I'd just like to mention, again, how awesome it is to be a great archer, now; it took some time, but it's way more fun than my first character. The knockdown + tons of poisons + strong enchanted bows = ownange. There was a rough stretch in the middle but I'm just destroying guys now, even ogres.
The big factors, which combine deliciously, are having visibility to all four ingredient effects, the fact that poisons stack, and my new wonderful knockdown. A typical encounter last night with a Necromancer went thus:
1) I spot him using Detect Live/Night Vision custom spell.
2) I poison my arrow with frost damage (8pts/second for 37 seconds)
3) I nail him from sneak, and get the knockdown sending him across a room. His life is 2/3 gone already.
4) I stand over his body as his health ticks away. He tries to get up...falls back down, dead. One arrow, one kill.
Another great moment was discovering what happens when you knockdown the Storm Atronach. He actually shatters, just as if he's dead, and then slowly re-assembles, T-1000 style. It was awesome to watch, and I beat the living hell out of him while he assembled.
Next moment: running into a Minotaur Lord. Lots and lots of HP, fast and nasty. I tag him with four arrows from a distance - all poisoned - and the fourth knocks him down. He lays there, four stacked poisons working away, for a bit. Then he's up and charging across the room, all intimidating like. He drops dead right in front of me. I had put my bow away and was just watching, amused.
And then there's the "nail them with paralyze, then run up and hack'em to death" method. Great for the Sigil Keepers. I've got ~50 health poisons and 10 paralyze poisons on hand at any point in time.
It's such a different play style than the nearly straight fighter I had before - run in and attack like mad. I'm doing nothing but Alyid ruins right now - about 15 in a row - and it's still really fun, just for the combat. I've said it before, but Oblivion is the best hack'n slash RPG ever.
