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Should a werewolf mage join the Vampires or Dawnguard

Reshiram337

Leader of DEFHA
It may seem like a easy question to answer due to Vampires being more magical and whatnot, but I just want to know which would be better for a mage to join. I plan to become a werewolf so joining vampires seems pointless due to them being about Vampire Lord 24/7. But Dawnguard seems like a warrior faction and judging by their armor and the way they fight. They dont seem magical at all, and crossbows on a mage just seems pointless, but if I am going Werewolf whats the point of siding with the Vampires, because Werewolf would make Vampire Lord completely useless.

I have already completed the Vampire side of Dawnguard with my primary character so I know what Vampires are about and what they get, but I haven't done the Vampire Hunter side of Dawnguard on any character. Which would be better for a werewolf mage?
 
As a mage, if you're going to be a creature of the night you'll want to be a vampire. Necromage perk will really be a huge boon for you, even without using the Vampire Lord form (which I never do use.) while werewolf does nothing for you at all.
 
-Kalin, you do have a point. Necromage is like the best perk for a Vampire character as it increases all magic effects toward undead. And vampire characters are considered undead so every magic effect that helps your character has its power increased, and every magic effect used againest undead has its power increased as well. Necromage has proven to be a OP perk for vampires, but it still seems pointless to join the Vampires over one perk, although Werewolf gives a mage more close range capabilities in addition to freshness. I play a Vampire Lord on my Lvl 81 Nord Duel-Wielder/Archer. Although those Vampire Rings that you get, like the one that gives 100 magicka and some magicka regen is helpful. And a mage generally wants to stay out of close-range combat, but then you get the horrible vampire weaknesses that you basically have to counter. (I hate traveling at night :P )
 
As a mage, you can just summon daedra and elementals to fill the role of close range fighters. The higher level dead-thralls you can claim (With the Necromage perk!) are also especially suited for the role. Being a werewolf has situational benefits, where as being a vampire positively effects nearly everything you do.
 
The Sun barely does anything it just stops you running for very long. As for the werewolf tree you won't actually be able to become a vampire while a werewolf and any attempt to do so will instantly cure your lycanthropy. There are spells that you can get as a member of the Dawnguard that are restoration and only work on the undead, they're quite fun but if you're going to go down the path to godhood (mage) the better choice is to become a Vampire Lord and not a werewolf.
 
-Kalin, I completely forgot about Conjuration, truth is I haven't created my mage yet, and just need to figure out which path to take. Conjuration does give the mage some minions to do the close-range work, as well as serving as distractions while the mage blasts down everything in his path with his destruction magic, and Necromage helps with increasing Dead Thralls level cap to 50 but only with raising undead minions such as other vampires, although Dead Thrall is useless to me due to the point that I can just summon a bunch of minions to do the work, and raising the dead. Although Dead Thrall makes it permanent and whatnot, it still seems pointless for the way my playstyle is being planned. Your also correct about Vampire Lord giving passive benefits, such as Illusion boosts, and Necromage will boost all magic strengthening effects toward the player. Vampires are more magical and fits the mage and ultimately makes the mage end up being more powerful, and permanent thralls kinda sound helpful every once in a while ;)

-Nuitari, when playing as my LVL 81 Duel-Wielder, I noticed that the sun made a huge difference and the weaknesses just make playing the character frustrating, with no regeneration and the potential to have 60 points knocked off health, stamina, magicka, and the terrible weaknesses to fire just proved to much. Although the weaknesses are countered now and they dont do anything to my character due to restoration, enchanted armor, and a few passive bonuses, it still hurt the character in the levels below 50. Then again, it may be different this time around, this is a mage, and they fit the vampire role more than warriors. I used the spell Harmony on the Dawnguard merchants to buy their spells and crossbow bolts, and the restoration spells exclusive to Dawnguard are fun to use, but they only help against the undead, so you are right there, yea Vampire Lord would in turn help out the mage while Werewolf wouldnt help the mage much at all. Especially passively. The Harmony spell in return makes joining the Dawnguard even more pointless because I can get their exclusive spells without joining them.

