I'm thinking about making a Mage for my second character, however armor variation plays a big part in my enjoyment of RPG games.

What I mean by armor variation is this:

For Robes, as an example. Are there every any better enchants on Robes besides '50% Mana Regen + 12% less cost of (insert spell skill)'. These are
the only enchants I ever found on Robes during my 90 hours (level 41) play-through on my first character, and I was able to find these types of Robes
as early as level 5.

Another concern is graphical differences. Again, throughout the first 90hours of the game I only came across, maybe, 4 different robes (which for the most
part looked fairly similar).

One of my biggest enjoyments of RPGs (especially TES games) is going into a dungeon hoping that at the end I'll come out with an improved piece of
armor or weapon (however weapons are not a concern for me as a mage).

So basically what I'm asking is this - is there better Mage armors than what you find within the first 5, 10, or even 20 levels of the game? Do the enchants
ever increase / differ in any way? (excluding the enchants you can put on yourself)

Also I haven't finished the main story questline or the College of Winterhold, so if there are improved items you get through either of those
two quest lines don't spoil it please ;_;

Just say that yes, there is better armor. Thanks!

I found a robe with +125% magika regen, best ive found haha (level 34).

mages guild:

other robes:
there is a robe for every school from novice to master i think, the first 2 (novice and apprentice) i kow look the same, adept looks diffrent (and cool) i have not seen other ones yet (im too low a level, im not even supposed to see adept yet but a follower had it)

edit:i remeberd some more! there is robe colors(black robes, blue robes ect) priest robes, thalmor robes, necromacer robes, and thatsa few i remeber, i'll update if i find/remember more

I don't know about looks, but there are definitely stronger robes and hoods on sale at the mages college

Not that I have seen. In-fact, I now never wear mage armor. I simply go light or heavy or mix and match those armors. Since I have no intention of actually spending points in those perk trees I have total freedom to wear whatever strikes my fancy. Oddly enough I have seen a few pieces of "light armor" that would qualify as mage gear. (except for it ruining an alteration perk skill)

I made a thread about this a while back: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1286460-lack-of-unenchanted-robes/page__p__19408932#entry19408932

There's a definite lack of variety in robes/hoods, especially if you want to enchant your own items.

Mages pretty much have no good robes unless enchanted. We got shafted in every aspect, Spells, Gear & Power.

Ive found 1 worthy yet in 85h play on one pure mage char.

never mind, read it too fast and misunderstood :tongue: but still adept robes and higher would be useful to a mage i think

I see I see... thanks

The robes and mana regen have limited use, considering magic regens at 33% of normal during combat. The BEST thing to do as a mage is to max enchanting (this is good for everyone). That way you can make armor (NOT robes!) with head/body/ring/necklace with -25% destruction and restoration cost (or just destruction), then those spells cost ZERO mana! You can cast destruction spells non-stop all day and night!

You can, if you want, use enchanting to your advantage here, if you spend time raising it. Enchant some fancy Nord Fur armor and enjoy feeling like a tribal mage. It's what I'm doing Fur armor are in abundance and you can always find a new set to enchant as your skill goes up. Just a small tip of what you can do anyway.

I'm quite enjoying my expert destruction robes, at the moment. They're much cooler than armor. Eventually, I'll probably buy a set of the same robes (albeit, unenchanted -- I've seen them) and enchant them myself once my enchant skill is high enough. Maybe I'll enchant a set of armor much later, but for now, I love the look of expert and master robes.

Buy some robes or clothes, boots, shoes, cap, and enchant them.

Obviously this will be best when enchant skill is 100 and you have spent the perks.