How to set up insta-sneak-kill and insta-death

70 heavy armor (required for Conditioning) is a long way away. What you really want to solve the sneaking issue is the Muffled Movement perk at 30 sneak (50% noise from armor) and the Muffle spell from illusion.

The survival issue is simple - don't dual wield. Add a shield and you will live. Blocking is a huge damage reduction, but even when you don't block the shield adds armor!

Stamina isn't a big deal if you spend a handful of level ups on it and get the Restoration(40) perk - Respite (Healing spells also restore stamina).

How do you sneak attack?

When you attack some target, and that target doesn't know where you are at the moment the attack lands - that's a sneak attack.

Some relevant details:

• The eye indicator tells you if anything detects you. You can still sneak attack with a fully open eye indicator when your target doesn't detect you.
• You can sneak attack with any weapon or with fists. You cannot sneak attack with spells (or shield bash or twohander bash, I need to test this).
• You can do a sneak power attack.

Additional tips:

• Sneak attacks grant sneak skill experience. Sneak attacks are a great way to level sneak skill.
• Sneak attack multipliers apply to physical damage done. Blacksmithing improvements, weapon skill perks, and power attack bonuses are multiplied. Poison and enchanting damage are not multiplied.
• When you have low sneak skill, it is easiest to sneak attack with a bow.
• The Calm spell is a great way to setup sneak attacks.