orc, Bogmok, but I want to try some more races.

My pure mages (as opposed to battlemages/spellswords) don't use any weapons or wear any armor-- that's a good part of what makes them mages instead of hybrids. They do tend to carry daggers, but only use them for blocking. Of battlemages/spellswords-- I've done all sorts of combinations-- light or heavy armor and blades or blunt or even hand-to-hand. I don' t think I have any particular favorite-- it just depends on the character.

Favorite school of magic also varies from one character to the next, but my own favorite is probably Illusion. Though conjuration's good fun too.

For birthsign, I almost always take The Mage. I've never been a big fan of huge nuke spells, so magicka's not that vital. My mages tend toward simple and practical spells. There's no way I want to saddle myself with The Apprentice's weakness to magic, and I just find The Atronach to be too much of a hassle. I hate going into the menu to slurp a few potions and I hate the gimmicky exploits you have to use to refill magicka otherwise. I like it to just fill up on its own without me having to pay attention to it, and if that means that I have less of a magicka pool, that's okay, since I don't use nuke spells anyway.
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Claudia Cook
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:05 pm

Is there a way to see the poll results without voting? I have never played a mage, but I would like some ideas for the future.

Yes. View the thread without being logged in. :ninja:
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xx_Jess_xx
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:12 pm

My pure mages (as opposed to battlemages/spellswords) don't use any weapons or wear any armor-- that's a good part of what makes them mages instead of hybrids.


Gandalf carried a sword....
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Franko AlVarado
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:48 pm

I'm pretty sure Alchemy isn't a school of magic.
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Helen Quill
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:24 pm

I'm pretty sure Alchemy isn't a school of magic.

It is.

Check the manual, uesp, and every mages guild in oblivion.
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Samantha Mitchell
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:18 am

Khajiit Spellsword, the Mage birthsign, Heavy Armor, Longswords and Claymores, Alteration, Restoration and Destruction.

Note that i'm using Race Balancing Project mod that changes racial bonuses and birthsigns, and the Ohmes-Raht Khajiit instead of the Suthay-Raht present in unmodded game. Also LAME that changes magic, and nGCD that makes changes to amount of magicka and it's regeneration rate.

Very succesful character, though i like playing with my sneaky assassin character more.



Same here for the mods and race, combined with OOO.

Name Ash'Khalia.
Race Ohmes-Raht.
SandShaper class.
Majors. Blade, Block, Acrobatics, Destruction, Conjuration, Illusion, Mysticism.
Two minor sub skills, Alteration and light armour ( mostly for the role ) plus restoration as needed and the role again.
The other skills I never use.

A good trickster / warrior mage, multi summons if needed, armour, invisibility and acrobatics to avoid up front fights. Turn undead, and command are my favoutite tactics. Although two spells have come in handy lol momments, Demoralize cast at an uber vampire that kept fitting around casting spells made it run directly away right into one of those constant arrow traps killing it.
And the the LAME ( at least I think its from that mod ) spell vacum that sends foes sliding towards you. very handy to cherry pick tough foes and archers when they are in groups, and let your summons finnish them off.
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Queen
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:41 am

It is.

Check the manual, uesp, and every mages guild in oblivion.

I guess I was wrong then.
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Beulah Bell
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:47 pm

I'd go with a Breton, just because of their the main "magic" character. Would go with a magic staff, fits in better with the mage style. Definitely the mage birth sign, because of the important +50 Magika, with no negatives. Always light armour, it offers some protection (unlike robes) and is still pretty maneuverable.
I might go for a Dark Elf instead, with more of a leanency to his sword.
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teeny
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:11 pm

Gandalf carried a sword....

Yep. I play as a "Merlin" themed guy, but I really want to do either "Sauron" or "Gandalf" next. :D
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Eddie Howe
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:25 pm

It is.

Check the manual, uesp, and every mages guild in oblivion.


