I have been rocking a conan style character for about 70hrs, and am wanting to get into Magic now. A couple questions I have:

1. Can you be pure magic, or would a melee backup be recommended?
2. Which provides better protection early in the game: Armor or Robes with X-flesh and Ward spells, and Mage Armor? (i know eventually I could just smith/enchant armor w/ magic regen...)
3. Is destruction the way to go for damage or is conjuration a better way to go? Which should be the main source of dmg?

I know people will say, it depends on what you want; but I am on the fence about going pure mage, or some sort of battlemage, with Destruction, Conjuration, Alteration and Dual Wield (any suggestions on other skills?)

If there is already a post about this, please direct me to it. I searched the first ten pages and didn't see one.

Toodles