Will a magic user be able to fly around a good distance with a levitate spell or something similar? I would imagine a rogue type can still jump fairly high, it doesn't seem like it would be difficult to add.

I am just imagining an aerial battle with a mage vs. a dragon ...that would be cool. It would also be another way to strengthen pure magic users versus other type of characters. It would also be nice if you could cast it on objects, other people. For example, your horse, then jumping on and riding through the sky. Or some random NPC....stealthly lift him about 200ft then waiting for the spell to run out...ouch. Of course it would have to be balanced somehow (perhaps it's an easier spell for a high-level target to resist).

I always thought it was cool in Morrowind how nice treasure would be hidden way up high sometimes where only a mage could get it (without a potion). It is nice to reward people for getting certain magic skills to a very high level, sort of like rewarding a high skill in swimming/endurance by making entrances to certain ancient places deep underwater.

id like the idea alltough i remember when i had enough speed,agility,athletics and acroatics i didnt need the levitate potion/spell for getting treasures

Levitate should come back. If it's too much of a hassle to get the AI to react to levitation appropriately, I'd like a spell that lets you fly the camera around outside your body.

it may possibly be back, we know that all the cities are open and that was the main reason that levitate wasn't in Oblivion

That is good news. As far as the AI problem goes, I don't think it would be that hard. Ranged Weapons would be shooting as normal, just a higher angle. And as far as Melee enemies...them not being able to hit you is sort of the point of hovering out of reach.

The most difficult part of making it happen may be what enemies/npcs do if you cast it on THEM. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't do anything smart like make for the nearest roof or hold onto a tree branch, but I am OK with that. I think it would be pretty funny to see them waving their sword around in mid-air heh.

Well there is no more acrobatics skill, no evidence for jump or levitation spells no climbing
But I also agree about levitation it will be wonderful to fly again, thats new axis to exploration, more fun, better roleplaying, unique tactics for enemies.

I say again
Levitation need to be done it also mentioned in Lore, was in most of previous games, It need to be better implemented, limitations for altitude, levitation can be high-level spell can cost much magicka for sustain constantly draining, need to concentrate when levitate and be dragged down by enemies when loose concentration, and most useful make NPC actually use magic, enemy mage can be much more interesting in combat if he can levitate at last like lich in oblivion and strafe backward without limitation, NPC can reach player in high places by levitation not stay down and wait when player shoot them.
Levitation even can be implemented with new magic system combine it with feather slowfall waterwalking add nice spell effect like dragon or bird wings or wind tremble at clothes and awesome spell will be created.
Flying in sky is one of fantasy things thats people always want, ok oblivion was divided by cells speed tree looks horrible from high but Skyrim has new engine and new trees is there still problem in implementation of levitation? If some one say thats levitation will ruin dungeons but there can still trigger zones of limit of levitation like in Tribunal, levitation can be limited in dungeons with no ability to fly high, there can still limit altitude in levitation spell.
There different ways make levitation good, not cut it out fix it.
Skyrim trailer show us thats new engine powerful and capable to make Levitation be awesome spell and didn't have oblivion limitations, thats feeling of Sky from eyes of dragon is unforgettable.
Modders work on implementation of levitation in Oblivion since 2006 and animation and scripting one of most hard things to do, but the done it just looks at some of this awesome mods in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgrUPA-TlhM thats one most interesting since apply flying both for player and NPC, and AI can handle levitation very well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rh7ZzYRBzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=577NFVOHeCs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmjpCqiaOcE

They are work hard for Idea for dream about Flying in Sky
Some speculations says thats Midas Magic show developers how unique magic liked by players and more popular then "boring" spreadsheet magic system
Midas Magic have different spells for flying why not take some inspiration from them?

According an speculation in this thread
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1169937-dragon-wing-tweak/


Dragons use their language for levitation, logically to say Dragon Born also can do thats so if not an spell levitation still can be an Dragon Shout, also was mentioned an Dragon Shout that will allow teleport to enemy back for stabbing, but if enemy is flying what will be done?
I still see levitation as spell, new magic system can handle levitation in an awesome way.

Lets design Levitation Spell for new magic system thats allow employ spells in different ways, since new spells have some sort of embedded script effect so we can add also more checks for conditions (I believe we still can create spells in CS from spell effects just all spells in game are combinations of spell effect and scripts and custom spell creation not available in-game)


New Levitate can combine spell effects like

Slowfall
Jump
Levitate (arena like) This spell allows the caster to float slightly above the ground for duration of spell. Floating thus the caster can traverse pits, lava flows, or water chasms.
Levitate (morrowind like)
Feather
Burden

For example

Mode 1 Cast on self with one hand
Allow float over obstacles like pits, lava flows, or water chasms on small altitude with slow constant decreasing of altitude to the end of spell, weight of equipment decreased, player can freely move backward without penalty (similar to lich float in oblivion) speed the same that %PCname has.

Mode 2 Cast on self with two hands
Jump high from ground and alter altitude in air and better levitation for %PCname you can fly in any directions channeling high magicka drain you cant use bows or two-handed weapon in this mode, enemy can disturb your meditation by strike try to evade attacks player loose levitation and fall down until spell is not recasted on self, over-encumbrance, changing hand for another spell or one-handed weapon will change spell behavior to mode one.

Mode 3 Cast target one hand
Make target float in mid-air (make large weight target movable by telekineses) or not allow target to fall,
on enemy work like burden, If spell pushes the encumbrance level past its maximum value, the target becomes immobile. It will therefore be prevented from moving, and will be a sitting duck for pounding with ranged weapons, spells, or even melee weapons with a higher reach than the one it has, swimming enemies drown in water or flying enemies casted down from heaven.

Mode 4 Cast on ground
Make trap thats set enemy immobile by fully burden him trap casted with two hands set enemy high fly and drop them down at end.