It seems more worthwhile to join Vampire Lord, although I just worry about the weaknesses although you gain much more as a vampire mage, especially with Necromage. And as of what I am reading, the Dawnguard doesnt seem to have any magical capabilities at all, barring a few resto spells. (this sounds like WoW all over again :P )

Vampires seem like the best option for a growing mage, ill probably end up being with them to reap the benefits of a few items and Necromage. Thanks for both your answers :)
 
Depending on which equipment you use your regeneration rate shouldn't be a problem and really as long magicka regenerates you can heal yourself and obliterate others with ease and flashy fireworks. There is a set of light armour you can get in Dawnguard called the Royal vampire armour it's not bad as armour and it gives you 125% magicka regeneration, so with that and a few well enchanted pieces of armour you should be fine. I forgot to mention at one stage in the quest you get the option for the Sun to not bother you (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers). Also as you said earlier there are side quests to get amulets and rings that are really helpful especially the ring of the erudite, it gives you plus one hundred magicka and increases your magicka regeneration rate. So really you just need some good armour and you should be fine.
 
-Nuitari, True enough, Vampire weaknesses can be countered completely with some enchanted equipment, although I plan to use clothes, although I really like that Vampire Royal Armor, may change plans so the mage can wear that armor can gain benefits, although I'm sure you can get it regardless of siding with vampires or not, although the rings are helpful. And yes the option to make the sun not do anything to you if your a vampire is even better, its vampires without weaknesses, except the fire weakness which can easily be countered. This definitely answers all my concerns and keeps the sun out of my way. Thanks for your helpful answer. Guess vampire is the best choice, and now that weaknesses are countered, vampire is a even better choice. Thank you :)
 
-LoneShadow_68, yea whatever feels right is exactly what I should do, honestly I do not want to become OP, I like to stay balanced because being OP takes the fun out of the game. Its fun at first, but then it gets old. Oh look its a giant, lets 2 shot him, or oh thats a dragon, lets see how fast we can kill him today. Cast a Thunderbolt around 3-4 times and hes gone. I like to feel balanced, while still being able to kill, but always have the possibility of death. I even got my LVL 81 Duel-Wielder to be balanced, although the worst thing I put on him was Necromage, because it messed up his weapon speeds, sometimes it will go slow and sometimes it will go fast, but I still can get killed by Legendary Dragons and some Forsworn. Even the Markarth Stormcloak guards can kill me if they gang up on me. After Avoid Death takes place and restores all my health and im on Adept difficulty, and I have around 350 armor rating, sometimes around 240 depends on if I wear a circlet. I like the possibility of death, it makes things funner, knowing that you can actually die instead of getting hit 10 times and not losing hardly any health and then 3 shot your opponent.

To be honest, werewolf feels more right on my mage, because actually it gives the possibility of the mage going close-quarters himself, especially if he has no other options. (backed in a corner or no magicka, fighting opponents with serious magic resistance, trying to take on HIGH LVL opponents at a lower level.etc) Sure the minions can do the work with conjuration, and I plan to spec in conjuration, but adding Werewolf would allow a extra playstyle and its something new. Vampire Lord gives the same in ways, being a OP spellcaster and can go with moderate damage melee, but I just dont want the weaknesses or the OP Necromage perk.

Also, Werewolf never felt quite right on my Duel-Wielder, you know he already goes close-range and kills fast, and basically does whatever the werewolf can, besides summon allies, feeding.etc
Werewolf on a warrior character, I know thats how its supposed to be, but it seems pointless, get out of a duel-wielder to go to a duel-clawing oversized wolf. May work for some, but doesnt work for me. Spellcaster with Vampire Lord definitely FITS, but jump right out of a magical character into another magical character doesnt feel right for me. Although it powers up the mage greatly, it may not feel right. I like possibility and the freedom of choice, never know when you get backed up somewhere and need a way to counter, but your magicka is low and unrelenting force is recharging. Werewolf can save you, if you can transform before you die.

