Mages are such weenies at low levels. What to do?

Well, I found that even as a pure mage, it can't hurt to have some armor. I usually try to get the best gauntlets and boots as possible, such as steel nordic or better. Since it's not full body armor, it doesn't slow you down, and you get a little bit extra protection in those nasty close range encounters.

If that's not enough, enchant your gauntlets and boots to give you extra health. A good oak/stoneflesh does wonders too.

Hopefully, that'll keep your pure mage up for a couple more hits. Don't get fed up playing your mage- I know from experience that Lydia likes masculine spellcasters (just kidding, of course. She'll marry you even if you do remain a total weenie) A pure mage playstyle can be very rewarding, especially if you can do it without any weapons at all.

(Btw, Can you purchase firebolt spells yet? If so, they're a great improvement over flames, and causes the most damage for the least magicka (Out of all fire spells) )

AS88 said:

Illusion, Illusion, Illusion. They can't hit you if they're all aggro'd on each other.

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Aye, but it's 50/50 they'll attack each other if you're not sneaking and undetected. You'll either make them attack each other or more pissed off at you.

Though another good thing would be to get the Lord Stone, Agent of Mara and invest in Alteration's magic resistance perks. Least that will stop other mages destroying you.

With Dragonborn dlc, one of the most useful spells is that whirlwind cloak. Send those enemies flying who try to take you in close combat.

For warriors, use frost it slows them down. Unless they're Nords, then fire is good. If they're Dunmer fire is bad. If they're Breton well you're 25% fluffed in any element. Least it ain't Oblivion with their 50% resistance, they were bastards to my pure mage.

Also a very good bit of knowledge sometimes over looked by those playing the pure mage, poisons. If you're using bound weapons you can apply poison to them. Hell, even keep a dagger on hand, an iron one would do. Get poisons that paralyze and weakness to magic/fire/frost/shock. You just stab once, and bam pull out your favored element. Very useful at lower levels.

Dragons are quite easy for the Pure Mage, when I say quite easy I don't mean over quickly, I once fought a dragon for around an hour from the College of Winterhold to like around Whiterun. You can block all breath attacks and even shouts with a lesser ward. Just don't let them get close to you if they have landed. I have been one shot killed by dragons many times who just grab me and spit me out cause I got too close. Though not as much, perks of being level 222, can still get my arse kicked if I'm not careful.

khazan99 said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Annageckos said:

Get that bound bow ASAP! It's very strong and levels up both your conjuration and archery

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I agree, but, for the life of me I haven't been able to find it in 8 months of play without purchasing it and you can' t purchase until your conjuration is high enough. It seems to be like the Atherium war stuff where it appears at random. I wonder if the College would have a copy of the spell book for sale... hmmm...

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You do know where the Bound Bow spell book is though, yes? I'm not sure if finding it as loot is level dependent or not though.

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No clue. Someone said in one of the forts, but when I went there it wasn't there. I have it someplace in an old string. I suppose I could look it up, but...

HappyFaceClown said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Lucas76020 said:

Get that bound bow ASAP! It's very strong and levels up both your conjuration and archery

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I agree, but, for the life of me I haven't been able to find it in 8 months of play without purchasing it and you can' t purchase until your conjuration is high enough. It seems to be like the Atherium war stuff where it appears at random. I wonder if the College would have a copy of the spell book for sale... hmmm...

I never really have an issue upping conjuration though since I use bound sword and both raise zombie, etc... and antronachs as soon as I can. I get to 100 long before i do so with destruction or any other school. For me, conjuration and enchanting are my quick uppers.

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the bound bow spell tome can be found at any time regardless of level at Fort Amol, its in the prison area located to the left of the main entrance, it can be tricky to find as its hidden under a bucket in the back of the room, not too cryptic but not exactly obvious, i found it by pure accident the first time.. be careful in that room tho, theirs 3 high level mages in there that will wipe the floor with you if you're not careful so i'd try to sneak or bring lots of health potions if you're still at a low level.

