Those skilled in the Old Ways, in the way of the Psijic, in Mysticism, can see an object and identify it by its proper role. “The common man looks at an object and fits it into a place in his way of thinking. The Mystic mage is a patient and uncompetitve scholar." In the time it takes him to find a source with a consistant trigger and result, his peers researching in other schools may have researched and documented dozens of new spells and effects. Thus, the Mystic mage must regulate himself to finding consistant patterns in an imbroglio of energy. "Mysticism seems to derive its power from its cunundrums and paradoxes the act of experimentation, no matter how objectively implemented, can influence the magicka by its very existance. One of the oldest forms of refined magic in TES. The skill in these spells is applying magica to the right thing. When it comes to damaging armor or stats, the addition of potential energy with very few instructions – not even light on fire or shoot like a bolt – would surely matter. Further, a frost spell could simply be doing the opposite of a fire spell. We know that light is a form of magica in TES, so lightning and fire are both very crude versions of it. Where as in Illusion the Magica is applied to alter someone's perception, in Destruction a spell might start out similar and then have the magica applied directly. Left to guess, I have come up with my own theory. However, on it's own, I can find no quotes about how it works. I would imagine it is somewhere between Illusion and Alteration it's spells were split between those schools.ĭestruction is probably also somewhat similar to Illusion, Bero would have needed some reason for suggesting they be merged. Very little is known about Thaumaturgy and it only appears in Daggerfall. This brings up a good point though with enough willpower and mental fortitude someone could ignore an illusion spell such as Paralyze. Think of the Eragon books, and the magical mind-reading in that is basically how I view illusion in TES. With Illusion one uses magic to alter an opponent's perspective of reality. It is in fact the opposite of Alteration in Alteration you alter your own perception of reality and then apply magic. I believe Illusion to be tampering with your target's perception of reality. “Nothing changed in the vampire's form, except its ability to move. Removing sensual data, for example, to cast darkness or remove sound or smell from the air." “You see, it's all concerned with magicka's ability to alter the perception of objects without changing their physical compositions. In terms of what they do, the main difference between Illusion and Alteration is that Alteration actually changes physics while Illusion just makes the target percieve things differently. Illusion: Magic to alter an opponent's perspective of reality So alteration is largely making a fantasy for yourself and then adding magic to it the raw potential energy will make your reality exist – at least for a while. 'But that's not magic.' 'What I'm saying to you, boy, is that it is.'" Or rather, that you naturally would be able to, it's water isn't it? from Breathing water, "Seryne pointed to the small silver fish darting along the water's edge: 'They don't find it so. So how do you do it? One convinces HIMSELF that you have persuaded water to let you walk on it. So basically you are persuading physics to break itself without literally asking water to let you walk on it. Express the spell as a subtle change and it is more likely to be successful. Just like directing the wind or water, diversions are easier than outright resistance. Our best guess is that they are like wind and water. Do not assume that these forces are sentient. To cast Alteration spells is to convince a greater power that it will be easier to change reality as requested than to leave it alone. Our reality is a perception of greater forces impressed upon us for their amusemant. "To master Alteration, first accept that reality is a falsehood. We are lucky, Reality and Other Falsehoods directly tells us how Alteration is cast. The original grouping ignored spell effects in the groups, and it just happened that each school contained effects of similar type (although it makes sense, a way of thought meant to destroy is likely the base of any destruction spell, with the chosen element simply caked on top.) This is why each school is a skill if you are proficient at casting one illusion spell you basically have it down for most of the others.
So basically Vanus Galerion invented 'schools of magic' by looking at all spell effects known to him and grouping together the ones he thought here cast in a similar manner. This is one of those things that I *THINK* I understand but still am not quite sure, so I'm writing it down to have the real lore buffs check over it.