Im just looking forward to more perks, because they said they are releasing DLC for skyrim like fallout, which means bigger DLC's, and more perks, and hopefully, more levels?

IIRC you can't hit those numbers unless you exploit what looks like "game bugs" instead of "intended features" ...

Thats what I mean, they should address those EXPLOITS, cuz thats what they are, but people who work hard for their normal alchemy levels, should not be punished.

But if for the sake of argument if I want to use the mechanic to make uber gear so I can flatten everything with one swing, why would you want to take that away? How does my game play impact you?

Having the option in the first place, is an error on Bethesda's part. If you never had the option, there would never be anything to "take away" from you. If people want to cheat and be god, there is always TGM, and very easy difficulty.

The exploits should be fixed, but without the exploits you can still make a really powerful character, its a single player game, and if you dont want a powerful character, dont make one, no one is holding a gun to your head.

False, choices(character building choices related to combat specifically) become meaningless without balance. Choices don't feel like they matter when combat is so imbalanced certain choices are practically not even a choice because they trivialize the game.

Being powerful is an inevitability in an RPG, however the degree of which, is entirely dependent on how well it is balanced.

As we discuss balance and choice we seem to discuss ideologies, which don't always grant the best solutions if any. In regards to which has priority I'd ask if anyone felt any sense of 'Friction' in the choices they made as their character developed. I think that has direct relevance to the debate. I didn't. All i did was pump points into 2 levels of 20% damage increase, eagles eye, 1 level of steady shot, power shot and 2 levels of critical. That's what i stayed at for most of my play through for archery as I dumped points into Smithing and Enchanting. 2 points in restoration. Everything else seemed arbitrary.

The point being that at no time did i have any hard choices to make in how to proceed. The archer had just one path, and the line between was was essential and what was superfluous was as clear as day. Sure graphically it was split in the constellation but beyond that, nada. It seems like in almost every other RPG-esque game I've played that there is some level of friction in choices, but in Skyrim there really isn't any (imo). I would offer this as specific non-ideological perspective that the lack of thoughtful decisions unveil an absent essential in RPG Architecture. Thus, imbalanced.

Archery enchanting and smithing sets up for a ridiculous damage character. What did you expect taking 3 skills that only pump damage? Why post this. "I made an OP bow, and now the game is too easy" ok.

You can make weapons that do over a million damage in this game, obviously there isn't a game mode to accommodate that

Isnt easy hard enough for a wood elf?
no sorry x) just joking,had to say that..

But I hadn't glitched or manipulated the game, its how it comes boxed. The quarky thing about it is though in a sense your right. It wouldn't of mattered if I had glitched the game to make an OP bow or played the game fairly... I find myself at the same deflated value of Skyrim. But as others have said, we'll see what comes out with the DLC.

try enjoying it, you have an awesome character. Maybe change the difficulty if theres a higher setting available, also what levels your bosmer? cause im playing as a wood elf scout as well strictly using archery, alchemy and light armor i just hit level 13 and combat is more than challenging for me so im often forced to hire a companion for extra muscle. My only reccomendation would be to up the difficulty.

Bethesda games have never been known for their balance.

Im playing as a Wood Elf for the first time using Archery, Sneak, Light armor, one handed and block and the warrior stone. I think this is the most fun ive had playing this game. Compared to my previous Nord, this wood elf is destroying everyone...almost as if its a gag by developers. With a low one handed skill and low light armor im wasting enemies in melee easily as well as picking them off when i want. What it comes down to is sneak. Once you get a couple surprise shots in the rest is easy

Pfft you would have known that maxing Smithing and Enchanting would give you more than an 'edge' for starters, to max Smithing you have to sit there and create things like daggers over and over and over again, there is no way playing normally, that you can max Smithing or Enchanting I tried it it is impossible!

My MC is a Wood Elf Ranger and even at level 43 I still get killed by some mobs on Master, namely Frost Dragons (Still nasty), even Bandit Marauders and some other high level Magic Users kill me still and my Archery is Maxed, the difference is I didn't go and create a zillion daggers for Smithing OR go and create 10000 rings to get my Enchanting up to 100 either!

If you choose to do this I am sorry you have no recourse in coming to complain your charachter is too powerful, don't complain, you have gone out of your way, changed the way you play just to make your charachter over-powered!

I also put alot of points into one handed, light armor, lock-picking and even blocking, this has made a well-rounded charachter that is adept in everything I need him to be but not over-powered!

There will always be a way to exploit a single player game.

But when those "exploits" take the form of "pick up a bow and learn how to shoot it" or "increase smithing skill", the game is at fault.

Play organically. Bethesda games have always been exploitable if you try to min-max or power-level certain skills. The next Bethesda game will be like this too, so now you know. My advice is to create a new character; pick an archetype; create a backstory; and play the game like that character. If you look at it from a roleplaying perspective, your wood-elf probably wouldn't sit at a forge creating daggers and leather bracers to enchant with petty soul gems.