Level 11 Arch Mage Hero of Cyrodiil

[Met A Demon Once]

I decided to replay Oblivion a third time as a Breton sign Mage actually my playing style is more like a sneaky Battle Mage.

By the time I reached level 11 I have become the Hero of Cyrodiil (main quest line) and Arch-Mage. It was actually pretty easy to do if you are willing to embrace the dark side a bit.

First join the Dark Brotherhood and complete one mission which will give you their armor with a huge number of bonuses.

Armor / Hood does the following

Fortify Sneak 8 + 2 = 10

Fortify Illusion 8 + 2 = 10

Fortify Marksman 8 + 2 = 10

Fortify Blade 8 + 2 = 10

Fortify Acrobatics 8 + 2 = 10

Black Band "Ring" does the following

Fortify Light Armor 3

Fortify Security 3

Resist Magic 3%

Next if you do the Daedric Azura mission and kill the vampires you will probably get infected and 3 days later become a vampire. As a vampire you will get the following bonuses to your attributes not to mention some very useful magical spells such as Hunters Sight.

Fortify Strength 5

Fortify Willpower 5

Fortify Speed 5

Fortify Acrobatics 5

Fortify Illusion 5

Fortify Sneak 5

Fortify Athletics 5

Fortify Destruction 5

Fortify Hand to Hand 5

Fortify Mysticism 5

Resist Normal Weapons 5

Resist Paralysis 100

Resist Disease 100

Being a vampire is a bit tricky but if you join a guild such as a Mages Guild you will have a steady supply of blood. Just stop in at a guild hall around 2-3 AM and feast away. You just need to do this every day so you can function as any normal human.

Between the Dark Brotherhood armor and Vampire bonuses you play way above your level.

[Met A Demon Once]

I forgot a member of the Dark Brotherhood will give you the gift of Vampirism but you will have to complete more than 1 mission to get the offer.

[Chirrungaso]

Nice!

[Johnny Casey]

I'm working on a mod that prevents the player from leveling up, but the game spawns all sorts of high level creatures along with those with low levels as well.

With that, and max difficulty settings, it's gonna be my wet dream playthrough.

[Met A Demon Once]

I was caught once at a guild hall feasting on another member and got some nasty comments but later I checked the members disposition on me and it was unchanged. I got careless and fed while I should have waited another hour.

I found that I needed to stop at a guild hall before going on a quest in the boonies to ensure I had 24 hours before I leveled up to the next stage of vampirism. In other words I wanted to go out and back and appear to be normal. It was a small price to pay for all the benefits.

[Darth Cannabis]

I found it best on mage playthru to take ones time, it ultimately ends up much more fulfilling, as with all that magic power at higher level, you actually do feel like arch mage, around the time you become it.

I don't even join and start doing the the recommendation quests, until each and every major skill is build to journeyman. Heck I will basic train, on the imperial island for 1st 10 levels. Keep in mind, I did a very controlled balance leveling of magic skills throughout. As things hit 75 (expert), I would stop using that magic, and immediately catch up anything lagging, so that as I enter the University, I am a perfect 75-80 in every single magic skill.

Ultimately, it was an extremely rewarding play experience, as things felt appropriate to level and power of character.

[Met A Demon Once]

I looked at Arch-Mage as a managerial title more than magical ability title. So magical ability was not too important. Kind of like being a manager of an engineering firm. It helps to be a expert engineer but it shouldn't be a requirement to be a good manager.