This may be a silly question but I've never yet tried a stealth/assassin character and I wonder how they work on dungeon crawls. Light Armor isn't great for diving into mobs of Dragur and surviving, but stealth and sneaking are so real-world-environmental-based I can't ever seem to get away with sneaking up on people. Bear in mind none of the characters I have TRIED sneaking with were actually perked for it, so I am sure that's part of the issue, but when stepping out of the shadows even a teeny bit gets the whole room on your butt, I dunno about trying it as a character built for Burst-Damage-Then-Flee.

I'm curious about trying a Sneak Lockpick Light Armor One-Handed build designed around infiltration and assassinating, but not if every dungeon crawl is going to be a pain in my ass. XD

Be vewy vewy quiet. Just observe where you're going and take notice of where enemies are. If you have to, distract someone with an arrow into a wall and let them walk right into the next one.

ohh you have to be carefull not to be seen and try to find any secret passage available to avoid enemies i did it at the quest with queen potema

I use aura whisper.

Perks in sneak and archery go a long way. Not to mention if you can master the Illusion skill tree, you can have the draugr fight each other, with rarely havign to lift a finger to join the fight.

With a mediocre sneak skill and a couple of perks, it's still very, very easy, generally speaking. There are some occasions when combat is near-enough scripted and unavoidable; you really do need to have a plan B.

When you have the perks invested in archery and sneak you can . Plus theres perks in sneak that dont set off traps and also muffle your movement. It all adds up.
My plan B is to have a good hard hitting two handed weapon as a backup in case you get yourself in a pinch.

Sneaking is much easier once you have access to muffle. That's one of my favorite enchantments. Also, make use of the shadows, as the dark will help you remain unseen. It's always fun watching enemies walk right past me, or look right at me without noticing that I'm there, then as soon as they walk away, they get an arrow in the back.

It isn't necessary to perk sneak just to remain undetected, though it couldn't hurt, especially if your character is being built as a stealth character. If you don't want the whole room on you, then don't pop out of the shadows where you can be seen. Wait for enemies to turn the other way or walk off. When attacking enemies, try to attack those who are by themself and not right next to another. When you do get a shot off, retreat back to your hiding spot unless you think you can finish them off before the target is within melee range.

As mentioned, consider using Illusion magic to compliment your sneaking. You can remain invisible, calm enemies, or have them fight each other. Keep in mind that although you may be invisible, you can still be heard, so you will need to be sneaking while invisible.

They go in like Sam Fisher with a Five-Seven and head shot everything from the safety of the shadows.

But seriously, aura whisper, detect life/dead, daggers, and bows are what a stealthy tomb raider would use. Armor is totally your own preference though, as when my character sneaks around he's virtually silent in his heavy armor. Think of him as a Spartan II with active camouflage.

Is this a good http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4088/5074493985_76c63b1e50.jpg?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lYBVi3ALWA

The butler answers your question

I loved Mr. Deeds!

If you go the Illusion route, quiet casting is your friend.

I suggest this build http://theskyrimblog.ning.com/group/character-building/forum/topics/character-build-the-nightingale-swordsman

I am playing it and having a blast, and I am capable of open combat as well as stealth kills. I find the muffle spell to be very useful, and when combined with the muffled movement perk I can sneak up behind bandits and power attack with a one handed sword with only 40 sneak skill, even when the bandit is in a lit area. Illusion is also great for thinning out the number of enemies by using frenzy. Frenzy is also good for hunting as deer, elk, foxes, and goats will all turn hostile and actually attack you instead of running away.

Also, light armor can provide quite a bit of protection. With light armor perks and smithing upgrades you can reach the armor cap of 567 armor as that brings you to the damage resistance cap of 80%. You have to be wearing a full armor suit (not counting a shield) in order for the cap to be 567. There is a hidden armor rating that gives an invisible +40 for wearing a chest piece, and 20 for boots, helmet, and gauntlets for a total of 100 hidden armor rating. Note that the hidden armor rating does not visibly add to the displayed armor rating but it is there.

Lightweight as posible. Plenty of good sneak

Enhancing drugs (alchemy), poison (alchemy)

Dagger & bow

Stealth is your armor. The idea is to never been seen and never take damage.

Starting out, you should work on getting your 1H skill up and ahead of all the others. Sneak everywhere but note that until you get your sneak skill up and your 1H, you will not be cutting any throats.

While the left side has an interesting perk at the top, I never forego anything but 1/5 and the right side. Given that and a sneak skill of 75 you will be all but invisible.

Then there's the Illusion tree, well part of it. You can get into the furry and fear stuff but be aware that going that route is an all or nothing event. You can just get to Expert for Invisibility and Quiet casting.

Alteration holds an interest for Detect Life but as already mentioned there is Aura Whisper, which works great.

Staying in the shadows should go without saying, but what if you are in a room of guys? Then it comes down to strategy. Getting the attention of one or two is to your advantage. Simply standing up and jumping will alert them to start looking. They will search for you and as long as you remain crouched, still and in the dark, with the right skill level, they will walk right on top of you and won't see you. Just be patient, until they give up, sheath their weapon and start to walk away.

THIS is when you strike like Grim Reaper of Black Smoke. Sneak up behind them, while they are away from the rest and take them out one at a time.

Once you get Invisibility, it becomes almost stupid. You can cast Invisibility, sneak up behind one in a crowd, cut his throat, cast Invisibility again and sneak back into the shadows. The others will be alerted but you will remain out of sight. Rinse and repeat until they are all gone.

Lure them out, then feed on them one by one..

Theres so many possible ways to go about sneaking.

ha seemed suitable as the OP is underestimating the sneakiness

Sounds measured and methodical. Might have to give it a try.

Some form of crowd-control would be a boon in these situations you describe. I find that when lightly armoured it is sufficient to outmanoeuvre an opponent, but that the problem comes with several enemies at once. Perhaps you can make and amass a supply of paralysis poison, or make use of the Serpent Stone. Another solution might be an investment in Ice Form thu'um, if you're are playing a Dovahkiin.

Obvious answer: They handle it stealthily, ofc.

Long-ish answer: They're perked up and kitted out. That and illusion is an assassin's creepy best friend (that stares at you all day).

Generally I kill everyone inside...stealthily...if I see it's a high level character that won't die with a few stealth shots I drop the bow, pull out an ax, and slap his/her (booty). I don't see why a stealthy person can't get a bit of barbarism on occasionally