Thalmor or Telvanni Mage?

My question is simple (but likely complicated to answer), I can't decide if I'd rather be a Telvanni or Thalmor Mage. They're both interesting, but is one better than the other for any reason? Does one have a more interesting history or maybe one is more famed. Anything you feel I should know before I make my decision would be helpful really. You can post anything from their battle tactics to their lore.

I prefer Telvanni for one main reason... Neloth. He's great for RP imo and one hell of a mage. Granted, you only travel with him once, but he's still a very active NPC. Plus I just prefer the Telvanni attitude... not to get in to a Thalmor 'thing', but yea, I'm pro Telvanni. I also prefer the lore. Seems all the lore surrounding the Thalmor is just bad news.

Both of them are first class jerks. A Telvanni mage might bother investigating on various quests though.

I'd definitely go Telvanni myself. I think they're just way cooler than the Thalmor.
I see the Telvanni as kind of eccentric and dangerous, but ultimately well-meaning wizards, while the Thalmor are elitist, racist buttholes.

Besides, dunmer are just way cooler than altmer.

Majir-Dar said:

My question is simple (but likely complicated to answer), I can't decide if I'd rather be a Telvanni or Thalmor Mage. They're both interesting, but is one better than the other for any reason? Does one have a more interesting history or maybe one is more famed. Anything you feel I should know before I make my decision would be helpful really. You can post anything from their battle tactics to their lore.

Click to expand...

My answer is simple (but likely complicated to answer). Telvanni.

From what I've seen and read, the Thalmor have some pretty powerful mages among their ranks, but if I think of mages, I think Telvanni. They don't pursue political goals or their own needs, they pursue knowledge, power and wisdom through magic and associated artefacts.

Also, playing a Telvanni mage allows for a much more varied and variable experience (imo). A Thalmor mage has been bred and raised to perform certain spells and conform to the Dominion's template of perfection. On the other hand, a Telvanni character (more specifically, one of mine) may be convinced of his passion for one school of magic one day, then find a relic or treasure, and completely change his whole playstyle in search of progress in another area. I just think Telvanni builds have much more scope for original gameplay and an unpredictable playthrough, whereas a Thalmor character would be more likely to react in a very rehearsed and pre-determined way.

Hope this helps

AS88 said:

Majir-Dar said:

My question is simple (but likely complicated to answer), I can't decide if I'd rather be a Telvanni or Thalmor Mage. They're both interesting, but is one better than the other for any reason? Does one have a more interesting history or maybe one is more famed. Anything you feel I should know before I make my decision would be helpful really. You can post anything from their battle tactics to their lore.

Click to expand...

My answer is simple (but likely complicated to answer). Telvanni.

Click to expand...

That... doesn't make any sense, anyway, I loved your answer and it did help. I think you and the others that have answered have convinced me to try the Telvanni mage build.

Majir-Dar said:

AS88 said:

Majir-Dar said:

My question is simple (but likely complicated to answer), I can't decide if I'd rather be a Telvanni or Thalmor Mage. They're both interesting, but is one better than the other for any reason? Does one have a more interesting history or maybe one is more famed. Anything you feel I should know before I make my decision would be helpful really. You can post anything from their battle tactics to their lore.

Click to expand...

My answer is simple (but likely complicated to answer). Telvanni.

Click to expand...

That... doesn't make any sense, anyway, I loved your answer and it did help. I think you and the others that have answered have convinced me to try the Telvanni mage build.

Click to expand...

There needs to be a funny and agree button. I was distracted!

Glad I helped, though.

Telvanni are an interesting bunch, casual disregard for those around them is amusing. Sure the Thalmor have a few Mages but compared to the Telvanni they are but apprentices. Divayth Fyr a wizard of Telvanni was over four thousand years old. He managed to clone female versions of himself.

As an Aldmeri advocate myself, I want to say Thalmor. However, Bethesda really limited the things you could do as a Thalmor.
Therefore, for sake of enjoyment, go Telvanni. With the inclusion of Dragonborn, there are countless things to do as a Telvanni. There is like 1 thing to do as a Thalmor.

I would have to go telvanni on this one too. For one I prefer dunmer and their lore and for two I like the rp ability.

I'm thinking of going Telvanni, but I don't know wether to use a bound bow or destruction or both. What do you guys think?

I would just go destruction. Thats just me. My goal is to learn every spell and get every perk involved with magicka though.

As someone who has played both characters, I would say Telvanni, for reasons including: interprovincial studies, more personality, assistance related to the house, and a wider range of backstory elements. A Thalmor Mage is set strictly on seeking out Talos worship. I can think of one legitimate backstory option for a Thalmor character, plus your RP elements are limited to illegally killing Said Talos Worshippers, and assisting Ondolemar on that one quest.

In my opinon Thalmor is about sheer power while Telvanni is about Skill. Both use destruction well, but a Telvanni Sorcerer(ess) seems to think about the actual cause and affects.

Certainly Thalmor start out with significant bonuses, but they are mitigated by a relatively low level. I actually think Altmer Mage as opposed to Thalmor Mage myself.

A Thalmor seems to be more of a head-on mage, the overwhelm with sheer force. More of a militaristic view of magic. Sort of something that is drilled in to you from early in life so that you can serve the Aldmeri as opposed to pursuing it as a passion.

A Telvanni, given their long and controversal history as both leaders and defilers of Vvardenfeld and the Dunmer people and their reputation as master mages, my personal choice would be Telvanni.

Heeyyyyy.... You got me! I was reading through the thread, I wasliking stuff, and I was like, "All right,yeah!" Then I saw the dates of the posts.



But yeah, like most others, Telvanni is the way to go. Unless you like the Thalmor, but I think the Telvanni are more interesting and a little less purposely portrayed as evil.