So on my previous playthrough, i've only used magic. And it was pretty easy; magic does quite some damage and low levels, and at higher levels you can craft your own spells for "exploits", such as weakness to magic and etc.

So im rather unused to the damage that marksman does; i just started a new character, and the sneak arrows are fine, i can kill bandits in one shot with that. I started with a bosmer, so i had around 42 marksman, 41 sneak, 65 agility.

But the zombies are a whooping beefcake. Takes me 1 stealth shot + around 5-6 normal arrows to kill it. Which means, if im attacked by more than 2 zombies at a time, i'd be running around, attempting to kite them, and screaming wildly.

Soooo, how "easy" is the game if im going to be using archery as my main combat skill? It seems okay when i land stealth shots, but what with the level scaling and all, how significant will the damage from bows be at higher levels?

Well, first of all, are you on PC? If so, I highly, highly recommend Duke Patrick's Combat Archery. It greatly increases the power of arrows, but makes it harder to "run and gun", to balance it. Among a number of other changes.

That aside, my current character is a pure stealth archer (she is completely useless hand to hand), and...its a challenge, but doable.

Interestingly enough, I just my first-ever archer two days ago (to go through the Dark Brotherhood quests for the first time). As of a few minutes ago Valune is Level 11, Marksman 51, Agility 93, Sneak 74, Light Armor 48.

I'm using custom armor that is the equivalent of Chainmail and custom weapon and arrows that are the equivalent of Dwemer (I am upgrading her gear as she finds better loot, to keep her unique gear current). Despite modding all of Valune's gear she actually has less powerful gear than would have in vanilla, because I am not adding any of the enchantments she would be receiving from Dark Brotherhood gear.

I have to say it is challenging at times. My experience is similar to yours: A nice sneak shot, followed by (depending on enemy) 3 to 6 follow-up shots. I do a lot of kiting. I actually enjoy kiting so it doesn't bother me. I have gotten myself into some tight spots. She is usually in deep doo doo if two enemies attack at once. The one exception was tonight when she took down a Troll only to discover a Will-o-Wisp attacking from behind. About a half a mile of kiting later she took down the Will-o-Wisp too...with exactly 3 Health left.

There are some enemies Valune doesn't want to face even one-on-one at this level. She tried three times tonight to take down a Mountain Lion north of Chorrol and gave up. The thing's just too fast, it hits too hard and she can't get enough shots in before it kills her.

I am new at this also so I don't have any big secrets. If it's any consolation I probably have it even worse than you do, due to the bizarre set of rules I'm using with this character. She does not do any Enchanting or Alchemy, does not drink any potions or use any magic. She also refuses to rent a bed (don't ask me why). This means the only way she can regenerate her health is to find an unowned bed somewhere in the game world. I am rapidly memorizing the location of every single unowned bed in Cyrofiil, let me tell you.

I am having a lot of fun with my new archer. This is a whole new game for me. It's really a rush to make a long-distance sneak shot and watch the poor, pitiful fool run toward my character, gradully filling up with arrows until they fall dead inches before they reach my character. Those moments make up for all the zombies and Goblins that have given Valune and myself a splitting headache.

One thing I am learning to rely on is Acrobatics. I am finding it very handy to be able to jump over obstacles my enemies can't. And also to jump up onto rocks and other high places to get away from melee enemies.