I started a character a month or so ago, and at first decided i wasn't going to do any physical or magical damage to anyone directly. I would focus on the restoration school and conjuration or companions for defense. I heal my companions, and buff them but generally try to avoid combat.

I focus mainly on restoration, but i do use illusion a lot in aiding myself to avoid battles.
The idea is that she is a pacifist.
With the addition of dawnguard and the sunlight spells, my build got a much needed refreshment.
I decided i would do no direct harm to anything except for undead, because as a priestess i despise undead.
Other than that though, no damage to anyone. No destruction spells or weapons of any sort.

I try to be a doer of good and aid people only if it is something to help them. I.E. no bounties or quests involving a main objective of killing.
I'm supposed to be mainly about defense and/or avoiding combat altogether.

So far it has been really fun and challenging in an interesting way with the set of rules i have applied.
I wear all clothing, no armor, and am avid about wards and mage armor spells.

Wondering if anyone else has tried this, and what you think. Or just your thoughts on a class of this type.

I'm thinking of starting a build like this but with dawnbreaker as my main weapon against undead with resto as back up. the only problem would be dragons and alduin. unless you ignore the main quest.

I have been ignoring the main quest for the most part. Except to get dragon shouts so i can use animal allegience, kyne's peace...things like that.

I got dawnbreaker for my companion. It fits the role perfectly and Meridia is the only Daedra i will do a quest for being that she hates the undead as i do and isn't wholly evil.

Nice Roleplay Idea! I couldn't do it, but I did do a "Nothing but a Hunter" Roleplay that was pretty fun for a while. I did however play a character that did not directly kill things, an Illusionist that used Illusion (Duh) Conjuration, Sneak, and Alteration. Had a Blast! Also I kinda grinned when I read the part "isn't wholly evil", and thought, "isn't holy evil"

You want illusion for Calm spells ofc.

If you are on PC, use "Sneak Tools" mod which allows you to KO npc instead of killing them.

It would definitely work but this build seems a bit too narrow. Put some points into Conjuration and maybe Illusion so you can Pacify enemies.

Might be better to go Paladin, since Restoration are pretty versatile for all build; to use Restoration as the main skill would be redundant and in hairy fights you will be running in a circle trying to heal yourself and your companions who land a hit every fortnight.

I had my Nord warrior went for Alteration, Restoration, Conjuration, Two handed, Enchanting, few points into Smithing. After maxing enchanting I can no-cost restoration and alteration, this means I can cast Dragonhide and be a bad-ass bare-chested (fur armor, really) nord demolisher wielding a giant hammer.

At first I wanted to be a goody Paladin, but I wanted Necromage so I can wear the Helm of Ynol. (necromage enchantments are stronger for vampire characters, which give you a free slot). The result:

Bare-chested hammer-wielding evil-looking vampire king whom breath is winter and have master vampires as bodyguards.

Sounds like a great idea, I might give that a try

I thought it might be boring at first. But i did begin to expand from just restoration. My companion doesn't often need healing because i make use of the calm spells to protect him.
I use conjuration for support of him, and only need to distract enemies while he shoots them with a crossbow or staff or even just runs in and kills them with Dawnbreaker.

I have many strategies available to me in each fight, while completely avoiding doing direct damage myself. I think that's what makes it so fun for me to play.
I've since expanded, of course, into enchanting, sneak, alteration and illusion more deeply.
My companion and I both tank for each other in a sense because he's wearing the heavy armor and can take more hits. But i can heal him and keep him from being hurt at all even if he does kill something slowly.
But i can also tank for him with alteration spells and wards while he shoots them from a distance and i'm usually impervious to damage through enchantments on my robes and clothing.

It's more fun than it sounds.

I tend to poo on pacifist runs as the epitome of silly player made challenges, but it's not my place to tell others what they can and can not do in their living rooms.

But you did.

No I didn't. I simply said I poo on the idea.
You can still use it, it's just...you know...got poo on it.
Nothing a little hot water can't fix.

I am planning a build like this. Except I was going to go restoration alteration and unarmed. Mostly I am going to go with alteration for paralyze spell and I plan on wearing only robes.

Actually, that does sound fun! I'm running a Destruction mage right now, but I may try that idea in the future! The chief benefit, aside from having to rethink how I fight, is that I could use melee-based followers to much better effect than my current character could--too much potential for friendly-fire incidents with a Destruction mage!

What race did you use? I'd imagine a Breton would be ideal for this build: a major bonus to Conjuration, and minor bonuses to Alteration, Illusion and Restoration would get them going early, and resistance to magic and Dragonskin magic absorption are always relevant to avoid magic damage. Although, of course, any race would work.