I didn't want to hijack the other mages threads going on right now so I made thise one.

I am curious to find out what others think of the potential of enchanting for mages.

Granted I only played one pure mage a while back but was thinking about making another one.

In that previous mage I made I fiddled around with enchanting but never really got around to using it much,I found the robes you get in the college to be more than adequet.

Enchanting to me has always been more of a battlemage thing where finding the right enchantments on the armor you want to wear is very difficult,or near impossible.So my battle mages use enchanting.

Alchemy on ther other hand I have been finding very usefull for my part time archer mage.

I'm not even talking about the poisons.

With potions like fortify magick,restore or regenerate magick and fortifying a magick skill such as destruction.

The advantages I find in alchemy to greatly outway the advantages you get from enchanting,at least for pure robe wearing mages.

The only way to increase your damage from destruction spells is through fortify destruction potions.

Mix that with some weakness to fire,frost or lightning poisons can wreak havock on enemies.

The mage I am going to make here very soon is most likely going to use both but enchanting will be mostly just for a hobby rather than the crafting skill to be used most.

What are your oppinions?Am I just nuts for thinking this way or do you think the advantages from alchemy are better than enchanting for pure mages?

Enchanting can make you a god of any class. You just have to take the right perks to go with it. And you can fortify your damage through enchanting too, not just alchemy.

Also not sure why you think a 'pure' mage wouldn't use enchanting- it's a form of magic.

I'm not saying a pure mage wouldn't use enchanting,I'm just curious to know the advantages of both alchemy and enchanting.

How does enchanting boost the damage of destruction spells?I thought you could only do that through alchemy.

Another thing I like about alchemy is that you can more than double the level of undead at wich resoration spells like guardian circle will effect.Guardian circle is all ready a master spell so the dual casting perk doesn't work for that spell.Am I right?

Everytime I play as a mage I always get my enchanting up to 100% ASAP. That way I can add two effects to any item. By reducing the magika cost to cast destruction magic by 25% on 4 items, it'll cost you nothing to cast destruction, regardless of level of spell.

Ive tried getting into alchemy and while it is enjoyable gatheriing ingredients, I dont find it as enjoyable as enchanting. Thats just me though. I know theres a ton of people here that love alchemy. I just dont like hauling around a bunch of potions.

By beign able to duel cast powerful spells like incinerate at 0 magika cost.

Yeah I don't want that much spell cost reduction though and I have allways had a hard time leveling enchanting.

It is very expensive to buy prefilled soul gems and I never seem to remember to cast soul trap on an enemy in the heat of battle.

What are some good roleplaying ways to level enchanting?

If you use bound weapons you can pick the perk that will allow you to cast soul trap on enemies. Thats always helpful. As far as leveling enchanting, destroy every item you come across to learn its effects. Save stupid things like iron daggers and enchant everything you can possibly enchant. It actually goes pretty quickly.

You also improve your enchanting skill by learning the enchantments on magic items. I got from 15 to 45 strictly by un-enchanting loot. You also improve your skill every time you recharge an enchanted weapon with a filled soul gem.

Enchanting is good for all classes, however you can find lots of random enchanted items at high level. who is almost as good as the ones you can make yourself.

Yes its hard to find stuff who fit you gear, you only get one effect and some pieces misses like body slot for smithing.

However you can not get stuff who is anywhere near master alchemy potions made with even moderate alchemy gear.

My characters pretty much always use alchemy, because of the profit involved. Many of them don't do enchanting, and most of those who do don't use it much. "Stock" enchantments usually work just fine.

Every single mage Ive ever made maxed out enchanting. Now that I think about it, every character I've ever made maxed out enchantment to at least get the duel enchant perk. Its a must.

Two things that are absolute MUST HAVES for every mage character (IMO) - Enchanting and Alteration. Alchemy will provide a good bonus especially if you go 5/5 alchemy, Physican and Benefactor.

I use Enchanting a lot.

Alchemy less so, though I always brew some Poison of Slow potions, and Regen Magicka if I'm playing a mage!

Level both, as you are playing a mage you have no need for smithing. But enchanting/alchemy if done right equates to god mode. Assuming you want god mode.

My thing has always been playing a mage strictly as a mage with robes. Once I get my enchanting to 100 and can put two enchantments on everything, thats when I switch over to armor. Dont know why, just do. Maybe just for the looks. Nothing like walking around casting firestorm at 0 magika cost wearing daedric armor.

Why is alteration so important for a mage?

Is it for the resist magic perks?

I don't really see getting hit that much with all my summons up in front of me for the mage armor to be that usefull.

When you get up in levels, spells hurt, a lot. If you don't take the alteration perks, lord stone, or somehow increase your magic resist, mages WILL [censored] you. I'm talking 1 shot [censored] you.

Exactly. Especially since I put everytning into magica instead of health or stamina. Maxing out Alteration is a must for all of my mages for the defence it provides.

Yeah thats what I was thinking but I'm allready a Breton and I plan on taking the Lord stone later.So that will give me 50% resistance to the magic that gets past my ward spells.

I am planning on taking both alchemy and enchanting as well as conjuration,restoration and destruction.

Alchemy,conjuration and restoration are the first perked major skills.

Destruction will also be important to this character.

Enchanting I was thinking of not perking until later in the game.I think I can get by with the mages robes until later.

Whatever perks I have left,about 4 or 5 to level 50 was either going to go into speechcraft to help pay for some of my enchanting or alteration.

For what it's worth I favor enchanting with which to augment my armor and weaponry. Alchemy leveling when I tried it was a horrid grind and while my DoVahKiin could literally leave any Assassin in the game gasping in awe at his stealthy kills I have rarely used poisons. Since I don't use exploits Alchemy is something I don't need. Were I to use a pure assassin build rather than a sneak archer then perhaps I would go that way but why should I need to do so? No, it's enchanting for me all the way, I'm more than happy to let the true alchemists ply their craft.

Best way to level enchanting is to find a weapon with banish, DE it, make iron daggers with banish, sell for mad loot. This way your enchanting will pay for itself.