Just curious. Ya see, I plan on jumping in the bandwagon and making a sterotypical Nord. I'm going to use heavy armor and 1h with no shield and I thought that in my off hand I might occasionally use some magic.

My question is what sort of magic would the "sterotypical Nord hero / dragon born" use. I'm perfectly happy without using magic if Its more accurate.

So what do you think?

I think a steroetypical nord would go with no magic wielding a 2 handed weapon, and using Shouts as its only magical power.

Pure Nord warrior, I would say no magic. Spellsword Nord, whatever magic you want to go with your sword.

I was thinking about using only shouts, but I wanted to go for 1h because looking at the Talks statue he's only wielding a 1h sword... So I was like "MMMMMMM INSPIRATION!!"

As a nord I would feel more inspirated by the statue of Ysgramor, and weild a big and evil looking 2 handed axe hehe. But if you want to use 1 handed sword... well, you can always dual weild.

http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120717054161/elderscrolls/images/5/50/StatueofYsgramor.png

If you're determined to use magick, I'd say Restoration spells. Useful for healing after battle (or during depending on how the battle is going...), and very useful for those burial chambers littering the landscape.

Reasoning:

Destruction is put-performed by your sheer physical combat prowess. Illusion won't really work well except for the Calm and fury spells. Conjuration might, but only for instant back-up in a pinch. Alteration, your guy wears armor, so it's not nearly as effective as he'd need it to be. That leaves Restoration as the only school with the most spells that you'd regularly use.

If you're wanting the "traditional" Nord (like others have suggested), then I'd go with no magick at all except for Shouts.

Well...considering the way most nords view magic...I'd say shouts and two handed.

BUT, there is a nord in the collage of winterhold so maybe you could find out what he uses and go with that?

I don't think nords like magic though xD

The pose he's in for that statue is of him on his way to his local blacksmiths to find out how his shield repair went!

Traditional Nords use 2-handed weapons and shouts. OR they use a 1-handed sword and a shield with shouts. Most of their weapons are not enchanted, and they use Skyforge weapons if they are members of the companions. They also forge their own weapons and shields. They distain the use of magic, but use shouts.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Nord

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Nord

Mead...the only potion a true Nord needs

Even with their diminished view on magic as of the 4th Era(not really present before that), dialogue bits from here and there seem to put restoration as a much valued school of magic, so I'd go with that.

Haha, well in referring to this statue
http://www.bethblog.com/2013/12/06/on-the-storefront-shriners-edition/#PhotoSwipe1386352708712
1h sword, no shield.

-edit-
So I may be switching to light armor, which do you guys think is more appropriate for a true Nord. Heavy or light?

As above, if your going into it stereotypically, then Nords wouldn't use magic other than shouts. But, it isn't unheard of, as there is a Onmund in the Winterhold College who is a Nord mage. So your character could be a strong willed person with a more open mind to magic.

I would say a traditional nord would wear light armor and wield an waraxe and shield or a battleaxe and use mostly shouts for magic.

Maybe restoration for a healer, or some frost spells (including the frost atronach) for a shaman. The ancient draugr use some magic after all, such as dragon priests.

But there are some respected nord mages out there, if you look.

Thats true. Many nords praise the need of more people using restoration spells.

Most of the Draugr use Frost spells. Since Draugr are dead ancient Nords, I would say that a Nord should use frost magic. Even though it isn't very useful, because resistance to cold is very common in Skyrim. This is probably why modern Nords have such a disdain for magic, they think it is useless when they failed to realize they were using the wrong spells for all those years. That's my take on it.

Pre-4th era Nords? Any. Whiterun was ruled by a Witch-Queen and Winterhold was the jewel of Skyrim.

TESV-era Nords? The superstitious bumpkins probably use Restoration exclusively.

Well, the "traditional" Nords would probably not use magic. But I can see them using restoration or frost destruction.

My main character is a Nord and is very much a "Dark Overlord" kind of figure, with use of Necromancy alongside with dual bound blades and heavy armour. I wouldn't call that typical for a Nord woman but oh well.

Conjuration magic for conjure mead spells.

I don't need my conjuration for alchohol, that is what my "quiver that aslo dispenses beer" is for.

The illiterate barbarian Nords would not use magic, true, and wield light armor and two-handers, but are they traditional Nords?

Axe +10

Blunt Weapon +10

Medium Armor +10

Heavy Armor +5

Long Blade +5

Spear +5

Power: Thunder Fist - Frost Damage 25pts on Touch

Power: Woad - Shield 30pts for 60sec on Self

Blade +10

Blunt +10

Heavy Armor +10

Armorer +5

Block +5

Restoration

Nordic Frost greater power - Frost Damage 50 points on Touch, once per day

Woad greater power - Shield 30for 60 seconds on Self, once per day

"I've a lot of respect for the Restoration School. Skyrim could use more healers." - Nord of Skyrim

Ergo: Nord racial powers in the two previous games were destruction and alteration magic (might explain the Draugr). In Oblivion they had a restoration bonus. In Skyrim restoration may be mocked by experts of the other schools but is well respected by the common Nord.

Thus a traditional Nord would wear heavy rather than light armor and go with a two handed axe or mace with a shield and sword as backup, while at the same time being his own armorer/smith and able to heal using the same healing spell that everyone is seemingly born with these days.

No magic Sir. From what I have read and learnt from some poster's on this forum.

Apart from perks such as Block, Single-handed or Two-handed I would argue enchanted weapons that augment fighting skills are valid.

Just not too much spooky stuff. Anything too involved that requires concentration.

And removes a sword from the hand and a song about Sovngarde from the heart.

I'm quite proud of that last bit Sir.

Any parent that doesn't teach their rough and tumble youngster a basic healing spell is negligent, even Nord parents...maybe especially Nord parents. So basics of healing should be included in any Nord build in my opinion. Any other magic would probably be an exception that only an unusually inclined Nord would pursue.

Allow me to clarify, this would be traditional as far as skyrim is concerned. though the retro-TES nord set up is just as appropriate.

And live by the credo, "If I didn't make it, I don't use it."

True Nord: http://images.uesp.net/thumb/c/cb/DB-npc-Miraak_02.jpg/600px-DB-npc-Miraak_02.jpg

Speech

One Handed

Heavy Armour

Alteration

Destruction

Restoration

TRU NORD PROTECTURRR OF SKYREM: http://static.thecia.com.au/reviews/a/asterix-and-the-vikings-8.jpg

One Handed

Block

Light Armour

Restoration if you're a dirty elf lover

Smithing (make sure you smith rubbish skimpy armour with a lack of any real defense or overweight/clunky armour only)