I'd like to ask whether it's feasible - or rather enjoying - to play a pure mage joining the Dark Brotherhood. In other words, no physical weapons (and preferably not conjured either, because that's just the same to me), only pure magic. You do get at least one typical dagger, so maybe I'd better make an exception for daggers ...? I wanted him to do Mehrunes Dagon's quest too, and seeing how the reward is a great dagger here ...

I'm mainly into roleplaying, so I could always only use a dagger for the DB quests, but that wouldn't be nearly as cool as when I'd actively use one-handed as my main offensive skill. I'd have to hack 'n slash them to death instead of the more 'realistic' slash to the throat - done. I do want to keep him as a pure mage no matter what 'though, as I already have another character who uses one-handed (and she's no Dark Brotherhood material at all).

Yes, it can be fun. Two DB members are mages, mage clothing also exist for those who want to take that role.

Who better to teach the fools of this world about the cold of Lord Sithis than a mage? Especially in this land where these Nords think that cold can't touch them.

*Whispering* Show them, my child. Show them that...they're wrong. -Lucien Lachance

To be able to get a certain amount of bonuses, you'll have to take the quiet casting perk so that your destruction spells are silent. If you don't then you may have to trade the ability to get some bonuses in order to have a more fun roleplaying experience.

I'm currently doing the DB with an illusion Mage. She is using only a dagger. She has 100 illusion (which is quick to get) and a high sneak, with the Assassin's blade perk. Having heaps of fun!

Being a mage-assassin is very fun. There are plenty of spells to utilize to get the jobs done without ever being caught.

It's insanely fun.

Master Illusion, then take the contract to kill the Emperor's cousin. Cast Mayhem from the battlements and watch hilarity ensue.

Not to mention using muffle, invisibility and silent casting.

When ol' Festus tells you to scorch some bastard's face, you can actually do it.

Okay, thanks guys. I guess I'll keep the daggers as ceremonial attire or something.

I use a mod that allows spells to gain a 1.5% sneak attack bonus by adding a perk into the sneak tree. The DB gloves improve that sneak bonus too, so its actually possible to play a nightblade or spellthief using spells.

One word ..... Nightblade

A Nightblade primaily uses magic to achieve an assassin role. As in spells like muffle, invisibility etc.

My Nightblade specializes in a bound dagger and bound bow.

I'll have to try this sometime. Its been a while since i played through the Dark Brotherhood.

Do it. You can get a ring as a quest reward which boosts Destruction, get to chat with Festus who is an avid proponent of some delightfully... face-melty assassination stratagems. The Mage equipment for Dark Brotherhood looks much better than the armour variant.

Mine as well. She also throws conjuration into the mix.

It is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY feasible. However it tends to get difficult unless you obtain the quiet casting Illusion perk. But Illusion is one of the easiest schools of magic to power level so acquiring the perk shouldn't be difficult. And if anything, a mage assassin is even more practical than a normal dagger and bow type, because think about it, you can shoot someone in the back of the head from 60 feet away, but the guards will find the arrow. An arrow is traceable. But you silently place an ice spike in the back of a target's head, the guards just find water. It's simply logical espionage.