So, you didn’t jump on the PC or Mac train, but you’ve been dying to play Elder Scrolls Online. You’ve waited an extra year, and finally! It’s here! And it looks amazing (if you can get past all the lag)!

But like most early players, such as myself, you likely have no idea what you’re missing out on in the early stages, nor are you aware of some of the unspoken rules — and spoken ones.

If you have an Xbox One and want to reach out for a quick play session in the days to come or want some guidance, catch me at my gamertag: MeanHoosierLean. (Side note: Yes, the name sucks. It was a rough time in my life. I was at Indiana University for my undergrad, and like most bad decisions, the name change involved day drinking. I’ve never been able to bring myself to change it.)

Anywho. Here are some tips in the meantime to help you navigate Tamriel, regardless of the faction you pick or the version of the game you jump on.

Kenarthi’s Roost, one of the first areas available in the Aldmeri Dominion storyline. | Courtesy of Zenimax Media Inc.

Pick up everything

The bones matter. Trust me, it’s weird, but they do.

You’ll start the game in Coldharbour, a prison for souls gathered by the Daedra Molag Bal, and the game will encourage you to get out of said prison as fast as you can. Start good habits early. Slow yourself down. There are a lot of pots — literally — and other areas to sift through in Coldharbour. The first time I played through on PC, I didn’t even realize there were chests in the stage.

That’s about how ESO goes for many first-timers. You get roped into the action, see fellow players dashing around and forget to nab the barley from a basket or mine a few pieces of iron ore. The more you forage early, the less grinding you have to do later for common items. Backtracking is the worst. Grab your goods now.

Learn to cook

The easiest skill to grow is also the most important. Don’t look down on the provisioning skill tree because it levels so quickly. As you get into the veteran ranks, food buffs become increasingly important for everything from dungeon delves to group activities. Alchemy is similarly fast-developing but can also help turn a battle your way.

Cooking can save you from Daedroth. Maybe. | Courtesy of Zenimax Media Inc.

Focus on these early, as well as enchanting, which takes a looooong f—ing time to level up. Woodworking, blacksmithing and tailoring are helpful, but not as essential because of the quality gear you can get early on from quests.

Invite yo’ friends

The Xbox One and Playstation 4 iterations of ESO are remarkably different from the computer versions in that it’s much more awkward to approach a random person and team up. Consoles are often more casual-player friendly, though, so take advantage of that. ESO is remarkably approachable for a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), and the experience is made all the more worthwhile by playing with people you know in some fashion.

I’m not sure how some experiences from my PC days — finding camaraderie with random folks in a player-vs.-player (PvP) guild, for example, or seeking a trade partner in the open world — will work on consoles. I do know, though, that I have a bunch more real-life friends willing to come along for the journey than when I got in on the ESO action a year ago.

ESO features some epic battles, and you’ll need every team member in tip-top shape to take down these world-beaters. | Courtesy of Zenimax Media Inc.

…but be independent

ESO has the typical breakdown of MMO archetypes. You can be a damage-dealing character, a tank that eats up enemy attacks and does crowd control, or a healer who keeps the other two — primarily the tank — alive. The ESO system differs, though, in that it lets you combine weapon skills with your character’s abilities. A healer could also wield a bow and add in long distance support damage, for example, or a tank could take along a restoration staff and help out on the heals. Having some variety to your game is key to being an asset in PvP and dungeon settings. This comes easy for templars and dragonknights, who get a mix of self-sustain abilities as well as kiting skills that benefit tanks. No matter you class, however, try to build in ways you can not only keep yourself alive but also act in support of others on your team. Relying on one style won’t cut it as you approach endgame content.

Don’t be an asshole

This seems like commonsense, although for a surprising percentage of the online gaming community, it proves elusive. We’re all in this together, folks. Some of us have been playing for a year now. Others are the summer version of Christmas noobs. But we all want to kill Daedric princes, become gods of war and slay (insert opposing alliances here). There will be plenty of people who try to take advantage of new players by overpricing trades, trying to sell werewolf and vampire bites without actually having either, etc. Been there, seen that, reported it. And of course you’ll have those peachy people who start spitting out curse words and epithets the second you say hello. Remember that in MMORPG settings, reporting can seem like tattling, but you’re really doing the rest of the literal world a favor. If someone is being an asshole, call the player on it politely. If he or she continues, report the abuse. Game-breaking, and rule-breaking, are as detrimental as spam when it comes to the experiences of yourself and other ESO players. Keep your fellow Vestiges in mind, and dole out justice to any purveyors of douchebaggery.

Stros M’Kai is a nice metaphor for ESO itself. The world is a gigantic sandbox full of oases, treasure chests and the occasional annoying snake or two. React accordingly. | Courtesy of Zenimax Media Inc.

That’s all I have for now. We’re working on a running review of ESO on consoles, but I’m hesitant to provide thoughts until the connectivity issues of the first day or two are come and gone. Those problems will of course factor into our evaluation, but I’m not taking a stance on the game itself until I can, you know, fully play it. Stay tuned for more as we explore Tamriel on the One and PS4.