Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-95.210.108.36-20140905122606/@comment-24902649-20141214033120

174.63.184.96 wrote: I find it interesting that Talvas is a Master Trainer of Conjuration, yet wears only Adept robes. He also doesn't cast the spells we spells we purchase from him, e.g. Conjure Ash Spawn. Still,  he is an exellent mage follower;  pleasant to have around, very capable. I'll take him over Serana or Mercurio any day.

He's certainly less obnoxious than either. As for the robes, I don't think that the clothes themselves have any bearing on the ability of whoever's wearing them. I think it's more a matter of Bethesda not wanting to spend the time individually creating 10 different kinds of robes, and unique meshes and textures for each. Then name has no real bearing on a mage's status, it just reflects the power of the enchantment on the robes.