I recently found a few mods (and aspects of mods that I already had) that together gave me the idea of running a witch/warlock/hedge wizard sort of character. The character would specialize in curses (by which I mean transformations, debuffs, and damage-over-time effects) and nature or weather magic (by which I mean - well, I don't know what I mean). The specific sources of inspiration were:

• The "Black Swarm" spell in Apocalypse Magic;
• "Unstable Transformation" in steelfeathers' "Lost Grimoire";
• DarkGalaxy111's "Dead Manor" mod (which I've downloaded but haven't used);
• and, of course, "Zab's Witch Hat" once I'd figured out how to make it work with hair.

I also have J3X's "Flyable Broomstick," more for shooting lighting out of a broom than for the flyable part (the character's posture and the noise the broom makes while riding sort of kill the immersion for me).

The character would be an outsider in the College of Winterhold's eyes, but he/she/it would have some loose connections there (sort of like Falion or Nelacar). The character would probably focus on getting Daedric artifacts, something I haven't really done, but would otherwise be more or less helpful, if a bit mercenary.

I'm looking for any ideas people might have for this type of playthrough. I was originally going to post this in the Mods section - custom races, outfits, player homes, themed quests, it's all good - but I'd also like input on playstyles, people's experiences, etc. My apologies if this doesn't belong in Cheats and Hints.

Depending on where you had planned on a home at this mod; http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/63459/? might be a good fit. I have it tracked for a Moss wife/ witch play through, but have not used it as of yet. A Witch or Warlock might want a familiar... I had planned on using one of the sabrecat mods or there are a few with "tiny" dragons.

There are some spells in the mods you already mentioned and a couple specific mods that deal with Sun magic, those might be good matches. http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/19733/?tab=3&selected_game=110&navtag=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nexusmods.com%2Fskyrim%2Fajax%2Fmodimages%2F%3Fid%3D19733%26user%3D1%26gid%3D110&pUp=1 has a pretty nice "witches" outfit, look's pretty good male or female.

I really like using some of the "mash-up" armors for my mercenaries, as I think that is the way they would get better armor. A Piece at a time as they find or can afford them. If you are going along those lines, then check some of them out.

IDK about a RP, as that is really dependent on the type of character you decide on.

The cave looks like it could be fun. This character won't be so much a "nature mage" as a mage who dabbles in stuff "proper" mages wouldn't bother with, but the cave looks like a nifty hideout regardless. As for familiars, well, there's always J'zargo...

I tried Immersive Armors for a while a long time ago and liked a lot of the gear. I dropped it because soldiers and guards were wearing some funky stuff (Hadvar was decked out with more bling than Tullius, for example), but it looks like the most recent version has customization options, so I'll give it another shot.

Mucking about with a "beta test" character - having fun, but finding it hard to wean myself from the standard spells.

Midas Magic (this one is on http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198014830908/myworkshopfiles/?appid=72850 ), http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/59558/? add a number of what one might consider darker spells that might fit in with your build. For Tel Nalta II if you don't want to build the house you can add spells via the console (easy lookup is to just type "spell tome:" to pull up all spell tomes available). Cheers!

Apologies for semi-resurrecting the thread, but I've got a follow-up question. I discovered the http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/40607/? mod recently (though I haven't played it yet), and it got me thinking. My witch already has a connection to "things beyond" in terms of her choices of summons (she pulls http://static-6.nexusmods.com/15/mods/110/images/60796-1-1429937677.png across the veil rather than raising undead), and it would make sense for her to delve into things that proper mages would stay well clear of for knowledge and power of a sort that proper mages would snub.

However, even the Daedric quests are fairly tame (cannibalism and murder? Pfft, please...). So the question is, does anyone know of some dark, spooky, horror-themed quest mods that could foot the bill? I haven't decided yet if this character will descend into evil, or if she seeks to understand dark things in order to fight them, but I'm leaning towards the latter.

Again, feedback is appreciated. BTW, it turns out I had Midas Magic installed all this time and had completely forgotten... Planning to grab Tel Nalta II (and a couple of others) on my next round of installations, once I've convinced enough that my current mod set is stable.

Honestly, I've always wondered what a "hedge wizard" is... I mean, Edward Scissorhands, or like "The three Amigos" - "together we have trimmed the hedgesof many small villages..."

I could just google it I suppose, but where's the adventure in that?

I've been meaning to try the Skyrim versi0on of Midas Magic, I really enjoyed the Oblivion version. Especially the robot go-cart.

Well Hedge wizard in all the reading I've done has been either a derogatory term or reference to a "rural" witch/wizard. Meaning, self taught rather than being apprenticed to another wizard or attending a school of wizardry.

Hunh... I guess that makes sense anyway.

You ever played Dragon Age: Origins? Flemeth and Morrigan though apostates, can be considered "hedge wizards" since they learned their craft outside of the Chantry and mages tower's influence.

Catweazle ( Geoffrey Bayldon)......... Looks like a dragged through a hedge backwards wizard

Hedge wizards live, learn and practice their arts out in the country side. Typically solitary in small shacks or caves caring not for the finery and regulation of town life. There is no automatic connotation of necromancy or evil doing, though such practices are more likely in a shunned outsider.

Anise is a hedge wizard (witch) and isn't, a least at first, overtly evil or even unfriendly. The Necromancer in the woods North of Cracked Tusk Keep IS what you would call an evil Hedge Wizard....raising the dead and attacking on sight.

Hedge Wizards with abodes near or on the outskirts of small villages are often tolerated by the locals for years, but not spoken to unless it's for healing or fortune telling and children are warned to keep away in order to prolong the fear and mythos so beloved by these small communities.

These rural practitioners of the arcane are often largely self taught with perhaps secret ways being passed down from their predecessors and other Hedge Wizard contacts they may keep in touch with over the years. Many enjoy the closeness to nature and trees, drawring upon 'Earth magic' and may have connections with woodland spirits, sprites, fairae folk and other magical manifestations.

Hedge Wizards enjoy their deregulated lifestyle and regard University/College/ Guild Mage's as snobs and arcane beurocrats. Be warned that even the relatively harmless tree hugger variety do not like visitors!

No, I've never played Dragon Age...

@Rick

You mean like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB0SxXTR_UI, eh?

EDIT: Okay, this time the link will take you to the right place.

Yeah......exactly like that Neil........enjoyed it, cheers