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I usually don't entertain the notion of powergaming like that mentioned here, but if the Cleric suggestion is good, isn't a Druid suggestion better? For survival, the Iron Skins could certainly help, plus you wouldn't be limited to only blunt weapons (not that it matters, as blunt weapons kick a** in BG). I am of course still suggesting multi-class. Druid/Mage or Cleric/Mage w/ SotM would be your best "turtler," I think. Maybe dual class would be better than multi -- get your HPs up faster as one advancing class, then switch at a time when you can catch up without risking your neck too much.
Your friend is right though- you wouldn't survive. Or, if you did, you'd likely miss a lot and/or go REAAALLLY slow. This is 'cause you know the game, but the hypothetical character would not. How many times, before you knew the game like the back or your hand, did you stumble into a battle you weren't prepared for? Sure, after it kicked your ass and you reloaded, it was an easy battle - but the surprise made all the difference in the world. So, there's not way to avoid the "cheat" of knowing everything about the game.
Oh, and if you intend to play a "live with your mistakes" rule, I don't know that a rod of resurrection is off-limits. Remeber, in the D&D world, such an item is no less "real" than Carsomyr or Floating multi-eyed genius ball-like monsters that cast spells. I'd see it as something to try if BG had the "hovering on death's door" rule, as that rule makes a lot of sense (if you go below 0 HP you are unconscious and bleeding, -10 HP is final death). But, without that rule, you are putting a limitation on your game that, though it certainly makes the game *harder*, has little to do with your notion of "keeping it real."
Final side note - in D&D rules, I don't think elves can be resurrected (anyone feel free to tell me if I'm wrong)
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