I want to try either but don't know what's the difference.

Supposedly, Battlemages wear Heavy Armor, then yesterday I heard Spellswords wore Heavy.

They both deal in Destruction. The traditional BM is using Destruction and Conjuration from afar then switching to Two Handed.

Spellswords are primarily using weapons while their magic compliments them.

I think it was Pistolero that said:

Spellswords=Sword then Magic
Battlemages=Magic then Sword

I might try a 2h battlemage. How do I make destruction useful? I have all the dlc

Use it and level it up, and put perks into it.

Use Enchanting or Alchemy to boost your Destruction or reduce the magicka costs.

There are countless topic on the subject. In fact it's almost discussed on a daily basis. This was one of the better threads on a http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1450994-battlemage/.

My Battlemages favor...

A Spellsword looks like...

Light Armor

1H

Alteration

Restoration

Destruction and/or Conjuration

As always...

Smithing

Enchanting and/or Alchemy

Same as any archetype , race has absolutely zero bearing, when it comes down to it.

My own definition is determined by which purview supplements the other.

If the more mundane martial methods are the mainstay supplemented by magic, you are a Spellsword.

If the more magical martial methods are the mainstay supported by the mundane, you are a Battlemage.

Battlemages are to Barbarians what Spellswords are to Knights.

I'm sure the Legion Corps of Battlemages would take quite kindly to being compared to barbarians.

I'm also sure that a "barbarian mage" would not http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Art_of_War_Magic

I think the use of magic vs weapon is neglectable when defining what they are.

A battlemage is one that is at home with being a powerful mage or a valiant warrior tank. They stand on a rock and rain down bolts of lightning or balls of fire and summon small legions of minions. When their magicka is exhausted, they jump into the throat of battle wielding there Greatsword and clad in Eboney as they smite the enemy on a personal level.

A Spelsword is one that is all over the place. He is agile and swift. He is a swashbuckler and uses the arcane in one hand as he strikes with surgical precision with a sleek Broadsword. He buffs himself for the engagement with Alteration and lashes out with casting Destruction as he closes the gap on the enemy. Then he is like an artist, painting his portrait of death, with every stroke of the brush bathing the canvas in blood.

I'm assuming that's Art of War Magic. The comparison was meant to be taken as their philosophies to combat are similar. Offense. Guns blazing. Just because you fight offensively or aggressively doesn't mean there isn't any tact. There's the dependence on and the restraint of exhausting Magicka/Stamina too early for one.

Spellswords win through maneuverability and outlasting their opponents. Knights do the same,

I think a Battlemage would favor maces, conjuration and alchemy and spellswords would favor swords, restoration and illusion. Both could use destruction and alteration as auxiliary skills. And of course armors.

I'd assume your assumption was compromised when you clicked on the link he provided.

I didn't though. That's the Imperial Battlemage manual. I guessed based on that and the context LOL.

Hey... You're driving that bus, Skippy. Feel free to take it down any avenue you see fit.