It seems useless most of the time. So many enemies are immune to poison. I spend so much time fighting Draugr that I can't seem to find alchemy worthwhile, but I would like to. Any suggestions?

hmm i dabble in alchimy just for rp purpose

a red guard got to know how to survive lol

I honestly don't bother with those perks for most characters either, the only times I do is when they are pure alchemists. As is with 100 in the skill even perkless potions can be quite potent.

I usually don't engage in alchemy for poisons like I did in Oblivion, but more so do so for resistant buffs and skill fortifiers. As a master crafter, being able to make potions of fortify enchantment and fortify smithing, you can make some seriously powerful weapons and armor when it's all stacked on top of each other.

Snowberries and blue butterfly wings are your friends.

I will say though (just thought of it) that it may be interesting to perk up enough to be able to get that perk that allows you to get more effects when you eat an ingredient. Maybe play some odd character who for whatever reason doesn't like eating normal food, whether full on crazy or just eccentric.

dude just do the first perk (20% stronger potions) and then the secound perk behind it (potions you mix that increase health and stamina are 25% stronger). no matter what character i play i ALWAYS have those 2 perks

Don't fight Draugr then.

Perked alchemy and alchemy gear can make for some crazy strong potions.

Fortify marksmen,one handed or two handed weapons work quite well against Draugr.
Alchemy isn't only poisons with potions like invisibility,resist frost,fire and shock,fortify any skill.
I have found alchemy to be very worthwhile to invest perks in.
Lingering damage health works great against dragons too.

I dislike it aswell, cuz consumable type of gameplay isnt fun for me either, I dislike interrupting a fluid fight, by having to go into the menu to select potions or posions and stuff, so much so that my sniper (the only char I played with alchemy) offten had 5-6 bows just so I could hotbind poisons to multiple bows and shoot them as needed.
like you said there are quite a few poison immune npcs aswell, but I didnt find that a biggy, there are plenty more uses for alchemy, you get many effect pots that you usually only use as a caster for example
you can make some pretty insane poisons later on, but that also is a con for me, I dislike the kind of skills useless during majority of the game, and very imba at the end, kind of skills aswell.
oh and lets not forget the fact that investing so many perks and skill ups on a skill that you maybe use during 10% of your fighting, if that much.

So I could perk up alchemy and not bother with perking smithing?

I have never crafted dragonbone weapons. If I do that, I will never get them, or the armor, will I?

I almost never use poisons. Generally, I carry 6 paralyze poisons to deal with big swarms, like Dustman's Cairn and the Silver Hand. Or when I try to get into Halted Stream Camp at a low level. Other than that I find I never remember to use them so why bother.

Nevetheless, alchemy is the route to making an OP character. With all five power perks plus benefactor (which is what I take), and wearing alchemy enchanted clothing I can make a fortify smithing potion that increases smithing 120%. This is without using any fortify enchanting potions.

I can also make a potion the regenerates health 150% faster. Combine that with some regenerate health armor and you can survive ebony archer Deathlords rag-dolling you all over the place.

Invisibility potions also can come in handy for certain quests.

At low levels, even the wimpy health potions you can make can be a life saver since their never seems to be enough minor health potions. (note I play at master level, so I take a lot of damage.)

Alchemy is also a good way to make money.

If all you are thinking about is poisons, then yes, alchemy is pretty limited. But for other purposes alchemy is second only to enchanting for buffing up your combat abilities.

That's why you need to organize a set of 4-6 potions when you go out, so you don't feel the need to carry a bunch, and plan what you're doing.

I never have more then restore health, a couple restore stamina, a resist of each type, and a fortify one-handed/light armor.

The real trick with alchemy is to find the right 3 ingrediants to put two mutually beneficial affects in a potion, such as resist fire/cold, restore health/stamina, fortify light armor/sneak, etc. there's a few combinations out there, just need to learn which ingrediants overlap each other.

Also, keeping the most important ones to a bind to easily hit (like restore health) is an easy way to not interrupt a fight and you should just take your buffs before you enter a battle if you can.