Is crafting and gathering a viable playstyle in this game?

In my experience, crafting in ESO isn’t as complex as in some other MMOs. You don’t get to piece equipment together in layers; crafting is pretty straightforward with just raw materials. So you won’t be crafting items like swords in separate parts, just keep it in mind when planning your crafting path.

As someone who’s played for about nine years, I suggest focusing on these points: first, gather skyshards to increase your crafting skills; they’re very important. Second, gather everything you can; materials are essential for crafting. Don’t forget to explore containers in public dungeons—those can yield valuable recipes. Don’t waste time on crafting gear for selling, instead focus on furnishings, and definitely join guilds to sell your crafts better!

Absolutely! Just remember to utilize the armory for separate crafting and combat builds. Starting out, skill points are going to be limited, so focus on main quests and maybe grind some PvP to earn more points. Your crafting relies heavily on skill points, recipes, and motifs, which you can gather from different zones and bosses. It’s crucial to start collecting materials as soon as you can!

Don’t stress too much about the armory setup initially! I spent my first thousand hours without focusing on a specific build and just enjoyed gathering and crafting. The world is designed so you can explore and gather resources without needing a perfect combat setup. Just remember, researching traits on any gear you find can be beneficial for the long haul, but enjoy the game at your own pace!