This class is confusing me. I've already reset my skills and attributes multiple times to acquire the most efficient DPS as possible, and I getting very frustrated with the thought having to do so yet again.

I want to either use pure stamina or pure magicka, but the various abilities and whatnot are all over the place. If I were to increase both attributes equally, my DPS would be average, as it wouldn't be based off of one good attribute. DPS are supposed to do as much damage as possible, but Nightblade abilities and relative abilities seem to hinder that.

My Nightblade is Assassin, Medium Armor, and is equipped with a sword and a dagger.

So here's the deal: I tried going full fledged stamina-based, but there was too much of a lack of stamina-based abilities for the Nightblade. I could think of only one morph that made an ability stamina-based, despite other abilities, including the ultimate, using a weapon and needing to be in close range. Even if I were to only have stamina-based abilities (therefore mostly Duel Wielding abilities) the desired ultimate (the Assassin ultimate) is magicka-based for whatever rational reason or lack thereof.

So now I am going for a full-fledged magicka-based Nightblade. That's right, a melee fighter who uses sharpness of blade and strength of arm and leg that needs magicka... All the sense in the world is made.

However, I now realize that my Medium Armour might not be adequate for a Magicka-based role. So... my rogue-type character is supposed to wear light armour? Since when in the history of fantasy-RPGs did such characters wear light armour instead of medium? Remember, I am only in this predicament due to a lack of stamina-based abilities for the Nightblade. I wouldn't even consider light amour if I could avoid it.

So this begs the question, is Medium Armor good for a Nightblade under the Assassination skill tree? Some of the Medium passives are useless in this regard, such as the passive that increases stamina regeneration, but others may or may not assist in the effectiveness of this tree. Such as the first passive in the Medium Armour skill line: Dexterity. It increases critical strike chance with physical-based attacks. Are Assassin abilities physical-based? Like, the ones in which you get up close and personal and use a "weapon"? I heard that those count as physical-based abilities...

...But then. But then I moved my mouse cursor over both Spell Critical and Weapon Critical in the Character sheet/menu.

And find that Physical Damage is associated with Weapon Critical. Which is fine, of course, if my Assassin abilities use Weapon Critical. But this hints that physical-based attacks are rather relative to Weapon Abilities, hence Weapon Critical. Otherwise it would just be called Physical Critical, no? If you are confused at my explanation, or lack thereof, then you are supposed to be; I am as equally confused.

But then Spell Critical says it gives my Magicka-based abilities (therefore Assassin abilities I assume) a greater chance to do Critical Damage.

So... what I heard about Assassin abilities being physical-based isn't true then? So my Medium Armour dexterity passive isn't increasing the critical rate of any of my Assassin abilities, even the ones that seem to need physical contact?

I am confused. Please help! Thank you as well.

I don't know if I need any other questions answered. This is so much information to take in at once with all these different stats and stuff. Been pulling my hairs out just wanting to play the damn game as a rogue-type character, and the most effective DPS I can be, whose never even heard of the Mages Guild or even witnessed the use of magic, nor dresses in associated fabric.