So I'm getting a bit bored being a Conjuration/Destruction mage as I can take down mostly anything in game with relative ease. So I'm going to start archery/sneak.

I have a couple questions. I'm currently level 35.

1. Will I have enough perks to be a really good archer/sneak at my level?
2. Is the bound bow worth using over another bow since I have 100 Conj?
3. What's the best bow to get if I don't have above 60 smithing, and where can I get it?
4. What's the best arrow to use that is also easy to find?
5. What kind of armor should I use?
6. What kind of factions/guilds should I look into? Thief, Brotherhood, etc.
7. What's the best Guardian Stone to use as an archer?
8. What are the best enchantments to put on a bow? (Nearly 100 Enchanting)

Feel free to add any miscellanious tips on being an archer. Thanks in advance.

Bump

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haven't gotten to that level yet but my archer does fine with the tree perks for bow damage, sneak damage and whatever bows i'm finding in dungeons. Nothing challenging thusfar, even the one room that has chain pulls of like 12 mobs.

Bump >.<

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Well, this is annoying. >.>

Bump.

Bump..

stop bumping every few hours and spend that time researching into archery and sneak

You'll probably not be as effective as an archer/sneaker who started from 1st level and focused on those things.

But don't forget that poisons can be applied to arrows, and some of the poisons you can make with alchemy are truly evil.

It's kind of annoying because I don't want to be a mage anymore, but I have 80 hours invested in the character. I really don't want to waste that. I'm debating it though.

Im using a ebony bow! fine bow! Though I upgraded it threw smithing to legendary! and added some enchantment to it! but at this moment its the best I used.

60 Blacksmith with Elven Smithing perk will let you make an Elven Bow and improve it to Flawless. You should then be able to enchant it as well as archery buff equipoment. You'll do good damage with it, especially with quality arrows. I can't help you with bound bow comparison.

I think the warrior stone will help archery go up faster.

If you want to be sneaky use light armor or the spells. As a former mage your armor skills are probably low. Heavy will slow you down, make noise, and take up weight.

I'm partial to fire bows and soul trap. I carry one of each. The soul trap bow makes it really easy and convenient to charge soul gems. No range restriction. If you kill the target you get the soul. If I get absorb health that I can put on a bow I will. Don't forget poisons; especially parayze + damage ones.

What difficulty are you playing on?

I'd say go with conjured bow, as upgraded bound weapons (through conjuration bound weapon perk) are equiv with daedric.


You can, if your not against it, use the console to redistribute your perks. The way i see it, if the game had been finished.. ahem better designed, you would of been able to re-perk via some sort of NPC + payment.


If you don't redistribute, your going to have a tough time against leaders and the more difficult encounters. Now im not saying hey.. use console to add skill levels + all the perks.

Just take a perk off from say destruction (starting from the last perk you invested and work your way down) and re-invest them into.. say archery.

Just make sure you have the required level for the new perk you want + you work up in chronological order + you don't re-assign more perks than your taking away.

Do this and it will hardly feel like cheating, but will still allow you to continue on with your beloved character.



ARCHERY TIPS

1) Use slow poisons, that have extra damage affect

2) Enchants are widely dependent on personal preference, at high levels the + elemental effects are weak sauce, so go for other effects such as soul trap.

3) light armor, due to the stamina regen bonus. If you need to use heavy because your taking too much damage, your playing it wrong/carelessly.

4) You can place some perk points into sneak for increased damage bonus for archery sneak attack, this is fairly useful

5) Use WW shout to get you away from the fight and get some distance between your enemy.



EDIT: i believe there is a create your own arrow mod available on skyrimnexus

1. Will I have enough perks to be a really good archer/sneak at my level?
The game gives you 80 perks, 49 at level 50 (Where it becomes much slower to level up), which is plenty to max out a few relevant trees to your skillset, and one or two "off-class". For example, I have an 81 thief who had a lot of points on Conjuration, just because that was her concept.
2. Is the bound bow worth using over another bow since I have 100 Conj?
I don't put much stock in Bound weaponry. Sure they may be weightless but they are also temporary and it's convenient to lose them midfight and recast them while the enemy bites your face.
3. What's the best bow to get if I don't have above 60 smithing, and where can I get it?
Whichever bow you can craft around your smithing level. Just remember to "sharpen" it.
4. What's the best arrow to use that is also easy to find?
None of them are very easy to find, and are pretty random. That said, I usually buy the best quality from smithing merchants.
5. What kind of armor should I use?
Light armor is ideal, but you could get away with heavy armor with some planning. Even more so if you don't bother to sneak.
6. What kind of factions/guilds should I look into? Thief, Brotherhood, etc.
Anything you want for the most part. Depends on your roleplaying concept.
7. What's the best Guardian Stone to use as an archer?
Combat stone, Archery is tied to the combat skills. But I'd go with the Lover stone, which helps -everything- level up 15% faster. Good for hybrids.
8. What are the best enchantments to put on a bow? (Nearly 100 Enchanting)
Some kind of elemental damage, I wager. Fire is the most versatile.

You hardly need any perks (or skill, really) to be a great stealthy archer, mine usually isn't even in armor. You can do it fine if you convert at 35. Until you get your smithing maxed, your bound bow will suffice just fine. All your other questions? Don't really worry about it, just wing it and shoot people.

If you find a mage boring, I doubt you'll find a stealthy archer a whole lot more satisfying. Aim, fire, kill. Aim, fire, kill. Repeat until dungeon is clear, or you get to a boss. Then you get something EXCITING. Aim, fire, aim, fire, aim, fire, kill.

I should also add, at 100 conjuration twin dremora lords will pretty much pwn everything you and your companion run into. So damage shouldnt be too much of an issue unto really high levels