Character creation, Blending Mage and Warrior? Options

[Magefire]

Hi!

I am thinking about creating my first character. With MW, it was possible to use magic and armour, but now I see that armour hampers the effectiveness of spells. OTOH, playing the game as a pure mage is easier than MW, where you need a reasonable skill in combat especially at the lower levels.

I'm watching my son play - while waiting for my new computer to arrive - and his mage is doing well. However, I would like to have more combat with my character and was thinking for a change of having a Nord female, instead of the Imperial female I play in MW. My initial notes show that I'd be better off with a Breton for the higher initial intelligence and starting skills.

Please share what characters are working well for you all. I would be really interested to know. And if anyone is playing a mage/combat character. I figure you need some self healing ability at least.

(PS: Is it just me or are the old faces to be found no more at the Elder Scrolls forums, but just here.....? There seems to be a lot of new names on their Ob boards, with increased flaming, etc)

[Wurlon]

Leveling your armor level decreases the effects it has on your spells, but I'm not sure if the decreasing effects are gone if you manage to get to level 100 in whatever armor you have...