So, I've been playing around with Morrowind again lately, for the first time in a couple of years. Just screwing around with old characters, mostly, but I feel a bit too detached from my old characters to really want to pick them up where I left off. So it's time for a new character, a new playthrough.

My previous characters were a couple of Hlaalu Witch-hunter/Nightblade types (supplemental magic, stealth, short blades and bows, light armor, alchemy) and a House Redoran spear-fighter crusader type. (supplemental magic, spears, heavy armor).

I wanna play a Mage type this time. Not just someone who uses supplemental magic to enhance his non-magical activities. Not the preset class, but I want to play a character who wears mostly enchanted clothes and a staff. Dark Elf, Atronach. Eccentric Telvanni Magelord who sets out to kill Dagoth Ur because his impending conquest of Morrowind would be most inconvenient for my research. I've given it a couple tries so far but just haven't been able to get it to click for me, yet.

Now, I'm not taking every Magic skill in my majors and minors. I plan on leaving one Intelligence-based skill and one Willpower-based skill in Miscellaneous to give me a bit more control over my multipliers when I level up. I'm not looking for +5s every time, but it's disheartening to see my Intelligence go up by one or two while my Speed or something gets a +4 thanks to Athletics. I do play DiD, so while I don't want to powergame everything to unfun, I do want a fighting chance.

So, I'm looking for suggestions on what Magic skills are best put in Misc? What skills go up fast enough through use that it doesn't matter too much that they're relegated to Misc?

Just remember that Misc skills level very slow. Even if you are constantly using them. (and they rarely start above 20)

But if I'm reading you correctly, you may want to make Destruction and Mysticism (or Alteration) your Minor skills (not Major or Misc) because they do get used a lot for most players, so this will help you slow down and control your leveling/multipliers.

My advice, only put Magic skills in Misc if you have no desire to use them, or don't plan on using them until you're over lvl 20

There is also a great tool to help plan characters before you jump in game: http://morrowind.inventivegamer.com/tools/chargen/

I was thinking of putting Alchemy in Misc for the Intelligence skill. It's not one of my favorite skills anyway. But unfortunately, all the Willpower skills *are* magical skills.

I've never been a fan of Conjuration, but Enchant is very good to have especially later in the game when you can make your own.

edit: Those are Int skills

Oh, I am quite a fan of Enchant, having used it on my other characters. I just wanted to do a playthrough where magic was my main deal and not just something I did to supplement my swording or shooting. And previous tries at a mage had resulted in my Speed and Strength getting +3s and +4s on level-up thanks to Athletics and Acrobatics and my Intelligence and Willpower getting +2s, maybe a +3. Which didn't seem right to me.

I dunno, are Mages really fun? Is it worth it?

Magic in Morrowind can be a lot of fun, but it does take some foresight and knowledge to really get the most out of it.
Creating your own spells is easily one of the best features. You can make yourself very unique and powerful this way.

A Magic playthrough (or Stealth) is usually harder than Combat in Morrowind, but ultimately more rewarding in terms of hilarious/exciting things you can do.

Any suggestions on good spells to create? I've used spellmaking before, but the spells I made were always very practical and straightforward.