I've played a pure mage and a heavy armor warrior to great effect, the first one using enchanting and the second smithing a lot. I started a khajiit rogue type person, and he's a ton of fun, but is absolutely useless in a fair fight. (Which is 90% of all outdoor fights or fights involving wild animals since it seems impossible to sneak up on a wolf or sabre cat). He's level 13 now, and I've done health and stamina almost equally, I think.

He's deadly when he can sneak, but any other time he seems to get owned pretty fast. I wanted to try playing him without using enchanting or smithing, and he also doesn't use magic. Is this even possible, or does every rogue also have to be a master smith or master of magic as well? My mage did just fine with only magic skills, and my warrior did just fine with only combat skills.

His sneak is at 60, and it seems like wild animals are impossible to sneak up on even in the dark. At night I can get slightly closer to wolves, cats etc. but they always see me instantly and then tear me apart.

Protip: Use a bow.

I do use a bow. I have a dwarven bow atm and its skills at 50 with several perks. Doesn't help. Because enemies outside close in too fast for it to fire more than 1 or 2 shots.