I want to keep it interesting to play. This is most important.

Turning the difficulty up doesn't make the game harder per se, it just lowers my damage and increases the damage I take.

So far I have tried 3 kinds of playstyles.

First, I was mostly stealth based, but I was generally a "jack of all trades" as I basically had no idea what I was doing. I played Oblivion on release, and all I remember from the game is getting lost in caves and being an orc.

But anyway, I basically one shot everything when hidden, and was completely ruined and useless if spotted. I felt the need to "specialise" in something. I didn't want to be so helpless, so started anew. Figured heavy armour, dual wield. This was dull. And endless spam of dual power attacks, and there was nothing more to it.

I started again. This time, light armour, 2 handed weapon. More interesting than dual wielding. I had to block, bash, the sweep perk was pretty fun, as were the cinematics. There were two problems with this. First, my graphics card is awful. My computer specs are adequate, but the graphics card, Radeon 4250.

My computer knowledge is poor, but with a bit of research, I've learnt that this card is a no go, and shouldn't even run the game. However, it does. It's "playable". When I say "playable", I mean playable. If it's snowing, I can count the frames. I peak at an estimated 20fps, so yes. Nowhere near ideal, but playable.

Anyway, first person melee combat is a no go for me. I like spacial awareness. If some guy's stood next to me, I have no idea where he's gone. In 3rd person, the low resolution basically made the vertical sensitivity go crazy. I'm either looking at the floor or the sky, rarely somewhere inbetween.

I accidentally deleted this warrior. (Don't ask. It was a jaw drop hand on head moment.)

I started a mage. Destruction and illusion. It is both painfully frustrating and mind numbingly easy. The mana efficiency is frustrating, and the ease and simplicity of gameplay is dull. I'm level 59, and I don't think I've taken any damage since level 20. I can stunlock infinitely. I have godlike crowd control (master illusion spells). Fun in theory, but it never really feels like I'm getting stuck in. It's a permanently defensive playstyle I've pigeonholed myself into.

If you bothered to read this far, I'd appreciate some help. I crave an aggressive and (if possible) complex playstyle.

Oh, and I hate having a follower. I had one for about half an hour, and concluded it gets in the way, gets angry at me for hurting it, and just generally simplifies the game. I am but a spectator.

Thanks in advance, forum dwellers.

Play as a support-char. Conjuration, restoration, destruction, illusion, light armour and onehanded. Limit your health to 150, to make sure you stay true to your char.
Use a follower which you buff and heal. its very fun

He said he hates A.I followers, illusion and defensive playstyles and thats what you give him? The literal most defensive, A.I dependant build ever? I don't understand your logic. (No offense to you, I personally love builds like that and find them quite fun.)

If you literally can't do melee combat, (was going to recommend sword+sheild, play as defensive or aggresive as you want) and don't want followers or to use agressive magic, the only thing I can recommend is a heavy archer; Alchemy, archery, one handed, heavy armour, no sneak and possibly some speechcraft or smithing.

You can go light armour if you want, I just went heavy when I played like this.

Ooops, totally missed that. Sorry!

try a non-sneak archer

Ok. I'll give a clumsy archer a go when I next have some free time. Ta for the help.

Try a weapons master class. Heavy armor, block,1h, 2h and archery skip magic and switch between the weapons as you like. Should give varied gameplay and keep you intrested and bashing ppl with your shield is fun. can always put some points in magic if you like but 3 kinds of weapons and shouts should keep you busy

I read a thread a few days ago from a player who uses an interesting play style, and I'm thinking of starting a character like that.

You don't level your character up - ever. What I mean by that is, you know when you level up you click on that button, select where to put your points (health, magicka, or stamina) - you don't use that. That also means you don't get to use perk points.

Your character still "levels up," but as long as you don't use the points/perks, you'll be level one forever. He's been playing like that for months.

If that isn't hard enough, limit yourself to leather armor, nothing higher. If you combine that, with the "no level up" style of play, I bet it's not easy.

Rather than trying a non-sneak character, try using a harder sneak mod. The one I have from Steam works wonders, overriding anyhting with established LOS. The only way to dissappear out of someones view is to get directly behind them and stay ~very~ still. Or, yeah just don't sneak.

Another way is to not pick skill percs, not use enchanted armour, this can make the game a real challenge.

I personally favour the Illusion school over any other, it is powerful, but not so powerful that a Giant or Mammoth can't give you a hard time. I like to watch what were once allies tear each other from limb to limb whilst I sit amongst them invisible.

Shield and sword, rush in with the shield up high and bash anything in your way! After that stand tall with one foot on the pile of corpses you just made