just one question,, do you have 100 in enchanting?
I don't know who that's directed to, but I do! I do! And thank goodness, I thought you were going to mention Alchemy again!
(although you'd certainly be right. On my PS3 I can stack potions like you wouldn't believe!).
Well to be honest my friend, (and dont be offended), you really haven't thought the role of a ''Mage'' through enough.
Let me explain with my current mage, she is an illusion/restoration mage with alteration and conjuration as secondary, but as you have done i also have 100 in enchanting, so my gear is as follows. 100% reduction in illusion and restoration, i have lots of perks in the conjuration and alteration tree which means some of the spells cost about 50 to cast with a pool of 500, but the important thing is i never ever use or enchant anything with REGEN, its pointless even useless due to the handicap it gets during confrontation, SO, its the reduction of cost which is the most important of major skills which are vital,
When i go into battle i can summon something minimal cost, cast flesh for minimal, cast illusion for nothing and let them fight among themselves and put up a permanent GRAND WARD if required for nothing, and still have loads of manner left for a few fireballs to polish off the stragglers, so to be honest i really dont see how wards are a problem, ,
thats my 2 cents friend, ,