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Right. Fort Amol. The issue is surviving Fort Amol to get it! It's not like it's an easy through.

ColleenG said:

If you played like my 11 year old, you would not have a problem. I suggested full mage, no weapons, and he went for it. Has NOT had a problem at all. Something's going on here, like, mentally, he's very pure, or something.

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Don't you hate those 11 year olds? Example: Batman games. My other 1/2 took a year to conquer them completely on Normal. My 13 year old nephew completed all of them on Hard in a weekend. I think it's cause we oldies overthink everything.

DrunkenMage said:

Pure Mages can be a bitch at first. But when you get higher, there is no more destructive force on Nirn...

Playing the pure Mage, invest into magicka. A lot. Get into the habit of casting a flesh spell before combat, should be your first instinctive move. If you're on console you can hot key two spells, so you don't have to open up favorites menu. I have a flesh spell and my destruction spell hot keyed.

The pure Mage is one of my favorite classes, been using it since Oblivion. Very rewarding later on.

Lucas76020 said:

The Chosen One has finally appeared to test his people.

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You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Magicka?

The Mages High Council must be made aware.

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I agree with you, but I don't think I will ever play a "pure" mage. I need the combat aspect too to keep me interested (plus I like beheadings). I have been using oakflesh and now stoneflesh all the time for my mage (surprisingly, they even seem to work with light armors - of course i've only tried it with vampire and leather at this point). investing in health to 200 first (since I already have 200 in magicka) then will split it between the two (not worried about stamina). I agree though - magic at higher levels is a hoot, especially if you pair conjuration and destruction!

AS88 said:

Illusion, Illusion, Illusion. They can't hit you if they're all aggro'd on each other.

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I just hate illusion (other than muffle and clairvoyance and a couple of the perks). It doesn't do anything! Fury, Frenzy, Calm, FAH! So what, one of the baddies goes apepl*** on his/her compatriots. It doesn't help me with the other 20! And per your comment about attacking each other - see my comment above.

On my Mage currently level 222. I have a little over 1500 or 1600 Magicka. Not counting the Enchantments of 70 Magicka (Mages Circlet) 50 Magicka (Archmages Robes) 68-69 Magicka (Necklace), 68-69 Magicka (Ring). I still run out of bloody magicka in certain battles. Though siphon comes in handy, draining your own health into magicka, just have to make sure you have high enough health or you might kill yourself.

Protection spells work good, but better if you don't wear armor. Get the perks in the Alteration tree. Without the need to carry armor, each battle I have 350 armor rating using Ebony Flesh (+ 50 from Lord Stone).

I always found it the other way around when playing Skyrim, I was always bored when playing characters that didn't use magic. You can do so many things as the Pure Mage. Be it setting people on fire, calming an enemy, turning iron into gold and summoning all sorts of creatures.

Shame Bethesda limited magic, especially since they removed teleport spells and unlock spells. Now those would of come in handy in Skyrim, escaping from foes and unlocking master chests with your skill as a Mage.

Daelon DuLac said:

khazan99 said:

Daelon DuLac said:

I agree, but, for the life of me I haven't been able to find it in 8 months of play without purchasing it and you can' t purchase until your conjuration is high enough. It seems to be like the Atherium war stuff where it appears at random. I wonder if the College would have a copy of the spell book for sale... hmmm...

Click to expand...

You do know where the Bound Bow spell book is though, yes? I'm not sure if finding it as loot is level dependent or not though.

Click to expand...

No clue. Someone said in one of the forts, but when I went there it wasn't there. I have it someplace in an old string. I suppose I could look it up, but...

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Yes, Fort Amol. I found it once (it's not right out in the open; it's well-hidden), but on a different character I didn't find it.

I blame gremlins. Or maybe a poltergeist.

I've never been able to play a Mage without falling into reliance on a shield, for protection and occasional bashing. I give props to those of you who are able to stick with solely magic.

