The vanilla gave too much health to player, npcs and creatures. That made combat unrealistic and dragging on for too long.
Here is the combination of mods and tweaks I used to redress this problem and I feel like sharing it to those whom have similar preference with me.

here is the demonstration of result (in youtube):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiDBEs8k2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd2Bh8-f6QQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAqECPtVyzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9C7Bk-nFaE

mods used including but not limited to:

1.deadly reflex 6 250% weapon damage, inflict 80% damage to remaining health before initiating magical critical hit (edited the ini of dr6, it was way too powerful)
2.mighty magicka reborn (would otherwise be too powerful but just blend well with my setting)
3.increased damage with game setting tweaks in the .esp
a)FDifficultyDamageMultiplier 4 [originally= 5]
b)fDiff default -0.100 [default = 0]
c)fPCBaseHealth = .5 [default 2]
d)f StatsHealthLevelMult = 0.025 [default 0.1]
e)iLowLevelNPCMaxLevel = 250 [default 4]
f)fJumpfallTimeMult (value 22) [default 80]

with the above setting the game is much more challenging now.
I also use a number of other mods but they those listed above are the most significant in achieving the balance in combat.

Have you tried the Tamriel Immersion Experience overhaul? (TIE)

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=35265

no but I watched the deer hunting video on youtube, I must admit I am very tempted by it to the point I considered using it.
but since I already achieved the balance I wanted now, I will stick to my current setting for a while.

I'll just say that TIE makes the game pretty hard by, among other things, making all weapons, yours and NPCs, hit really really hard as well as by unlevelling levelled lists. So in a dungeon with goblins for example you can see a weakling goblin right up to a Warlord randomly with no regard to what level you are at.

Plus it has a filter patch for your Bashed Patch so it can apply TIE weapon/armor settings across a bunch of mods including OOO, Frans, Armamentarium etc.

For realistic combat, you really can't go part Duke Patrick's mods, IMO.

I also quite like PPP, for some things. Et Cetera... (it never ends!)

thanks for the head-ups, looks interesting
http://www.elricm.com/nuke/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=4141

I dont know if Spooky supports that mod anymore, but if it does what you need theres a lot of old mods out there that are still good. Never tried that one personally. Anyway if you are interested in Spooky's mods ...

Heres all of the remaining files he has on TESNexus (Though not the most up to date, due to too many users not reading readme's Spooky got fed up with the same old questions which are answered in the readme - And decided to move house) - Here's all the ones left there http://www.tesnexus.com/modules/members/index.php?id=329734

His most up to date files are now on TESAlliance http://tesalliance.org/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&search_app=downloads&mid=2332
One or two of those now incorporate older mods as part of the new versions on TESA (For instance Actors can miss now - is now incorporated in Duke Patricks Combat Archery mod)

I love Combat Archery combined with T.I.E, I dont know however how well Spooky's mods would integrate with for instance DR (I dont use it) - And worth noting, as far as combining Spooky's mods with other mods is concerned dont request assistance from Spooky in that regard, he uses a couple of mods with his setup but will not support questions like 'will your mod 'a' work with b, c, and d' - He has neither the time or interest to divert his attention to resolving such problems.

The most accomplished/knowledgeable user of Spooky's mods and combining them with others is Psymon, if he pops in may offer advice in this regard.

Heh. I was just about to post, re: Combat Archery and so forth.

Well, here are the direct links I was going to provide, anyway:

http://tesalliance.org/forums/index.php?/files/file/514-duke-patricks-combat-archery/
http://tesalliance.org/forums/index.php?/files/file/780-duke-patricks-combat-magic-ii-duke-patricks-incursion-into-fortress-of-fear/

There are a few others (not available anywhere that I'm aware of), that haven't been seen for a while. Er, understatement. Pity, actually.


edit: Oh, and by "PPP" I was referring to http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=32651. Good stuff, and very configurable, which is always nice.