There is something wrong if a lvl 10 can 1v1 you in pvp as soon as you hit vr1 there is a huge difference to not only in your stats but you have spent so many more skill points that you have a massive advantage. When I hit vr1 most any non VR player became almost free kills for me.
I found lvling from VR1 to 5 was a bit rough but after VR 5 it seemed to level out. At VR6 or so Craglorn is a lot of fun.

In PVP level 10-49 power is in one bracket But once you hit VR1 you are in the next power bracket and it is like day and night difference and your stats go way up from level 49. In most cases level 1-49s are easy kills for VR ranks.

So your comment of a level 10 staying on par with your VR2 makes me wonder if you are playing your character correctly in PVP

I agree with the OP, I felt the same way.

ESO has a real problem with the difficulty/reward ratio. 1-50 seems pretty good and when you level up its exciting.
Veteran Ranks loses that and I can't quite place my finger on why. It may be that there is no real reward for leveling to a new Rank except you are now able to use that levels equipment which like the OP said is not much of a difference.

Seeking Skyshards is a good way to pass the time and it does help a little with the feeling of Character progression but not much.

The feeling that I was doing something useful with my character stopped at VR5, I hit VR8 but I am stopping for now. I'll come back when they dangle a carrot worth chasing.

I mostly agree with the OP, still considering exactly what I think.

I too thought I would get points to spend in my stamina/health etc and had I realised I didn't, I would have spent my existing ones in a slightly different way (expensive re-spec coming up

I used anomalies to get from nearly vet 2 to vet 3 for the simple reason I was dying so much doing AD (started in DC, after main quest was sent to AD) I just felt I needed to be a couple of levels higher to stand any chance (not interested in farming my way to Vet 12, just trying to be able to handle current content) and I have noticed very very very little difference from being vet 1 to being vet 3

That said, I think for me part of the problem was how relatively easy the game was for the first 50 levels. Only a handful of things that were a real struggle (group dungeons aside, and even those weren't that bad).

And due to that, I had got used to equipping and using my favourite skills, for example, my main weapon is a flame staff and I had the following 5 skills.


Slot 1: Fire Reach IV (Destructive Reach IV)
Slot 2: Fire Ring IV (Elemental; Ring IV)
Slot 3: Endless Fury IV
Slot 4: Either Summon Twilight Matriarch IV, or depending on situation or if in group dungeon etc Silver Bolts IV
Slot 5: Unstable Clannfear IV (or Magelight in PvP)

Ultimate: Summon Charged Atronach IV

And that did me fine through the first 50 levels, however if I now get 3 mobs in AD, I will more than likely die using the above.

I discussed this on my guild forum and someone pointed out that I had zero crowd control and suggested I swap one of my skills for Rune Prison.

I have only had a few hrs playtime since trying it, but it's made a huge difference. Being able to stun one mob for 15 secs if 3 come at me means while it's still hard at vet level, I am surviving far more and it's becoming more enjoyable. In hindsight it's an obvious suggestion, but one I needed to be told

I think I need to try out various other skills and have a good play then I think vet levels may really grow on me.

However the one thing I don't like is that I really wanted to do both AD and EP on alts with a brand new questing experience, and being almost forced to do them on my main, kind of spoils the experience I will have when I do.