So, I recently purchased the game and already I just planned six characters. Feel free to provide personal input on the various builds. One note: all of them use the base perks for Smithing (Heavy Armor line for armor or weapons), Enchanting, and Alchemy. I do make some recommendations for those interested in these as I tested them via console for my own amusemant. I avoided the “exploit” like the plague. Robs the fun out of the game, personally. Also, I play only on Master difficulty mainly for a challenge.

This is assuming you go for the Lord Stone and the Agent of Mara enhancements early on. Enchantment choices for armor are a weapon type (I just use one), elemental resists, and magic resist. Weapons enchanted with Absorb Health, Absorb Stamina, and Soul Trap are wonderful and I see little reason for others. The crafting skills are optional but included in the build. If you don't like having more than one or two, I recommend subbing them for a different weapon skill or perhaps more perks for magic.

These are the characters I am doing a legit play-through with each, though right now I am focused on my Dunmer Assassin and High Elf Mage.

Assassin

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000011111111111110000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000005000111001000101111000000000000000000000000005000000300511112311510001000511101511111111

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=0000000000000000001111111101111121111000001111000000000000000000000000000000000000500011100100010111100000000000000000000000000000000000051110231151000100051110151111111

I admit that Wood Elf or Khajit are perhaps the best suited for the role with their starting skills, especially Wood Elf for the bonus to Archery, though Khajit makes things fun with their high Sneak and Unarmed. I personally went with Dunmer, though, purely for looks. Not much to say: level Archery and Sneak and get their perks first for survivability and offense. Then start getting Light Armor, your choice of crafting skill (I’d go with Alchemy for utility), and One-Handed for the Assassin’s Blade perk or forget about One-Handed and go with Conjuration. If you go with the Conjuration build, Breton is a fine choice. Then again, Breton kind of goes with everything with their Magic Resistance so yeah. If you go the One-Handed Build, I’d go with the Magicka/Health/Stamina spread of 20/60/20. If you go Conjuration, 30/50/20 is solid. Armor enchantments go to either a choice of weapon damage (do NOT pick both Bows and One-Handed unless you want to play the game on easy mode) and either elemental resists or Conjuration cost reduction. If you want One-Handed and Conjuration, sacrifice one or two crafting skills or Light Armor. Personally, I don't recommend either.

Mage

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000011111111111111111110000011111210000111101111100000021110101011135000111001000001111511111100000000000000000000000000000000000000510001

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000011111111111111211111111111111000021111101111111111121111131111135000111000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000510001

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000010000000001111111110000011111210000111101111100000000110101011005000111001000001111511111100000000000000000000000000000511112311510001

I do personally recommend the Improved Destruction Magic mod for this build, but it is fine as it is. The thing is, it is not a “pure” mage build: I advise either Light Armor for the end-game or Heavy Armor for more immediate benefits throughout the main game. Breton or High Elf are fine. Can’t recommend one over the other, though Breton does provide more long term benefits with the Magic Resistance. Pick the two schools you’ll be focusing on early on in the game. Focus on Destruction and Conjuration early on and focus either on Restoration or Heavy Armor as a third skill. If you choose Heavy Armor, start leveling Alchemy sooner rather than later. Forget Stamina, focus on Health/ Magicka. Recommend either 60/40 spread or 70/30 spread since you are going to want 100% reduced casting cost for whatever school you want. Armor enchantments go towards either elemental resistances, magic resistance, or casting cost reduction. Your choice. You’re not going to be a damage dealer, but you’ll cause a lot of mayhem and that, forum goers, is fun. (If you must use exploits, the exploit for mages with archery using Magic Weakness poisons is the only one I can recommend. Do keep in mind to get the perks, I had to gut Restoration and Illusion. If you choose a single crafting skill, add more Illusion perks.)

EDIT: Added a Pure Mage build, one that does not utilize armor.

Weapon Master

? http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001110000002010000000000500011100100010111100000000000000000000000000501111032151111231151000100051111151111111

Dual-wielding weapon master. Light Armor over Heavy for the Stamina Regeneration and mobility since you’ll be using Stamina a lot. Restoration is handy. Leftover perks went into Sneak just in case you want that 6x damage multiplier. One-Handed and Light Armor primarily, though Smithing early on will help you out immensely. Not much more to say other than make sure you don’t go “Leeroy Jenkins” into a field of archers believing you’re some sort of demigod. Use a bow. Skip Magicka. Focus on Health/Stamina either equally or in a 60/40 ratio. Smithing is the way to go. Highly recommend Redguard, Imperial, or Orc. Orc gets my highest recommendation with Redguard a somewhat distant second. Armor enchantments go towards one-handed weapons and your choice of elemental resists, and magic resists, if you haven’t reached the cap yet.

