If it's not something your character would object to, it *is* possible to buy filled soul gems from merchants and you sometimes find them in loot. Maybe use a staff on a limited basis? I was watching the great videos that Xalxitz linked to and Felix uses staves so I'm guessing they're charged with what he finds or buys since he doesn't kill. Those are really great videos and there are a lot of tips...it's a build I want to try myself for a game I don't plan on doing the main quest.

Maybe y'all need to rethink the position. In AD&D (yeah.... the REALLY old version, from the mid-70s.... I don't know anything much about the later versions) the healer class was the Cleric. In full plate, with a blunt (non-edged, non-sharp) weapon (mace, hammer, fists if going the monk route, or singlestick - oh, I had a player once who used whip....) Those Cleric-healers had NO issue with cleaning house on mobs which attacked them....

Might give it a think or three....

Restoration is undervalued. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Restoration

Make your plan from there and improvise the way you see fit. Remember , you'll also be getting shouts , such as good ol fus roh dah , you could view it as an omg they're all over me button , but you have to be careful don't wanna ragdoll your followers. And it kinda makes you feel cool sometimes when youre in a fight and use Grand Healing on everyone around you and they comment that it feels good.

That's how I'd do a healer too, use heavy armor, a mace, and some restoration. Maybe some destruction for fire or even lightning spells as well. Heal when necessary but some offensive ability with mace and shield or a destruction spell. Might take Illusion or Alteration on a more pacifistic Cleric of Mara or Dibella, but I'd prefer a middle-line cleric to a purely back-line healer.

Oh, and Cleric is more or less the same now and in 3.5 as in AD&D with only a few changes.

Thanks for that info! I have no one to run scenarios for any more (I live in the back of beyond....) so there's been no reason for me to buy the latter versions. I'm happy to know it's still similar to what we had such fun with so long ago!

ORLY I happen to have a level 20 pure healing cleric in DDO and I can definitely attest to them not being pacifists by any means. He has many defensive spells that just chew up and spit out anything that messes with him like wall of blades etc. Also i heal and just swing randomly as he uses a vorpal longsword so I just heal some and wait for that 20 roll =p. He's on the ghallanda server if you've ever played it. If not it might satisfy some old DnD itches.It went free to play last year so it won't cost you anything except some download time to try it out. It's sort of close to pen and paper , but you always lose something going into a video game. There's an actual 20 side that rolls on your upper screen during combat I really like that.

Interesting. But I'm really not going to ever do another MMO - WoW is it, it's fun.... when it stops being fun, I'll quit. MMOs are really not my thing - I play WoW as if it were SPMR anyway.

And clerics in my lexicon do NOT use "vorpal swords". A "vorpal mace" perhaps....

Well true , but he's a servant of a specific God that allows him the use of the sword , or he can cast it on another to boost their skill.

I've tried out a fair number of MMOs, and in most of them the "healer" class --I always play a healer in MMOs-- (usually called either Priest or Cleric) wears Cloth or Chain armor (depending on the game--also if Chain is their primary armor, they will usually also have the option of wearing Leather or Cloth if they so choose) but never Plate. Since Skyrim doesn't have any Medium armor options, I think Heavy would be fine. Usually weapon types are also restricted to staves or maces/hammers (some games allow daggers, but never swords). Usually they have options for both offensive magic as well as melee combat, or sometimes a combination (hammer attacks that do magical rather than physical damage). Some games give them summons or pets as well (depending on what skills you choose).

In earlier MMOs (and some recent ones, particularly from Chinese developers), if you wanted to be a healer you always needed a buddy to follow you around and do the actual killing if you wanted to get anything done this year, because your options for offense were not only limited, but did little damage. Nowadays healers usually have more options, and stronger attacks, so they are much more rewarding in solo play (and in some games, if you spec right, they are near godly).

I'm just offering this information as further framework and things to consider. Just because your character's primary function and motivation in life is healing doesn't mean they have to be afraid of anything or unable to defend themselves.

I played as pacifist character before, I only become a healer when dragon attack village or hold. Most of the time I will not bring follower with me because in my opinion if I purposely bring follower, then that's mean I have intention to bring someone to hurt others on my behalf.

