Spellswords

[rmc115]

I'm curious about the lore regarding spellswords. All I find in descriptions is a person that is adept at both martial combat and magical combat, yet people are adamant that a spellsword uses a spell in one hand and a weapon in the other. Is it not logical that a spellsword alternates between dual wielding weapons(or weapon and shield), dual wielding magic, and using one of each? I try to stick to the old class archetypes(any variation of them throughout all the elder scrolls saga) when I play to get a roleplay feel, and this has been bugging me with my idea of a spellsword. I can't say from experience, but I would think using one of each all the time would severely gimp your success at higher difficulties. Is there any lore regarding this matter?

Thanks

[Dark Spark]

The way I see it, a hybrid between swordsman and sorceror can use both skills at the same time. But it would be best if one skill enhanced the other. Using magic to make the swordplay better, for example, or using the melee weapon to overpower enemy defenses so their offensive spells struck harder.

In the first scenario, the spellsword has an enchanted weapon and an array of spells which weaken the enemy to the effects of that weapon: a weakness to that particular magic within the sword, or weakening the enemy against melee combat in general (an illusion spells for crowd conttrol, perhaps). In the second scenario, the enchanted weapon inflicts weaknesses to magical spells or absorbs the enemy's magicka so the spellsword can bring up offensive magic to overpower the enemy.

[rmc115]

Thanks for the response. I definitely see the spellsword class using both spells and weapons at the same time. I guess what I'm asking is, would it be unreasonable for a spellsword to throw on robes and go full blown mage with dual destruction for a while, and then put on armor the next time and dual wield weapons. The description states that they are capable of both melee and magic, so wouldn't it be thematically appropriate for them to be able to do both skills individually as desired?

[legoless]

I imagine they look something like this.

[Br3admax]

Nah, that's how Battlemages dress. In Oblivion anyway, and I believe that npc is also a battlemage. Of course they aren't really that different. One is a soldier scholar, the battlemage, and one is a scholar soldier, the spellsword.

[legoless]

All in all, not much of a difference.

[rmc115]

Luckily, there are instances in game of spellswords wearing both light and heavy armor so I'm not so worried about what gear he wears. Just trying to make certain that thematically there isn't any real issue with a spellsword who doesn't fight primarily with a spell in one hand and a sword in the the other. Trying to stick to the class archetype fairly close, and I don't know that I could play well on master(the difficulty I prefer) while never dual wielding destruction or dual wielding swords. I've had trouble finding a class with strong melee capabilities, that used light armor, in which I could justify joining the college of winterhold. I figured a spellsword would fit thematically in with that guild, but I didn't wanna struggle to fight. If anyone thinks of a class that fights that them lore wise better, I would like to know!

[Br3admax]

I've played on Master before without ever duel-wielding swords. I don't see a spellsword or battlemage going into any battle without having a spell in hand, so I've never done it. I just soften them up with Incinerate and Wall of Flames.

[Minor Edits]

Nah, that's how Battlemages dress. In Oblivion anyway, and I believe that npc is also a battlemage. Of course they aren't really that different. One is a soldier scholar, the battlemage, and one is a scholar soldier, the spellsword.

Just compare that image to the actual class image. No significant difference, in my opinion.

Of course a spellsword doesn't have to use magic and melee at the same time. They can do whatever they want. Although many do seem to be using magic and melee at the same time, such as this guy.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

A spellsword is a person with a high proficiency in both swordsmanship and spell casting - primarily destruction magic. The dress, equipment and fighting style might vary greatly from country to country, or even person to person. It may even depend on the specific situation. Is the spellsword a soldier, or a mercenary? Is he going directly into the thick of combat or acting in a scholar or advisory role? These questions and their relevant answers will go a long way towards determining how that person is likely to be equipped, and even which specific fighting style they use.

[Br3admax]

Just compare that image to the actual class image. No significant difference, in my opinion.

Keep in mind not a single Spellsword in game is shown that way, but almost every Battlemage is.

[legoless]

Just compare that image to the actual class image. No significant difference, in my opinion.

Keep in mind not a single Spellsword in game is shown that way, but almost every Battlemage is.

One, two, three. Most other spellswords are just dressed in civilian clothes.

[Br3admax]

Only one of those was in heavy armor, and none matched the picture. :\

[Minor Edits]

I'm not even sure what the disagreement is here. It's extremely trivial, whatever it is. You're all great people.

