Can the player-controlled character wear a bow and armor?

[ggavi2000]

I always wore a sword and engaged in close combat with guards. But it is too risky.
Can I attack from a distance by wearing a bow, or can I reduce damage by wearing armor?

[desertmomof5]

I saw that during a mod I was playing, I was able to use a bow. I think you can use a bow as long as you have arrows

[MoreEvilSquid]

Considering that the pissweak non-combatant character you control can go bare-handed one-on-one with an armored, axe-wielding enemy soldier, and (after a looooong time "fighting") eventually win (albeit heavily injured), it doesn't seem that risky to me...

With an actual weapon you should win faster. Ideally from behind (then you shouldn't even get injured).

Given how long it takes for a guy with an axe to hurt you, I imagine it would take a lot of arrows to take out a single soldier? Unless arrows are magically powerful...