Has anyone managed to make an archer who doesn't use stealth successful and enjoyable?

Not a pure archer :/

the stealth archer is one of the most powerful build in skyrim vanilla , but if you don't use sneak then you'll probably need illusion to compensate or else you'll need to be pretty good in melee i think

But it must be possible to play if you perk alchemy (poisons are really powerful ) and bring companions to tank for you at melee range , never tried it though

I am playing an archer that never sneaks.
I have 2 backup iron daggers for when I run out of arrows.
I have't died yet and I am level 12.
I am playing on adept.
I find it really enjoyable.

I was wondering if it was possible.

A pure archer, no melee.

Archery and Conjuration build so freakin awesome!

Summon a flame or frost atronach and pull out your bow and fire away. Very effective and very fun.

I use crossbow but I guess it's pretty much the same. Im a pure crossbow woman (well, my character I mean xD), I only use alchemy to complete my set and some exploding spider scrolls. Followers are not necessary and I play on Master.

I only have destruction perks for exploding bolts synergy and I only use werewolf transformation for fun, it isnt even necessary! You can use some runes to complement if you want

Sneaking is overrated, eh!?

you could try a archer priest type guy with archery, restoration, enchanting, and heavy armor. Im working on a similar buiild right now, except im using one handed as well. I can tell you for a fact that it can be done in skyrim with no dlc. i do have the patch but other than that im vanilla the whole way. It is a wicked fun playstyle so i recommend you check it out.

also, a little illsuion never hurt, especially to calm down angry bears

I mean what would be the point? Get smashed up as your drawing arrows, trying to compensate for sneak with abrupt close combat would be so annoying, and unrewarding. Possible, but not worth it..

Its not my first non stealth archer. I have had a level 119 archer and I didnt struggle.

Level 119!!!

I didn't think the game even went up that far?

it does if you Legendary skills...

anyways,

@OP, I find a non-stealth pure Archer to be quite difficult.. I mean, Archery is a Stealth Skill for a reason

Listen, ignore all the flaming, it's a great playstyle really fun. You should definitely try it out at least. You will love it.

Also, the werewolf transformation sometimes just pumps you up when you feel like melee'ing a bit!

I tried heavy and light but I recommend light, it looks as good and ir has more benefits IMO.

Go for smithing but calm down, don't grind it to 100 right away cause that's not necessary and it takes away from the RP.

Go for archery, light armor, alchemy, bit of destruction (optional), smithing and the rest is up to you. Maybe speech or even restoration? You choose

Depending on what you wanna use you can mix more or less magicka but I would go for 3 health, 2 stam, 1 magicka. When stam is at 200 stop amd do as you please

Use Poison of Slow (Deathbell+Salt pile) to slow the enemy by 50%.

Giving you more time to leg it or get more shots in.

exactly! That and some paralysis poisons