[Br3admax]

They're described as being nimble fighters, so I imagine they don't use heavy armor as much as Oblivion tried to convince us, is what I'm saying.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I believe they used Medium Armor in Morrowind. A person wearing plate can be quite nimble in it if he trains in it a lot, of course. Never as nimble as a person unarmored but quite nimble. Alteration is one of the Spellsword's major skills, and the Feather spell makes him move really fast, even in Light Armor. My current Oblivion character is a Nord spellsword who is really very nimble in full plate armor, wearing the Imperial Dragon Knight set. Hell, besides Alteration, I can also Fortify Strength (Restoration) or summon a set of weightless daedric armor (Conjuration.)

[Raynil dralas]

Whoever says spellswords HAVE to have weapon in on hand and sword in the other are just being daft, considering in every other elderscrolls game you didn't equp spells in hand like skyrim and in morrowind you had to switch to spell casting from weapons to use spells. Spellswords are just Soldiers that are proficient in magic as well, not so much as a battlemage which is the role reversal of spell sword (they are more mage than soldier) but relativly adept at spell casting. As far as armor goes they used to where medium but since that was scrapped in oblivion its more a personal preference. Personally I use light armor cuiress and greaves but heavy boots and gloves as a sort of "mock medium armor".

[Br3admax]

Whoever says spellswords HAVE to have weapon in on hand and sword in the other are just being daft, considering in every other elderscrolls game you didn't equp spells in hand like skyrim and in morrowind you had to switch to spell casting from weapons to use spells. Spellswords are just Soldiers that are proficient in magic as well, not so much as a battlemage which is the role reversal of spell sword (they are more mage than soldier) but relativly adept at spell casting.

Gameplay/story segregation is alive and well, friend. Let's avoid the use of the word daft. And the difference between a spellsword and a battlemage is profession, as outlined in game, not the way the skills are set up or personal opinions.

[MidbossVyers]

Spellswords in Oblivion are proficient in Destruction, Restoration, Alteration, and Illusion magic. They wear heavy armor and wield swords (duh) and shields (block skill).

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I still insist that the "battlemage" title tends to occupy a higher social strata in the lore, regardless of the culture. The person who is openly referred to a Battlemage tends to be a very politically or religiously powerful person. This person is usually the personal wizard of the monarch of a specific province, or the Empire as a whole. In this case - when "Battlemage" is used as a government position - the powers that person wields on an administrative level matter more than the types of spells he or she casts. Arch-mages from cultures as far and wide as Skyrim and Hammerfell are often referred to as the personal Battlemage of the High King of that region. In this case, the term "battlemage" is more of a military rank than an indication of what skills that person is proficient with on the battlefield.

You certainly can and will see Spellswords in positions of power, but it's usually middle management. If it's a military leader, he's usually a captain or sergeant. If it's a politician, he's an earl, a thane, or a duke. They're also very common among marauders and bandits, usually in leadership or adviser capacities. The profession of Spellsword is usually a more direct/crude profession. Regardless of whether this person wields a sword in combat, he or she is usually much more likely to be seen on the front lines of battle, dressed out in full battle kit. The Battlemage is usually back in a command tower, or flagship, or some other secure location away from the front, from which he or she can coordinate troop movements and consult with the generals and kings. They can certainly fight if they have to. It would be a mistake to attack one thinking they're some soft assassination target or kidnapping target. It's just that you're far more likely to be fighting a Spellsword or Knight that works for them.

[ShienoO]

I'm always playing as a spellsword, and think it offers a good chance to use differnt attacks on enemies. but des the spellsword can be upgraded or not??

[all_freed]

Some spellswords probably use a spell on one hand and a conjured sword on the other. :p

[MidbossVyers]

Battlemages tend to use conjured weapons. I think spellswords use actual physical swords.

[Raynil dralas]

Battlemages tend to use conjured weapons. I think spellswords use actual physical swords.

Not really, I don't think ive ever seen a battlemage in any of the TES games that Doesn't carry AT LEAST a dagger, usually its something bigger like a sword or Axe, especially in morrowind. True they sometimes conjure weapons but they usually use physical weapons. In morrowind most battlemages tend to sling spells until they're dry then pull out a battle axe or something.

[Dark Spark]

Well, a fireball is technically a conjured weapon...

...which furthers refines my headcanon about spellswords. A battlemage uses a variety of magic in a general sense. Wards, spellstorms, walls of elemental damage, etc.

A spellsword uses magic specifically to augment his physical combat— swordfighting. Using magic to make one a better fighter, instead of acting like a hand-waving wizard who happens to be in a suit of armor.

In my first reply earlier in this thread a spellsword would be the one using magic to make the swordplay more lethal, while the battlemage would be using the weapon to make the spellcasting more effective.