Thank you everyone, these are really thoughtful suggestions.
I do intend to have Follower to do damage for me, which begs the question:
Is there any part of the Main/Civil War Quests which requires me to go solo?


With Restoration Dual Casting, I think I just might be able to keep my Followers up at all time without ever falling.

Not really. Clerics are a Tier 1 D&D class (meaning they can do everything really well without any specialization needed). What you're talking about is much closer to a Paladin really...though I guess it might be similar to how some people have played Clerics in D&D -- if the person didn't remotely play them to their potential. Clerics in 3.5 are absolute monsters with the most powerful spells and the capability to trivially outfight the fighting classes (thanks to magic). I mean, I guess it is just a few changes, if those changes are having gods answer their questions on a daily basis, grow as tall as a giant, calling down fire and fury from the sky, and rewriting reality (among other things).

One nice thing in Skyrim about going with Restoration and fighting is that if you grab Respite you can heal your stamina at the same time as your health. Sure, you could do it with potions too, but I think potions for healing and magic are pretty horrible in Skyrim. You just chug a ton and everything is pretty easy (and it takes you out of combat). Seems like they could have been handled better.

Don't do that without a mod. Dual casting is pretty much horrible (it makes your spells less efficient). It's REALLY awful with Restoration and it is far better to never take that perk.

I don't think planning on doing zero damage yourself is a great idea. Restoration doesn't have a lot of options with its spells is one reason. A more significant problem is the AI can be REALLY stupid and not engage people around corners or through narrow passages effectively. You might well end up tearing your hair out in frustration at their stupidity.

You should not blow off Illusion, not only would pacify and fear save your life but Illusion has Courage which will buff your followers. You can just not use Frenzy spells if they go against your build, but why wouldn't a healer want the ability to pacify an enemy and make them peaceful?

Also consider wearing robes and going with Alteration for personal protection.

Is the amount of Heal received from Restoration Dual Casting really less than 2 times of that casted with a single hand? That's messed up..
This is the only note I found so far from http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Magic_Overview: "Healing spells actually lose effectiveness when dual-cast, as they heal only 110% faster but for 140% more magicka".
How can one "heal faster" with Healing & Healing Hands? Are these just limited to Single Cast Spells?
Thanks for the headsup, Drachasor.



Thank you for your suggestion, Federally. I did not realize there is a Spell which does this. I glanced through Courage and originally thought it only makes the target fights like mad, lol. My only beef with Illusion is that I do not want City Guards to greet me with comments relating to Necromancy because that would really break my character immersion; if no such thing happen then I it is okay.
Does anyone know City Guards comment to player who has high level Illusion?

Illusion is not related to necromancy. Illusion includes mind control spells, pacify makes people friendly, rout makes then run in fear, frenzy makes them go crazy and attack everything around them, courage makes them fight harder (but not go crazy it's a buff), and out includes spells to trick people into not detecting you, muffle makes you silent and invisibility explains itself. No necromancy here. Guards say dumb [censored] (everything they say is dumb tho) like "so you can cast a few spells am I supposed to be impressed".

With high Illusion and full perks you could potentially navigate an entire dungeon without killing anyone.

For your Rp you may want to never use Frenzy, making people go crazy and kill each other doesn't seem to fit you

Guards say things like "You're the one that casts those Illusions.".

I've been inspired by this thread to create a future build for a pacifist. I'm thinking she'll be skilled in Illusion, Alteration, Restoration, Block, Lt Armor and there will be Sneak, Enchanting and Alchemy in play. I learned that wielding a shield doesn't negate the Mage Armor perk so wearing cloth might be an option later but she'll likely start off wearing leather. I liked what I saw in the Felix the Cat videos and what I've learned in this thread so I'll give this a try down the road. I'm thinking of sticking with my little Breton too even though she won't be using Conjuration. I have a difficult time giving up that magic resist and dragonskin racial bonus. UHappyNow, is this build like what you're trying to do with your Healer? Thanks for the inspiration.

Edit: Uh oh. I just did some research and it looks like there has to be killing to buy a house in Skyrim. Anyone know if that isn't true, if there's a way to get one without killing? If not, I'll use a mod.

I was reading this and the following scene played off in my mind...

