Sure, in Skyrim you can run up and hack/bash them continuously until they fall over and die, all the while being caught on fire and bitten, or you can shoot them from a distance, taking damage as he Shouts on you, or do the same thing with spells.

Thing is, they're not very logical ways.

In a world where Skyrim's magic existed, but realism was taken into account (as in, being Yol Toor Shul'ed will kill you), what would be the most logical method to actually kill a dragon?

Logically? Get a large battalion of archers, as well as ranged destruction specialists. In addition, have another group of mages casting a shield against flame constantly. Lastly, I'd have pike men, to stab at the Dragon should it fly too close.

Bite the dragon in the tail.

Send in a hobbit to find his weak point beforehand?

I move straight up to them and continuously move around them so that they have to turn to reach me, meanwhile I hack away at their side, out of reach of their heads. They are heavy beasts and it takes them time to turn to reach the fly hacking away at them. If you get to their side between the front and back legs they cannot really reach you, then you move with them as they turn. Works everytime.

Okay, assume it was just you.

What equipment and spells would you like to have to fight a Dragon, assuming you were in the plains of Whiterun.

I not sure I follow what you are saying. If in a world where Skyrim's magic existed, I'd Dragonrend them then pull out my AR-15 .223 and blast it away.

Or if you are talking about pretending Im in old times in Skyrim, I'd duel cast Thunderbolt the dragon until he lands and when I see he's badly damaged, I'd use a Greatsword to finish him off.

If it were me personally I'd use the Monty Python Method "Run away! Run away!"

But:

Spellwise, the opposite of what the Dragon is spewing at you.

Weapon, a battleaxe or greatsword.

Jump spells and spears.

...Too bad they aren't in Skyrim.

Well, it is just me. I left Mulminir circling the Western Watchtower at level 11, because i couldn't kill him. That was 28 levels ago and he's there.

Logically? I should have been thinking a little more clearly when I installed Enhanced Super Mighty Dragons while playing with SkyRe on master.

None the less, if I ever make it back over there and actually grow a pair big enough to take him on, I will be equipped with at least 500 explosive enhanced arrows and 50 potions of Fortify Marksman. And as with all future Dragon encounters, once he is finally felled, the first reaction will be to run and then taking pop shots from cover.

Silly little bleeder! One dragon stew comin' right up!

If Dragonrend is unavailable and you are in a group, the best tactic is to harass and damage it with arrows until it lands, using natural cover as often as possible. Once the dragon has landed, dart from cover to cover (thereby avoiding its attacks), until your party can mostly encircle the dragon. Now, while a dragon is dangerous on all ends, it cannot focus on so many targets, which will help ensure greater survival numbers for your group. It's similar to how in wars the best way to avoid slaughter by a machine gun nest is to spread out as much as possible, negating the effectiveness of a machine gun.

If you're alone, Gods Help You and be sure to have a shield and some potions.

Hmm....not much cover on the plains of Whiterun. Best to leg it, but then you won't be able to out run it really. In these cases I hide in a crevasse or behind a large rock where the dragon must land to reach me. That takes away his flight advantage. Then run in and hack his side while turning with him...etc. Always armed with two swords.

Sometimes I hide where he cannot reach me (between two rocks or in a dip) and take shots at him with my bow, ducking back behind my rock between shots.

If it was just you in the plains of whiterun:

A greater ward spell to deflect breath attacks and long range destruction spells and fully enchanted magic resist armour. When magicka runs low switch to a fully magic resisted shield and rely on your shouts to attack it. Preferably spamming dragonrend.

You don't have to be faster than the Dragon.

You just need to be faster than your follower.

... or was that lions?

Awww poor Lydia.

Sometimes I run until I see a group of Thalmor or Imperials leading a prisoner, then I run past shouting..'He's all yours!' Then stop further up the road to enjoy the carnage and receive my dragon soul.

Not in the slightest.

His health is over 9K, he has an armor rating, he is immune to poison, his bite will one shot you, he has a plethora of shouts and the max bow damage I can currently do is 136. Not really a lot considering that if he gets around for more than 10 or 15 seconds, his health regenerates.

But hey! It's what I signed up for.

I have all but decided that taking him, or any future Dragon, will demand an initial running away, observe what type of Dragon he is, as to decipher his weaknesses and return with appropriate gear to defend as well as attack, accordingly. With the added help of others. I am all but convinced I will need at least two followers to assist. That means installing Ultimate Followers Overhaul.

...oh yea. Mirmulnir! ha... Samsonite! I was waaaay off.

I don't know wtf is going on with you Senor Cinco.

I like to run up and slash his face into pieces while bashing the hell out of his nose if he tries to get smart with me. Realistically he'd just fly towards you and snatch you up; or Shout at you once and you're dead, etc.

It's called modding the game to the point of it being the brutally honest engagements that you would expect when facing a creature of such epic proportion. Actually having Dragons become the utmost feared thing in the entire game. None of this "smacky-smacky him fall down" mess.

No sireee Bob, I tell ya.

No more will they be met with charging swords emulating runes of magic with ungodly damage and struck three times and it's over in a matter of seconds. Now, they are met with screams of terror and accompanied with mad dashes for the comforts of safety.

And only then, my overzealous slayer of magpies, will they truly gain the respect they so deserve.

Axe and shield, arrows or magic. If you go axe and shield...don't try blocking the bites. Bob and weave, or duck and roll.