Does anyone have any input for what items to use as a Mage playthough or for Marcurio? I'm not using any weapons (except bound) but I may give Marcurio a staff. Any input on good staves or armor for a no armor mage or (maybe a weapon for) Marcurio?

Also, does fortify one handed affect bound weapons?

Thanks

Archmages robes for a non armour mage as soon as you can get them, in the meantime enchant whatever robes you can. And yes fortify does affect bound weapons.

Sanguine Rose ASAP.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Followers#Enchanted_Follower_Equipment are the enchantments that will work on gear followers are wearing.

Also, if you are going to play a mage, and have a mage as a follower... IMO either conjuration or illusion are going to be a must for you. So any staffs that conjure would be good to have, give one to Marcurio.

Thanks for the input. Am going to level conjuration too.

Also not going to level enchanting, as it is too easy to make money with it. Strictly buying from shops/using loot

Since Bound Sword will be my backup attack, how about the dark brotherhood mage gloves?

I found enchanting very useful on my pure cloth wearing mage playthrough, although I can say that I only used it for robes and clothing and didn't abuse it for money. The pure mage needs good outfits for different problems, especially later in the game and without enchanting you may struggle a bit. Remember that enchanting is a magic skill and should be used by mages. Conjuration is a great ally and almost essential for the mages survival in tight situations.

With regard to bound weapons I found that I really didn't need them. The pure mage will struggle in the early levels but the payback for this is incredible power later, so it's worth sticking with it.

Mercurio isnt really good, nor is J'zargo... Illia, on the other hand, is AMAZING.. she casts a lvl 2 ice spike, and may only scale to lvl 30, but when i was lvl 50-60 she was doing major damg to not only minor enemies, but bosses even... I was so sad when i lost her to the one time bug! Once shes dismissed (via quest or manually) shes unobtainable a 2nd time.. Not onyl is her spell base powerful, but she uses any, and EVERY staff you give her! Many will not use much of the staves given.. She will, and does so effectively! Illia is by far THE BEST follower ive ever had, in over 2000hrs of Skyrim!

Enchanting IS the mages craft... Blacksmithing is for heavy armored warr/barb types, and alchemy (arguably via poison) is the thief/assass craft... Enchanting is most beneficial for mages... Not to mentionthe destruction perks that add fire/frost/electri dmg, also affect their enchanted counterparts...You will need enchanting as a mage!

I'm with this, if not even for the power or defense aspects, I just get bored too easily with the standard robes. I prefer to find a full set of robes or clothing that I really enjoy and enchant it however I see fit.

And, having multiple sets for different situations wouldn't hurt...

I used Mjoll until Serana became available and that worked well for me.

The double enchantment perk is fantastic for creating great mage outfits.