I've never been a fan of Illusion magic in TES games. Never really touched it in Oblivion outside of a single bard character, and I haven't explored it yet in Morrowind.

In Skyrim, I'm aware that Illusion can be incredibly effective. No question: being able to root your enemies in place (well before you can cast Paralyze, in most cases), send them running in terror, or turn them against one another is a great boon. Muffle and Invisibility are obviously great assets for would-be thieves or assassins.

But despite the undeniable strength of Illusion magic in Skyrim, I have never used it on any of my mages - or any characters for that matter.

Part of it probably has to do with the name. 'Illusion' magic to me has a D&D resonance that suggests deception and misdirection rather than straight-up mind control. A D&D Illusionist would weave shadow and thought into a phantasmic blend of image and sound, playing on his audience's impressions rather than dominating them. Skyrim Illusionists work by pointing and shooting globs of red light. It's not exactly artistic.

Second, Illusion magic has been cut in Skyrim to just a few effects. Fear, Calm, and Frenzy are the only 3 offensive effects available to the Illusionist in Skyrim. No Light, no Paralyze, no Charm - not to mention all the effects available in Morrowind. So in addition to not seeming quite like Illusion magic as I've traditionally understood it, Illusion in Skyrim would seem to be rather straightforward and simplistic.

I have grown to enjoy most of the other schools of magic in Skyrim, but I feel like my Destruction mages benefit from more tactical finesse than an Illusion mage ever could.

I'm hoping someone can help me see the light here. Again, it's not that I doubt Illusion's viability - far from it - but I need a new way of looking at it that can help me see its greatness, its coolness, its capacity for interesting gameplay and roleplay opportunities.

Any takers?

Illusion can do http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/steve_tran79/15918-1-1205276828.jpg.

Illusion also some how makes fire stronger

Well I am to lazy and ignorant to use it but there is a bard mod that sounds really good, otherwise there isn't much point to being a bard in this game. I have a bard though and several other characters that use it and depending on how much you rely on it, it can be fun. To use it extensively you really have to be in the mood though. For instance, I have a character that mostly uses calm and sneak and if it works well. she basically just calms something then sneaks up behind even in broad daylight outside which is not possible with just sneak, and they are dead. So if that works, it can get a little boring after awhile, if it doesn't work and you don't have much melee or destruction, which is hard to do with perk and magicka limitations, then you run a lot or depend on a follower. An Illusion specialist is pretty gimped against undead, so I will give my follower a turn undead weapon. Often though, they are better without a follower.

I have a fun concept character that is a good altmer female that i managed to get 'accidentally' infected pretty quickly, she fell asleep because of 'weakness' when she had sanguine vampiris, and woke up turned. She is trying to finish the MQ post haste and will worry about curing herself later as she has no idea how to now. She decided to use Illusion and sneak since she feels so competent at them after turning. (Altmer vampires are insanely good at Illusion). But she also uses light armor, shield and ax. she will use the charm/sneak tactic or frenzyy when she is able. she also likes to calm animals so she won't have to kill them if she is away from roads and settlements. She has sort of turned into a vampire ranger....

I think illusion magic is at it's best when used in combination with other schools. For instance, I have a mod that allows me to summon a spectral skeever. So, my character was traveling not far from Darkwater Crossing, and was attacked by an argonian assassin. With the left hand I summoned the skeever, with the right I cast "Fear" on the assassin, and then watched the fun as the assassin fled in blind terror from the vengeful skeever, who chased the Argonian out of sight. I'll never forget the Argonian screaming "I cannot best you" as the skeever chomped on his butt...

This series of Articles lead me to roll an Illusionist. This character uses Illusion Magic only, no other magic at all. It's pretty cool.

http://www.pcgamer.com/an-illusionist-in-skyrim-part-1/

Illusion is the path to being the most powerful mage ever in TES history. It is basically conjuration, except you aren't raising the dead, you're controlling live people lol.

Illusion can be very powerful but the main problem is you don't know if it will work against an enemey. As an archer I can kill most enemies in one (sneak) or a few shots. Same with two handed, dual wielding and somewhat destruction.

At high levels it's easier to just blast away your enemies instead of relying on a spell that might or might not work.

I've actually had no problems with it at high levels.

Check that; I've had no problems with it when dual casting the high end spells. If you're single casting the high end spell you -may- get the occasional resist or miss. If you're casting the lower end spell then I can see how they'd be unpredictable.

Perhaps I can help you see the darkness instead?

I've only utilized the illusion tree (and strictly the illusion tree...if memory serves) with my vampire assassin. In the beginning I only utilized the fury/frenzy/mayhem spells to help even the odds since, as with any assassin worth their salt, I fly solo. As other posters have mentioned this method quickly became boring so I started to work a little more roleplay into the mix.

As a vampire it behooves me to play to the trope, becoming cunning and manipulative. I soon found that a well played illusion spell could often tip the scales to my favor in nearly any situation. Where combat is concerned I began to calm my opponents and even call them to arms as allies where needed. Through liberal application I could even make a target whose pockets I wanted to pick forget that I had just tried and failed. Once the goal was met I'd... do away with the evidence.

It became much more entertaining living amongst my quarry as one of them. Guards stopped harassing me about my obvious vampirism and shop owners eagerly opened their doors for me to barter and trade. It wasn't long before I even took a wife, adopted two children, and moved into a prominent home of my own. I even became a pillar of my chosen community since I did extensive business with the local merchants and crafters... until of course bandits and dawnguard picked up my scent. Then it was a hasty move to another location where I'd reinvent myself.

If stealth was the order of the day then a dual cast Muffle spell coupled with an Invisibility spell (along with ample stealth training) allowed me to come and go almost as I pleased. Targets seldom knew what hit them and little evidence was ever left in the ripple of my passing. Even the undead swayed to my silent suggestions. An unseen, unheard, spell cast from a darkened corner soon had the monstrosities devouring themselves... or other unfortunates in the area.

Certainly there are limitations.

Certain beings are simply too powerful to be swayed one way or the other. Their will is too great or perhaps their senses too keen to be duped so easily. Those that can't be swayed, who insist upon aggression, soon find they've more than they'd bargained as they swipe at ghosts and shadows. Just when they think they have me *poof* I'm suddenly at their back with my daggers. Death by one thousand cuts, or a neat slice across the neck. Either works well enough.

Only on occasion do I meet an equal. In which case I access the merits of standing my ground or running. Usually running is the best option. Live to fight another day.

Over all, I'd say that the best thing about Illusion Magic is that it allows be to be whomever I wish whenever it is needed. The loving mother. The doting wife. The faithful friend and dutiful and shrew entrepreneur. Good. Bad. Somewhere inbetween. Most doors are open to me and possibilities abound.

Clearly I've worked in quite a bit of role play into this post, but speaking strictly nuts and bolts its become part of my game play. It's hard for me to envision playing a vampire (or Skyrim for that matter) without it.