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Question: So as a Wizard\Mage, how do you defend yourself?

Alteration is good way to digg into setting up an armor shield field around you or paralyze your enemies, not so good but it's one way.
Conjuration is a good way to digg into the whole summoning undead or elements from another place to defend you, to take the damage for you.
Restoration is a good way to digg into the whole part of having a shield up, blocking damage. So you block with magic shield with 1 hand and the other deal damage? Not as much damage but still, not bad yea?

And last but not least there is the way of Illusion, you charm and fear your way out of being damaged heavily.

I use Illusion quite a bit, spells like Frenzy are great, let them kill each other then pick off the remaining (and usually injured) enemy with a dual cast lightning bolt or similar. Also conjuration, Daedra summoning and armour, effective for boss fights!

summon atronach round around it and heal myself xD

Summon undead and conjured sword, combo with stoneflesh, and a rune spell.

edit-

plus add in Ice dragon shout that turns enemies into ice statues.

I use alteration for defense, and conjuration for offence(Conjured Sword, Conjured Bow, Atronachs).

Plus shouts.

I use Flames and only Flames, unless I need to snipe something in the distance in which case I use fireball obviously. Oh and dual-heal if something takes a bite out of me.

I want to focus on three different spell schools! Bit split up.

I know I want Illusion for sure then Destruction now.. It's either Conjuration or Restoration or Alteration to keep myself some defence, what do you think?

Bonus with Alteration in my opinion is the Paralyze if you want to assassinate anyone, right?

Mage is Conjuration, Desto and Resto. Keep up my companion and myself through the Ridiculous high amounts of damage we take on Master and destro to stagger and blow up foes with conjur to add a 4th person into the fight(companion is a Destro/Conjur mage) Even then if i take 1 wrong hit im blown up.

Also since i enjoy how amazing robes look im a very odd Mage using my Conjured bow while sneaking as much as possible. You can summon Atronachs and stay in stealth and shoot with the 2x damage if you're careful

Considering the short duration on summoned weapons and armor, is it not annoying to constantly recast the spells? Not to mention "wasting" multiple favourite keys just to cast a pair of boots and gloves?

I never used it much cause the durations make it look like a huge hassle and a timetrap during combat.

um...there is no bound armor.

i run a lot...

That's why you do it before battle. Clear a room, scout ahead the other room if no one is there then continue forward without your spells. Scout other room with compass and red dots, then cast it.

Destruction. It's kinda svcky in this game because of programming faults, but I managed to find a mod or two which fixes it (a bit).

Hmmm!

Do any of you play with Illusion - Destruction - Alteration? together and if yes, what more do you add here?