The only thing I find disappointing about the magic in Skyrim is the lack of a spell creation system; even one as rudimentary as just combining two spells cast simultaneously into a totally new effect.

Where is the problem with this? This is enough damage to kill even deathlords in a couple of hits.And then players still could make Fortify destruction pots.
A far bigger problem are the mana cost.Without reducing them to zero through enchantements the player ran out of mana when something like a dragon or deathlord is to kill.

I agree, each fight is tactical when playing a mage. Short story...

Some thugs came to teach me a lesson as soon as I exited a dungeon. So I booked it quickly since I'm light on my feet in my robes, turned around and froze 2 of the 3 thugs with ice form. Now I had one singled out, I slowed him down with frostbite, summoned my sword and got him with a finishing move. The other 2 thugs have thawed and are coming after me. I got 1 with my calm spell then cast my stoneflesh. Now the other thug is pretty mad swinging his battle axe but I blast him with frosbite and ice spike, no power attacks for him. Finish him off easily dancing circles around his slow attacks. Now 1 thugs left, still calm as ever. I then bound my 50 damage bow and bam! One shot, done...

Now that's fun, better than spamming swords or destro magic.

:clap:

Don't forget about Paralyze and Wall of Flame!

Wanna buy a potion?

I hate mage because when I was trying to play as one it felt impossible. My spells cost too much mana, with perks and with me mostly going Magica on level up, while they barely tickled my enemies. I would unload a dual casted firebolt and deal maybe 25% of somethings hp. And then their defenses felt subpar. Using a ward actually harms you more than it helps, as their damage absorption is piddly and then stunlock when they fade... The second I picked up a sword and a shield the combat felt far better, I wasn't feeling like I was fighting game mechanics for some chance of success and it felt more interactive to boot. That is why players hate magic, at least destruction, does not feel like a valid choice without the magica cost reduction, and that does not change the fact that it takes far, far, far more spell casts than sword swings, even of not looped weapons, to kill enemies.

I'm using a mage and trash talk how pathetic he is

Lvl 70 here and still completely owning with destro.

Of course, I also use illusion, conjuration, and alt. extensively.

In other words, they made a console game. When you appeal to the lowest common denominator this is what you get.

Magic can be fun though...when you're overpowered enough that it doesn't matter. Last night I got bored with my greatsword wielding barbarian, so I put away the sword, enchanted some armor with 100% destruction/restoration cost reduction and went and fought an ancient dragon by spamming frostbite and fast heal. The fight lasted about half an hour and it got a bit dicey when he finally decided to stick to the ground and spam flame breath on me, but 10 ranks in destruction and 15 ranks in restoration later I finally managed to throw him down from his roost.

Still on this huh?

Max out lightning perks, get 100% mana reduction on destruction, and spam Thunderbolt from 2 hands (as in 2 separate bolts), if something gets close, then dual cast it for the stagger.

Please tell me how this is not only fine, but actually ridiculous. It is especially funny by preventing Dragon breath....

No waterwalk, no open, no cure disease, no way of dealing damage apart from elemental, no debuffs, no buffs on other.
No dispel. Etc.

That is why it is not fine, because the best magic system ever devised for a computer game has been reduced to exactly the same as what every other game has.

I have tried to play as a mage and I svck at it! I wish I understood the best way to play as one. The only magic i delve into is one handed range destruction and then switch back to sword and shield.

Fair enough, but my point was actually that you can go to level 80 doing only this and still have an easy time.

You are wrong on one of those though, Call to Arms buffs others.

I used to play battlemage, but between the necessity of having one free hand for magic (thus nullifying my sword and shield style) and the new magic system's relative worthlessness (limited spells, no spellmaking, nerfed destruction, necessity for conjuration) I'm playing straight warrior this time through.

I'm playing a straight thief (no magic), battle mage (hammer, heavy armor, conjuration and restoration) and pure mage (no weapons or armor). The mage is the most interesting to play. Then the thief is next, and then the warrior is boring. (All on "expert".)

Personally I feel no lack from the removal of spell creation, since I'm using all five magic schools.

Apart from never using weapons or armor, and keeping health and stamina at 100, the other thing I'm doing to keep her interesting is not take the perk that lets illusion spells work on all enemies. I prefer having to come up with different strategies for different foes.