I don't know whether you consider it an Exploit, but all my Nightblades level Sneak, 1H, and Illusion together with Backstab+Calm. When you can't 1HK yet, you have to Backstab them over, and over, so your Sneak goes up pretty quick even without the Thief Stone. (I stick with Mage to power Illusion.) It can be done rather safely on Bandits by Backstabbing one, Immediately calming the other, then Backstabbing him, if there's 2. 3 in a row, you end up fighting eventually, but by then it's a duel, but I never have that much trouble getting to Silent Roll that way, with the Theif Stone, it wouldn't be much farther to Silence.
Just join/destroy the Dark Brotherhood, all ready. If you cart straight to Windhelm from Whiterun, you can have your choice of Muffled Shoes, and Boots, to say nothing of doubling your Backstab damage at level 1 if you can kill Astrid. (Use your discretion.) Even if you want to make your own, they will last you until you find the Enchantment, and get your crafting skills up.
I don't know whether you consider it an Exploit, but all my Nightblades level Sneak, 1H, and Illusion together with Backstab+Calm. When you can't 1HK yet, you have to Backstab them over, and over, so your Sneak goes up pretty quick even without the Thief Stone. (I stick with Mage to power Illusion.) It can be done rather safely on Bandits by Backstabbing one, Immediately calming the other, then Backstabbing him, if there's 2. 3 in a row, you end up fighting eventually, but by then it's a duel, but I never have that much trouble getting to Silent Roll that way, with the Theif Stone, it wouldn't be much farther to Silence.
Just join/destroy the Dark Brotherhood, all ready. If you cart straight to Windhelm from Whiterun, you can have your choice of Muffled Shoes, and Boots, to say nothing of doubling your Backstab damage at level 1 if you can kill Astrid. (Use your discretion.) Even if you want to make your own, they will last you until you find the Enchantment, and get your crafting skills up.