I found mages to be absolutely deadly without magic resistance. I could add magic resistance, but this would gimp dragons. So as an alternative I've taken to utilizing sneak to confront mages, which is useless against dragons (at least at my sneak skill level 100 - all perks - no fortification).

Have you found any other approach to balance this?

Mages don't like sneaky archers or being bashed in the head with an axe. Thats how I deal with mages.

We're on the same page!

Mages have become a new (for me) menace playing low health and high difficulty. Sneak is the non-dragon gimping strategy I've found so far.

Yea, for mages you either gotta absorb/resist their magic until you get close enough to bash their skull in or you need to nuke them, either with a sneak attack or a ranged attack powerful enough to kill them in one or two hits.

Use Whirlwind Sprint to close to optimal http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SquishyWizard range quickly. Especially when they're going frost-happy.

I have no guilt in using magic resistance due to legendary diff. Legendary dragons are an absolute friggin nightmare otherwise.

No argument there!

Even Ancient-Master with a hard hitting bow is a tough combo. One hit and I'm dead from a fast, high flying menace. "Take cover!" Get caught in the open and I don't stand a chance. The difference I'm running into with mages is that they too can one hit me, but there are often multiple mages to contend with and lightning can't be dodged. It appears to be instant. Mean suns of guns!

Use a bow and run around a lot to avoid the breath.

Use the Terrain to your advantage, magic can't go through rocks and use Paralyze Poisons if you get close.

Ya know, I've never used the sprint outside of the horn quest. Hmmmmmm........