I decided to make this build after playing through it. I actually had no intention of making this a public build until I realized how much fun I was having. It is actually one of my least favorite character archetypes: a mage. Despite that, I decided to give my idea a try and I loved it.
The Arch-Founder, like all good scholars, seeks knowledge and it's preservation. Upon joining the College of Winterhold he gained access to the vast amount of books, classes, and study equipment inside. Most notably, he gained access to several books on the now-disbanded Mages Guild. After reading through the archives, he longs to see its return and rise to power. But for that, he needs some things first…
Backstory
The Arch-Founder is a member of a long line of mages and as such is expected to be an exceptional mage. After failing to prove his understanding of magic in his early childhood, he was considered an outcast. It was only because of extensive training that he became an adept mage, still with a weak understanding and control over magic when his family history is considered. To avoid further embarrassment and not wanting to deal with him any more, his father sent him to Skyrim to join the College in Winterhold. It is there he will try to redeem himself by pulling off one of the things considered among scholars to be impossible.
The Character
- Race: Any, although Bretons, Altmer, and Dunmer are all good for Roleplay purposes and gameplay purposes because of magic bonuses.
- Gear: Largely dependent on the Roleplay style you choose below. I'll include the gear for both in that section
- Stone: Mage, then transition into the Atronach around level 35-40.
Major Skills
- Destruction: The Arch-Founder is a mage, so naturally he would need Destruction magic for protection.
- Illusion: When faced with poorly educated bandits (or anyone, really), teaching Advanced Magic Theory may be just enough to make them become enraged, confused, or even run out of boredom.
- Alteration: Useful when somebody isn't affected by your magical ramblings and your robes aren't enough to save you from being impaled. Also the magic resistance perks are useful when fighting mages.
Minor Skills
- Sneak: Being a scholar, he tries to avoid combat when possible. He never had proper combat training and doesn't take blows well.
- Enchanting: This is rarely for his own gear (unless you find a ring/circlet/hood you wish to enchant). Rather, he needs money if he's going to resurrect a guild.
- Alchemy: He never was great at avoiding combat wounds. Mostly because he is very uninspiring and a poor fighter. As such, he decided to learn some salves and potions to nurse his wounds.
(Most Perks with multiple ranks only have 1 point invested in them. This is because I find them a waste of a perk and only want the perks that come after. Also, he isn't supposed to be an excellent mage who can do twice the damage or whatever.)
Gameplay/Combat
Try to sneak away from enemies when possible. The Quiet Casting perk will allow you cast Illusion spells to make enemies attack their allies while not being spotted. When discovered, use mage flesh spells to provide damage resistance and begin casting destruction spells at the melee fighters while taking cover 
from archers/spellcasters. Keep in mind, you will be discovered most of the time. Your sneak skill will gradually increase, but the nature of the build almost guarantees detection. Also remember that you aren't wearing any armor, so I would recommend trying to get enemies alone or in a confined space before combat. In terms of followers, don't use them. If an area leading to an artifact or other collectible is too tough, come back later or return to the College (if you choose the “evil” Roleplay sneak into the College) to take another student with you to help with some field work.
Whenever in a town ask around for rumors and talk to people for quests. If it's a a quest started by the player saying something he wouldn't say but the quest itself fits the character, pretend you asked the quest-giver about any ruins/artifacts in the area. If you don't feel overloaded with quests, go into a new town! Remember, this character is a wanderer. His sole mission is to find stuff.
Quests
The College of Winterhold quest line is a must. If you're the evil type only do until just after completing Hitting the Books. Do the student's quests prior to becoming Arch-Mage or leaving the College. Unfathomable Depths is also a good one to do, as well as The Legend of Red Eagle. Arniel’s Endeavor fits nicely within the build’s focus and allows you to obtain a very important artifact, Keening. Beyond that, anything that gives a unique and ancient weapon/armor piece/object is fair game.
Roleplay
The good: Joining the College was your dream. They at least study magic, unlike those skeevers at the Synod. Reading about the Mages Guild makes you realize how limited the College really is, and you begin to do some field work collecting new artifacts for The current College and the expansions you plan to work on. Complete the CoW quest line and help the students with their studies. Occasionally take one out
to help with some field work collecting things. Buy properties in most if not all holds. You’ll be able to work out deals with the Jarls to expand your property to build a proper school later, but for now buy the furniture. Avoid Daedra except Meridia, if you choose. Fill bookshelves with books, already known spelltomes, and if you have mods, use the Unlimited Bookshleves mod to place artifacts and other objects on them. Marry if you wish and have children if you think it would be within the characters nature to adopt and love a child. In terms of gear:
The Archmage's Robes, Archmages Boots, and Vokun are my recommendations.
