I always play Oblivion as a sneaky, thieving, mystic archer and I'm sure I'll do the same in Skyrim. However, one question has been on my mind ever since I saw the gameplay trailer a while back. How will we fight dragons if we use a bow and arrow? In the video it is obvious how it is done when wielding a sword and shield. I know that Bethesda has stated that we can no longer back-pedal and shoot arrows quickly and accurately but at the same time an archer will not be able to go toe-to-toe with a dragon. If we're out in the open it would seem that an archer is doomed. I guess we'll just have to avoid those kind of compromising situations. Has anyone given any thought to this or has it been discussed in an interview that I missed somewhere?

I guess the dragons are slow on the ground. You shoot and run, place a trap or two, shoot and run again, use dragonshouts to slow the time...I'll be an archer too and I bet we're going to be just fine.

You fight like an actual archer?

Fire a few shots, relocate, fire a few shots, relocate.

Archery has been a fantasy staple forever, and they've never relied in backpedaling.

If you are planning on being a sneaky thief (my favorite as well), then anytime you are caught in the open, you are at a disadvantage. Bows will have a slower draw, but much more damage than in Oblivion. Also, using some of the Dragonshouts and perks (like zooming in and slowing things down to aim), you can do significantly more damage to the dragon before he gets to the ground. Being evasive and running to a safe spot, then taking another shot is still a possible strategy. Combat is never easy for us thieves once we have been noticed. This is what makes that style fun.

Killing a dragon will hopefully be a challenge for all playstyles.

I am going to play the game with a stealth character even if it turns ATLUS-hard.

I'm sure it will be well-implemented. I'm just curious to see how it will actually works. It seems like it would take an awful lot of arrows to kill a dragon with the game mechanics in place right now. I know one thing, I can't wait to find out.

In the Hobbit Smaug the dragon was killed by an archer. He got shot in a weak point in his armor and died in one shot. Maybe dragons in Skyrim will have weak points, like their mouths when open, or under their bellies or something.

Hate archery sorry, always seemed like the cowards way out.... that's pretty hypocritical seeing as I play a sneaky blades character but whatever

Hate archery sorry, always seemed like the cowards way out.... that's pretty hypocritical seeing as I play a sneaky blades character but whatever

You aim carefully and shoot one powerful arrow into the dragon's heart. Bam, the dragon goes away for a few seconds, enough for you to charge and aim another shot. Continue until the dragon dies, bam.
Or just run, like hell.

Thought that was pretty obvious.

imo, it will probably be easier to hit them as they swoop down towards us, and then we can dodge out of it's way and fire an additional arrow after it.

While I know this will not be implemented, it would be kind of cool to have a VATS style kill while a dragon is in the air.

ill be a archer/duel blade wielding assassin so plant a few shots, run like hell to get a new location set up and repeat if i run out of arrows or they arnt working for any given situation ill run around it like a crazed monkey swinging like mad man!!!! :ahhh:

Well all have weaknesses find the and use them against your enemies, Dragons have weak spots also, hide in shadows and sneak to find good position use your time slowing dragon shout and take a breath abilities to aim them, eyes, heart and mouth is your target, firm steady hand with magical composite bow and poisoned arrow your weapon, prepare before attack and then one well placed shot will take great amount of Dragon health, quickly before mighty beast will out of shock of stagger draw another arrow shoot again and again, now enemy see you prepare to evade his incoming attack, dodge them, maneuver and use terrain and area structures as your shield, quickly draw your bow and send another shoot, if beast doge your arrow run as fast as you can to cover and hide, dragon will search for you he can take off and fly high to see you from above, be prepared and catch him on rising of altitude invoke again you dragon blood to slow time and bring him down to earth with final deadly shoot.

I think it will be much better then Vanilla Oblivion style backpedaling and constant shooting of dozens arrows into health sponges until they will become hedgehogs with punctured arrows instead of needles, with just one first critical from snake with one poisoned arrow.
http://tesalliance.org/forums/index.php?/files/file/514-duke-patricks-combat-archery/ greatly enhance archery in Oblivion and I think archery in Skyrim must be at last better then in Oblivion if not like in such great mod.

:'(...
Spoilers