Help Choosing Factions

[Cassandra]

So, as the title implies, I need help figuring out which factions to join. I'm playing a custom mage-type class, so joined the Mages Guild. Then I discovered that House Telvanni (which seems to make sense for my character) isn't on the best terms with the Mages Guild. From what I've read, however, it doesn't matter too much. So would it make sense to join House Telvanni now? Are there any factions that would fit well with the Mages Guild/House Telvanni? Are there any other factions that are especially fun/interesting to join?

Thanks!

[Tingz0r]

Well, House Hlaalu actually likes the Mages Guild (+1).

[ciberzombie]

You can join telvani they need much same skills then you can join both or one of cults (imperial and tribunal)

[AKB]

I would go for Telvanni, just as a personal favorite. I like their robes, what can I say.

[legoless]

You can join Telvanni and the Mages Guild, but be prepared to acquaint yourself with the Speechcraft skill. You'll probably need to learn how to make friends if you wanna rise in the ranks of both, since the two factions are outright enemies and you'll receive huge disposition hits with members each time you increase in rank. On the bright side, if you play your cards right you'll get to be Arch-Mage and have a sweet mushroom tower.

[Cassandra]

Mushroom towers and cool robes? House Telvanni is sounding better all the time.

I've got Speechcraft as a Minor Skill, and that along with Charm should be enough to calm people down (I hope).

[Secret Magic User]

Worse comes to worse, you can always train up Illusion assist with Speechcraft. Then dispositions really won't matter to you.

[Disagreer]

I wouldn't worry too much. I joined the Guild, the Telvanni and the Temple, who all seem to despise each other, with my mage character and it feels like the dispositions even out. Otherwise there's always Illusion magic.

I never joined the Temple before. Polite Ordinators are so weird.

[Imbalance]

Join them all!

Seriously, why shouldn't a mage also be interested in fighting, thieving, and murder-for-hire? Legitimately, on a single playthrough, you are only excluded from two vampire clans and one and a half Great Houses, so why limit your experience? Not saying that you have to do everything, but live it up a little.

[BetaB17]

If memory serves, there's a loophole that can allow you to join Hlaalu and one other House. Unfortunately, that rule doesnt apply to where you can join Telvanni and Redoran at the same time Hlaalu never has been in my appeal

[Wolfborn]

It's more of a bug than a loophole; it's only possible because someone forgot to add an appropriate check to a particular dialogue option: Joining Redoran or Telvanni and Hlaalu

Note that you'll need to use the console if you want a second stronghold. Also note that none of this is possible if you're using the Morrowind Patch Project, which fixes this glitch.

[Imbalance]

It's a thematic bug, at least. Hortator is an extremely powerful title, so the Duke wanting to bring you under his banner speaks to his skill as a nobleman and politician. That you are required to take care of a little family matter for him also makes sense - it's a power play. It never seemed like the aftermath was intended, but I often wondered if the Duke's reward was supposed to happen that way.

I've had the most fun with it by following the Redoran or (most often) Telvanni quests to a spoiler-free point near the end, then glitching into Hlaalu under the auspices of the Duke but in actuality as a spy for my chosen House, even going so far as to complete most of their quests on my way to total Infiltration. When the time comes, I finally reveal myself as a high-ranking devotee of the rival, and slaughter the quest-giver, their corrupt kin, and all of the outlander vermin that serve them. I mean, if you're going to be the Neravarine, be the Neravarine.

[Wolfborn]

Now, that's an interesting way to role-play it. I may have to try that sometime.

[legoless]

When the time comes, I finally reveal myself as a high-ranking devotee of the rival, and slaughter the quest-giver, their corrupt kin, and all of the outlander vermin that serve them. I mean, if you're going to be the Neravarine, be the Neravarine.

Wow. Sounds more like a disciple of Dagoth to me - "purging" the land and all that.

[Imbalance]

Uh-oh, is my character's Resdaynian nationalism showing?

[noobishlord]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with joining disagreeing factions. Just think, when you become both Archmage and Archmagister, you know own a monopoly on magic in all of Vvardenfel. That'll stick it to everyone.

Plus it's also fun going into factions as a race that wouldn't normally make sense. Like right now, I'm Patriarch of the Temple, as a Khajiit. Ooh, so many traditionalists are probably feeling their skin crawl right now. I love it.