I only perk one crafting skill per character and have yet to use all three with any character. My mage will dabble in enchanting and perk as he goes, but doesn't grind the skill. He'll make potions, but primarily for restore magicka and health needs - no perks. My crusader did a bit of smithing here and there (Char level 30 - smithing in the 60s) and perked up to Orcish so far. He's dabbled a bit in alchemy just to keep himself stocked on health and stamina potions. I'd never mix enchanting and smithing and perk them both. I like fitting in with the rest of the NPCs as much as possible.

Yep. I knew that. Your anti-magic dedication in another thread actually inspired me to create a new character to try it myself. Nigel Whitemane, nephew to Kodlak, who has never cast a single spell or enchanted/disenchanted a single object. He does mix potions, since he views alchemy as more akin to cooking than magic, and I am just too lazy to sit still after every battle, so I need some way to heal, since Restoration is just out, being magic and all. So far I have gotten up to level 15 or so, playing on expert as a 2H heavy armor wearing Nord. Its been fun. Haven't decided yet whether I am going to take it to the extreme of not recharging magic weapons with purchased or found soul gems yet. Haven't found any really great enchanted 2H weapons yet anyway and smithing is not high enough yet for arcane, so I am going with a good old fashioned but well smithed Skyforge Steel Battleaxe I bought from Eorland.

If it took 14-20 deaths wouldnt it be challenging enough? I want to feel powerful after a certain level and not die a bunch of times. If that takes 200 hours then ill consider it a good playthrough and either start a new character or wait for dlc

No leveling. Master difficulty.