How to stay viable while leveling

Ryanbushie · June 2015

Back again with another noob question. Is there some kind of method to fully understanding which skills/passives you want and don't want ? (while leveling). Im not going into specifics since im still stumped on what my main will be , but i just want to make sure my characters stay viable throughout levelling allowing me to fully understand how to play my role the correct way.

Any tips or do i just worry too much about ruining my character?

TheSunAlsoRises · June 2015

if you want to a general comment; when i level (very early on), i focus on putting points in active skills first. prioritizing skills that do direct damage over dots (like wrecking blow, surprise attack for NB etc.). getting survival and utility skills along the way as needed. this all depends on the class but for sure with templar, i'd get all my heals first. EDIT: passive skills are probably the last thing i get if i have ample skill points.

hopefully by 10, i'd have some skills to help in dungeons and then it's all just gravy.

also, yes, you're probably worrying too much about "ruining" your character. you can always respec for cheap in your faction's main city. just have fun and learn the game.

also, also, eso-skills.com for reference on skill trees, if you haven't seen this already.

Tankqull · June 2015

the only passiva or skill i can think of that is quite useless is rebate from sorcs but beside that evrything has its purpose and can be depending on your spec and role usefull.

driosketch · June 2015

Zones for level 1-50 will be pretty easy. You might only have trouble with some world bosses, or other things that actually group encounters. Have at least one skill of each class skill line slotted so you can unlock new skills. Early on, passives are not that important, wait till you have extra skill points to start spending on them. Also try to wear at least one of each kind of armor, light, med, and heavy, to get those level. It'll be easier on you late game if you decide to switch roles.

As for your hot bar rotation, I divide skills into three categories: survival, CC, and damage. Survival are your heals, your armor buffs, shields, invisibility, or even a summon to distract the enemy. CC, or crowd control, are your knock downs, immovablizations, and snares. (Keep in mind, later enemies may be immune.) Damage is what it sounds like. Try to have at least one of each and you should be good for the most part. Anything more specific, and we'll need to know your class. Good luck.

Ryanbushie · June 2015

I would really like to get into tanking having been far to afraid of sucking in all my previous mmos. Most likely i would roll an orc dk tank (dont care about min/maxing through racials)

What would be my early skills/playstyle/attributes while leveling and doing low level group content. I ask all this because im the type of guy who prefers to just get it right instead of experimenting.

Tankqull · June 2015

for lvling it doesent matter at all.
in group content you should have 5 pieces of heavy armor (maximizing your mitigation if you can get it hist bark set is a nice supporting crafted set) + sword&board and either craft it on your own or ask a guild crafter to get jewelry runes with block cost reduction.
skill wise the only skill needed is the taunt (1st 1h+shield skill) -< have in mind that it lasts 15sec and that you must not use it more frequently than every 8 seconds or you are over taunting your target enraging it wich gets you rid of its aggro.
support skills like spiked armor, talons, dragon blood are nice but not neccessarily depended

UrQuan · June 2015

Honestly, it's hard not to stay viable while leveling. Unless you make a truly bizarre build, almost anything will work out fine up to level 50. You may not be quite as powerful as someone who has put more thought into how their skills interact, and what rotations they will use, but don't worry too much about it. Levels 1-50 are where you should be trying out different skills to figure out which ones work for you, and in what combinations.

Now having said that, since you're looking to tank, as @Tankqull says you're going to want to focus on sword & board - particularly the first skill in the line (the taunt). There are other S&B skills that are great for tanks, as well as various class skills, armour skills, etc, but the one absolute essential tank skill is Puncture (and its morphs). Without that skill, you're really not a tank. I mean, there's only 1 other taunt in the game, and I guess you could rely entirely on it, but Puncture is just so much better.