Two-Handed Warrior

? http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000111000000000000000000050001110010000011115111111110000011050111113000000000005111123115100010000000000000000000000000000000000000511111111

Nothing scares the daylights out of people like a bloocrazed Orc wielding a massive warhammer or a taciturn Nord wielding a powerful greatsword. Bretons also work, though not as fitting. Level Two-Handed and Heavy Armor early on as major skills and Block and Smithing as minors. Recommend getting the Steel Smithing perk on the second level and Dwarven around eight to ten. Health/Stamina by the ratio of 70/30 because it isn’t as Stamina reliant as the Weapon Master. Two-Handed enchantments, elemental and magic resists are your friend.

EDIT: Revised the build to get rid of Block and a few Speech perks for Archery. Ranged damage output is always lovely.

Battle Mage

? http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000000000000000001000000010000000000000000000011101111121010101111135000111001000001111511111115111111110000000005011110300000000000510001

Primarily a defensive Battle Mage character. Absorbs damage like a pro and can heal himself/herself of what little he/she takes. Only has much of the Restoration perks because I didn’t have many leftover perks. Just get the Mystic Binding perk early on and focus on One-Handed, Block, and Heavy Armor. You want Smithing for damage reduction and dealing damage, though some levels in Enchanting help. Bretons or Orcs are wonderful here. Then again, any melee build suits Orcs wonderfully. You’re going to want defensive enchantments, so elemental and magic resistance are wonderful. If you pick a Breton, you can fit more for One-Handed.

Some other builds I may try:

Khajit Pugilist
Pure Archer

Anything else you guys can recommend?

EDIT: Added Pure Mage Build and edited Mage Build.

EDIT 2: Edited Two-Handed Warrior Build.

Pretty creative concepts, very well done. I would recommend Imperial over anything else for an assassin character though. I would build my assassin much more differently personally, but the fact this game has so many options is what makes it great .

Don't think they are very creative. Which builds you referring to? Though I am curious: how do you build your assassin?

I would go something along these lines : http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001111010000000000000000000000000000005011110021000000000111111111511111511111111

I agree about not exploiting crafting skills too much. If I had to pick between alchemy or smithing I would go with alchemy...it just seems to fit an assassin so well. Smithing is really just for creating glass armor and weapons. I just dig the way glass looks, and upgraded it isn't THAT much worse than daedric. If you are patient enough to wait to find glass, don't bother picking up smithing.

Oh and this is for dual wielding daggers. Bow perks aren't needed with how strong your poisons can be.

I run the Weapon Master build with Orc, but with Heavy Armor for the protection, works out great so far!

This is awesome. Lots of good ideas

Is it possible to be effective on Master without Smithing? (when going for melee/archer, taklking about assassin build here)

Or you're constantly "high" on potions?

Im stunned you neglect alteration and constantly recommend [censored] like Smithing instead for mage builds. lol

Depends whether you go with armor or not. I like having all the crafting skills for my characters late in the game. Key words: late in the game. Paralyze, Ebonyskin, Transmute are awesome, but I can't really recommend Dragonskin and Mass Paralysis due to long cast times and requiring two hands. The "Pure Mage guide" here on the forums is wonderful. I do plan on revising some of this and I'd love input. I love building characters.

Also, I do want to revise some of the descriptions as I test them some more.

EDIT: If you decide not to use armor or weapons, one can forgo Smithing entirely and put the perks towards something else. You definitely want Enchanting though. It'll be your friend.

It helps to improve your weapons and armor. You can be effective without Smithing, though, but it helps a lot.

Really depends on your play style IMO. You need some form of support on Master, be that potions armor enhancements weapon enhancements summons or all of the above (though it may be better if u pick one or two that are most helpful)

I really like your builds but I do have one suggestion (edit) you should make. For a Two-Handed/Heavy Armor warrior build there is no point in skilling up block. Blocking with a two-handed weapon does not block enough damage to do you any good, and frankly I had enough trouble getting heavy armor skillups because stuff died too fast

Sure, I'll take care of it. What do you recommend those perks go towards?

I would think deadly bash would be pretty awesome for a 2h build, but thats about as high as you'd need to go.

Did some revisions. Also, please recommend me some builds!