I'm about halfway through. Haven't used any magic at all except a healing spell. I use werewolf and shouts sometimes. I'll use a bow. But it's all daggers and axes. I have a dagger in my main hand 90 percent of the time. Yuo have to get really close and hit them a lot and run around like a crazy person but I'm finding it pretty fun and rewarding. You actually do need stamina if you are going to go nuts with daggers. It's a lot of sneaking and running around.

It's pretty difficult and challenging. I've really had to get my enchanting and crafting skills up.

Even with larger weapons in my off hand. I'm surprised that the dagger is my most effective weapon. Daggers are viable.

I have no clue what is going on. I like it.

Good post.

I just don't know if I'm the only person using this strategy. From what I've seen on youtube, it's a lot of magic and swords. I'm basically playing the game as a hack and slash and it's working quite well. It's difficult and challenging but fun.

I'm at 89 with one handed and I one hit Druergar Deathlords...

With my Legendary +130% smithing upgraded Daedric weapon...

I haven't touched magic at all, I only rely on potions. Playing a thief with 1H, archery, sneak, light armor, alchemy. I use dual-wield daggers when in CC. The game is plenty difficult for me and I enjoy it. I dont play hours per day so at the rate I'm going I'll finish Skyrim around the end of 2012 lol. Yes, I get my ass handed to me vs trolls and the like but oh well.

I would like to do a heavy armor sword Mage but not for my first play through.

Smithing owns.

I get ripped to shreds when I try to get in a toe-to-toe fight with my thief. That's probably because most of his perks are focused in sneak though.

I did get in a fight where I was actually able to pull out a mace and an axe, and did a LOT more damage than with my daggers.

That's the thing. I'm somewhere in between. Most of my points are in sneak too. But I am trying to fight toe to toe. I've been trying to get certain skills up to help though. It's a hard balance to find. I'm around riften and have explored a lot of the map. But i'm about halfway through the story. I'm just getting into scale armor. IT's a lot of work.

One handed and Sneak and light armor are my main atts.

But you need points in bows, enchanting and smithing too.

Especially considering I wasted a couple points early on this char not knowing what I was doing.