So they say, but i disagree. Sure you can get (nearly) all magic effects trough alchemy, but there is no spell casting or magicka use involved. I guess it's lumped in mages guild since it's closer to magic than fighting.
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Liv Staff
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:24 pm

So they say, but i disagree. Sure you can get (nearly) all magic effects trough alchemy, but there is no spell casting or magicka use involved. I guess it's lumperd in mages guild since it's closer to magic than fighting.

They had to put it somewhere. Speechcraft is stealth? Yeah.. OK.
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jadie kell
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:01 am

Nord needs to be added.

Also, Custom Race needs to be added.

I created my own mod, "Faeries and Angels," by merging Alexander's Wings, Nequam's Eyes, and Ren's Hair, plus adding extensive edits/tests to tweak three new custom races: Valkyries, Nymphs, and Pixies. The body and clothing are Eshme's (plus the other outfits by other modders). The merging wasn't perfect (there're a few glitches in Ren's Mystic Elves race) but it still works okay for my uses.

I added a custom ability for to give +100 magicka (double Breton bonus) in order to offset the fact that the races are 50% the size of the default (which causes many issues they must deal with in the world). Their wings are also custom enchanted with an inherent speed boost for the same reason. For example, all "civilized" places are not made for their size, so they have issues with doors, tables, chairs, etc. Also, the speed of stuff in the game is modified by height, so of course they are at a severe disadvantage against various enemies (and by the upper levels, the various characters are moving very quickly in combat). They are "cousins" of the Bretons and Nords. They are also custom class, as they are spirits of nature and are inherently tied to magicka. My approach was somewhat similar to what Korana did with her custom faerie race in Morrowind. They are extremely petite but very, very dangerous. Physically, imagine Primera from CLAMP's Magic Knight Rayearth, but a lot more dangerous in abilities! :) The races always use The Lady birthsign (Goddess worship) and have a focus on Agility and Luck.

bobg, I recall you mentioning that you made Angel using the console size command. You may want to try creating a similar character but make a custom race (including size) in the CS. You'll find that there are a few important differences between having the race within the CS and simply using the console command. Apparently this is because of how the game engine interprets the data regarding the race.

My characters are purely ranged attackers if they have the choice. If enemies insist on close combat, there's always their custom "succubus/succubi" spell that absorbs and calms, causing the enemies to simply stand still and be drained helplessly. Otherwise, they tend to specialize in restoration and destruction with illusion synergy first, but they are actually skilled in all areas (I play to max my characters' abilities). Some characters use bow primary with magic secondary, and others use magic primary with bow secondary. They only train with melee weapons to be competent and out of academic curiosity, but they never use them in actual practice. The same with armor; they don't use it in practice (although they adore Elven workmanship and equipment). Their preferred bow is the special Elven "Winged" Longbow from Fran's (although I think the design is actually AlienSlof's based on the filename of the art). They usually specialize in magic but sometimes stealth.

They prefer outdoors to indoors, of course, but they'll dive out of curiosity or if there's a specific need (quests, for example). They always help out guards or travellers who may be injured or in an encounter.
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herrade
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:51 pm

Race: Breton

Favorite School of Magic: Conjuration

Favorite Weapon: Bow

Clothes: Enchanted Robes

Birthsign: Mage since it has no side effects
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Nikki Hype
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:46 pm

Altmer mage named Slyte. Mysticism, conjuration, destruction, and, alteration as magical majors. Apotheosis as my staff. mage's robes. rings and amulet sigil stone enchanted with resistance to elements.
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[ becca ]
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:01 pm

Race is vampire Altmer.
Weapon. My hands and the elements that come out of them : )
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BethanyRhain
 
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Post » Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:09 am

Yep. I play as a "Merlin" themed guy, but I really want to do either "Sauron" or "Gandalf" next. :D


Too bad you can't have a beard... Or pointy wizard hat for that matter :(

I guess daedric armor kinda looks like sauron's though :shrug:
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megan gleeson
 
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