Summary
If you've spent hundreds of hours in Skyrim and want to try ESO but don't know where to start, this guide is for you. We break down one Skyrim veteran's first-time experience — what pushes new players away, what pulls them in, and how to survive the first few hours. And if you'd rather skip the early grind altogether, you can always buy ESO Items to give your character a head start.
1. Character Creation: Deeper Than Skyrim, But Costlier
ESO's character creation feels familiar to Skyrim players, but with more options. You can adjust jawlines, tattoos, even eyebrow tilt.
Race Selection
ESO has 10 races, each with unique passive skills that affect your playstyle. For a stealth archer, Wood Elf or Khajiit are solid choices. If you don't care about min-maxing, pick whatever you like — any race can play any class and role.
Class Selection
ESO has seven classes: Dragonknight, Sorcerer, Nightblade, Templar, Warden, Necromancer, and Arcanist. Nightblade fits stealth gameplay best and feels closest to Skyrim's thief style.
One Trap: Appearance Changes Cost Money
If you want to change your character's appearance later, you need an Appearance Change Token. This is the first of ESO's many hidden costs.
2. Story: Dumbledore Shows Up, But You Have No Idea What's Happening
ESO's story is a major turn-off for many Skyrim veterans. You start hearing lines like "I am despair and hope" and have no clue what's going on.
That said, ESO's voice cast is stacked — you'll recognize several Harry Potter actors. The writers put a lot into the story, but the pacing in the first few hours isn't friendly to newcomers.
Advice: Don't play ESO like Skyrim. In Skyrim, you can ignore the main quest and wander. In ESO, the main story is worth following — around 3 hours in, you'll start getting genuinely invested.
3. UI and Currencies: What Are These 47 Currencies?
This is ESO's biggest barrier for new players.
UI/HUD Overload
The moment you finish the tutorial, your screen floods with quest markers, tutorial pop-ups, and icons. ESO doesn't give new players time to settle in.
Currency System
ESO has an absurd number of currencies. The main ones:
Gold — Base currency for trading and services
Alliance Points — PvP currency
Tel Var Stones — Imperial City currency
Crowns — Premium currency bought with real money
Transmute Crystals — Used to change gear traits
There are also Undaunted Keys, Writ Vouchers, Seals, and more. Advice: Don't try to learn them all upfront. Gold is enough to start. You'll pick up the rest as needed.
The Crown Store Is Everywhere
You exit the tutorial and immediately see Crown Store ads. A virtual house costs 13,000 Crowns — about £75. This is ESO's most criticized aspect.
4. Combat: From Pausing to Eat Cabbage to Real-Time Dodging
Skyrim combat: pause → eat 5 cabbages → drink potion → continue. ESO combat: dodge, block, interrupt, light attack, heavy attack, weave skills, watch cooldowns, check stamina, pray your ping doesn't spike.
The Archer Reality
If you pick a bow, the first few hours feel fine. But eventually, you realize you're just running in circles pressing the shoot button.
Third Person Works Better
Skyrim players default to first person, but ESO's third person is more practical — dodging feels more natural.
Enemies Barely React
ESO enemies barely flinch when hit. You can put 50 arrows in their face and they won't move. This is the biggest issue with combat feel.
5. Skills and Leveling: Like a Loyalty Program
Each level gives you 1 skill point and 1 attribute point. The skill system has dozens of skill lines — class, weapon, armor, guild, PvP, crafting, and more.
How Skill Leveling Works
You level up skill lines by actually using those skills. The more you use them, the faster they unlock. It's like a loyalty program, but early on it's hard to know what's worth investing in.
Early Advice
Pick one direction. If you want a stealth archer, focus on the Nightblade class line plus the Bow weapon line. Don't spread your points.
6. The World: ESO's Biggest Strength
ESO's world design is its greatest success.
From Skyrim's snowy peaks to all of Tamriel, every region feels handcrafted. Jungles, deserts, volcanic islands, apocalyptic wastelands — all seamlessly connected into a believable world.
Exploration Rewards
Hidden caves, lore books, world events, side quests, hidden bosses everywhere. This isn't a "theme park" MMO — it's Tamriel evolved.
The only downside: your map has more icons than a mobile game, and you'll get distracted chasing every skyshard from level 12.
7. Practical Tips for New Players
First 10 Hours Survival Rules
Don't rush to spend Crowns — the store will tempt you constantly. Play for a few days first.
Follow the main quest — the first 3 hours may feel confusing, but it gets better.
Pick one skill direction — don't spread your points.
Use third person — dodging feels more natural.
Don't stress about currencies — Gold is enough at first. Learn the rest slowly.
Accept that it's not Skyrim — ESO is its own game, not a mod.
Is It Worth Playing?
ESO is experiencing a renaissance in 2026. ZeniMax has rolled out class reworks, better monetization, and more free content. The game is moving forward, not standing still.
For Skyrim veterans, ESO won't replace Skyrim. But if you give it time, it gives you a coming home feeling — just with more buttons and a more visible cash shop.
Quick Reference
Item | Recommendation |
Race | Pick what you like, or choose for gameplay |
Class | Nightblade for stealth style |
Camera | Third person |
Early Focus | Follow main quest, pick one skill direction |
Currency | Learn Gold first, rest later |
Crown Store | Don't rush to spend |
Mindset | This isn't Skyrim — it's a new game |
Conclusion
ESO is a double-edged sword for Skyrim veterans. Its world is beautiful, its content is massive, and its story has depth. But its UI is chaotic, its currencies are overwhelming, and its cash shop is everywhere.
If you can push through the first 3 hours of confusion, you'll find yourself in a Tamriel worth exploring. It won't replace Skyrim — but it might become your next few hundred hours. If you want a faster start, MMOEXP is a trusted marketplace where you can find ESO Items for sale to gear up your character right away.
