I think I mage character in Skyrim is more than viable. It is an extremely powerful character.

As far as being an archer in Oblivion, Bows and arrows do more base damage than any other weapon in the game.

I agree that you can use a bow as a main weapon. It 's just that you get modifiers to your damage based on your sneak. And they can be monstrous:

One Bow shot can be calculated with:

Bow Damage
Arrow Damage
Enchantment Damage
Poison Damage if applicable

Now multiply that times 6 if you are successfully sneaking. Ouch. If you are a master marksman, figure in the expert knockdown effect and/or the paralysis effect at master level. Serious ouch.

I've certainly run around without sneaking while using the bow. Conjuration was a huge help with this playstyle. Hard to be an archer when you have three enemies in your face. A buddy is a good distraction.

So if I made a custom class with say:
Marksmanship
Light Armor
Illusion/Conjuration
Alchemy
Sneak
and maybe Acrobatics?

I would do just fine?

The maximum sneak multiplier for bows is 3 (6 for one handed melee). I'm not considering the 'change to a melee weapon while the arrow is in flight' glitch to force the melee multiplier from a bow.

Only the base damage of the bow and arrow are multiplied; damage from poison and enchantments are not.

That all said, sneak attacks from a bow can still be very deadly while allowing the safety of range and possibility of remaining hidden to repeat the feat more than once vs the same foe.

Luvs bows in Oblivion!

Yep. It's all down to how you want to play, really. If you plan on summoning to draw off enemy attention, conjuration is a good choice. Otherwise, mysticism might be a good substitute as life detect comes in really handy when you're sneaking about. I personally find alchemy levels too fast even as a minor skill, so (without mods) I never choose it as a major skill, but that's up to you, really. (Alchemy and conjuration are the 2 fastest levelling skills on a per use basis, btw). If it were me, I'd take Restoration, as that always comes in handy, no matter what your build. But again, that's really your choice.

Thank you very much. Finally, what race and birthsign would you pick for a sneak type? Thief?

Edit: For race I picked Breton bc i've always liked them. That shouldn't matter, should it?

Bretons are fine for any build, really. It's been too long since I've played with vanilla birthsigns to really remember that part well. I think thief was always good, unless I wanted a magicka-bonus.

I've picked:
Alchemy
Athletics
Illusion
Light Armor
Marksman
Sneak

What should my 7th be? Blade?

That would be a good choice. You need some kind of skill to deal with close combat, and Blade will do nicely.

Thank you very very much. Sorry there's been so many questions, but i'm like a perfectionist. Lol

Unlike IRL, you can still shoot a bow just fine in close in fighting. Many of my archer characters have. You can even use a bow underwater, so long as you are also shooting at point blank range (i.e. close enough for a touch spell to work).

That's interesting to know. I never tried it.

Heh, you can even enchant a bow with absorb health. And it works as long as you shoot from melee/touch range (no kidding).

That I knew! I learned it with one of my first characters, and was frustrated by the fact that it only works if you're close enough for that orange energy ribbon thingie to connect.

Yes, they will charge you. I try to not let them get up close to my archer, Baa , by using poison arrows with one of the effects being Paralyze 3 seconds - maybe an Ogre or Goblin occasionally gets to her, or something inside an Oblivion World when she opens a door. Early on in character development the Escutheon of Charrol comes in handy with it’s Reflect Damage 15%, or the Necklace of Swords with 33%. Even if you don’t carry a sword, the shield still works.