Healer: Alduin! I have come to vanquish thee! Tremble before my holiness!
Alduin: Begone mortal. Thou lack the valour to vanquish but one of these. (Pointing to a Draugr)
Healer: A challenge is it? Very well then. I shall vanquish thy minion without effort to prove that I am worthy!

5 hours later...

Healer: Sooth, I have underestimated thy minion foul beast. Alas he lies dead at my feat, vanquished as thou shall be vanquished shortly.
Alduin: My dear fellow, you do realise that my minion is still at full health? He is far from vanquished.
Healer: What? What mockery is this? Here he is lying at thine own feet.
Alduin: Alas mortal, he but slumbers. Might I suggest a more violent approach than massaging him to death with healing energies?
Healer: I'll be back. To Oblivion with healing. I'm getting me a sword.
Alduin: Oh I do hope so. Although, before you go would you mind taking a look at my feet? I fear I might be suffering some fungicide from all those years cast adrift in time.
Healer: Oh very well. But only until I get a sword. Say, you should really let me treat that ice burn on you rump as well. It can lead to serious infection.

hahaha, Akanaro. I haven't done the MQ yet on my current character but once I do, it won't be vital to do it on the pacifist run. I feel like I'll be skipping some quests that require killing too. For me, it's just a different build for a different kind of play-through. I'm not sure what will happen with dragons and all but it'll be interesting.

There's a mod that fixes some of the biggest problems with magic... http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2275 (at the link there's info on what exactly it does). I've been using it and I'm pretty happy with it. Another useful one is http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3352 (which fixes some things like your summons not working because of magic absorb/resist), in case you ever decide to do any conjuring or summoning.

Thank you, kaluzar. I don't really like that, but it's quite acceptable I guess.


Thank you, Kicennae. It's great to know this playstyle is liked by some in the community. I, too, am playing as a Breton and will be playing as a Breton on my Healer for the very same reason as yours. I've decided not to go with Shield; it will be a lot more effective, but I do not think I can handle the control as mentioned earlier - Spells cannot be mapped to Right Hand. Anyways, here are the List of Spells I'll be using:

Restoration
- Healing (Most Magicka efficient)
- Healing Hands (Most Magicka efficient)
- Close Wounds
- Heal Others (Nothing feels Better than giving your teammate One BIG Heal!)
Illusion (Buff party)
- Courage
- Rally
- Call to Arms
Alteration
- Candlelight
- Paralyze (Don't know how I'm going to get my Alteration up, but it's in my wish list)
I'll be doing everything with my party which include, preferably, a Heavy Armor Dual Wield Warrior & a Dog (Meeko). I would rather get Stray Dog, but as far as I know he is a random encounter and it could take forever trying to find him? Does Stray Dog stay in the same place the player first found him?



I still have a couple Questions concerning the viability of this character though:
- Is there any part of the Main/Civil War Quests which requires me to go solo?
- How does Restoration Dual Casting work on Healing (Channeled) & Close Wounds (Single Cast)?
- What does this quote from http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Magic_Overview mean, "Healing spells actually lose effectiveness when dual-cast, as they heal only 110% faster but for 140% more magicka"? How do we "heal faster"? Does Dual Casting Healing & Close Wounds take 140% of the Magicka cost on one hand while improving the heal by additional 10%?

1. I don't know; I haven't done any of the civil war.
2. I'm not sure, other than the obvious things: the channeled one will dual cast if you just press both mouse buttons, and the single cast requires you to release both mouse buttons at once in order to dual cast (after charging the spell, of course).
3. 110% faster means that the amount of healing, or HPS (healing per second) is increased by 110% for channeled spells, and single cast spells will heal 110% more HP. I think you have the right idea for the magicka costs.

Thank you, Vermilion Sparrow.
Wow, is this really how it is working now for Restoration Dual Casting? Increase Effect by 2.2x of single hand & Cost by 2.8x of single hand? Got to be in a REALLY Critital situation for this one.. lol

"Spells cannot be mapped to Right Hand."

Yes they can. I just tested with spells in my right hand and a Shield in my left hand. Is that what you meant? In my current game, I'm always dual-casting augmented Firebolt but in the Pacifist game, I want to have a shield in my left hand to ward off arrows and hits and a Calm, Fear, Paralyze or Heal spell in my right hand.