Okay so I tried to make a pure ice mage and yeah, that didn't work out because the number of things resistant to ice makes it feel like a BB gun. So I decided I'm going to make a character that uses both the Archmage Robes and Dragon Priest Mask Nahkriin.

Since wearing this mask counts as armor, should I then also wear armored gloves and boots, since I can't double my "flesh" spell rating since the mask counts as armor? Has anyone done the DP mask + robes and how effective is it?

After getting the dragon skin spell it won't matter. My Mage uses both items and I find them to be great. As far as gloves and boots go, it's personal preference.

You can't wear the archmage robes with headgear, except circlets. Unless you're doing the vampire TG hood glitch, which allows you to wear multiple headgears.

Each armor piece you wear gives you a hidden 25 armor rating, the armor rating cap is 667. Even with moderate smithing or heavy/light armor perks you can match the 300 provided by Ebonyflesh, you need to get 225 armor rating with the three armor pieces to match it, due to the hidden bonus.

Edit: actually iirc the DP masks glitch with the archmage robes and show no face, but you can wear both.

Well I'm thinking about what to do early and mid-game. I'll probably get Morokei first, then do the MQ and get Nahkriin. Should I worry about getting armor and upgrading those items (and even consider spending perks on Heavy Armor for those pieces) in the meantime to mitigate the lack of defense, or would that be a waste of time? I play on Expert btw, if that makes a difference.

Dragon Priest masks count as circlets.

Yea, i made a character who's plan was the exact same. I never finished it but I got to about level 43 using heavy boots, gauntlets, and a helm. using just robes. It worked well enough. The flesh spells make up for the lack of body armor, and you can still take the first perk in the heavy armor tree to improve defense, as well as smithing the items, even if you don't take smithing perks. The only reason I stopped was... well, I don't know. I already maxed out enchanting and alchemy, it was the last character I made before switching to another game for some time, then when I came back i just started a new character. I just made him too strong with alchemy and enchanting too fast, it got boring.

Heh, yeah Alchemy and Enchantment can be an absurdly powerful 1-2 punch. I'm curious, what race did you go with, and was the playstyle really much different with these items? Do you remember your armor rating (or ballpark)?

No they don't, they have armor tags so affect the light/heavy armor perks and break the mage armor perk.

Regardless, you can still wear them with the archmage robes.

Precisely. I'm aware they break mage armor perk, which is why I asked some of my other questions. Kind of debating race now, as I plan on focusing on Destruction, Conjuration, Alteration, Restoration, and Enchantment primarily, with a little bit of Alchemy mostly. I'm leaning toward Altmer for their extra magicka and magicka recovery, or Dunmer, for their fire resistance and destruction bonus.

Yes you can wear the DP masks with Archmage robes. I've done it on all my mages. Yes they break the mage armor perks. Its irrelevant once you get Dragonhide spell, the highest of the alteration armor spells. It does not add armor rating, but rather blocks 80% of incoming physical damage for 30 seconds (which can be increased to 45sec with Stability perk, 99sec with Stability and Dual Cast). This is a % spell, what you are wearing makes no difference. 80% is also the armor cap equivalent, so again, chosen apparel is irrelevant.

Yes the robes and Nahkriin make a powerful combo. You can, even without abusing the alchemy/enchanting loop, still get upwards of 95+% cost reduction on Destruction and/or Restoration with this combo.

Personally I'd go Dunmer if you're set on an elven race. The innate fire res is better for later game than the magicka bonus. Once you get your set up, you won't be having magicka issues. +10 Destruction > +10 Illusion. Illusion is the easiest magic school to level.