I like to try to keep my builds pretty tight, using no more than 5 skills preferably.

I'm planning on my Nord hero/Dragonborn who will go through the Companions, possibly the Civil War, and the Main Quest. The build looks like this:

One-handed (sword)
Two-handed (battleaxe/greatsword)
Block
Heavy Armor
Smithing

I know having 1 and 2-handed is perk-heavy and may be redundant, but I want this character to be a master at a few weapon styles, and I haven't made a sword & board character yet - but don't want to give up the Nord inherent +10 for 2-handed, not to mention the thematic coolness of following in Ysgramor's footsteps.

The plan is that he would make & improve what he wears & uses. He'd rely on sword & shield for fights against dragons, hard-hitting foes or enemies using ranged attacks. The battleaxe would be for quicker kills & especially the Sweep perk.

So, finally the question: This build obviously has no ranged capability. Do I need Archery? The only times I can think of where it would be strictly necessary would be in dragon fights (before they land) and against stubborn mages.

I do plan to start getting Shouts pretty early, but I know that's not really the same.

I can't imagine not having ANY ranged attack. Some of the shouts will bring a Dragon down to land, but a ranged attack would help. HOWEVER, you could use a staff if you got to where you really need ranged. That way you wouldn't really need to put perks into any other skills.

I would be doing a lot of this If I had no ranged attack.

Another possibility might carrying a staff (preferably lightning for the speed) just for the purpose of luring dragons down. I like Archery on my melees, especially against spellcasters, but it would be interesting to try without it.

Dragonrend is your friend.

Hey, that rhymed.

i wouldnt worry my main dude doesnt go for ranged attacks its not that needed dragons will just land after a few passes. Aim to have strong gear and plenty of magic resist. As a nord your character wont suffer from frost only fire attacks, so keep your potions list stocked with the odd fire resist and magic resist and you should be fine.

Unless they are one of those dragons that just feel like taking in the sights and disabling fast travel for you >_<, damned sight seers.

Spending perks on archery isn't required to use a bow. My warrior uses archery just to have a ranged option, but I don't rely on it as a primary damage source.

yeah there are those ones, but ive always been one not to bother what doesnt bother me, there are no shortage of dragon souls or materials.
Its completely viable to not have a ranged combat option, honestly i have a ton of builds most dont go the ranges rout, just get stuck in lol. companions can make use of bows and staff if you feel you need ranged help on the fly.

Disable random dragons via console to avoid frustration. Then it sounds viable

Its just me personally, if I dont have a bow...I feel naked....spears would've been nice too.

Get an archer follower.

I did it. It works well.

yeah i feel a little like that without a sheild to hide behind if all gos to hell, but really theres no must have perks or skills. One of my favourite builds doesnt even kill yet ive finished most of the main campaign and all the mages guild only useing the calm spells from the illusion skill.

I love the frenzy spell, it cracks me up.

yeah i dont use it on my pasifist because it still ends up with alot of indirect casulties but its and awesome skill with calm and fury, invisability and muffle. Perks like like silent casting are full of win too.

My current character doesn't have any ranged attacks. A few early dragons were annoying but I just kept blocking their attacks until they were willing to land. Once you have the dragonrend shout this problem was solved, although before then I picked up Mjoll and she was willing to switch to archery when a dragon started to pester us.

can be done i have done it in my first char, sword and shield onlly no magic no bows, just sowrd/shield and shouts you need to get shouts early game and go to the main quest first part the fastest the better

You don't need range attacks. My guy now uses destruction magic, but I'm only leveling it for the the spells useful to him in melee. I fight dragons all the time and never use ranged. If you want to have ranged get a follower like aela to use her bow.

I started out my Orc warrior trying only to use zombies, so I had no ranged attack. (Started on Expert)

As others said, dragons are a pain. This is because they tend to grab you in their jaws. It is not impossible, it is just a lot of effort. What will make it more difficult in your case is using only bought & found potions and food for healing. Generally I would run like a madman to find protection from their breath, preferably somewhere where the dragon would engage other enemies. Then rush out and go nuts on him, in my case using Beserker Rage and Elemental Fury.

Unless you are sick of archery from earlier builds, personally I would use it... It is probably the most fun skill in the game. With only five skills you will stop leveling quite early. I don't think it is anti-lore. You could also use a companion, though if non-essential you will probably go through a few of them letting them attack dragons while you cower under a bridge waiting for the thing to land (I haven't used companions much though so I don't really know).

I don't use ranged attacks. The Dragons land regularly. When they do, run around in circles hitting them and they die. If you're not pathetically weak you can usually hurt them enough the first time they land that they wont take off again.

How do you justify him/her not using a bow though? I like the idea of playing Nord Hero characters as well, and at least in my mind they have a diverse enough range of weapon experience that they'd at least bring the bow, even if it's seldom used.

if you keep them stunned with powerbashes, they will stay on the ground

Sorry to burst in on the thread like this, but please tell me how to do the reverse of what you suggest?
I have never had a random dragon encounter in this save, I think maybe I messed something up somewhere, or a mod broke it.
What's the command to do it?
Cheers

I ended up only catching dragons in towns with archers because my warrior had no ranged and no magic. The dragons will come down to the archers and you can kill them. They're just stubborn and you spend a lot of time chasing them up and down through townships until they do come down or you can shout them and get their attention.

I had to come to the personal conclusion that they would "fall to me, dragon" or that they would live and the mobs they were attacking outside of town would just have to deal with it. I'd finish my business and move on.

It's hard and still totally doable.

hint: