How do you play and manage alts in ESO?

Melivar

1 main (does all the things) and 2 primary alts (1 Stam DPS, 1 healer for dungeons and a change of pace) here with 11 others that I use mostly for Cyro Transmute farming and the fun of a different toolkit 1 day a week as well as being bank mules.

I get character ideas and then make a character and normally just leveling riding speed until at least 30 before they actually go out into the world then level them during 100% xp events. These alts netted me almost 2 million gold during the last anniversary events just doing writs and by selling motifs that I already had and helped to get me that much closer to 50 complete styles for master crafter.

Once they are leveled I find that I don't want to grind all the various guild reps and skill points to do more than 1 thing with them. They are however mostly ready to go if a balancing patch makes any of my top 3 totally unfun for things.

I have 2 of every class but night blade (main char who can just swap ability points to go mag or stam) and i have 3 necros one in each alliance before I finally settled in with the AD based on my guild pvp runs.

It's pretty easy to level at least one character during the double xp events by simply doing 1-2 BG's and the daily dungeon quests for the xp. This is with the additional 50% scroll from daily login and training gear (3, 20, and 40 for me) of course.

Biggest thing is to just go for it and not worry about the long term grinds and if they don't pan out you always have extra storage space.

xaraan

I have 18 guys, 3 of each class with one tank, one magDD, and one StamDD of each (argonian, breton and khajiit, of each, but that doesn't matter for this I guess).

There are basic things I've done for each guy somewhat equally: They are all leveled in crafting in a basic sense. i.e. they are not master crafters, but all maxed out to do writs at max level each day. I've done silver/gold on almost all of them (I think I still have to finish a couple of the necros in that) and they've done a lot of other basics like gotten most of the skyshards in the game, leveled Dark Brotherhood, FG, MG, psijic on all of them. And none of them are mules, they are all set up and carry their own gear without having to pass gear around to get ready for play. And they are all set up for PvP in a basic sense gear and loadout wise if I want to earn AP or do a BG or something on each of them.

Past that, it's preference.

I tank a lot in group content like trials, so I tend to use my six tanks pretty consistently in order of preference: DK, Warden, Necro, NB, Sorc, Templar. Templar is my fav class though, so it irks me that Templar tanking is so sub-par compared to the other classes.

On my DDs, I tend to use my templars a lot, both my mag and stam, for group content like trials.

In PvP, for ongoing play, not just earning some AP to get rewards, I prefer to use my Magplar, MagDK and Stamden and Stamdk over most of my other guys, but occasionally get a bug up my butt to use a particular guy some days.

I do have a couple master crafters that learn all the motifs and recipes, I don't worry about that on all the guys.

I tend to use my Magplar as my main solo guy for questing, clearing new zones, completing all the basic content or doing try-hard stuff like soloing WBs and such. I do try and do the main quest line in all the new zones as time goes by on all my characters, but I tend to do that whenever I feel like it, gives me something to do when I'm bored with other activities in the game. Also my NBs have been used for thieving more than others, although most all my guys have a 'stealth/thief' loadout for doing DB/TG stuff, the NBs are obviously more suited in some cases for general creepin. And I have my Magden set up to also run as as healer for group content when needed, so that gives me a focus for him that is unique. And a couple different guys are WW's or Vampires. So you end up with a mix of different character focuses that make different guys specifically useful at times.

And I also like to earn specific titles for certain characters when I can. Not always been possible for some titles depending on where you earn them (sometimes in a trial for example, I'm going to be limited to when I get to use my DDs since I'm almost always stuck as tank with our group). But since I name all my characters some variation of 'xaraan' having different titles gives me something else to tag each character with.

So anyway, that's what I do to stay busy on so many characters and make use of them over time. I think if you want to juggle characters its important to not let it become a job. Don't pressure yourself to max everything out asap or play guys you don't feel like, or even do writs everyday on every character or all that. Go with the flow and focus on what you're enjoying at the time from a character. It's a lot easier to level multiples now though, so also don't be afraid to add a guy or two to the mix and see what you enjoy.

SilverBride

I had 7 characters when I came back last year, and I wasn't managing them all. So I deleted 4 that I had no interest in playing (1 was a bank mule) and now I play the 3 who were left fairly regularly. I may play one exclusively for a few days, or even weeks, then dust off one of the others and play them for awhile. Other days they all get some play time.

I find it's easier to manage them and give them all attention if I really like playing the class.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

I have 18, 3 of each class. Each class has a Magic and Stam DPS. The third is either spec'ed as a suppport role or for PVP.

My mDK is my quester. My stamblade also doubles as a crafter. One of my Magsorcs is my primary PVP toon. My third DK is spec'ed as a tank, my 3rd Templar is spec'ed as a PVE healer. Those 5 toons, I always keep spec'ed for both combat (for the roles listed) and crafting writs.

Each patch, I will also make sure I have one magic and one stam DPS that are fully geared and trial ready in addition to the above. This changes each patch depending on meta. I usually go for what I believe to be the best bang for the buck, damage output vs. ease of rotation. Because of skill points, these two often arent spec'ed for crafting writs, just depends on which toon we are talking about.

The other 11 toons, I keep "parked" for writs and as mules. I certainly dont do writs everyday, but often on weekends I will do a dozen or more per day. Parked means basically that they have all crafting points, and perhaps skills like rapids or class skill for major expedition. I divide my gear up by type for each toon. All 18 of my toons are responsible for holding something. After next patch, that will probably change a bit as we wont need to hoard so much.

Starlight_Whisper

I usually just play same one.... though others exist for that sometimes play something else.

I have 14 characters on PC NA...and 4 four free slots. I have 2 characters on PC EU cause I did more then my part for summerset event 👀 unlike greymoor.

I like healing and find each class does it differently. So I have 3 warden healers, tank/healer, stamina healer, and pure magic Magicka healer. 👀 Why did I want make nerf warden healer thread again.... I have nb healer who is dps/healer hybrid. I have sorc healer that I played for way to long. I have dragon knight healer is meta now 😱. I have a nerco healer that I really should play some more..but first appearance change token.

Healing is a lot of work... constantly watching for 4 lives including own. Adjusting positioning to give buffs or heal. Then there's being mother to team and telling them mechs or keeping moral up. Let's not forget while watching others... you got to make sure you don't die. As such sometimes I find tanking to be reliving

I have tank of each class, though I usually just play on dk for ease of usage or nerco for engagement.

Eventually I made dps...a warden and nerco since they are just fit my style. I like beastmaster and grim reaper vibe.

So in summary, I manage alts via mood and future interests. As moody person, I also designed things, so if I wanted I could change character to do something else. Like my stamina healer is also a support dps toon. Then there's my nb and dk who could easily be dps if I ever wanted. In the end, I have 13 support characters and 1 non support. I am thinking making number 15 soon as my Magicka support dps.

Jaimeh

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I've realised I have a really hard time trying to convince myself to pickup a new class to try something different, I feel like this shouldn't be the case.

I like to complete things, whether that be achievements, skyshards, zones etc. The thought of doing all this over and over on another characters just makes me cringe. Let's not forget mount training..

So I'm asking you guys how do you handle it, how do you make it work?

I have a lot of alt characters and I play with all of them to varying degrees. I think the trick is to forego the notion that you have to complete all the things with your alts as well. I have gone one step further and stopped worrying on which character I clear things, though if you are worried about achievement points, you can do all the new things with your main, and then play on trials/dungeons/pvp with your alts. I have characters for thieving, farming, all pve roles and specs, pvp... they have their own outfits/gear, and it is indeed a lot of work, but for me it's also a lot of fun. I'd say start with a new character of a class you want to try out, and spec him in a new role you want to try, and see how you enjoy the process. You don't have to do all the exploration again, just get the necessary skill lines that you will need at first, and if you enjoy playing with that character, they will aquire skill points etc., just by normally playing.

BoraxFlux

To anticipate better in PvE and PvP , I aim to have at least both versions of all classes, e.g Magcro - Stamcro, Magplar - Stamplar etc.
Also aim to have all races at least once. Atm I still lack a MagDk, a Bosmer and a Redguard.

I 'm still surprised by combo's people use in the game which might be skills, armor or otherwise, (I don't know each set), luckily there is a forum to ask around

I used to delete chars if they didn't add to the game what I expected, it's seldom now, because it is a grind to get the chars ready with skilltrees, skillpoints, riding lessons, sets...
Better to leave a character like that 'cooking' for a while when I reach a dead-end, after a while the interest is rekindled by reading up on skills, sets and tips of content-creators / builders.

Destai

It's good to have a main you most, if not all things on. My Warden is my main, and I have few others that I enjoy playing. He does all my crafting, main stories first, etc. I initially set out to have one of each class and fulfill a certain fantasy. Turns out some fantasies just don't feel right. I don't like my necromancer. Just isn't who I am. I had to change my nightblade to be a dark elf because the assassin concept fit him better than a redguard. If I don't like a character, they sit there and do crafting dailies for money.

Flaaklypa

leveling to 50 is super boring, so im currently only on 6 chars at max. One of each class

Raideen

I have 12 characters but I only really play about 3 of them, others are parked for farming or something. I have no issue playing a single class mostly but I do enjoy alts only because in my experience game devs have a tendency to over tune or under tune too much during balance cycles. This leaves some classes or builds completely useless and others mandatory to run end game content without being harassed about your performance.

There is also the issue of finding something fun to play. Of all the MMO's I have played, ESO is the hardest to find a fun class I enjoy, mostly due to the fact that you cant play any class in ESO as a class, you always need skills from other skill lines to be competitive but in doing so makes classes lose their flavor. So I created a lot of alts looking for something fun to play. I found that finally in a high elf templar, but the AOE changes happening on the PTR right now scare the heck out of me for how this will impact my build in huge negative ways.

ZOS always ends up doing something that pushes me away from this game after about 3 months or so. I hope this is not the case with the changes on the PTR, I'd like to play a bit longer this go around.

Xebov

I have 18 characters. 15 are only used for daily crafting. 2 are crafter/tank that i use for crafting and sometimes pledges (one is my old main). 1 is my main that i use for all achievments, colections etc.

ESO has a big problem when it comes to creating new full characters. Riding and research takes months. Colelcting skilllpoints and skyshards again. I remember that i spend 3 months just to get my new main through all quests and i think it took 6-8 months total to get him into a position my old main was.

Ysbriel

For me it’s been leveling them up, getting them gear and then see how the newest changes nerfs them, afterwards they just become “event dailies only” characters.

Raideen

Xebov wrote: »

I have 18 characters. 15 are only used for daily crafting. 2 are crafter/tank that i use for crafting and sometimes pledges (one is my old main). 1 is my main that i use for all achievments, colections etc.

ESO has a big problem when it comes to creating new full characters. Riding and research takes months. Colelcting skilllpoints and skyshards again. I remember that i spend 3 months just to get my new main through all quests and i think it took 6-8 months total to get him into a position my old main was.

Solid point about new characters and the how much work has to be put into them.

180 days to get mounts up. Months of play for undaunted, psyjiic, mages guild and skyshards that all need to be worked before you can begin to build the character to something playable.

SpiritofESO

SpiritofESO

Raideen

SpiritofESO wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I don't know if it's just me but starting new characters just seems like a whole lot of work to do.

I agree.

I have one Main and one Alt and I purchased all Skyshards (with Crowns) and some skill lines because I just didn't want to do that all over again.

The issue is that some of us do not have over $400.00 US Dollars PER CHARACTER to spend on mounts, skill lines and skyshards that take months and months of grinding. This is of course on top of ESO+ and any mount or other cosmetic things from the crown store.

It would take 56450 crowns to unlock the above mentioned and that does not include vampire, werewolf.

I would have an extremely hard time spending 400+ dollars for time gated skill unlocks if this was ACCOUNT wide, but I could absolutely not do that for a single character.

For an entire account that would be right at $7000.00 dollars. WOW

deleted221106-002999

Just made a new mule on na. More mules on eu (played longer there).

Pve characters: tank & healer(s), dd/dps (rarely).

pvp: nb, templar(retired due to imminent changes).

I play according to mood but sometimes 'graphical accountancy', alas, becomes necessary (too many survey maps, for example).

My forum character, too; but not sure of this character's role at all.

Kiralyn2000

Raideen wrote: »

SpiritofESO wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I don't know if it's just me but starting new characters just seems like a whole lot of work to do.

I agree.

I have one Main and one Alt and I purchased all Skyshards (with Crowns) and some skill lines because I just didn't want to do that all over again.

The issue is that some of us do not have over $400.00 US Dollars PER CHARACTER to spend on mounts, skill lines and skyshards that take months and months of grinding. This is of course on top of ESO+ and any mount or other cosmetic things from the crown store.

It would take 56450 crowns to unlock the above mentioned and that does not include vampire, werewolf.

I would have an extremely hard time spending 400+ dollars for time gated skill unlocks if this was ACCOUNT wide, but I could absolutely not do that for a single character.

For an entire account that would be right at $7000.00 dollars. WOW

The other option, of course, would be to just play the game. There's no reason for anyone to "need" to spend those Crowns. It's entirely a personal decision to pay to avoid playing.

Minyassa

I have 18 toons. Only one is my "completionist" toon that I worry about trying to get everything done with. The others I pick up achievements with here and there, but for the most part I play them when I am in the mood for whatever flavor of different play style their race, class and attributes bring to the table, as well as just cosmetic differences and sometimes differences in the way NPCs behave around them. Since I don't grind relentlessly to get things done with them, it's always very relaxed and I have fun with them, it's not really repetitive because it's not a repeat over and over right after I've just done the same thing. The only repetitive thing I do with them is crafting writs and that's just to make money and only takes me an hour or so. So really they are just there for fun, not as dedicated pursuits. I have a main tank, a main dps, a main healer, and a bunch of experiments. And those roles are liable to change if any of my experiments turn out to be better at their role than my current mains. It's all chill.

WhiteScythe

Raideen wrote: »

SpiritofESO wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I don't know if it's just me but starting new characters just seems like a whole lot of work to do.

I agree.

I have one Main and one Alt and I purchased all Skyshards (with Crowns) and some skill lines because I just didn't want to do that all over again.

The issue is that some of us do not have over $400.00 US Dollars PER CHARACTER to spend on mounts, skill lines and skyshards that take months and months of grinding. This is of course on top of ESO+ and any mount or other cosmetic things from the crown store.

It would take 56450 crowns to unlock the above mentioned and that does not include vampire, werewolf.

I would have an extremely hard time spending 400+ dollars for time gated skill unlocks if this was ACCOUNT wide, but I could absolutely not do that for a single character.

For an entire account that would be right at $7000.00 dollars. WOW

See this is where I also go.. well that sucks.

Why are we paying to skip the game on other characters? This to me seems like a serious design flaw.. and the sheer amount to do so as pointed out above is absolutely ridiculous.

Instead of fixing the game to allow account-wide things to help "ease" how stupid it is to obtain all this stuff again i.e mount speed, skyshards, skill lines etc.. ZOS/Beth just wants us to pay with real cash and that my friends is where you see the true colours of this company.

I love the game don't get me wrong, I just don't like the way they go about these things instead of trying to improve the game, they just want to improve their wallets.

Raideen

WhiteScythe wrote: »

Raideen wrote: »

SpiritofESO wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I don't know if it's just me but starting new characters just seems like a whole lot of work to do.

I agree.

I have one Main and one Alt and I purchased all Skyshards (with Crowns) and some skill lines because I just didn't want to do that all over again.

The issue is that some of us do not have over $400.00 US Dollars PER CHARACTER to spend on mounts, skill lines and skyshards that take months and months of grinding. This is of course on top of ESO+ and any mount or other cosmetic things from the crown store.

It would take 56450 crowns to unlock the above mentioned and that does not include vampire, werewolf.

I would have an extremely hard time spending 400+ dollars for time gated skill unlocks if this was ACCOUNT wide, but I could absolutely not do that for a single character.

For an entire account that would be right at $7000.00 dollars. WOW

See this is where I also go.. well that sucks.

Why are we paying to skip the game on other characters? This to me seems like a serious design flaw.. and the sheer amount to do so as pointed out above is absolutely ridiculous.

Instead of fixing the game to allow account-wide things to help "ease" how stupid it is to obtain all this stuff again i.e mount speed, skyshards, skill lines etc.. ZOS/Beth just wants us to pay with real cash and that my friends is where you see the true colours of this company.

I love the game don't get me wrong, I just don't like the way they go about these things instead of trying to improve the game, they just want to improve their wallets.

Your last statement hits the nail on head and how I feel exactly. I don't begrudge them making money, not at all. In fact I have made a plethora of requests or shared ideas on how they can actually make more money with already existing assets.

But there is an honest way to make money and a less than honest way. When I observe fun taking a backseat to money, its a huge turn off and probably why I only last a few months at a time playing.

WhiteScythe

@Raideen yep it's why I think I also last a month or two and go well, not having any fun anymore so I end up quitting for a while. It's been a cycle I've done since launch sadly and I really wanted ESO to draw me in and keep me here.

Raideen

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

Raideen wrote: »

SpiritofESO wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I don't know if it's just me but starting new characters just seems like a whole lot of work to do.

I agree.

I have one Main and one Alt and I purchased all Skyshards (with Crowns) and some skill lines because I just didn't want to do that all over again.

The issue is that some of us do not have over $400.00 US Dollars PER CHARACTER to spend on mounts, skill lines and skyshards that take months and months of grinding. This is of course on top of ESO+ and any mount or other cosmetic things from the crown store.

It would take 56450 crowns to unlock the above mentioned and that does not include vampire, werewolf.

I would have an extremely hard time spending 400+ dollars for time gated skill unlocks if this was ACCOUNT wide, but I could absolutely not do that for a single character.

For an entire account that would be right at $7000.00 dollars. WOW

The other option, of course, would be to just play the game. There's no reason for anyone to "need" to spend those Crowns. It's entirely a personal decision to pay to avoid playing.

Actually if you want to get a feel for how your build will work, many of those "crowns" are necessary, especially sky shards and skill lines from guilds.

The fact is those are put into game as tedium to pressure the player into spending dumb amounts of money on them. That is the design decision behind them. I can see those being used to slow progression for a new player who is still learning the game, but by the time the main character unlocks all of them there is no real need to gate the player anymore.

The other issue is at the price they are charging, as I said, would be expensive under the idea that the unlocks were account wide but they are not which just goes from ridiculous to ludicrous.

I mean there is making money, there is greed and then there is this.

Raideen

WhiteScythe wrote: »

@Raideen yep it's why I think I also last a month or two and go well, not having any fun anymore so I end up quitting for a while. It's been a cycle I've done since launch sadly and I really wanted ESO to draw me in and keep me here.

Man that is exactly what happens to my GF and I. She played in beta, said it was terrible...she came back and asked me to play it a few years ago. I love MMO's so I thought why not. I LOVED Morrowind and I always liked Bethesda as a game studio (the old Bethesda...new Bethesda not so much) so we bough the game and dove in.

