Bound Bow is powerful, but has only one real drawback. It wears off, and with a 2 minute duration, there's a good chance of surprising you. However, it also replaces whatever's in your other hand, (from the spell.) This is good, because when it times out, that spell, weapon, or shield is automatically summoned from your inventory. I use a shield (or more specifically, the Targe of the Blooded) because it has the most defense, and offense for the least investment. The Block tree is extremely simple, (Compared to 1H, for an effective dagger) with some good perks at the bottom (Deflect Arrows, Elemental protection) and with Deadly Bash can do reasonable damage.
Armor is optional, because of the the shield's protection, though there's a lot of Light Armor sets with complimentary enchantments. Krosis/Linwe's Hood/Shrouded cowl, and Gauntlets of the Old Gods all Fortify Archery damage, Linwe's hood the most. I've also done Heavy Armor around Robes (of Conjuration). I suggest Altmer, because they can cast the adept level spell with the least investment (Like the Novice Hood found in the basement of Helgen Keep.)
This won't make you a fighter, but more capable of surviving in the melee long enough to get out, where you can shoot into it. Block, bash to stagger, and use the opening to Wuld away. If they rush you, bow punch to switch to the shield. then bash your way out. And finally (it takes a While) once you earn Shield Charge you can just sprint right through, bowling them over, recast, and turn around before they recover. Another good choice is the BoW, or anything with Absorb Health to regenerate you as you fight your way out. Nightingale Blade, Mercer's Dwarven Sword of Devouring, and so forth. In your Right hand, you still have to draw it, but it's automatic when the bow times out. In the left hand, it's slower to strike, but pops out instantly, so you can get to swinging. The left handed Power Attack is very quick with a dagger, and does stagger, with 10 Health back with the Blade of Woe. With Destruction, you could also drop a Cloak to burn everyone around you while you run, but they'll keep hitting you.
As your primary weapon, the Bow earns you a lot of Conjuration experience, (from repeated castings in combat, attacking with it may trigger this effect, as a First Strike, but doesn't add any ConjXP of it's own.) so eventually, you can add in Summons at the start of battle. Atromancy gives your Atronachs a 2 minute duration, while Dremora Lord comes that way, so when they time out, you know your bow is next. I usually go Necromancy, as soon as I can do the Ritual Spell for Dead Thrall. This is semi-permanent, so you don't have to worry about timing out, and you can pick one that goes well with your play style.
I like Master Vampires, because they can fight, drain health, and raise dead. With a Necromancer follower (Eola) and twin souls, that can max out to a Party of 7 (You, her, your Thralls, and their zombies, if they don't raise more Necromancers) for large scale battles. Not suggested for dungeons, though, because it gets crowded. I call this (Inevitable) varient a Necro-archer.
I call an Arcane Assassin that uses Archery instead of 1H a "Nightbow" (As opposed to Nightblade.) Unfortunately, Invisibility is incompatible with Bound Bow, because casting it breaks the stealth, which you can't simulcast, nor while the bow is taking up both hands. Therefore, you need a real physical bow (Like the NIGHTingale Bow, Drainspell, or Gauldur Blackbow) to switch to. I usually don't bother with Conjuration, just Illusion in that case.
Edit: Jul 25, 12 10:17am
