Destruction destroys the other schools in our magic poll

• Posted by Paul October 23, 2011 - 936 views

  More than 2000 people voted in our Weekend Roundtable poll on magic, and arounsd 200 comments were made in a lively and provocative discussion. Here are the results:

  In retrospect, it was probably a bit of a mistake to ask the question in the form ‘which magic school will you use most in Skyrim?’ rather than asking about he most interesting or favourite magic. As a result a lot of people said that they voted for Destruction simply because it will be one they end using a lot to fend off the waves of enemies that are bound to come our way on our travels.

  Oh well. Too late to worry about that (although you will note that I worded the most recent poll on Stealth a little differently...)

  Anyway, Destruction has, of course, been heavily featured in the gameplay demos - and when you read through the many journalist previews its amazing just how many seemed to head straight for Bleak Falls Barrows and go on an orgy of wanton killing with fire and frost spells.

  
  By comparison we've seen an awful lot less of any of the other magic schools, so many people - according to the discussion - seemed to be basing their voting on what they recalled from Oblivion. Illusion, with its range of 'crowd control' spells, together with the ever useful staples such as light and paralyze came in 2nd place, just ahead of Restoration. No surprise to see that Restoration did well, given the working of the poll, as most people end up putting a held spell onto a hotkey.

  
  Conjuration promises to be much more interesting in Skyrim  - especially if, many predict, it ends up grabbing Soul Trap from the now-defunct Mysticism school. The bound weapons we've seen look absolutely incredible, and the perk tree gives the budding Conjurer the promise of being able to conjure multiple summons.

  
  Enchanting is now back in the game, having been absent from Oblivion. Again, the poll wording did Enchanting few favours. Most of us will probably end up doing some Enchanting and - hopefully - produce some epic weapons and armour. But we won't be using that skill the most, so it wasn't really something that most people were going to pick in a single-option poll.

  
  

  And poor old Alteration? Little love for Alteration in the poll. Don't people use the Shield spells? I know I find them extremely useful for my Mage characters. And even if you eventually nab the Skeleton Key, the Open Lock is useful in the early game for someone who has little aptitude with a lock pick.

  
  So, another interesting poll. Looking back on it now, does this result hold any surprises for you - or was it pretty much as you expected? Comments, as ever, are welcome