User blog comment:Timeoin/Another podcast/@comment-205.236.126.15-20110527025022/@comment-2081141-20110527065656

I have a slight argument with your statement that alchemy is useless to mages in Oblivion, especially since potions actually do still allow you to regain magicka much faster than normal regeneration, as well as multiple added benefits (for example, I make one that fortifies my intelligence as well as restoring magicka, and one that shields me as well as restoring magicka). While their usefulness may be slightly abated by spells, you can't heal yourself if you've just used all of your magicka clearing out a room of zombies. Also, such potions as cure disease/poison are much more efficient than the respective spell (in that they require no magicka and the ingredients are readily available). Of course, that said, I do use alchemy most with my assassin character, but then only to make poisons.