So basically I'm playing Archer atm, and I build it as damage/crit or well to take out targets from shadows, but thats not alaways possible especially inside of small rooms when you need to take out multiple targets outside of shadows.
I end up dead if there are more than two enemies in close combats, especially those mercs they eat me to fast with melee attacks. Either I got completly wrong build or Archers are just retardly underpowered, while on my mage and warrior I just smash trough stuff.
Obviously bows got much lower damage than other stuff, and having different arrow types annoys, I don't know why- but it does.

So are there any other people that struggle as archer around? If you got some tips please share them, I cba starting new toon again ;(.

i solve it by taking another character with me

It may just be because you aren't high enough in level yet I'm an archer assassin so I hope it isn't to under powered

Same thing I said on the battlemage thread; keep a melee weapon as a backup.

As an additional note, of COURSE you're going to get caught after one or two shots and kills. That's always happened and you have to deal until you find some kind of chameleon spell.

an archer that can't change to a melee weapon when an enemy is within arm's reach is going to be one hurtin unit

is the archer underpowered, or are you insisting on a style of play that hamstrings you? I'm not sure I agree that you should be able to be an effective archer against multiple foes that are 10 feet away

If archers could take out 3 guys in a small room without any problems, then they would be overpowered. I'm using an archer build, but I also use one handed weapons so I can fight in those situations. A bow is a ranged weapon, it shouldn't work in close combat...

Yeah, you aren't meant to bust out your bow and point blank people inside tiny hallways while you backpedal to the exit.

When you know you are going to be in close quarters, it's time to conjure up a new strategy for dealing with enemies.

Archery is great for open spaces and those really far away people that will never have a shot at getting to you. Using it on some bosses might be awesome if you are using line of sight well.

Well, being Archer alone doesn't cut it because this is long-range combat. Train in another close-combat skill like destruction or swords.

I don't know what you are talking about.

I'm playing a 'Thief' character myself (mostly sneak, archery and 1handed for daggers), in the highest difficulty. When I was level 2 or 3 I could still, say, get a couple of sneak attacks in before they start chasing me and most of the time groups of 3~4 would die before getting to me.

You just need to remember that if the 'eye' is slightly open you can still get sneak attacks. Then they will go look for you when the eye if fully open.
If it's not fully open it gives you time to go back to the shadows and try again.

use lydia as your tank lol

Yeah, on my ranger assassin build I ALWAYS carry a decent one-handed weapon with me. If the archer could take out 5 guys in a small room no problem, then THAT would be overpowered.

Almost played the game through with main quests, on the last 1-2 quests and im playing a archer assassin for the whole time, died only once and that was my own fault not bringing hp potions with me. There are shouts for a reason, if enemys come close.... push them away

She died after I allied with Stormcloak people. And paying for Mercs is kinda dull, I remember in Oblivion as Archer I had it pretty much easy, If I didn't move outside of shadows they couldn't spot me. I know how to play Archer type- I'm just not yet used to Close combat. Guess I'll craft some weapons and enchant them up- melee weapons-

Hey! I can do that in the highest difficulty. You just need to strategize.

It's a lot easier if you use poisons efficiently. Use paralyze poison on you bow, or others if you desire.
If they are too close click the 'defend' button and watch your enemies stagger- giving you time to get a shot in.
Shouts can also help you in a bind as can racial powers.

I use bound sword for those situation and it tears through them. I find archery plenty strong. You need both the Archery perks and the sneak perks. In this game I think archers were meant to be stealthy. In the strategy guide it shows a sample archer build. If you want I can post what it says in the book but I am not sure if that would be a spoiler for this forum.

yeah, absolutely.

What is this guy doing by himself, I take faendel along for the ride and me and him mark and execute using the companion commands, its awesome.

IRL, you couldn't simply fire off 3 arrows from one bow and kill everyone 4 feet away.

As archer I'm doing more damage than as sword and shield fighter (same char, focussing only on 1h, archery and light armour making my 1h and archery skills are equal)
But keep a sword as back-up, always useful, certainly in small areas.

Working on your Alchemy is a good idea. If you always have a good varied stock of poisons, and you know what enemies are vulnerable to which effects and also how strong the poison needs to be to wipe out most of their HP - you could take care of most single guys right away.
But yeah like the others said, Archery can't work all by itself. It has to be coupled with someting that will work close up. And that may as well be a shortsword cause if you are well trained in Destruction there are loads of ranged spells to use.
By the way does anyone know if in Skyrim you get bonuses for sneak-Destructioning somebody?

Archers aren't meant for close quarters combat, switch to a melee weapon or use dragon shouts to fend them off.

I seem to have no problem taking out restless draugr, or the one a step above that, while staying hidden. Providing the room is big enough that I can move between 3 or 4 places.

Once you get a shot off, or take out one of the enemies you ahve to move and wait for them to stop looking for you, then you can shoot again.

You may need to change up your strategy a little bit, really the only time I use melee is when an enemy is close enough to use a power attack in sneak.

Aight, thanks for Tips guys. Gonna try out some, seems like Alchemy is great combo with Bows.

Use sprint to gain some distance and kite them. Won't work in very confined spaces, so use shouts, poisons, or just resort to melee.

I believe its a viable build but like mages I think you need to be able to have a melee backup when they get close.

To me it seems in TES games some sort of hybrid is the rule not the exception. Run out of man and you need to use a sword. Same with archery.

Archery is fine. Very strong when used intelligently. I have only just hit level 10 and find bows and daggers combined with intelligent sneaking to be awesome and so much fun. Of course you're going to struggle with multiple enemies, but once you get the slow-mo perk it becomes a lot easier too.

I had to abandon all hopes of archery once i realized that on my more than capable pc, enemies would only fade into view 10 feet away.