Morrowind

[brainface]

I mean, come on, you can't pass up TURN UNDEAD and an instant HEALING POWER!

Yup, Ritual is best.

True story. In pc morrowind, without expansions, turn undead doesn't work. At all. Actually, it does throw a gold ball out. Then the zombie punches you in the face. My first character was a ritual birthsign. He could heal himself, once per day. >_<

[brainface]

I can buy a detect key spell; it isn't even very expensive.

powerful[/i], sure.

[Lmns Crn]

Help me remember, is there anything in the game that you really need a key for, or does an "Open 100" spell pretty much take care of that in all situations?

[Steerpike]

In Morrowind, Atronach is a cool birthsign.  You ignore 50% of magic!  Make a character with some alchemy skills or just stock up on points and you're fine for magicka.

Currently I'm playing with the Lady, though... in general I prefer the flat stat bonuses to the spells, a lot of which can just be purchased later anyway.

[brainface]

Help me remember, is there anything in the game that you really need a key for, or does an "Open 100" spell pretty much take care of that in all situations?

I'm pretty sure open 100 works on anything detect key will. I can't remember if there's "quest doors" or not. I just think finding someone's lost key is a lot more fun, frankly. (Detect key's probably more useful at lower levels too, before you can get redonckulous levels of open, but it's been a while since I played.)

[Nomadic]

Help me remember, is there anything in the game that you really need a key for, or does an "Open 100" spell pretty much take care of that in all situations?

There are a few quest doors that require a key but most of the keys in oblivion are found on dead bodies as loot. I don't know of any quest keys that are sitting on the floor.

[brainface]

I don't know of any that are sitting on the floor.

Several are in dungeons. Especially like treasure chest keys. Generally, you can pick the lock, spell it open, or find the key. If you're observant enough you can just find the thing by searching enough.

[Nomadic]

I don't know of any that are sitting on the floor.

was referring to quest keys... I can't recall any found on the floor (edited to clarify)

[Ninja D!]

I was always for The Lady in Morrowind, too. Spells were never useful enough to me (though I played my share of Tower characters) and The Lady gives the best bonuses.

[Lmns Crn]

It's true; after the Warrior and a magicka-boosting sign, the Lady's probably my third choice.

Now for the really controversial question: Hlaalu, Redoran, or Telvanni?

[Ninja D!]

Really, it depends on the kind of character I'm playing. I'd do everything I could as far as it wouldn't interfere with the others. I usually leaned toward Hlaalu, though. Second would be Redoran, with Telvanni in third. However, if Morrowind used a magic system more like Oblivion, where I didn't have to draw my spell like a weapon, and could use a weapon AND magic, I would have probably gone with more magic.

[Steerpike]

It's true, Destruction is kind of annoying in Morrowind.  Alteration and Mysticism are a lot more useful I think, though, and since thieving is vastly more profitable Illusion is more useful too.

[brainface]

Telvanni, definitely. You get some sort of funky multi-complex mushroom manshion. I remember the other strongholds being cramped in comparison.

Alteration and Mysticism are a lot more useful I think,

I remember mysticism being pretty dangerous with absorb health.

[Lmns Crn]

One of the most effective ways to build a mage in Morrowind, considering some of the annoyances with how Magicka regeneration works, is to enchant items (rings are great for this) to hold your most commonly-cast spells. Destruction is not worth the magicka potions you chug to keep pumping it out, when you're just casting it normally. Once you pair it with a li'l enchanting somethin'-somethin', it gets a lot snazzier.

I probably abused the hell out of enchanting, honestly speaking.

House Hlaalu is my favorite Great House just based on the in-game descriptions and motivations, and of course, Balmora is really convenient. By House Telvanni has the best quest rewards by a country mile, and arguably the best mansion, as well. Decisions, decisions.

[LordVreeg]

Abuse enchanting?
Yes.
Absolutely.

Amulet casting 'weakness to magioka 50', then Amulets of para 15 secs with soultrap, ring of weakness to poison and lightning, then poison and lightning 10-25 points for 5 secs...

yahoo.