The bad: The College is a waste of your time. The only reason you even join is for their resources. After deciding to resurrect the Guild, you begin checking out the ancient tomes, forbidden halls filled with items of historic and magical importance, and even your fellow students quarters to steal and mess up their work and findings. After the Archmage's notices that many things have gone missing and your work 
hasn't been destroyed, he realizes it's you and expels you. After, you decide wholeheartedly that you’ll start your own guild with a bigger collection, older artifacts, more buildings, and better teachers. Collect things at any cost. Murder, theft, and cheating are all acceptable in the pursuit of knowledge. Do every Daedric quest and proudly display your collection in a house of your choosing. As with the good version, buy most of the houses, especially Hearthfire houses. Your obsession with the past is unhealthy, but nothing is more important than your new guild. Don't marry or have children. As for gear, I chose to wear:
The Shrouded Robes (Don't bother doing the questline. Just join, pick up the robes, and never go back.), a Mage Hood enchanted with Fortify Magicka, Stolen Archmages Boots, an Enchanted Ring from Saarthal, and lastly, an Amulet of Akatosh.
Reforming the Guild
The first thing to do would be, naturally, to collect artifacts and store them in your house. Once you have obtained a significant collection, you'll be ready to open the first Guild Hall. To do so, purchase Lakeview manor in Falkreath, or another player home if Hearthfire is not available. Build the Library, Alchemy Tower, and Enchanter's Tower. Have a mage steward, I recommend Onmund, and name them the Master Wizard. One possibility is to marry a mage and pretend that they are another member of the guild. Fill bookshelves with spell tomes and place unneeded artifacts in display cases. Take one of the guild members out with you for some fieldwork (dungeon diving; yay!) to find a new piece for the archives or to test their magical abilities.
Closing Notes
Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope you try it out! In my experience it's a very fun build, especially when going into a dwarven ruin just hoping there's something useful inside. I do recommend Hearthfire or a Custom Home mod as well as the Guild Starter mod, but those are 100% optional and not needed to enjoy this build. Again, I hope you have as much fun as I did.
Credits
Perk Spread by FishDout
Thanks to everyone over at the Workshop who offered advice
Thanks to everyone who helped with the title over at the Helpdesk
I decided to make this build after playing through it. I actually had no intention of making this a public build until I realized how much fun I was having. It is actually one of my least favorite character archetypes: a mage. Despite that, I decided to give my idea a try and I loved it.
The Arch-Founder, like all good scholars, seeks knowledge and it's preservation. Upon joining the College of Winterhold he gained access to the vast amount of books, classes, and study equipment inside. Most notably, he gained access to several books on the now-disbanded Mages Guild. After reading through the archives, he longs to see its return and rise to power. But for that, he needs some things first…
Backstory
The Arch-Founder is a member of a long line of mages and as such is expected to be an exceptional mage. After failing to prove his understanding of magic in his early childhood, he was considered an outcast. It was only because of extensive training that he became an adept mage, still with a weak understanding and control over magic when his family history is considered. To avoid further embarrassment and not wanting to deal with him any more, his father sent him to Skyrim to join the College in Winterhold. It is there he will try to redeem himself by pulling off one of the things considered among scholars to be impossible.
The Character
- Race: Any, although Bretons, Altmer, and Dunmer are all good for Roleplay purposes and gameplay purposes because of magic bonuses.
- Gear: Largely dependent on the Roleplay style you choose below. I'll include the gear for both in that section
- Stone: Mage, then transition into the Atronach around level 35-40.
Major Skills
- Destruction: The Arch-Founder is a mage, so naturally he would need Destruction magic for protection.
- Illusion: When faced with poorly educated bandits (or anyone, really), teaching Advanced Magic Theory may be just enough to make them become enraged, confused, or even run out of boredom.
- Alteration: Useful when somebody isn't affected by your magical ramblings and your robes aren't enough to save you from being impaled. Also the magic resistance perks are useful when fighting mages.
Minor Skills
- Sneak: Being a scholar, he tries to avoid combat when possible. He never had proper combat training and doesn't take blows well.
- Enchanting: This is rarely for his own gear (unless you find a ring/circlet/hood you wish to enchant). Rather, he needs money if he's going to resurrect a guild.
- Alchemy: He never was great at avoiding combat wounds. Mostly because he is very uninspiring and a poor fighter. As such, he decided to learn some salves and potions to nurse his wounds.
(Most Perks with multiple ranks only have 1 point invested in them. This is because I find them a waste of a perk and only want the perks that come after. Also, he isn't supposed to be an excellent mage who can do twice the damage or whatever.)
