well has anyone tried a resto build yet? i'm asking because i've been thinking about trying it out. seeing how you get lydia early into game and there's other followers too.
theoretically i'd use a follower as a tank(obvious i think). probably dip into illusion and/or conjuration. probably just stick to magic, no weapons.

this is probably just a bad idea, i'm not gonna lie. a resto build character is probably what i'm gonna try next. how long it will/can be viable for in skyrim i'll have to see for myself(i think it be neat to try at least).

has anyone tried a resto build yet or have any insight into one?

There's a video floating around of a "pacifist" character type that doesn't kill anything. He has points into Resto, Illusion, and so on-- basically he fears, paralyzes, and heals himself. It looks pretty cool tbh.

As for your question, it's totally viable but in my opinion it sounds kind of boring to watch an NPC wail on a monster just to stand back and heal him/her.

i'll have to see if i can find this vid aft work, sounds interesting.

i agree just healing a npc tank will get boring. i'm planning on rolling solo as much as i can, i prefer running solo. i'll bring a tank along with me until i'm confident i can roll solo with no problems.
i've played around a bit with a destro mage, but thats the only school of magic i've really tried so far.

There's also a vid of an interesting shield warrior. He uses only a shield with deadly bash in his left hand and a heal spell with the restore stamina perk in his right hand. It seems to do lots of damage without taking much. Perfect.

My warrior-cleric inquisitor type of build uses restoration, 2h maces, heavy armour and alteration magic.

I gotta say I love my super heals combined with the +stamina perk making me power attack with my 2h weapon so easy.

I'm tempted to start building up my destruction (just for fun factor since damage scaling doesn't occur with destruction) and going the fire route to add more flavour to my inquisitor and give him a "consecrating ground/purging fire/cleansing flames" ability