I think initially we played for about 6 months, then got fed up with the tedium and loot crates. I started seeing the design behind the game instead of the game which takes me out of the immersive element I was trying to get into in the first place. We left the game, then came back after some time. Then left after a month or two, then came back, and rinse and repeat.

Both of us HATE the combat in this game, specifically weaving/animation cancelling. I know my GF is trying her bum off to get gear, skill and rotations down based on popular builds but she is just not seeing the DPS. I am the same, but I am doing a little bit better than her. And its not for a lack of trying. I study CP, where to put them, what abilities to use, what potions to use, what armor to use etc etc etc and I still can not parse more than 25k and that IS with weaving.

So, its just frustration outside of the fact that weaving itself is physically painful. I could balance 75 keybinds on my hunter in WOW and perform at the top of the class but I cant manage 10 here becasue of the bar swapping (which she REALLY hates). The bar swapping is an element from them making the game to work on console and PC. But its not really that great of a feature on PC.

I dunna. I dont want to keep talking about all this becasue it will just make me log off and go find something else to do. I truly want to do well and enjoy the game but every time I get close, ZOS reminds me of why I leave in the first place.

Aznarb

That why I was stuck with my Templar for way to long.
Don't like to have unfinished achievement and don't like made 2 time the same thing cuz it's incredibly time consuming and for most of them : boring.

Never understand why a game like this, who like GW2 have ton of achivement to do ; don't have them bound to account, made no sens..

So, I finally decided that I don't care anymore about achievement and switched on my Tankcro which is more fun but have nothing done expect skyshard and useful skill line.

For mount, simple :
When on my first char I understand the time it will made to make it full, I created 1 char of each class and leveling horse everyday then the day I've pick them to XP, they was ready.

WhiteScythe

Raideen wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

@Raideen yep it's why I think I also last a month or two and go well, not having any fun anymore so I end up quitting for a while. It's been a cycle I've done since launch sadly and I really wanted ESO to draw me in and keep me here.

Man that is exactly what happens to my GF and I. She played in beta, said it was terrible...she came back and asked me to play it a few years ago. I love MMO's so I thought why not. I LOVED Morrowind and I always liked Bethesda as a game studio (the old Bethesda...new Bethesda not so much) so we bough the game and dove in.

I think initially we played for about 6 months, then got fed up with the tedium and loot crates. I started seeing the design behind the game instead of the game which takes me out of the immersive element I was trying to get into in the first place. We left the game, then came back after some time. Then left after a month or two, then came back, and rinse and repeat.

Both of us HATE the combat in this game, specifically weaving/animation cancelling. I know my GF is trying her bum off to get gear, skill and rotations down based on popular builds but she is just not seeing the DPS. I am the same, but I am doing a little bit better than her. And its not for a lack of trying. I study CP, where to put them, what abilities to use, what potions to use, what armor to use etc etc etc and I still can not parse more than 25k and that IS with weaving.

So, its just frustration outside of the fact that weaving itself is physically painful. I could balance 75 keybinds on my hunter in WOW and perform at the top of the class but I cant manage 10 here becasue of the bar swapping (which she REALLY hates). The bar swapping is an element from them making the game to work on console and PC. But its not really that great of a feature on PC.

I dunna. I dont want to keep talking about all this becasue it will just make me log off and go find something else to do. I truly want to do well and enjoy the game but every time I get close, ZOS reminds me of why I leave in the first place.

I personally hate bar swapping too, it's even worse with lag. I live in Australia so it's a casual 270+ms every damn time I log into the game. Cyrodiil is dead during my prime time, no one even answers in the zone (it's most likely because no one is there lol)

I played in the beta, on launch until 45 when we all got stuck (especially if you were AD what a mistake that was haha DC for life) on the main quest line. Got to 50 and it's been a on again off again game for me ever since.

I feel you, both of you. Every single point you've made, yep I'm right there in the feels.

WhiteScythe

This time though, I've lasted a whole 14 days. 16 days left on my sub. Won't be coming back this time.

