I'd like to try a hunter-like archer - fast on his feet w/light armor - but I always wonder if he'll get his clock cleaned by close quarters combat. One can only backpedal so much in a cave.

Is it viable? What are the close quarters survival tactics?

Switch to shield and sword.

The stagger perk (can't remember name of it) works really well since I got it I don't melee nearly as much doesn't seem to work on bears and larger beasts.

I play as an archer and I find it really useful in caves, sometimes for long range sneak attacks and then I switch to sword and the fire spell but I also sometimes find archery good at close range as well. But long range shots are the best

Nah. You just need either sneak (overpowered as hell as you can shoot everyone down without ever getting spotted) or conjuration (or a companion). Both work well.

Bring a warrior companion with you to tank. Sneak shot the first enemy.

You could do it solo if you plan out your battles before hand, like, get to a higher ground. The Stagger perk helps a whole lot.

You can also do a melee bash attack with the bow for enemies that get too close.

My archer actually real shines in caves because it's easier to catch your opponents off guard, and all the turns/ dark corners make it easy to sneak. I would say my archer is at it's worst when I'm walking the plains and all of a sudden a saber tooth cat attacks me

Just stand in melee range, bash them when they get close, use the Quick Draw perk and stagger them really quickly. It can get rough, but you just need to use the environment to your advantage; jump on cliffs where enemies are just too [censored] to jump, etc.

I saw this mentioned in another thread somewhere; enchant a bow with "fear" spell effect. Enemies that don't die at the first hit will flee and keep distance.

I sneak, make use of the Power Shot and Quick Shot perks to keep foes away for longer, poison my arrows (making paralysis poisons is a good and useful way to level alchemy), and keep a melee companion to svck up some damage when/if I get jumped by a group. It's working very well overall. For the odd panic moment I keep a couple of Fear scrolls to make everyone around me flee. I carry a shield and dagger as well but I've actually never had to use them for a good while now.

Archer is overall one of the most powerful builds in the game. There are a lot of methods to stay viable at melee range and using whatever you like should be good enough. Personally, when I am trying to stay pure archer in a fight I sprint to a better position when enemies get to close and to avoid the feeling of running away I tend to sprint forward past my enemy and take the position they were using as my new one. But with the Stagger perk and the quick draw perk many enemies won't even be able to close with you to engage at melee range.

If only they would implement it with horse back riding... All the sudden you could possibly have archery competitions and hunts from your horses back and the thrill of making a kill shot at full speed on your horse

Except for the really big baddies, I use archery most of the way through caves. Epic Glass Bow w/ a mild shock enchant and Steel Arrows. NO archery perks.

It's definitely viable if you learn how to play your build. I mean, my skills are all sword-and-board oriented, and I 3-4 shot Draugr Wights

There is also a melee attack with the bow, once enemies get to close. You can do this by pressing the left hand button while holding a bow.

That gives me enough time to backpeddle a distance to make fireing arrows more feasible.

its viable, its just hard.

I've seen a youtube video of a player perked into archery and light armor (for the rolling) that was amazing with just a bow and arrow.

Archery is the only combat technique I have ever fought a Draugr Deathlord or Death Overlord and been completely untouched in combat, and it wasn't because I hid someplace where they couldn't get me. I just moved around a bit and used the stagger perk to good effect.

Archery is at its worst against highly maneuverable enemies like dragons. Even then if you are good with a bow you can shoot a dragon out of the sky. Watching a dragon crash-land is epic beyond belief.