sometimes i found to fun to reach that magic "invincible" mode inside the bounds of the game (100% reflect, 100% chameleon, 100% absorb). But i would agree that it is something that was unnecessary and with each game they are trying to balance it out. That is why they took out the Recall and Levitate as it became possible to avoid many of things that hours upon hours were spent making.

Perhaps after Skyrim the magic creation system will return as perhaps currently it was not something they had time to fix fully so they scrapped it. (just speculation, no proof for that statement)

I never felt that magic was OP in the last few games. I suppose it could be, if you meta-gamed with magical weakness spells, or ridiculousness like 100% chameleon (If no one told you it was possible, would you have figured it out? The answer for most is no) -- but if you wanted to be a not- meta-gamed pure mage, casting fireballs and incinerating your enemies? Not a chance. That's why there was more than one magic overhaul mod set to balance magic properly; these usually ended up making magic more powerful.

I think you are right. And the loss of those spells is directly tied to the desire of Devs to make their dungeons and encounters more difficult by hamstringing and gimping certain character abilities.

That said, Mages never were overpowered, unless you made a science of manipulating the system AND a Master Wizard should have overwhelming powers, end of story, whiners to the contrary be confined to Oblivion. :swear:

I have little doubt that there will be magic overhaul mods like Supreme Magicka and Less Annoying Magic Experience that will rectify any perceived weakening of magic, not to mention adding a plethora of new spells to the mix. I'm not worried.

It sounds pretty good so far with the new spell-traps

lol