It seems none of the reviews are talking much about it and i was hoping to make my first guy a stealthy nord who flings arrows from the shadows. Im hoping this is viable as i love bows. Anyone hear anything one way or the other on how bows are balanced and feel?

It is viable, so long as you're willing to occasionally do something else. Trying to do only one tactic to the exclusion of all others was often a source of death in previous games.

It is very viable, even better when you combine it with stealth and alchemys poisons.

I have not heard anything about how the archery actually plays out.

But with perks that zoom in and slow down time and would think it would think it would be a very viable way to play.

there was some talk about bows and arrows in one review, where they felt very powerful especially combined with stealth, so should be very viable.

Thats good to know, obviously if you get cornered you might have to fall back or pull out a sword but i think its a neat way to play and i would much rather theme my character per say then be a jack of all trade type guy so i can enjoy the other styles of combat more on different playthroughs.

Well I hope so -- Sneaky Mage with Bow is my usual playstyle. But as already noted, be prepared to use some other tools, too. I would recommend working on Conjuration to go with Archery -- helps to have something distracting your target.

Worked like a charm in Oblivion, I used Bow and mostly killed all enemies in one shot thanks to that x3 damage while crouching thing, lol. If they'd come to close just whack'em with your one-hand weapon. So I don't think you have anything to worry about.

According to Todd Howard, the bow does a lot more damage in Skyrim. The more powerful bows take longer to draw back, but deal massive damage

I plan on playing a bow character but not to the exclusion of all else. I am gonna have dual wield daggers for when enemies get close.

It works well with bow for me

Well, the game is supposed to be played how you want to play, so you can play any way you want

Archery is the best way to go in this game. The bows are very powerful!

If use poison and stick to the shadows, then yes, but always keep a sword or a dagger at your side just in case things get up close and personal.

-Mr. Maric

Of course it is.

Hmmm well i would say yes and no.

Yes if u invest your time with alchemy and getting sneak attacks..

No if u don't use alchemy and don't use sneak attacks...

I safe way would be to have a just in case secondary such as a dagger, sword, magic, or conjuration summon spell.

It's possible to play a straight archer i guess but it would be wise to have a secondary skill such as anyone listed above.

Alchemy helps alot and perhaps having a enchanted skill to make a enchanted bow would be pretty good as well.

End then in it's all up to you.

I'm personally gonna have a bosmer achery+10 right from the start of the game..

I will then use that job stone todd showed us and pick mage so that will increase 20%faster.

Then i will work on alchemy and always sharpen my bow in town so i will always shoot for max damage wit my sneak attack.

If they survive i'll clean them up wit magic! :]

If i run out of magic my alchemy skill will ensure i have restore magic potions on me at all times

If all of those fail well gosh darnit im pulling out a dagger and cuttin sum!

Won't happen though because i will always be well prepared and since i won't be luggin around armor and heavy crap I'll just have my bow arrows and potions

I could use conjuration because it makes a archer job a whole lot easier but i just refuse to waste perks and time making something else awesome lol.

I will be the threat!!!

All play styles are viable as long as the game allows for them.

Why, do bows become disadvantaged at close range? It makes sense they would but they didnt in OB.

I would recommend Dual Wielding for archers.

After all, you want to kill the enemy as fast as possible to escape from any melee

From what I have heard bows are more powerful now, meaning you can often kill an enemy in 2 hits when it would have taken like 10 hits in Oblivion. So yes it is most likely a viable way to play.

I've always been a fan of marksman plus magic plus staff with enchantments. But I don't limit my characters ever to a stealth based approach. I go through spurts of using bound longswords and the occasional mace when I need a little ooomph in close quarters, or when I just want to kick ass. Limiting your character development is never good.