I'm new to Oblivion and I'm still experimenting with different builds. I was considering trying a "medium-heavy scout" character, who would wear a combination of both Heavy and Light armour. For instance, he'd wear a leather cuirass and boots, but iron gauntlets and greaves.

If I make him skilled with both Light and Heavy Armour, will he get the benefit of both? Will both skills augment when attacked?

Sure you can do that, but it'll protect you about as much as a codpiece.

IIRC, the game raises the weaker armor skill's stats if you wear both, so there's a dual-class like option, first use only heavy or light armor for 3-5 levels and then catch up with the other one, it gets skill points faster.

You should concentrate on the one that is your body armor, in this case, light, so put many points in speed and take Dunmer (or some other race that gives a +5 bonus to light armor).

I find the whole "get hit to be trained with armour" thing stupid. Considering I'm mostly using bows and arrows, that I'm a fairly proficient runner :grin: , and that I'm not too bad Blocking, I don't see my armour skill growing much in the near future.

But still it does. You will get hit a lot, and it helps the leveling up. I made a classic dark elf and light armour got fast to 100, even with putting hundreds and hundreds of arrows into anything that moved. (and ziljoen flares).

The enemies scale with you. (The hilarious kajitt robber in deadric armour)

Colthrun the level 4 Redguard archer was slaughtered yesterday by a band of goblins with iron maces. At least his Light Armor skill went up right before the last hit smashed his forehead. :grin:

I'll try a heavy armored imperial next.

Might I suggest restoration and alchemy. Its makes life a lot easier.

Marksman goes up more slowly than blade or blunt. Dying at level 4 is normal.

Just quest around a bit before following the main quest.

Mmmm... running around the forest wearing a steel cuirass looks quite silly...