What is a good challenging but fun build that isn't overpowered?

I was thinking about Illusion for flavour, make my enemy run in fear or fight each other as I aim with my Bound Bow at the one who is winning?
So:

• Illusion (Fear\Fury\Charm)
  
• Conjuration (Bound Bow\Bound Sword)
  
• Alteration (for Paralyze\Detect Life\Undead) to become a real hunter.
  
• Archery (to increase damage with Bound Bow)
  
• One-Handed (to increase damage with Bound Sword)

Only wear cloth, no healing spells or no healing potions. Would that work out?
What do you think is a good challenging but fun build that isn't overpowered?

Everthing that's not sneaking or conjure dremora lords (especially dual).

Overpowered is whatever you think is overpowered. My mage has -100% destruction cost, but he can be one shotted by anything that gets close to him. In my mind this is balanced. If you think you're build is overpowered, tweak. Whether its overpowered or not is your judgement though.

I find mace builds underplayed. maybe a alchemist monk style, with some mace action. reinforced with non dps magic? dont buy any ingredients!

I would say dump illusion but if not this build sounds fun. Good luck with it. Let us know how it works out.

When you pair Illusion and Conjuration. that alone is cause enough to never take damage. Probably THE most powerful two schools in the game.

If you want challenge. Level without perks....

and fight naked with your fists.

Is it possible to get 100% in pickpocketing on some items? I don't ever want to be caught, really.

Bit off topic, just curious..

I think 90% is the limit.

It's possible to make anything not overpowered. For example, my Dunmer assassin ALWAYS does high profile kills so I can only do one, maybe two sneak attacks before the rest of the camp/dungeon comes at me. On the plus side, I can always kill my target but on the negative, everyone attacks me. Basically an Assassin's Creed style play.

As for Mages, don't level your stamina and only level your health if your magicka is already ridiculously high. That way, if a bandit manages to pass your magical kill zone, you'll die in two hits and won't be able to sprint away.

pure mage....no armor or physical weapons, only magic, bound weapons and staffs. Its the most challenging build yet for me and a mage never really gets powered, unlike a perked up heavy armor warrior who becomes a tank in the end

I'm trying to figure out if I want to use Bound Bow or Destruction spells with Illusion (Charm, Fear, Fury) to kill my enemies.
So hard choice!

Edit: I kinda wanna be like this Stealth Mage somehow? Not sure how. I want to be a loner, no help from anyone and I will only wear cloth and put all my points into Magicka.

Captain Haafingar!

Block
Enchanting (To get Alteration cost down to zero)
Armor of your choice
Alteration (For Telekinesis)
Anything else you want really besides One-Handed, Two-Handed, and Archery.

Use a shield to block your opponents attacks, or throw your shield with Telekinesis.

When you march into battle be sure to sing:

When Captain Haafingar throws his might shield
All those who chose to oppose his shield must yield
If he's led to the Dov and duel is due
Then the Fus and the Ro and the Dah'll shine through
When Captain Haafingar throws his mighty shield!

Stealth mage is not only possible but necessary at higher levels. Theres stealthy spells like muffle, invisibilty and telekenesis to steal items but remember to get that illusion perk,that makes spells silent or else you will be heard when casting
If you're going stealth then definitely use the bound bow

It looks much cooler when you see those fireballs fly thru the sky, hitting the dragon compare to a arrow.