As an RPG, The Elder Scrolls Online is decent if unexceptional. It features the typical customization you'd expect, with a total of nine races to choose from (ten with the special edition), and pretty much every major race from The Elder Scrolls universe is featured. Age, shape, build and skin colour are just a handful of the options you have at your disposal when creating the perfect character. Each race also has its own unique buffs or multipliers, such as increased Magika or health, which adds variety to the gameplay.
A major pillar of the customization comes in the form of classes. There are four main classes: Nightblade, Sorcerer, Dragon Knight and Templar. Each essentially makes up your generic stock RPG classes, such as Mages and Rogues, and within each there are three unique skill lines which can be developed using skill points, which are unlocked by levelling up or collecting skyshards. It's usually better to specialise in just one. For example, as a Kaijiit I specialised in the Assassination skill line of Nightblade, but as a Dark Elf Sorcerer, I focussed on dark magic. Skill points are used to unlock new attacks and abilities for your character, and by using these abilities in battle you upgrade them. Skill points are also used for passive abilities within the three skill trees which are often linked to the character you're building or the armour you're wearing.
If there is one problem with the class system, it's that it's a bit linear. Each class has a variety of abilities, but the manner in which they are unlocked is more linear than in other RPGs. In the same way, using skill points on your character is going to be determined based on what race your character is, so after the initial stage of the game, your path is essentially set, whether you realise it or not.
There's a staggering amount of weaponry and armour in The Elder Scrolls Online. You'll find bows, swords, axes, shields, and many more powerful weapons from both blacksmiths and defeated foes that can be used and upgraded through a similar skill tree to the aforementioned class abilities. These skills are more dependent on what weapons you choose to use in battle and, as a result, are more dynamic than the class specific attacks. For example, using a two handed sword frequently may unlock the uppercut move, which requires that you upgrade stamina as a base trait. The same applies to armour, which can be buffed using skill points and by combining set pieces.