I've found a really useful method for getting Dragonhide to last for nine+ (9) realtime hours! I'll post links to the mods at the end of the post. This works especially well for characters who don't need to cast spells as their only means of combat.
The trick is relatively simple. You will need the following:
Ordinator: Alteration Perks
(1) Dual casting, (2) Vancian Magic, (3) Quadratic Wizard, (4) Dungeon Master, (5) Arcane Thesis, (6) Home Mythal, and (7) Wild Shrines
Dual Casting allows Dragonhide, i.e. the only Master level spell that can be dual cast, to last longer and also allows the use of Arcane Thesis.
Vancian Magic allows the player to cast 20 spells for free at 100 Magicka and doubles the effect/duration of those spells (when these spells are depleted, you have to rest in your home or at an inn to recharge them).
Quadratic Wizard grants one additional free spell for each 10 points of base Magicka.
Dungeon Master allows you to choose metamagic enhancements: You can choose to make your spells 50% more powerful at the cost of spell slots or choose to make them 50% weaker to gain more slots (or you can leave them the same). This perk does other things too, but I won't get into them right now.
Home Mythal gives you 20x the duration if the spell is cast within 250 feet of the Mythal point.
Wild Shrines makes the spells associated with the particular magic school last 30% longer.
Arcane Thesis allows you to choose one spell to 'empower' and lets that spell last 40% longer.
Andromeda: Standing Stone
The Apprentice Standing Stone from Andromdea grants an ability that makes spells randomly be either 50% stronger or 50% weaker (just cast until you get the 50% stronger).
*Being an Imperious Breton (another Enai Siaion mod) grants a racial ability called Stones of Galen, which makes spells used by a Breton 25% more effective when under The Apprentice effect.
Vanilla: Potions
Fortify Alteration Potions that you can buy go up to 100% with an Elixir of Alteration.
Summary
To sum it up:
(1) Take The Apprentice Stone (Imperious Breton preferred).
(2) Get the Alteration dual casting perk.
(3) Take the Vancian Magic perk to double spell effectivness, Quadratic Wizard for extra spells, and Dungeon Master for Metamagic.
(4) Choose the Home Mythal and create a Mythal location.
(5) After you rest, choose the Metamagic option to get a 50% increase to spells
(6) Find and acquire the Alteration Wild Shrine blessing to add 30% duration to spells.
(7) Drink a Fortify Alteration Potion.
(8) Use Arcane Thesis while dual casting Dragonhide
(9) Dual cast Dragonhide for hours and hours of 80% damage reduction!
Final Tip
Once you have used the trick to get 9+ hours of Dragonhide, simply rest in a bed to recharge you spells. At 100 base Magicka you have 20 spells, choosing to make them 50% more effective brings this down to 15 spells. However, resting in a bed right after using the trick allows you to reselect your Metamagic enhancement. If you don't mind losing the +50% from Metamagic, you can choose the -50% to gain 45 free spells at 100 base Magicka.
Links to Mods
Andromeda - Unique Standing Stones of Skyrim
Imperious - Races of Skyrim
Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim
I've found a really useful method for getting Dragonhide to last for nine+ (9) realtime hours! I'll post links to the mods at the end of the post. This works especially well for characters who don't need to cast spells as their only means of combat.
The trick is relatively simple. You will need the following:
Ordinator: Alteration Perks
(1) Dual casting, (2) Vancian Magic, (3) Quadratic Wizard, (4) Dungeon Master, (5) Arcane Thesis, (6) Home Mythal, and (7) Wild Shrines
Dual Casting allows Dragonhide, i.e. the only Master level spell that can be dual cast, to last longer and also allows the use of Arcane Thesis.
Vancian Magic allows the player to cast 20 spells for free at 100 Magicka and doubles the effect/duration of those spells (when these spells are depleted, you have to rest in your home or at an inn to recharge them).
Quadratic Wizard grants one additional free spell for each 10 points of base Magicka.
Dungeon Master allows you to choose metamagic enhancements: You can choose to make your spells 50% more powerful at the cost of spell slots or choose to make them 50% weaker to gain more slots (or you can leave them the same). This perk does other things too, but I won't get into them right now.
Home Mythal gives you 20x the duration if the spell is cast within 250 feet of the Mythal point.
Wild Shrines makes the spells associated with the particular magic school last 30% longer.
Arcane Thesis allows you to choose one spell to 'empower' and lets that spell last 40% longer.
Andromeda: Standing Stone
The Apprentice Standing Stone from Andromdea grants an ability that makes spells randomly be either 50% stronger or 50% weaker (just cast until you get the 50% stronger).
*Being an Imperious Breton (another Enai Siaion mod) grants a racial ability called Stones of Galen, which makes spells used by a Breton 25% more effective when under The Apprentice effect.
Vanilla: Potions
Fortify Alteration Potions that you can buy go up to 100% with an Elixir of Alteration.
Summary
To sum it up:
(1) Take The Apprentice Stone (Imperious Breton preferred).
(2) Get the Alteration dual casting perk.
(3) Take the Vancian Magic perk to double spell effectivness, Quadratic Wizard for extra spells, and Dungeon Master for Metamagic.
(4) Choose the Home Mythal and create a Mythal location.
(5) After you rest, choose the Metamagic option to get a 50% increase to spells
(6) Find and acquire the Alteration Wild Shrine blessing to add 30% duration to spells.
(7) Drink a Fortify Alteration Potion.
(8) Use Arcane Thesis while dual casting Dragonhide
(9) Dual cast Dragonhide for hours and hours of 80% damage reduction!
Final Tip
Once you have used the trick to get 9+ hours of Dragonhide, simply rest in a bed to recharge you spells. At 100 base Magicka you have 20 spells, choosing to make them 50% more effective brings this down to 15 spells. However, resting in a bed right after using the trick allows you to reselect your Metamagic enhancement. If you don't mind losing the +50% from Metamagic, you can choose the -50% to gain 45 free spells at 100 base Magicka.
Links to Mods
Andromeda - Unique Standing Stones of Skyrim
Imperious - Races of Skyrim
Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim
