Sure, but you don't need the better versions if you don't level, because your enemies don't level either. It's actually a decent role playing strategy, because you can take a character who basically knows nothing (all used skills start at novice) and is eventually the strongest fighter in a world that doesn't change.

Yeah, we're off topic, but we could make archery one of those minor skills, and train it up.

Well, there's wanting the high-end equipment to use, and there's wanting it because you're a collector. If you want to be able to say that you've collected all the best goodies, you need to be level 25 to get the best Escutcheon of Chorrol and 30 to get the top Spelldrinker Amulet, and I've probably missed a few more.

You can say the same for the enemies. You haven't lived until you've fought a Lich or a Xivilai. I target my player characters to cap in the high 20's after these appear.

Well, there's wanting the high-end equipment to use, and there's wanting it because you're a collector. If you want to be able to say that you've collected all the best goodies, you need to be level 25 to get the best Escutcheon of Chorrol and 30 to get the top Spelldrinker Amulet, and I've probably missed a few more.

You can say the same for the enemies. You haven't lived until you've fought a Lich or a Xivilai. I target my player characters to cap in the high 20's after these appear.

And the Archers have fun trying to find an Elven bow for Alawen. I've got into the habit of stashing one away in a player-owned house when I get one, just in case I need it later, as they get displaced by "better" ones just when you want one!

Edit - that edit just got added as a new post - wassup?

Sure, no argument. I'm just saying it's one strategy. There's something a bit "off" about the entire world changing, with all new armor, weapons, and creatures, just because my character got better at jumping around and killing things. Minimal leveling is one way of avoiding that, as is capping the level at whatever is one's "favorite" level.

Nothing says you can't do both (with different characters, of course.) I've had high-level characters, too, although I don't usually take my characters much above the low 20s any more, as I'm more interested in role playing different "stories" than I am in "finishing" the game. I rarely bother with any part of the Main Quest any more, unless my character needs sigil stones, and then I only take it far enough to get the random gates opening.

Good point about stashing the elven bow. (Gotta keep this on topic! )