Why would anyone spellsword?

[Rennn]

Hmm, I don't agee on your "since you've distributed your skills over a wider area", Rennn. As a spellsword I always go for these (main):

 

- one-handed

- light armor

- destruction

- conjuration

 

Pretty tight, eh? My minor skills usually are smithing, enchanting and alteration. I only give them thought when stuff needs improvement, or when I feel like I could use an extra layer of defense :)

 

It's not quite like that. If you attack half your enemies with Destruction spells and half with your sword, each category will only level half as fast. You'll end up at a high level with lower Destruction and One-Handed skills than if you had mostly used a single weapon type. Your perk points won't necessarily be spread out too much, but the levels of each individual skill will be distributed thinly. Of course, then you also have the flexibility to engage archers and mages at range without sprinting up to them, and you still will be pretty capable up close. It's a trade-off between maximum effectiveness in one area against flexibility in many situations.

Edited April 29, 2012 by Rennn

[Moredhel]

Touché... but I've yet to find an enemy proving too strong for me :)

[Rennn]

It's not just spellswords, I suffer the same kind of tradeoff when I use both a dagger and a bow for assassin work. :thumbsup: Edited April 30, 2012 by Rennn

[Rooker75]

I have to ask, exactly what is the difference betweeen a battlemage and a spellsword? I've looked up both classes on the wikis and they each describe the other as far as I can tell.

[fms1]

A battlemage uses more ranged spells, where the spellsword uses more powerful touch spells, at least in the ES games that HAVE those classes in the game mechanics\ UI. I think so, if not then disregard.

[CasperTheLich]

A battlemage uses more ranged spells, where the spellsword uses more powerful touch spells, at least in the ES games that HAVE those classes in the game mechanics\ UI. I think so, if not then disregard.

 

not really. it's more like a battlemage is mostly an offensive caster while a spellsword is more balanced with off & def spell casting.

 

That’s other than a battlemage preferring blunt weapons over swords. While a spellsword likes blades over maces, hammers or axes.

[Moredhel]

As far as I see it, oldskool battlemages walk around in heavy armor and a shield, and switch between spell and weapon in mainhand (although you used to cast a spell using R instead of "equipping it"). Spellswords wield a sword in main hand, spell in offhand and walk around in light armor.

 

:)