This isn't a random shameless plug, but as you're the apparent expert to Close Quarters Archery, I would really like your honest assessment of one of my Builds.  I know it looks crappy, but what do you think of the playstyle?

Well I always play on expert myself, I dislike that it takes 20 minutes to kill a skeever on master (you know what I mean). If you really do not want to enchant your bows, go ahead, but the build would not work at all. I remember when I tried the same playstyle with just my crossbow I got owned extremely hard, absorb health is the key. 

The playstyle seems fine. 

I mean't this build Brynolf. It does not work without absorb health. The playstyle, the synergies, it all needs absorb health. I have played no healing builds as well, such as my Arcane Axeman, but this one needs it. 

Thanks. It works remarcably well, but requires Followers on Master.  I usually play on Adept, actually.  It's fair, but I don't consider a Build done until I playtest it on Master, so I can warn people if it's not up to that difficulty, or needs to compensate with Crafting, or Followers.  Just about any build can be dialed up, or down for dfficulty anyway, but Adept is a good baseline.

I can't stand Novice, nor Apprentice, even shitty builds are boringly over powered below Adept.

Yeah, I can see how that would be vital, and now that you mention it, the stress for Rapid Fire makes more sense too.  Thanks for clearing that up.

Yeah. On this build I did not play master, but I can tell it would still be pretty easy by endgame. 

This is still not the demonhunter. With that guy there is still an emphasis on keeping enemies away from you. The whirlwind sprints, slow and frenzy laced arrows, etc.  

With the Sternguard you are in the face of the enemy constantly taking hits. You strive to be that close to the enemy.