Greetings, fellow daydreamers....
(Been lurking the forums for weeks- Though this is my first post)

As I sit and think about how I'm going to play my character come release of Skyrim; I can't help but question the effectiveness of some of my anticipated weapon and spell choices. I know that you can theoretically play ANY way you want, but I can't help but feel some ways are going to be more efficient. For example, if I'm playing around with an archer class, would sneaking up on an enemy with a sword to start the battle be pointless (regardless of how cool it would be)? If it isn't pointless, how do I decide between sneaking up on the enemy with a sword or a dagger? Or what if, say, I sneaked up on an enemy with my sword, got the critical, then, with my other hand, starting casting destruction spells while wielding said sword as I back step to a safe range to start raining arrows on the enemy? Would that be silly? I'll end up leveling my blade and destruction skills, when all I really needed to do was go crazy with my bow from the beginning.

TL;DR version

How do you balance creative game play with effectiveness?

I want to play a stealth based character who uses destruction magic and, possibly, wields a blade. I'm hoping for some help theory crafting effective play styles. Feel free to share what style of play you are planning on going with. Bonus points for explaining why.

I would give you a fishy stick, but I have never received one myself. :c

Anyway, my character will be a one handed sword wielding, little bit of spell using warrior. Maybe even a bow if needed, and I'm throwing a little bit of stealth in there.

Welcome to the Forums! But I plan to play a Breton Mage with a rare/powerful sword in one hand and a destruction spell in the other, I have the sword just in case I run out of Magicka, but mainly because the sword and spell work together.

-Mr. Maric

You should definitly use dagger in skyrim becuz they change the whole dynamics of swords in this game.. when you use a sword you just get the critical and start sword swinging. When you use dagger you get like a stealth kill (assassin creed style) hand over mouth dagger in back type stuff. This new dynamic for stealth makes people who want to play a stealth character more comfortable using a blade such as a dagger so you wont break your character type by having to but away the bow and breaking out excalibur.. btw.. me personally first playthrough assassin pro almost no magic except for invisibility, and possibly become a vampire if the option is there.. Second play through a wild orc whose lost his mother[censored] mind and has this wierd taste for blood.

My character will be a pure warrior that uses two hand swords. I have a hard time imagining my character honing his skills with a sword then going to study magic. He will use bow and stealth skills for hunting.

Welcome, have some http://www.jandersongallery.com/uploads/1/6/2/2/1622043/4377090_orig.jpg.

Effectiveness isn't too high on my list of priorities. I am playing a healer, so it's loads of perks in Restoration and Alchemy. Sword? Yes, my character will have one, but only because it would be stupid not to, would you walk around Skyrim with no weapons? She will spend as much time in the towns as in dungeons, and when forced to go monster hunting, the low hitting power will be balanced by the massive survivability that comes of high restoration and a lot of potions.

That seems pretty original. Are you going stealth at all? Even not, wouldn't it be more effective to start you're fights off with a dagger assassination?