I'm a sword n' board class that's gotten all my melee stats to a good level, but now I'm trying to find a good way to heal myself. Alchemy looks the easiest... but... kinda boring? Would it be easier to do alchemy or just put the rest of my stats into willpower/intel for some healing spells?

Alchemy and Restoration are pretty much the best ways to go. Either that or sleeping and waiting. :shrug:

Restore health potions are wonderfully effective, easy to make and can easily be made to weigh only 0.1. You can also pop up to four of them at once and get some serious healing over time going even while you are fighting. That said, my char prefers a healing spell because it takes no space in her inventory. If your char is an atronach, then you will likely prefer alchemy for healing.

I have a character, who cannot use certain schools of magic. He was born under the sign of the Atronach, and spending serious magicka to heal myself is a massive drain on my resources. As Acadian, says, I have turned completely to Alchemy for my restore health/magicka needs. Not only are my potions more powerful than ones provided in the game, but they weigh less, which means I can carry more stuff. I pop a restore health potion when my health gets to about 25%. It works over time, it is not instant, but the better your Alchemy skill, the better healing points you get back, which translates into faster healing over time. Use the game potions if you want instant, and sometimes we all need that.

Just Int at first, save Willpower for after Int is maxed (or close to it). Since you won't really be a caster class, magicka regen isn't as urgent as having the magicka to cast a couple healing spells in the first place. And if you're using the Atronach sign, don't even bother with Willpower.

My characters usually use homemade potions most of the time, and top off with a custom over-time spell. Really depends on how much damage they're taking though, and how often. They also go after necromancers and conjurers now and then to keep a few Potions of Healing on hand, for emergencies.

take a nap

Out of combat, I usually pump minor heal, maybe gulp a Restore Magicka potion after that. At higher levels Restoration is better so I may use a higher lvl heal spell. For combat healing I use the insta-healing potions you find. If my character needs more than he finds there's something wrong with him/her. Ingredients for lightweigtht health potions get a lot more common once Alchemy reaches 50 so alchemical healing becomes more viable at that point.

Mara

I always go for spells whenever possible. I only drink potions in the middle of combat, and only then if I am having trouble. Potions are worth money, so I prefer to sell them. Casting spells is free, and it also improves my Restoration skill and gives me a better Will bonus when I level.

On a fighter type, the best healing is an absorb health enchant on your weapon.

I use my spells when I can but stock potions for when I'm low on magicka, or (for my mages) so that I can save it for my destruction spells.

Unbreakable 85DR and 50 Restoration useing a "4pt, 25 second" spell. Sometime before the end of the 4th Era the current character will hit 75 restoration so she can upgrade her tanking spell to "6pts, 40 seconds".

I do spells if i'm either out of combat, or aren't getting killed fast, but potions are your friend in dangerous situations

potions

Even with a low alchemy skill you can pop a potion which does healing and shield which would enable you to gain health and ensure you keep the high health. (Its a really simple potion, something like venison, boar meat, potato and something else).

Its pretty much the bees knees.

This

Lesser Ring of Health: Fortify Health 15, Fortify Endurance 1, Restore Health 1 (enchanted with one of the runeskulls of MMM).

When i'm not cheating i use selfmade healing potions with my assassin and healing spells with my spellsword.

Along the way, I do lots and lots of Heal Minor Wounds (or Heal Major Wounds, once the character's got enough health and magicka to make it worth it), but in combat I rely almost entirely on premade potions, just because they're instant. I've tried using alchemy for my healing needs, but it never seems to really work out. Early in the game, when I need it most, I can't make potions that are powerful enough to save me during battle. And later in the game, when I can make those sorts of potions, I usually don't need them much any more, since I've got good AR and good weapons/spells.

I think the best approach to healing though is really the Blood of the North lesser power from The Lord birthsign. That's 90 points of restore health over 15 seconds, castable as many times as your magicka can handle, right from the beginning of the game. Set one of those off early in a battle and you're just about indestructible.

you can try lower healing for higher duration, if you're low on magicka. then overlap them. for example, make 5 pnts for 40 seconds, and name them heal 1..4. then cast all of them in rotation as necessary. you can get a 20 for 40 seconds fairly cheaply - this should far outweigh the damage while you board. the alternative is to absorb magicka, if you want your enemies to pay for your healing. heal and absorb means using your enemies' magicka to power your heals. while it is amusing to make your enemies pick up the tab, this technique doesn't work well for non-casters.

Head - nail - hit, pretty much this for me. But I think I am going to have to try something new to expand on my tricks.

I use a mixed bag depending on character. I do like The Lord birthsign for certain warrior type characters. 90 points of healing not effected by armor. It's always 100% spell effectiveness being a lesser power.

Blood of the north from the lord birthsign. I took it on my first char and I can't imagine how i could heal without it, it provides all the healing you ever need. (except for that time i was mobbed by 6 people in full daedric)

Another way isn't really healing, but 100% reflect damage works almost as well.

Sword 'n board? Then if you're not using your magicka for anything else, go the restoration route. Alchemy is way, way more involved.

No idea what Sword 'n Board means, if you mean Sword and Shield, then I'd opt for Restoration, or Alchemy. As an on-the-move soldier, you may not be able to carry alchemy stuff around, preferring to carry another sword.

Restoration is good because magic spells take up no room, but depending on how far gone you char is your Magicka may be too low for even rudimentary spells.

Depends on character. But usually either spells or powers (the Ritual powers - Mara's Gift, Mara's Milk and Mara's Mercy - are all excellent and I rarely need them more than once per day) or, alternatively, resting. I rarely use potions although I can see they would be useful in some situations. Normally if I find potions I sell them.