Well yes the force can be extremely powerful, but only the greatest can use it like that.

What is boils down to for me is whether we count or discount the Star Wars Expanded Universe. If we count it, I'm going to have to side with Jedi magic, because in TES, to destroy whole worlds, you need Daedric Prince-like power, which most mages definitely do not have. The Force has proven more formidable in the hands of mortals. If we discount the EU, TES magic completely pwns. Not even Yoda could take on someone like Mannimarco or Zurin Arctus.

The Expanded Universe is just more Star Wars. Why wouldn't we count it?

Perhaps if it wasn't canon, which I'm not sure if it is or isn't.

Lucas doesn't like EU, but its canon.

Well, I don't like Episode 1-3, but I have to deal with that [censored], too.

Mages would destroy. As for Pelinal.....you don't even want to go there.

Luke would [censored] up any TES Mage. I mean, a Mage has zip, and I mean ZIP that can stop a light-saber.

Plus Light-Sabers bring guys down in one hit. TES spells, not so much.

I don't know, my Absorb Health 100 points on touch sure dropped foo's pretty fast (and healed me at the same time!).

But, yeah, pretty much. A jedi has ridiculous dexterity with their light saber, and I mean RIDICULOUS. They train with them since childhood. Just look at what Yoda could do with his.

However, that was also my point earlier. The Force is weak for beginners, and nearly just as weak for journeymen, yet masters can do miraculous things with it. Magic in TES has a different curve of power, with its masters not usually reaching that kind of strength, with a few exceptions, though, such as Divath Fyr (one of the most powerful mortals in existence, if not THE most powerful) and Sotha Sil (although he was a demi-god, his creations seemed to be mostly fueled by magic and raw ingenuity).

Master versus Master, well that is definitely a toss up. TES magic is not to be trifled with either, mainly because magicka is PURE POTENTIAL ENERGY.

do lightsabers do melee damage? a mage can actually stop 100% of melee damage pretty easily. next!

Ah, but maybe a Jedi can sense the intent of the mage but not vice versa... so would the Jedi sense the caster's intent and force push them to prevent the spell from every happening? It would render the mage's skills useless. Toss a lightsaber at a mage while their being force hurled and you have a defenseless meat bag.

Careful, now we're getting into the world of "what if x, what if y?!"

I mean, I could just as easily claim the mage simply summoned twenty daedra then teleported into his own pocket realm in Oblivion if I wanted to...actually, that sounds like a good idea.

Well, yeah.

Summoning and teleportation are the two major skills that mages have and Force-users don't, actually. A mage can simply beam away from the scene of the battle and still leave some serious competition with the Jedi. Jedi kills daedra, finds mage, the mage rinses and repeats.

Still, of course, that's still getting into the "what if"s.

Another factor that Force-users have is that they can sense stuff, like SyltStryder mentioned. The individuals who mastered this talent can't really be hit. Darth Bane was able to dodge raindrops in the middle of a storm.

Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

but it's a constant effect enchantment on his robe.

But what if the mage has Helseth's Royal Signet Ring?

Trollfaces would be appropriate.

In the end, it doesn't matter. The power of The Warp rules all. This silly "force" is nothing more than bacteria for Nurgle to play around with and take hold of these silly sith and jedi. As for mages, by tapping into the essence of Chaos, they are doomed to follow us, even unwillingly
:chaos:

I'm pretty sure Helseth's Signet Ring can reflect Chaos corruption AND force lightning.

That's a little strange to me, but okay. I mean, I know that if my planned series of novels become successful, and fans start some kind of EU related to my created world, I won't be considering much of it to be canon if it evokes me ire. That may seem harsh and strategically ill-advised, but hey, it's not like I'll be stopping anybody writing fan-fiction. Hell I think I might consider hiring someone who does a good enough job at it.

But back on the subject: As for lightsabers, TES mages can turn invisible, and not every Force-user is going to be attuned enough to detect where they're gone to after doing so. Of course, considering how powerful some Force-users are/have been, invisibility wouldn't be enough against them. But a good Nordic mage with Thu'um at their disposal would certainly catch any Jedi or Sith off-guard, I'm sure. In any case, TES mages are hardly defenseless against a lightsaber. Especially ones that belong to the Psijic Order, which I'm surprised no one else has mentioned yet, unless I missed it.

Yes, keep thinking your trinkets will save you. Know that Chaos is all, and moves as it wills. All will fall before Chaos; it is inevitable.

Let me just put it this way. A Force-User could hold back the flow of water all Moses style, but a mage can make that water be used as air as Breathing Water so comically points out. I am just saying asserting energy onto an object is pretty cool and all, but rewriting the laws of physics, biology, and throwing in a little elemental and telekinetic powers for spice, makes the mage a formidable foe to even the greatest opponent. Let us not forget Fyr as well, he is 3000+ years old and created three female clones of himself using magic.

The mages could counteract force lightning with a lightning shield or reflect.

I think the mages would certainly win at lower or medium, but a high level would be pretty interesting.

I say mages have the upper hand but if I think about it a mage is only as good as his mind.

A Jedi is feeling everything around him usually all the time so they have a slight advantage when it comes to being situationally aware. If a mage set up before taking on a jedi and planned for it there is no contest in my opinion as long as his spells hit first. A jedi still has the advantage of having a much stronger force push then Mages do so that can give them an edge.

Thinking about reflect though is that it only reflects magical damage. Is a jedi's attack force push and grip magical or physical?

There also is the lightsaber to think about. It doesn't matter what armor you summon a jedi can destroy it with one swipe. So if a jedi can close in on a mage them the advantage the mage had by having versatile abilities is gone, which if the games are any sign it isn't that hard to close in on mages with a sword and start hacking away.

Lets not forget mages need to buy spells if they aren't in the mages guild. So only the rich ones can afford to be major bad$%^^.

Jedi might have it but who knows.

a true jedi/sith master needs not such tricks he can defeat a mage from ES with ease.

force choke = silence mage
wzzzzzzzz slash from light saber = mage got cut in half

the end

BUFF ES MAGE

I actually changed my vote from Mage to Jedi...

Ultimately Jedi are all about the reality and purpose along with the future.

The mage does not live for such ideals.

The Jedi is a force towards purpose, a way for reality and universe to locate balance...

In the end all, the mage cannot be as powerful as a Jedi for they are seeking the overall wonder that is the universe itself.