Gameplay/Combat
Try to sneak away from enemies when possible. The Quiet Casting perk will allow you cast Illusion spells to make enemies attack their allies while not being spotted. When discovered, use mage flesh spells to provide damage resistance and begin casting destruction spells at the melee fighters while taking cover from archers/spellcasters. Keep in mind, you will be discovered most of the time. Your sneak skill will gradually increase, but the nature of the build almost guarantees detection. Also remember that you aren't wearing any armor, so I would recommend trying to get enemies alone or in a confined space before combat. In terms of followers, don't use them. If an area leading to an artifact or other collectible is too tough, come back later or return to the College (if you choose the “evil” Roleplay sneak into the College) to take another student with you to help with some field work.
Whenever in a town ask around for rumors and talk to people for quests. If it's a a quest started by the player saying something he wouldn't say but the quest itself fits the character, pretend you asked the quest-giver about any ruins/artifacts in the area. If you don't feel overloaded with quests, go into a new town! Remember, this character is a wanderer. His sole mission is to find stuff.
Quests
The College of Winterhold quest line is a must. If you're the evil type only do until just after completing Hitting the Books. Do the student's quests prior to becoming Arch-Mage or leaving the College. Unfathomable Depths is also a good one to do, as well as The Legend of Red Eagle. Arniel’s Endeavor fits nicely within the build’s focus and allows you to obtain a very important artifact, Keening. Beyond that, anything that gives a unique and ancient weapon/armor piece/object is fair game.
Roleplay
The good: Joining the College was your dream. They at least study magic, unlike those skeevers at the Synod. Reading about the Mages Guild makes you realize how limited the College really is, and you begin to do some field work collecting new artifacts for The current College and the expansions you plan to work on. Complete the CoW quest line and help the students with their studies. Occasionally take one out to help with some field work collecting things. Buy properties in most if not all holds. You’ll be able to work out deals with the Jarls to expand your property to build a proper school later, but for now buy the furniture. Avoid Daedra except Meridia, if you choose. Fill bookshelves with books, already known spelltomes, and if you have mods, use the Unlimited Bookshleves mod to place artifacts and other objects on them. Marry if you wish and have children if you think it would be within the characters nature to adopt and love a child. In terms of gear:
The Archmage's Robes, Archmages Boots, and Vokun are my recommendations.
The bad: The College is a waste of your time. The only reason you even join is for their resources. After deciding to resurrect the Guild, you begin checking out the ancient tomes, forbidden halls filled with items of historic and magical importance, and even your fellow students quarters to steal and mess up their work and findings. After the Archmage's notices that many things have gone missing and your work hasn't been destroyed, he realizes it's you and expels you. After, you decide wholeheartedly that you’ll start your own guild with a bigger collection, older artifacts, more buildings, and better teachers. Collect things at any cost. Murder, theft, and cheating are all acceptable in the pursuit of knowledge. Do every Daedric quest and proudly display your collection in a house of your choosing. As with the good version, buy most of the houses, especially Hearthfire houses. Your obsession with the past is unhealthy, but nothing is more important than your new guild. Don't marry or have children. As for gear, I chose to wear:
The Shrouded Robes (Don't bother doing the questline. Just join, pick up the robes, and never go back.), a Mage Hood enchanted with Fortify Magicka, Stolen Archmages Boots, an Enchanted Ring from Saarthal, and lastly, an Amulet of Akatosh.
Reforming the Guild
The first thing to do would be, naturally, to collect artifacts and store them in your house. Once you have obtained a significant collection, you'll be ready to open the first Guild Hall. To do so, purchase Lakeview manor in Falkreath, or another player home if Hearthfire is not available. Build the Library, Alchemy Tower, and Enchanter's Tower. Have a mage steward, I recommend Onmund, and name them the Master Wizard. One possibility is to marry a mage and pretend that they are another member of the guild. Fill bookshelves with spell tomes and place unneeded artifacts in display cases. Take one of the guild members out with you for some fieldwork (dungeon diving; yay!) to find a new piece for the archives or to test their magical abilities.
Closing Notes
Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope you try it out! In my experience it's a very fun build, especially when going into a dwarven ruin just hoping there's something useful inside. I do recommend Hearthfire or a Custom Home mod as well as the Guild Starter mod, but those are 100% optional and not needed to enjoy this build. Again, I hope you have as much fun as I did.
Credits
Perk Spread by FishDout
Thanks to everyone over at the Workshop who offered advice
Thanks to everyone who helped with the title over at the Helpdesk
