I have 3 character templates in mind. A mage who uses nothing but magic. A Thief who is really a Jack of All Trades and will use everything (last character I play).

And a Warrior who is lousy at magic, only able to use it indirectly through Enchanting and Alchemy. A character that I never raise the Magika for.

But, I wonder if I might need at least Restoration for healing. Health regens between battles, right? And I suppose Alchemy has health potions. Still, opinions?

You'll be fine, it's perfectly viable. You'll get by with potions you find, potions you create if you use Alchemy, auto-health-regen and general good defences.

... and cooking!

I do that all the time. Most of my healing just comes from potions and resting.

Well in Oblivion I did a PURE Warrior with no magic , and it was all just fine and dandy

Same thing I did PURE Rogue no magic and he was above and beyond all expectations

Also of course PURE Mage who only used magic and he was perfectly fine too

Really I think you're supposed to make them stereotypical , when you start having a cloth wearing 2 handed sword weilding assassin who specializes in restoration magic things get weird...

If i use magic this will happen :mage:

Is there a cooking skill / perk in Skyrim? o.O

not even a little magic ; unthinkcable

It's not a skill, but it's confirmed that cooking foods give them vastly superior healing properties. I think the example was cooking roast rabbit or something similar, the product of which healed 5 points per second for about a minute or something equally awesome. I'm sure someone will post a link.

EDIT: The cooking wasn't linked to Alchemy either. It's just a standalone thing anyone can do if they have food and a fire.

You should be good in the vanilla version. Once a few realism mods are released it might be tougher if you use them.

Yes, yes there is.

Food and rest for out of battle health regeneration and potions for during combat should suffice.
For diseases you can contact your local churchlike object or whip a potion.

Remember how Todd kept regaining health during the battle with the dragon in the demo?

Potions, my friend. A warrior's best friend. Just make sure you have enough money to buy them.

Go for it! It will definitely be more difficult without using any magic, but if it's your cup of tea...Magic looks so cool this time around though, I don't know how any character can go without at least one school of Magic in their arsenal.

You could get by without the alchemy. Cooking, the slow regeneration, and let''s face it, when were found in loot health potions scarce in Oblivion? Remember, every perk you don't take for alchemy or restoration is another for armour, block or smithing. Heal damage, or just take less in the first place?

yup. its doable, you'll start off with the 2 starter spells and racial magic of course but just ignore them. either learn alchemy or be good with money and buy potions.

Well, seeing as health regenerates automatically anyway, I don't see why you'd even need alchemy either.

Make sure you learn archery.

Gotta bring those dragons down somehow.