What do you think about the magic system in Skyrim

[EnaiSiaion]

I'm not entirely happy with the magic system, its reliance on the outdated binary mana system, binary illusion spells and the lack of viable alternatives to destruction blastmaster builds which in turn leads to mind numbing combat based on dps and backpedalling instead of using the large spell set a mage should have to creatively deal with situations.

 

So I want to fix that. I want to enable necromancers, druids and other specialised builds, each with their own theme and spell set (eg. compatible with heavy armor, based on enchanting staves etc); change the uninteresting magicka system; add more out of combat spells; spice up combat with spell-based blocking and counterspells; and generally allow people to specialise and make creative builds that reward player skill, without overpowering mages and without simply creating a giant list of random spells ala Midas Magic.

 

Other than what I mentioned above, what is your opinion about the magic system? What does it need, what is missing, what would you want it to do?

[NordicMist]

Simply put... I like the spells, but I hate the change from Oblivion's mixed fighting/magic casting to the new system where you have to "hold" the spells you want to cast in one or both hands.

[aramil316]

What Skyrim lacks is the spellmaking they had in oblivion. Is there a mod yet for this ,i thought this would be one of the first mods to produced.Sadly no, will someone make a spellmaking mod.I would have but not got the know how.

[TimF]

First things first, each and every school of magic has its uses, and does so a great job.

 

What I'd like to change myself (if I find time for modding, since these things aren't the first and only ones I wish to change...) are the following:

 

- Mana cost. Free is no longer possible, max reduction for enchantment is 50%

- Magic magnitude. 5 elemental perks for destruction, and each adds +20% to magnitude. Enchantments that empower magic of various schools are also introduced. Enchantments overall, not just manacost reduction, are nerfed, to make this skill more magic-oriented

- Conjured weapons no longer depend on weapons' skills (but still on perks), but on conjuration instead, so that they can be used by mages in the same manner the staves are used by warriors.

[Malakai88]

There are mods, at least 2 in particular, that do everything you want TimF. Balanced Magic and Better Magic, both increase scaling of spells and such, but in slightly different ways. Both will do what you want. Then there are ones that just do destruction, but better and balanced revamp all magic schools.