Lucid said:

I've never been able to play a Mage without falling into reliance on a shield, for protection and occasional bashing. I give props to those of you who are able to stick with solely magic.

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You're right on - I start out with the best intentions of a "pure" mage, and within a few levels I've begun using a sword in the right hand and various spells in the left.

Query on Amol:

I always have trouble there at lower levels due to all the mages.

My plan is to make some invisibility potions and immediately run through the courtyard to the prison door on the left. Since there are only 3 mages within, I should be able to take them out. Then get the spell book and leave. Is there a secret exit to the prison by any chance or do I need to dash through the courtyard again? I suppose I could take a hireling to distract them in the courtyard though. hmmmm...

I don't remember very well, but I'm pretty sure there's no secret entrance/exit. I do remember there's a breach in the wall that helped me avoid the main entrance though ...

Daelon DuLac said:

HappyFaceClown said:

Daelon DuLac said:

I agree, but, for the life of me I haven't been able to find it in 8 months of play without purchasing it and you can' t purchase until your conjuration is high enough. It seems to be like the Atherium war stuff where it appears at random. I wonder if the College would have a copy of the spell book for sale... hmmm...

I never really have an issue upping conjuration though since I use bound sword and both raise zombie, etc... and antronachs as soon as I can. I get to 100 long before i do so with destruction or any other school. For me, conjuration and enchanting are my quick uppers.

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the bound bow spell tome can be found at any time regardless of level at Fort Amol, its in the prison area located to the left of the main entrance, it can be tricky to find as its hidden under a bucket in the back of the room, not too cryptic but not exactly obvious, i found it by pure accident the first time.. be careful in that room tho, theirs 3 high level mages in there that will wipe the floor with you if you're not careful so i'd try to sneak or bring lots of health potions if you're still at a low level.

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Right. Fort Amol. The issue is surviving Fort Amol to get it! It's not like it's an easy through.

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yea... i forgot to mention the place is crawling with mages.. lol pretty sure the few in the courtyard can be avoided with stealth but dunno about the one's inside the prison room where the spell tome's actually located.

HappyFaceClown said:

Daelon DuLac said:

HappyFaceClown said:

the bound bow spell tome can be found at any time regardless of level at Fort Amol, its in the prison area located to the left of the main entrance, it can be tricky to find as its hidden under a bucket in the back of the room, not too cryptic but not exactly obvious, i found it by pure accident the first time.. be careful in that room tho, theirs 3 high level mages in there that will wipe the floor with you if you're not careful so i'd try to sneak or bring lots of health potions if you're still at a low level.

Click to expand...

Right. Fort Amol. The issue is surviving Fort Amol to get it! It's not like it's an easy through.

Click to expand...

yea... i forgot to mention the place is crawling with mages.. lol pretty sure the few in the courtyard can be avoided with stealth but dunno about the one's inside the prison room where the spell tome's actually located.

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I'll got to Whiterun and get some spells from SecretFire so that I have something a little more beefy than flames, sparks and frost and be sure I have my bound sword. Maybe I can hire someone beefy to act as a distraction (don't want to take Lyds since I have a tendancy of killing her). Since I'm below level 20 I should be able to handle them.

Daelon DuLac said:

HappyFaceClown said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Right. Fort Amol. The issue is surviving Fort Amol to get it! It's not like it's an easy through.

Click to expand...

yea... i forgot to mention the place is crawling with mages.. lol pretty sure the few in the courtyard can be avoided with stealth but dunno about the one's inside the prison room where the spell tome's actually located.

Click to expand...

I'll got to Whiterun and get some spells from SecretFire so that I have something a little more beefy than flames, sparks and frost and be sure I have my bound sword. Maybe I can hire someone beefy to act as a distraction (don't want to take Lyds since I have a tendancy of killing her). Since I'm below level 20 I should be able to handle them.

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Go to Solstheim (I don't care what level you are... man up), start Unearthed quest, get Ring of Arcana, never worry about killing things again. Seriously, it's that easy.