While thinking of my World of Warcraft Resto Druid, I thought of a great challenge for Skyrim:

Complete the main questline without killing. Only the companion and any controlled NPC, summons or undead are allowed to kill. The player is allowed to heal, fear, and use a variety of non damaging spells, abilities, ritual stone powers and shouts. I know there are a spells out there that you can cast on targets to assist them. I'm playing the 360 version so there's no way for me to cheat with console commands

I'm actually going to try this here in a few minutes.

A pacifist? Sounds like a lot of fun! Too bad I already have two characters planned out for when I finish my first character 200 hours from now . BTW, can you have a companion plus the dog like you could in FO3?

Let us know how it goes.

You can have a dog + companion but not 2 companions.

I've started playing a magical Khajiit in Morrowind as I had the sign of the Atronach back then, and I'm continuing that playstyle in Skyrim. In Morrowind and oblivion I've had pure assassins and while fun and easy the fights weren't very thrilling. Thought the challenge would be an interesting diversion!

Regarding companions, look in your conjuring skill tree. You can have 2 summons out if you pick the talent, an NPC companion and a dog.

What I'm doing as a magician currently takes about 30 seconds or a minute of setting up to use my favorite spells and manipulate encounters to my full advantage including positioning Faendal to maximize his Bow time before he swaps to the shield and sword I gave him. It also means sneaking around while observing my enemies. It might mean constant spell / staff swapping but I'm OK with that. Mages aren't built to be tanks and take heat. I feel that this challenge can't be too much worse than what I'm already doing.

For the pure hack n slash crew out there, this is not for you

Sounds incredibly boring. Also sounds like you won't be taking advantage of a ton of items that they've put in the game for us to use. Good luck though.

Companion, Dog, summons, Ethereal shout/Fear shout/Heals when things get hairy, and you're good.

Harder fights might take obviously way more time though.

Its called a challenge, not "DERP NO ITEMS ALLOWED." If you aren't interested don't post here. I'm well aware of all the amazing content in this game.

It appears someone took to the pacifist idea

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/12/06/how-to-win-at-skyrim-without-ever-killing-anything.aspx

I was going to do that until I found out healing spells don't work on summons and there is no shield on-target spell.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1302338-a-small-observation-on-the-amount-of-spells-in-the-game/

Honestly this isn't that hard at all. I'm currently on a merchant character who is strictly noncombat. I don't even use any magic. I grabbed a follower and then picked up Thonner (A quest follower so my slot isn't used by him). Thonner isn't supposed to be a permanent follower but while doing the quest where you get him you can just leave and he comes with. Looking to get a dog next.

Haven't touched the main quest but leveling up my smithing and enchanting gives my follower the best gear around.

Sounds interesting. It sounds more like you'ld be roleplaying as a scholar or historian that needs a body guard to research the ruins and artifacts you find.

Up to you what you do and don't do. As I've said before: If you don't want to do it, don't.
There are ways around everything if you have the patience for it. Patience and creativity being key here.

I'm well aware that are truly difficult fights out there for casters that require serious forethought. My Illusionist is level 35 and seeing Elder Dragons now.
Healing spells work on your companions however. I keep Faendal healed quite nicely dual casting Healing Hands. You can give companions enchanted gear as well.

True, but he uses Calm and a Mace of Fear, which is nothing like your healer (and I wouldn't call bashing enemies with a mace a pacifist). I have a mid-level thief that has yet to attack anything, he shoots arrows into objects to distract enemies so he can sneak past.

There are many ways to play a pacifist.

I was not going for a pacifist, I was going for a heavy armored knight with spells (spell + shield) with skills in blocking that would summon daedra and buff them with spells while healing them when they got hurt. That doesn't exactly work in Skyrim, I don't want to use companions either as that doesn't fit my character type.

With many of the early summons being easily brutalized by enemy NPC's and creatures I'm forced to protect my creatures by staggering and rooting them with spells like Paralyze and generally being offensive rather than focusing on just buffing or healing while being protected by my summons + large armor rating.

Would love to be able to summon my favorite Daedra, a clannfear and then throw a spell on it to increase its damage and a shield on it so it would take less damage while keeping heals at the ready for when it gets hurt. At least that was my vision when I first got the game.

The best way to live in peace is to destroy those that want war.

That is my characters view on being a pacifist.

I was planning on doing this for my second playthrough. Restoration, conjuration and alteration magic only.

Yes indeed!

I'm an illusionist buffed with perks in alteration, sneak, alchemy, and various enchanted treasures found in dungeons. Calm and Frenzy are 2 favorites.

This sounds pretty interesting. I think it's really cool how people are using companions in order to fulfill their RP.

I have a question though. Does this play style get boring after a while? I feel like you aren't involving yourself in combat at all, even no magic or healing, so that would have to get dull after a while.

Perhaps I'd be interested in a character who doesn't kill those with black souls and also harmless animals, but not the undead or dragons? You can't complete the main quest without defeating Alduin. Healing those who are fighting him isn't all that much more holier.