Well, I have a level 31 with no Smithing perks. Combat isn't too tough, but a better bow would be nice (using an unimproved Nightingale Bow, but I used to console to get the highest leveled version).
Key word there. Console. You need the console to make it fair. When im shooting my enemy with probably 20 ebony arrows having to hide after every shot cause they will utterly destroy me if they find me, I know there is something wrong with balance. They should make the difficulty based on something other than how much damn health your enemy has. its ridiculous on master difficulty. its not that its hard, its that it takes a real long time to whittle away at their ridiculously large amounts of health. there's only so many arrow shots you should be allowed to take to the head before you go down. I have shot some enemies countless times doing triple damage and they are still walking around with arrows in their head and saying silly things like "Must be my imagination" or "I could have sworn I heard something!'