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Hello all! I have received some great advice about ESO, and felt the need to return the favor by helping those just starting off. As I'm not a hardcore gamer, and don’t much understand all the numbers in an RPG as well as I should, I thought a simple Your First Seven Levels for Dummies (Xbox 360 users) would prove useful. As well, there are many vets far more qualified then me to offer counsel. But this approach has been extremely successful thus far. This template approach is for those seeking a customized Battle Mage kind of template. Also, I' going to try to keep all this super simple- which is what I needed. Enjoy!

Overview

Ok, you finally got your Xbox 360 over-heating problem solved by suspending it mid-air with a bright orange thong, a shoelace and a spare bungee cord. Yippee! Its day one in your new alter life in ESO (Elder Scrolls Oblivion). What to do? Here's my Top Seven through your first Seven Levels list:

#1- Choose to customize your template versus using one of those already provided. This is HUGE in stacking your statistics.
#2- You will have two opportunities to save your template when you first start off, the last of which is before you leave the sewers. SAVE this spot in the game and never delete this particular save. It will save you lots of time when you decide to change up your toon, or replay the game with a different angle.
#3- Read! Read! Read! before you build your toon's template. It will save you tons of heartache and frustration. Go to Oblivion:Oblivion - UESPWiki to read some great articles on attributes, leveling, birth signs, so on so forth. They even have a link to a good character builder. If you don’t understand ESO's unique downside to leveling, you will deeply regret not having read up, and wasted lots of play hours in the process. I suggest playing around with the character builder as much as possible to get your template just right.
#4- Understand the power of the Luck attribute in ESO because it can make a huge difference. Although I am a good customized Battle Mage fighting for noble causes and all, I choose Luck as one of my core two attributes and The Thief as my birthsign. What? Thief for a good Battle Mage? You bet- because of my choices I start off the game with 65 in the Luck attribute. Which gives me a significant edge early on.
#5- Understand ESO's unique leveling problems before you proceed. In other RPG's, attaining the highest level means you're The Uber Toon. Not so in ESO. Balanced and efficient leveling may actually keep you several levels below the max then other templates, but dramatically stronger and able to keep up- even dominate.
#6- Although there are exceptions, use this approach as a rule. Use potions to survive and use your magic to get things done like kill, damage and distract. It is very hard to use your magic to both heal and fight early on. You have a limited amount of magic, with slow regeneration. Whenever you bring up your menus; the game is paused. BUT, even though your paused- when you drink a potion, the effect is applied immediately! Because potions play such a huge role in my style of play, I wanted to level quickly and get access to good potions quickly. Thus Alchemy is one of my Major Skills. Stock up on lots of heal health and heal magic potions. Later, as you level your alchemy skills, make potions that both heal magic and health; as well as fortify those attributes. Stock up on these potions. I never have less then 5 per type; sometimes 10 if it’s a tough dungeon.
#7- For the first 7-10 levels; focus 70% of your time on focused leveling to insure you are getting 4 and 5 point upgrades in intelligence, endurance and willpower. Even strength in some cases. Use the other 30% of your time to quest.

When I first started out, I didn’t do any of this. I approached it like any other RPG. I started to struggle around level 5, and by level 7 some things were owning me that shouldn’t be owning me. By level 15 my Xbox almost went airborne off my balcony. Now, just having hit level seven for the second time but with a new approach- the same baddies that used to own me at my previous version of level seven- die almost instantly. The difference is HUGE! I cant even begin to say how much this is true. For example, before when I hit level 7 my conjure was at around 45 with my intelligence at 62. This template at 7 delivers conjures at 66 with intelligence at 76. Before, luck 50 at level 7. Now, luck 65 at level 7.

Chapter Two

My Custom Template

Race: Breton, birthsign: The Thief, Specialization: Magic, Attributes: Intelligence and Magic. In listing my stats plus my major and minor skills, I'll list my beginning stat versus where it is now at Level 7. Health 60/138. Magika 160/202. Fatigue 160/215. Attributes Strength 40/54, Intelligence 55/76, Willpower 50/66, Agility 40/40, Speed 40/40, Endurance 30/55, Personality 40/40, Luck 65/65. My highest skill levels, in order, include: Conjugation- 66 (a minor skill), Alchemy - 54, Destruction - 50, Illusion - 46, Alteration - 45, Heavy Armor - 39, Mysticism - 38, and Blunt - 34. From there five of the skills come in at 31. It goes down from there. Of my top seven strongest skills, only three of them are in my major skills. All of which I have tightly managed five of the seven level ups to make sure I got 4-5 pt attribute bumps. The point to all of this is simply, ESO requires a non-traditional template building. For example, Conjugation plays a significant role in how I battle, it is my highest skill- and yet not one of my major skills. Same is true of Alteration. Had they been listed as Major Skills- I would be at a 10-12 or greater; and greatly lacking in many areas of my template. Like I said earlier, READ! READ! READ! Before you do your build.

My Strategy for the First Seven Levels

I only did the very first part of the main quest. Meaning, I delivered the amulet. From there, I balanced my time between focused leveling and doing all of the recommendation quests to get into the Mages Guild as an apprentice. This is key, as it opens up the ability early on to enchant items and do custom spells. From there, I did the Anvil House Ownership quest without completing it, as the Ghosts that constantly appear are great for capturing souls for enchanting; and leveling Destruction skills- which I did late.

Two final notes. About level four I was able to use my Alchemy skills to do a Fortify Magika potion ( Fortify Magika 25 for 54 secs, Restore Magika 7 for 27, Shield 15% for 58 secs), and a Restore Health potion (Feather 82 for 314 secs, restore health 4 for 15, restore fatigue 8 for 31 secs, and restore health 26 for 99 secs). So sorry, but I forgot to write the recipe down. Thankfully, I did a ton of them. Anyway, when you take two of each, all together- they bumped my health from 138 to 190, and my magika from 202 to 252. The magika and health regen is Uber on this for several minutes as well. PLUS, it isnt long before you can re-dose again. So- when you get mobbed by three Necro's and their pets; pause- dose- lock in a conjure spell; rejoin, kite- rinse and repeat. Once you get the ability to do a spell, I would strongly suggest an electric shock on touch (mine is at 35 damage) married to a soul trap. That one damage spell, married to the potions noted, plus a good pet have thus far been able to handle many tough dungeons; to include getting mobbed.

Well, thats it! As I said- others know allot more then me. Hopefully, though- this will help newcomers in some way. And thanks to everyone who helped me!

"You're a bright one!" "You have the hands of a Conjurere!"

Looking good, kiddo!

I'll have a look at that site; though I have very little trouble with my characters now.
When I first started playing I found the enemies MUCH too tough. I spent a lot of time creating characters before I got the hang of it - now I find my characters are too strong quite early in the game, and at levels 25-40 it's just a walkover. I'm gonna have to put the difficulty level up.

I hear you...

Thanks for the Kudos! Its easy to get in the habit of only taking help versus giving it. Hopefully, it will help some folks. So far, my combat is still challenging. Although I am sensing more of an edge as I continue to advance. I love my combo custom spell of Soul Trap for 10 secs married to a 35 electric damage on touch. Appreciate you help earlier!