But you are right, whatever feels right. I guess werewolf would feel perfect for my mage, and it also allows me a new playstyle, and its truly a new experience now that Dawnguard adds a werewolf perk tree. Thanks for the reply, sorry for the lengthy reply, when it comes to Skyrim, I can type story books ;)
 
-LoneShadow_68, agreed, I keep thinking of werewolf and a mage together and it seems like it will work out. Cant wait to try it :)

I guess this means I will be joining the Dawnguard to fight the vampires, even though they hardly have any magical benefits. At least joining the Vampire Hunters and doing their questline will be new for me, as I never done their side of it and done the Vampires side of Dawnguard.
 
I guess this means I will be joining the Dawnguard to fight the vampires, even though they hardly have any magical benefits. At least joining the Vampire Hunters and doing their questline will be new for me, as I never done their side of it and done the Vampires side of Dawnguard.

The Dawnguard have a whole host of interesting anti-undead spells for the restoration school. That's why I went and helped them take care of Lord Harkon in the first place. Well, that and the whole "saving the world for darkness eternal" thing.
 
The Dawnguard have a whole host of interesting anti-undead spells for the restoration school. That's why I went and helped them take care of Lord Harkon in the first place. Well, that and the whole "saving the world for darkness eternal" thing.

Thats true, the Dawnguard got awesome anti-undead spells for the restoration part of magic. I bought them from the Dawnguard merchants even having completed the vampires side of Dawnguard.

You just need the spell "Harmony" and cast it on them. It seems to work on the Dawnguard merchants. Reports of being able to buy Armored Trolls this way, but I haven't tested it, but its confirmed you can buy crossbow bolts and the restoration spells without siding with the Dawnguard, but I dont want to go through the trouble of getting 100 Illusion all over again, so ill just side with Dawnguard, plus I want to be a werewolf this time around :)
 
Also, Werewolf never felt quite right on my Duel-Wielder, you know he already goes close-range and kills fast, and basically does whatever the werewolf can, besides summon allies, feeding.etc
Yeah, the one character I've had go werewolf I liked the most was specifically a bow-wielding character, and I personally liked that mix a lot. Werewolf on a melee feels redundant.

On a mage I'd personally lean more towards vampire lord myself, since you'll probably be putting levelups into magicka a fair amount, and on a werewolf all that magicka will just be sitting there doing nothing, whereas vampire lord can still make good use of it, while still being a decent way to beef up and get into the thick of things. I'm also biased though, because I love anything that lets me drain health.

Random question, since I don't have dawnguard yet (PC :/), how is the vampire lord's melee? It does seem a bit on the tame side compared to werewolves (not saying it definitely has to be as good, obviously), but does also seem to be able to hold its own.
 
Do bear in mind that a vampire lord can also melee nearly as well as a werewolf, and half their equipment and perk tree focuses on that end. If you're picking a werewolf so your mage will have an option to do physical damage, vampire lord is still the better choice.

There really is very little reason for -anyone- to pick werewolf over vampire, other than personal tastes.
 
Do bear in mind that a vampire lord can also melee nearly as well as a werewolf, and half their equipment and perk tree focuses on that end. If you're picking a werewolf so your mage will have an option to do physical damage, vampire lord is still the better choice.

There really is very little reason for -anyone- to pick werewolf over vampire, other than personal tastes.
Does the vampire get the ability to knock people around with the melee swings? That's the best part of being a werewolf in my experience. Also, the werewolves have damage increase perks up to like +100% damage, right? Does the vampire lord still stack up?
 
-VonCrown, vampire lord doesnt get the ability to knock around people, and the Werewolf does more damage with melee than a Vampire Lord.

Sources: I have played them both fully perked :)
 
Do bear in mind that a vampire lord can also melee nearly as well as a werewolf, and half their equipment and perk tree focuses on that end. If you're picking a werewolf so your mage will have an option to do physical damage, vampire lord is still the better choice.

There really is very little reason for -anyone- to pick werewolf over vampire, other than personal tastes.

Disagree on that one, I've played with both, and even with a VL's poisoned claws, its nowhere near the strength of a WW fully leveled claws. Also the lunge is the WW OP move.

I still say go for either or, -- but the melee is a difference lol.
 
What king of mage is it?
Mostly I would choose Vampire for any mage, really, but maybe a battle-mage might be well-suited for dawnguard...
 
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