AlnilamE

I have 11 permanent characters and one Iron Vestige

My magicka Nightblade is my "completionist" and my other characters start working on achievements once she is done with them.

Leveling is easy. Just log in to your character every day to train mounts and then take the character to Guild Events. That will get some exploration done and skyshards/skillpoints.

When it's their turn to level undaunted, I start taking them to pledges or just run a few dungeons with guildies.

I have 2 characters that have completed Cadwell's Gold, 2 working on Silver, 3 that have completed Cyrodiil, 4 that have the "loot 1000 chests" achievement, 4 that have all the Daedric Generals.

When event happen, I look at who needs to work on the event achievements next and focus on that character first.

But in general, when I make a new character, I'm not in a rush. They'll level eventually and get all the skillpoints they need.

Would not dream of spending crowns on this stuff.

Kiralyn2000

Raideen wrote: »

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

Raideen wrote: »

SpiritofESO wrote: »

WhiteScythe wrote: »

I don't know if it's just me but starting new characters just seems like a whole lot of work to do.

I agree.

I have one Main and one Alt and I purchased all Skyshards (with Crowns) and some skill lines because I just didn't want to do that all over again.

The issue is that some of us do not have over $400.00 US Dollars PER CHARACTER to spend on mounts, skill lines and skyshards that take months and months of grinding. This is of course on top of ESO+ and any mount or other cosmetic things from the crown store.

It would take 56450 crowns to unlock the above mentioned and that does not include vampire, werewolf.

I would have an extremely hard time spending 400+ dollars for time gated skill unlocks if this was ACCOUNT wide, but I could absolutely not do that for a single character.

For an entire account that would be right at $7000.00 dollars. WOW

The other option, of course, would be to just play the game. There's no reason for anyone to "need" to spend those Crowns. It's entirely a personal decision to pay to avoid playing.

Actually if you want to get a feel for how your build will work, many of those "crowns" are necessary, especially sky shards and skill lines from guilds.

None of that is "necessary". As proof, people played the game (with alts, and other builds, etc) successfully long before ZOS put those things in the crown store.

The fact is those are put into game as tedium to pressure the player into spending dumb amounts of money on them. That is the design decision behind them. I can see those being used to slow progression for a new player who is still learning the game, but by the time the main character unlocks all of them there is no real need to gate the player anymore.

This is an MMO. Everything is put into it as "tedium" to make you play longer. That's been the core of the genre since it began. Of course, in those days it was to make you pay the required subscription longer. (Well, and the ever-and-always "Players will use up content 10x faster than we can make it, so we will make it take 10x longer to give us time to make more" thing.)

People feeling they "have" to blow cash on those idiotic & wasteful Crown Store skill lines/riding lessons/etc is entirely due to their personal issues ("I have to test this build properly" "I can't play without X skill line" "I can't play <content> unless totally maxed out at cap" etc. That's not ZOS's fault, that's yours.)

Sarannah

When I felt like making a new character I did.
I play until their inventory is full with researchables, then I go to playing another character. Cycle this until all my characters are playable. After a while the inventory of certain characters are near empty again, and I start playing those again. Rinse and repeat the research cycle.
Meanwhile I log in on all my characters every day, while queueing research and feeding horses.

Right now most of my characters have done quite a lot of research, have very high crafting skilllevels(though still at 0 points in them), and 15/18 of my characters have horse feeding maxed out.

Over time, some characters get really old. Or are no longer playable with the gear/skills they have on, due to all the patches and nerfs/buffs. So every once in a while I respec characters, when needed.

I do have a designated character for crafting, and one main(same one). Besides that I have mains which I play for certain content, like for tanking, pvping, exxcavating, events, etc(also one main per alliance). Some overlap.

Edit: Easiest is to just create multiple characters at once. Do a BG/dungeon daily on them all, and play one as a main. When that main's inventory is full, switch to one of the other two. Meanwhile do research and feed horses on all of them. Seems the quickest.