Hello all. I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not having a "magic resistance" enchant on armor/clothing is the same has having a fire/frost/shock resistance enchant of the same magnitude. Would an item with 10% magic resistance offer 10% resistance for fire/frost/shock all at the same time? Thanks in advance!

No, it wouldn't.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Resist_Magic

So based on the link you provided magic resistance will offer resistance against fire/frost/shock since they cause damage...

It wouldn't the same effect of the same magnitude. Having 10% Magic Resist and hoping for 10% Shock won't work.

Resists magic does offer resistance to magic, but just not the full amount of the damage being sent your way. Potions do the same thing. It is like using a ward only you are using the magic instead.

If you are playing as a mage, the only magic damage you really have to worry about is shock from other mages and fire from dragons. It would be better to have resist fire potions, and some kind of article that is enchanted against shock instead of trying to cover them all at once.

Hope that made sense.

How so? Your link stated that magic resistance means the character ignores X% of the damage of incoming spells, which sounds like its the same has have frost/flame/shock resistance all at the same time.

Err... yes it would? That's exactly what the description in the link says it does. Magnitude percentage reduction of all hostile spells upon the user, instead of just a particular destruction element.

Typically, it's easier to get a higher specific elemental resistance instead of an all-encompassing Resist Magic: Case in point: Bretons only get 20% magic resist as a racial trait, while Nords and Dark Elves get a 50% frost/fire resist (respectively)