Closing in on 400 hours of Skyrim time and I have never played a character that wasn't primarily an archer. I think I've thought of every archer build imaginable, and played several of them. My latest one was designed to be the most challenging, but I can still play him in my sleep. I need a change!

Have any archerholics managed to play something completely different? I just can't think of anything I would enjoy playing if it's not archery. There is something very entertaining about predicting a long range shot on a moving target that you just can't replicate with other archetypes except maybe the mage (which I am not a big fan of). I like challenging, highly interactive characters, as opposed to mindless button mashing brutes.

A pure thief, as in no combat except maybe for animals.

I played archers as well, until I gave magic a try. I was really sceptical about playing a mage, but its heaps more fun than I expected. You can still 'snipe' at a fair distance, and its quite freeing not having to check bodies to recover your arrows. Before Skyrim, I always played a melee character in ES games, as the ranged characters always seemed the easiest to beat as opponents.

I love playing an archer. Hunt for animals, sneak shot a bandit. It's brilliant.

Do enemies with shields block your arrows with their shields?

To answer your question, if you can tear yourself away from the mentality that melee is for the less intelligent: go melee only or try magic only. I'm having a blast summoning Arniel's Shade and casting ligtning cloak on myself to take out groups of falmer skulkers and higher, all without a single melee move.

Edit:
One more thing. Set your fov to 50 or even 40. I know it sounds bad, but I play that way on purpose because it enhances the 'you are there' sense and adds challenge.

Embrace your illness. In Skyrim, just like the last two games, I end up playing as an uber archer even when I set out t be a mage or warrior. I'm reconciled to my fate. The only other combat I enjoy is sneaking around with a dagger.

I love killing Archers. It is such a rush to sprint up to them while they fumble about in a desperate attempt to fire an arrow before I land my kill shot.

Oh, your talking about being addicted to archery. Sorry, my bad.

try using stealth and daggers for a while. That should make you forget about archery in no time.

Otherwise you're just a natural born wood-elf. Nothing bad about that either

Hahaha ! I'll try to run if I see you. IF I see you.

I love archery too and always end up using it with characters. But like Aphaea I'm surprised to find out I like playing a mage character. It's been fun and challenging and not mindless button mashing. I find I use strategy, just like with archers, more with a mage, unlike melee characters that are a bit more blaze of glory. Plus with destruction and illusion spells you still get to aim at moving targets from afar

I've restricted myself on using only magic skills and perks and it's great. I didn't think I'd enjoy playing a mage, but it's been fun.

http://archeryaddictions.com/

If one is addicted to the bow, Khajiit suggest unhealthy doses of Skooma and Moonsugar.

xD

I'll admit, I love archery.. But having a back up is always necessary, at least with my sub-par skill level. Asgard, just go with it. I'll admit I've tried other builds, big two handers, sword and board... they're all fun, but everyone finds their preference.

my current build is a nightblade with archery as the main, then spells second. Double daggers for anything that gets past those two. Just loving it.

I have never built a successful archer build. Battlemage is my character class of choice.

depends. do you play sneak archer or just archer?

because i don't see the brain in playing sneak archer. just a weaker style for sneak thieves

I love playing as an archer, I tried playing as a mage once, it was fun until I did the Winterhold College quest. I'm just a Bosmer by heart.

I abandoned archery...kinda.

My character is pretty well rounded, but depended a lot on bows.

Since then, I've switched to a battle mage. I'll keep an enchanted ebony war axe and a couple daggers on hand. Now I predominantly rely on destruction magic.

However, bows are a tough habit to kick. When the need arises I'll fallback to a bound bow.

I'm addicted, it's the most satisfying way to kill things by far. It feels even better when I can watch my arrows travel in slow motion.

A sneaky sword + dagger build is the only one I can think of that on paper sounds like maybe I could enjoy it. If only sneak wasn't egregiously overpowered (abandoned my first character, a sneak archer, because of it).

Looks like I need to go back to the drawing board and come up with yet another archer build. Hope some DLC adds skills which pair nicely with archery so I have more fun builds to play.

This exactly. I ought to have something ranged in my arsenal; I'm also playing a textbook Nord barbarian who's with the Stormcloaks with his two-handed axe, and I feel screwed against many archers. :/

My first character was an archer. However, i'm now in love with my duel-weilding/enchanter/Ilusionest. His gameplay is a lot more involved than a mindless button smasher. I have invested 70% of attribute points into stanima and 30% into magika. I haven't really been using my illusion skills yet. Anyway, i also play on master diff so A LOT of things in the world can simply one shot me. So i have to approach each situation differently. I have to rely on my follower to tank so i can get in deal some damaged and get out before i get hit or else i'm dead.

When i have to deal with a large mob i have to set my follower in the "wait" position at a good ambush point where we have tactical advantage on the battle field. I'll sneak in, shot an arrow, and pull them into my ambush point. I also need to enchant varies types of weapons/armor for me and my follower to survie different types of enemey encounters. My current character does not exploit the economy so all he can afford is to buy a grand soul gem about every 5 hours of game time. He has to rely on looting to get upgraded weapons/armor. Which makes looting fun. And the money sink in recharging my magical equipment is dauting.

I used to play the sneak archer type and i had fun with it for 120 hours. However, i'm having much more fun with this guy cause its way more thinking and stragy involved. Thus, dont count out melee combat as mere "mindless button mashing" you just haven't learned how to play it yet effectively. Although, i can see how you can get that immpression since its easy to fall into the sink of "run up hit enemy, they die, rinse and repeat." However, if you spend some time like i have youll be shock at the melee possibilities. If i run up to 80% of the enemies and start button smashing i'm dead in about 5 secs. Most people can't hadle that feeling of weakness, but i like figuring out ways to overcome it and it is great fun indeed.

Cheers

Out of interest, what was this highly challenging archery build of yours? And would you be kind enough to share some of the other character types you've used with archery? I'm beginning to run out of inspiration for my own characters, and I've always found archery isn't very difficult or challenging (and therefore not very satisfying) as soon as you get the slow time perk.

EDIT: Also, what race is best for archery?

My favorite is the ShadowMage, strike close and silently, turn enemies against each other, then clean up the mess with your blade and destruction. I'll summon in tough fights as well as calm my opponents to reboot my magicka. Great fun.

Sorry for DP but bosmer is. I would choose dunmer and mix in some magic, but bosmer is the most naturally gifted archer right outta the gates.