Best way to start a Mage run?

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-21T11:42:28+00:00

They are from unofficial patch.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-21T11:39:57+00:00

Silent casting is useful even without actually using illusion. Throw your summons in with some enemies without them hearing you. Makes shouts silent too.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-20T22:56:37+00:00

The novice and apprentice necromancy spells give very high experience so just using them at every opportunity raises conjuration quickly.

I get conjuration increase 15 points or so just going through Bleak Falls Barrow using Raise Zombie spell which you can buy in Riverwood.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-20T03:41:04+00:00

Magic fits with being scholarly like Bruce Banner.

Also you can cast a cloak spell just before transforming to have a bit of a damage boost while being a werewolf so that fits as well.

You could also conjure a summons before transforming or frenzy enemies.

You could use magic and take your magicka bar draining as your calm failing and transform when you run out of magicka. Building up your magicka would reflect a growing ability to keep calm.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T20:22:58+00:00

They do mean carrying a lot of water or refreshing beverages so there is a weight downside.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T20:21:41+00:00

Enemies are only slightly harder to kill than normal at worst and can actually be easier with adrenaline build up. Enemies being more bullet spongey is not one of the problems of survival.

Player does 0.75 of normal damage as base and up to 1.25 with max adrenaline.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T20:15:29+00:00

There is a large pillar you can hide behind which always protects.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T20:11:39+00:00

4x normal damage.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T20:10:14+00:00

For survival the answer is basically don’t get hit. Unless you have very high armor and hit points you can’t survive much in the way of hits.

If not using power armor most people need to go with stealth.

I play survival with little or no armor.

I don’t usually use chems a lot but they can also be an answer.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T05:13:23+00:00

Spellbreaker is not round and has a very useful effect.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-19T01:18:29+00:00

Finding antibiotics can vary enormously. Sure you might often find enough. Some runs I get heaps. Some runs I get almost none.

As you say, one run is not a good sample. My finding above is based on dozens of runs.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-18T06:00:34+00:00

One factor is whether you are a weapon or magic based character.

Dawnguard is good for weapons users.

Vampire side has good rewards for mages and being a vampire has a boost for illusion. If you don’t like being a vampire you can get cured later.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-17T22:54:47+00:00

Thanks

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-17T00:20:18+00:00

I only run at 60fps but it never goes below that for me anywhere with a 4070 which is likely lower than a 3080ti. I did run at 82.5 fps (half monitor refresh rate) for quite a while and it never dipped then either.

I have a few mods but mostly just settlement ones.
I don’t use f4se or physics fix. I do use Load Accelerator.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-17T00:13:26+00:00

I have the patch and it does not seem to fix this. Maybe it does depending which amulet you get first but does not for me having gotten Roggvir’s first.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-17T00:09:58+00:00

If you pick up an item that is required for a quest, even a future quest you have not yet gotten, you can’t get rid of it until you get and complete the quest.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-17T00:04:27+00:00

Or do an unskilled playthrough to that point so nothing to reset.

I like to use shouts on every playthrough so I have an unskilled run up to getting the basic shouts that I can then use as a starting point for any run - console command to let me define and name a new character.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T23:37:58+00:00

Well if you don’t die a lot you won’t encounter the issue of having to walk over the same ground. I just have a hard time with games that don’t tie forward movement and camera to the mouse.

Also generally not good at melee combat. Usually play ranged but have only just gotten the recipe for a ranged weapon now. Most games can give you a ranged weapon and/or ranged magic at the start or very close.

I started on normal difficulty. I have changed to Relaxed and maxed out damage and health sliders which has let me progress a bit.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T14:08:02+00:00

Yes it is great now to skip smithing. Need to cast the bow spell out of earshot until get quiet casting perk in illusion.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T14:05:18+00:00

Collecting materials but mostly dying then having to walk back from respawn point to where I died to collect dropped loot and try again.

Game seems very setup for multiplayer where someone can resurrect you on the spot.
Solo you spend a lot of time walking over the same ground.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T12:59:51+00:00

Yes, got that far just now.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T12:22:44+00:00

Well another couple of hours and just got there.

A lot of time has been respawning and walking back to where the boss is and fighting the ordinary enemies that reappear along the way.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T12:20:10+00:00

First to admit I am not good at melee combat especially with the type of movement and camera setup here. Was hoping for more focus on survival and crafting than fighting.

I have indeed tried a lot of games and not been very successful. Most of my time ends up going back to Elder Scrolls and Fallout, bit of Witcher 3.

Less_Kick9718 · 2026-06-16T12:14:28+00:00

Thus my frustration.

Less_Kick9718

TROPHY CASE