The Skyrim Architect here with an in-depth guide on Skyrim Character Creation, strictly for new players. In this posting, I'll be discussing the Mage and the "Hybrids." Note: I fully understand that Skyrim is a RPG and the player can create and do what they wish. The builds I post are purely opinions of mine. However, I have taken into great consideration what to build to the point that they ARE perfect :3 For veterans of Skyrim, your opinion is highly appreciated.

First off, there are four types of play styles that use Spells. These are the "Pure" Mage, the Battle Mage, the Spell Blade, and the Night Blade. The "Pure" Mage is as the name suggest- a character that relies purely on the Arcane Arts. The Battle Mage is a Mage that uses physical attacks and most of the Arts. According to Elder Scrolls lore, Battle Mages don't wear armor. Instead they use the Arts to shield themselves from physical harm with magical spells. A Spell Blade, on the other hand, used armor- Heavy Armor. With a weapon in one hand and a Destruction spell in the other, these Mages jump into the fray of battle. The Night Blade is the opposite of a Spell Blade, wearing Light Armor, using stealth to stay hidden, dealing critical damage from the shadows, setting Destruction traps in the form of Runes, and using Illusion to become unheard, unseen, and control the mind's of their foes. In this entry I will be covering the Pure Mage and the Battle Mage.

The Pure Mage and the Battle Mage are almost opposite of each other, in a way, that one deals damage different then the other. Pure Mages use Destruction and cause no physical damage while Battle Mages only cause physical damage and don't use Destruction. To confiscate for this, the Pure Mage uses Conjuration to reanimate fallen Warrior type enemies to fight for them, dealing the physical damage the Pure Mage lacks, and the Battle Mage summons Atronachs, dealing Destruction damage the Battle Mage lacks. This makes the Pure Mage a Necromancer and the Battle Mage an Atromancer. The recommended races are High Elf for the Necromancer and Breton for the Atromancer.

Now that the extreme differences of each class are out of the way, it's time to explain the subtle similarities. Both Mages will use Alteration, Conjuration, Illusion, and Restoration, however, in different ways. The Necromancer uses Alteration mostly to protect their magicka pool with Magic Resistance and to Paralyze enemies. The Atromancer uses Alteration to protect themselves from physical damage. The Necromancer uses Conjuration to summon the dead to fight for them while the Atromancer uses it to summon Atronachs and Bound Weapons. Both Mages use Illusion to control the minds of their enemies and also to get themselves out of tight situations; being a "glass cannon" and all. Both use Restoration to heal themselves and to keep the undead off them.

Now Enchanting is different. The Necromancer will use Enchanting but the Atromancer does not. This is due to the fact that the Necromancer will need the custom gear as the Atromancer will not. Also, the High Elves gets a bonus in Enchanting as the Breton does not. However, the Breton does get a bonus in Speech allowing them to get their hands on what they need at lower prices and a bonus in Alchemy allowing them to brew potions for profit or to boost their Arcane potencies.

Another note: Necromancers will Dual Cast everything while Atromancers Dual Cast nothing.

In my next post I'll be covering the other Hybrids: the Spell Blade and the Night Blade. If you learned something from this guide, have anymore in-depth questions, or would like me to just send you the specific specs to each build, feel free to leave a comment.

In lieu of being one that will pick apart almost everything you stated, and I'm sure there will be more to come, I will just start with this one.

Where in the lore are you getting that from?

http://images.uesp.net/6/69/OB-npc-Roliand_Hanus.jpg looks to be decked out rather heavy to me.

Huh???

Well, that's just ridiculous.

I would offer out a fishystick, but I feel the OP is an established member that has started an alt account just to be dubbed... this architect person thingy.

No they aren't.

Battle mages do wear armor, for one.

Welcome to the forums OP.

On Topic... huh?

Arena Battlemage: Leather Armor allowed

Daggerfall Battlemage: Leather Armor allowed and Destruction is a primary skill

Morrowind Battlemage: Heavy Armor and Destruction are major skills

Oblivion Battlemage: Destruction is a major skill

I don't think there is anything wrong with your builds, but to claim it falls in line with lore? Nope...

It gets even worse; the Spell Blade he's talking about up there describes the Sorcerer.

Yes as I see it batlemages wear heavy armor and mainly uses destruction spells.

According to lore they tend to be used as artillery battles, do a lot of damage to the enemy and breaking up formations.

Yes they can also use sword but that is an secondary close in weapon system.

Spellblades use mostly weapons and magic is an helper, not sure who spells they would use, mind control and debuff should be useful.

Nightblades are sneaky mages,

Is looking at UESP really so difficult? Taken, word for word, from the Morrowind classes page:

Nightblades are spellcasters who use their magics to enhance mobility, concealment, and stealthy close combat. They have a sinister reputation, since many nightblades are thieves, enforcers, assassins, or covert agents.

Battlemages are wizard-warriors, trained in both lethal spellcasting and heavily armored combat. They sacrifice mobility and versatility for the ability to supplement melee and ranged attacks with elemental damage and summoned creatures.

Spellswords are spellcasting specialists trained to support Imperial troops in skirmish and in battle. Veteran spellswords are prized as mercenaries, and well-suited for careers as adventurers and soldiers-of-fortune.

Though spellcasters by vocation, sorcerers rely most on summonings and enchantments. They are greedy for magic scrolls, rings, armor and weapons, and commanding undead and Daedric servants gratifies their egos.

Most mages claim to study magic for its intellectual rewards, but they also often profit from its practical applications. Varying widely in temperament and motivation, mages share but one thing in common - an avid love of spellcasting.

im sorry but im with Hev on this one HUH!!!!!

mine dont thats for a start an neither do the ai so again for clarity HUH!!!!

my battle mages wear light armor an heavy depending on the situation an will either have a spell in one hand or conjure something an go in with a 2 handed weapon but with that im not saying its lore hell im pretty sure my pure mage wouldnt even be lore friendly since they use alchemy.

Don't know if this lore stuff is BS, probably is judging by the above replies, but Battlemages have always been heavy armoured in my book.

With spellswords using light.

That's the way it's been shown in games, and I'm pretty sure in lore too. An exception would be that Spellswords have been given both heavy and light armour as major skills in previous games. IIRC Morrowind had them in Light and Oblivion in Heavy.

Another thing I would add is that I don't consider Nightblades to wear armour at all. They simply don't need it, gameplay-wise and in real terms it would probably be too bulky, heavy and noisy. They use their magic to enhance their mobility, avoid being seen and to augment their damage skill.
I'm aware the games all have them in light armour, but that's just asking to steamroll the entire game once you get sneak above 50, combined with a decent Illusion skill.

Until Skyrim, alchemy was a magic skill, so you're pretty safe. In fact, both Morrowind and Oblivion had Alchemy as one of the primary skills for most casters. Your pure mage is pretty safe.