So if I make the Dovahkiin character from the commercials with hide armor, iron helmet, gauntlets and boots and a banded iron shield, what can I do to get a good armor rating? Very low armor with no smithing perks and mixing heavy and light armor.

Also, do you think Dovahkiin would also use a bow?

Well when you're on higher levels you can always use Smithing Boost enchanted items and strong potions that also boost the Smithing ability. I use Penitus Oculatus armor that outmatch any non improved Heavy Armour.

Yep, fortify smithing with enchant and alchemy.

You could also put up to five perks into the +20% (bottom perk) in both heavy and light armor skill trees. None of the perks higher up in either tree will work unless you are wearing a full set of that type of armor but a character who wears a combination of heavy and light can double the AR with perks into the bottom of the tree for each skill.

Plus, Lord stone.

Of course. Remember when the media was interviewing Michael Jordan before a big NBA finals game with the Blazers. After acknowledging that Jordan was the undisputed champ in the paint, the media interviewer suggested that perhaps Blazer star Clyde (the Glide) Drexler might be better than Jordan at shooting three pointers. Jordan sort of laughed at that suggestion, saying the only reason you don't see him shooting three pointers was because he had no need for a ranged shot since he was so good at busting through the defense for a lay-in, but they should watch him in the next game prove he was the best at ranged shots as well.

He then went out and set a new NBA record for the most successful three point shots in an NBA finals game, hitting six three point shots (several of which were from well behind the line) in the first half of the game. Then, once he broke the record, he went back to his usual dazzling game of lay-ins.

Just because the Dovahkiin may prefer the up close and personal joy of melee doesn't mean he should not be capable of delivering deadly shots at range. Not sure I would bother spending a whole lot of perk points on archery though. That's up to you. But I would not think that a Dovahkiin would be incapable of picking up a bow.

I've played two characters who wore Hide Armor for an entire game. I have no idea what their AR was, as I never pay any attention to that. I'm sure they were nowhere near the cap though, as neither of them used a helmet or shield. One of them did Alchemy, the other didn't. Neither of them did any Enchanting. I did Smith both character's gear to improve it, though.

I play on Adept if that makes any difference.

If you are on pc you can use the console to adjust your smithing temporarily to allow smithing of the iron equipment to equal steel with the perk once you take said perk. I do that a lot when I RP a character who wants a certain look, but I don't want to penalize myself for a cosmetic decision. It isn't overbalance at all and I don't consider it cheating.

If not on pc than pretty much what everybody else said. As for bow I agree with Turija. I would only put perks into the first slot so you have more for your armor and block. Also, if you weren't aware the second and succeeding perks of Shieldwall actually grant a 10% block bonus instead of 5% like it says in game. It might be useful to take on addl perk on shieldwall when you can afford it.

And, like Pseron says you can pretty much get by without getting an outstanding AR anyway, and it can make the game more fun to have a low to average AR.

I think I will do enchanting on this character, so I guess with the smithing gear that should solve my problem. And I can probably find a smithing potion on top of that.

I like the Michael Jordan reference, by the way.