Hi,

I really want to play a mage character, but everytime I make one I choose the wrong sort of skills, and I end up getting confused with the spells and I have long lists of custom spells that I can't sort out. I want to know what the best build is, the best way to go about getting spells, and possibly if there is a mod that helps you to sort out your spell menu? Thanks

For mods, check out LAME. Sorts your spell list by school and effect.

There is no 'best build'. Suggestions will vary depending on whether or not you're using any leveling mods. The default mage class really isn't that bad, though you'll miss out on +5s. You can drop one intelligence-based skill and one willpower-based skill from that set, replace them with whatever you like, and you'll be able to get +5s again.

I don't use any mods, but I will look at the one you suggested and what are +5s?

I play 360 so I can't do anything about spells but I'm pretty sure on PC you can remove spells pretty easily using console commands or something.

+5 is the maximum level-up multiple. In order to get a +5 increase to an attribute when you level up, you need to raise skills governed by that attribute 10 times at the present level. You can't do that when you have all three skills of particular attributes as majors.

It's really not worth worrying about with a mage-type character, in my opinion. They get plenty powerful eventually anyway.

Getting +5 attribute modifiers at level up. With all three willpower skills as majors, it's basically impossible to get +5 to willpower at level up. Same applies for any other attribute. The default mage class has all 3 willpower skills and all 3 intelligence skills, so you'd need to swap out one of each in order to maximize attribute gains (if that's something that's important to you).

Not really worth worrying about with any character, IMO, but it's not my character, so I figured it was worth mentioning all the same.

If you wanna do hardest difficulty it might be good to worry about it. Mages are the ones you need to worry about the least since they can kill in 2 spells once you get up there in level.

^ Yea, what Alleystria said. Mages start off pretty weak (in combat) and you'll need to do a lot of running to survive if you're starting off a pure mage. But eventually they have the possibility of becoming mad-powerful, to the point that they won't need to ever pick up a weapon or wear armor or quaff potions because it's so much easier to cast spells.

Ya that's pretty fun but loses it charm eventually. They need to wear clothes at least though.

Oh my pure mage (Igodah Go^Pe) wore clothes! Enchanted robes when adventuring and upper-class clothes in town. Just no armor. There didn't seem to be a need for it since her Sheild spells (not to mention Invisibility, summoning, etc) were so much more effective.

I would agree that having such a character could become charmless in the long run, but for me this never happened! I dig being all-powerful I guess.

Ya I know. Shield spells cost a lot even at 100 alteration tho. You could use potions as well.

You can make a strong Mage with any combination of the following:

Breton or Altmer

Atronach, Apprentice, or Mage


Conservative------------------------------------------------------------Extreme
Breton----------Breton---------Altmer---------Breton---------------Altmer
Mage------------Atronach------Atronach-----Apprentice--------Apprentice


I just wouldnt use an Altmer with Mage birthsign... It doesnt make sense to me.


Then Id just take the default mage class. Dont worry about efficient leveling, mages are ridiculously powerful in this game.

To avoid confusion with spells I would then stick to the store bought spells until you develop MASTER level in a spell skill. THEN I would make custom spells.

Designate your custom spells with an * that way all your customs will appear close together on the list. you could use an A too to put them at the top.

Example:
* CUSTOM FIREBALL
* CUSTOM HAILSTONE
* CUSTOM INVISIBLE


and so on.

In time, you get used to the names of the spells you use most often.

It's a good idea to reconfigure your hot-keys for a given situation. Against archers, you might want to have a Drain-Marksman-100% for 30sec's handy. I try to set up my hot keys so that I can just pop and cast in order; key1 (summon spell), cast; key2 (shield spell), cast; key3 (weakness spell), cast; key4 (destruction spell, cast, cast, cast; etc. Repeat as required.