You're surrounded by bandits, in a cave, while you're looking for a specific quest-related item. After you defeat/sneak past/other, you have to battle a boss. How would you proceed in this?

I'm doing a little survey, getting a gist of other types of characters and their tactics, etc. because some forms I just don't think are as convenient as others, mainly mages and archers in close combat.

Edit: I'm planning to create a new character, but to try out a different play style, and I can't quite come up with a decision.

Charge straight in with my two hander and hack him to death in seconds.

Conjure a Dremora Lord to fight, and then join in with him. If the boss is a little harder then usual, I will still summon a Dremora but stay back and attack the boss at long range with either bound bow or destruction magic. My character is a Battlemage.

Blast them with Frenzy, kite them all over to the boss, go invis and retreat to a safe distance then fill the room with flame walls and fire balls!

summon a frost attronach and use my bound bow to pepper him from behind cover

It depends. If I could get close enough to slip some posion into their pocket, I would do it. Or I might shoot and arrow through their neck, or sneak up and slit their throat. If there are some traps around I might even lure them over so they get caught up in their own trap.

I normally cast Mayhem to take care of a crowd, down a Magic Potion, and then summon two Dremora Lords. Then I watch. Very entertaining.

Stoneflesh and potions my friend, Stoneflesh and potions.

How tough is this boss?

Summon a flame Atronach, ready fireballs. Find cover as quickly as possible. Distance is the key as a mage! If I find myself cornered, I'll switch to a frenzy spell with healing in the offhand, forcing the bandits to fight each other while I'm healing again. Then just keep throwing fireballs!

Let's say about a Draugr Deathlord level?

Sneak as close as I felt comfortable (wearing Heavy Armor), take out my ranged weapon (preferably a crossbow with the appropriate bolts), chug a fortify marksman philter, land a sneak attack or three, and bust out a melee weapon. My weapon of choice would vary depending on whether the boss was a caster or melee: If melee, then equip a shield and one-hander to tank through the fight to the best of my abilities (putting me around 50 points shy of the armor cap). If a caster: A solid two-hander with some serious stopping power. My choice of shout would depend on how aggressive my opponent is : If he's defensive then a 3-word elemental fury with a two-hander would put the most hurt, if he's aggressive then I would likely save Become Ethereal for close moments. If there are adds, I would either use Ice Form or take out/ignore depending on their difficulty.

Sneak if possible toward the area with my bow out using the lowest damage causing arrows due to the bow being enchanted. If the boss sees me, I will be very conservative when I need to use potions. I'll try to stay far or at an arms length while firing arrows at it.

Lol, those are easy!

This. A frenzy potion or spell does wonders.

Id sneak shoot him with my crossbow, usually only takes a couple bolts. Or Fus Ro Dah him, then attack with my blade.

Cast Ebonyflesh, paralyze the Drauger Deathlord. Kill weaker Drauger in one hit. Hit Drauger Deathlord until he gets up. If he's up and not dead by now, use unrelenting force and knock him down again.

Oh right, the boss. Heal up after taking care of the bandits. Summon a Dremora Lord, equip fireballs. Dual-cast a fireball, continue doing so until Deathlord gets close. Run for dear life, healing if necessary, and re-summon dremora if needed. Find a safe spot, protect with Wall of Flamed, continue Fireballing. Laugh at dead Deathlord.

This. Or I might open up with a sneak bow shot, then proceed to decapitate them with my Elven Greatsword.

well id run and grab the quest item and turn around and kill everyone with a one hander and a spell in the other hand

leave because i cannot see the boss. what is it a flaming skeever a mammoth with gut cramps a giant with a wabbajack? seriously any discription will help.

I tend to go werewolf on humanoid bosses as I can toss em around a room and scare the minions away often. When not in were wolf form, i charge in and cast slow time and then go to work on whatever might be in my sight. I use slow time only because if I dont a dragon will one shot me at lvl 48 since all i wear is hide bracers (epic) hooded thalmor robes and wolf boots (legendary +2) Nothing can really stand against my dual wielding and with dragons I use spellbreaker because nothing chafes a dragons ass more than knowing his breath aint doin a lick o [censored] against your dwemer/daedric shield!

he said draugr deathlord.

Sneak + bow + poisons, preferably Slow poison if I have any. After that it's usually summon critter + bound sword(s) + poison. Even though Draugr seem to resist them, I use 'em anyway. I can always make more later.

Most of my characters do not use magic.