Some people went through as an alchemist, how do you manage?

You rely on poisons and such? What if you fight an Argonian? Undead?

Thoughts?

I don't play as an alchemist, but my mystic archer can poison anything in the game. She uses weakness to poison to bust the immunity of undead and such. It works great.

i never was very good at making potions. i could never get them to be very strong.

My char has alchemy as a backup.
I mostly use if to make support potions (heath & healing)
but it has indeed more practical aplication as a increase attack option :

you can add a negative potion to any weapon or arrow in the game (just drink it to do so, and it will add to your current equipped weapon) -> this only does not work if you fight hand-to-hand.
it will add the effect to it's next hit.

oh and for the recepy's :

I found this page, it really helps:)

http://www.uesp.net/oblivion/alchemy/alc_calc.php?effect1=Damage+Health&effect2=Damage+Magicka&effect3=Damage+Willpower&effect4=Damage+Intelligence&effect5=Paralyze&alchemy=100#Potions

To get more powerfull potions here's some hints :

*the higher the quality of your apparatus the better your potion -> however their apearance seems to be level-dependant..
*the higher your alchemy skill, the better your potion -> this can be leveled easy.

a fast way to level your alchemy skill : theres food in abundance in most towns.. and many of it cas easely be stolen.. just do so.. most of it will respawn in 3 days.. so you can repeat as often as you want.
from this food you make potions.. don't care what just select any ingredient and make them..
you can just sell the potions after that to any innkeeper.
(you can also buy ingredients and sell the potions if you want too, as often potions sell for more than the ingredients cost you)