Which one do you prefer?

I have open a discussion regarding the paradox of character building for power leveling, but now it comes to me that there are indeed Fortify Attributes Spells. So now, why need to power leveling if we can boost attributes through magic?

Strength damage cap is at 100, Agility damage cap for bow also 100.

To power level in each level up need a lot of work, set up major and minor skills, keep tracking on how much the skill rise.

But to boost attribute using magic is much simpler, just learn that magic and have sufficient magicka to cast it.

A melee character don't need more than 100 Strength to get Strength damage bonus, and so bow user also don't need Agility more than 100 for bonus damage

If correctly set up and spell creating we can make 100 attribute in all attributes using spells

This makes me think to revise my character.

How would you get enough magica to use the fortify spells in the first place?

I don't think I would fancy having to frequently cast strong buff spells (and my character uses no enchanted clothes or armor - only a couple rings.). I prefer to grow attributes permanently via leveling up. That said however, I use attributes to strongly help define my character, careful NOT to increase several of them. That makes growing the desired attributes much easier. Buffy is a fragile mystic archer, focused on bow and illusion. We use attributes to focus who she is as follows:

Intelligence, willpower and agility – maxed to support bow and spells. This is why she is a dangerous cannon.
Personality – maxed, but this is purely for roleplaying reasons since her skill in illusion can certainly help her get her way with others.

Endurance – ignored to support her ‘don’t hit me’ fragility. This is why she is a glass cannon.
Strength – ignored. She can’t use melee weapons anyway and, as a mage, has no need to carry heavy things or loot. More importantly, it helps define her as physically weak and vulnerable (like her base endurance does).
Speed – ignored. With a fast horse and the ability to disappear via spell, she has no need to run. She does not 'kite' or run while shooting. Her short height makes her even slower.
Luck – ignored. She makes her own.

lol, it is easy to get Intelligent +5 on level up via Alchemy and/or spell spamming


For an archer maybe there is not much problem there, but for melee type of a warrior-mage for sure at least to

Fortify Endurance - for survivability and stay longer in combat
Fortify Agility - avoid staggering
Fortify Strength - for damage bonus
Fortify Speed - to escape when in danger

My current warrior Atronach, is designed with only four used majors, he will stop leveling at 30.
His endurance is capped at 70. This seems to be the line in-between being too weak and too powerful. His strength is capped as well. In fact, the only attribute that I see this guy getting to 100 is Agility.
He doesn't have 100 in everything yet can still hand out the beat downs. The vulnerability lies in power attacks. One whack, if I've overextended myself with a whiffed attack, will take about a third of health off.
There is a level where your strength doesn't affect damage on the swords. I found it by casting fortify strength, then checking on the damages of my weapons. Beyond 70 in strength, you do not get damage bonuses anymore when increasing your strength.

Really? i read from Faqs and Wiki, strength damage cap is 100 Strength. More than 100 Strength only effect encumbrance, not the damage.

Maybe Fortify Strength don't work or it is a bug?

I have to make sure of this, because i don't want bonus attributes become wasted