Skill points:
-For every 3 skyshards, you get a skill point. There are 16 skyshards per zone, except in the starter areas (bleakrock isle, betnik, bal foyen, etc). So that is an easy 5 skill points in every zone.
- Public Dungeon Group bosses give out 1 skill point.
- Main quest segments all give out 1 skill point.
- Undaunted dungeons all give out 1 skill point on the first completed quest run.
- You get 1 skill point every time you level up.
(*So for example, by the time you complete Stonefalls (and the starter areas of bleakrock and bal foyen), you could be sitting on a whopping 25 skill points and more, depending how much of a completionist you wish to be)
Attribute points AND skill points can both be reset, by going in the bank building of Mournhold (in Deshaan (the zone right after Stonefall)). It will cost gold but will allow you to re-distribute your points from scratch OR to re-select your skill morphs only, if you wish. So again, it comes back to: THERE IS NO WRONG WAY to play your character:). Play as you wish and tweak it as you go, to give the result you are looking for.
I find that too many players attempt to emulate what other players (usually getting good results with their built and play style) are doing, and although it CAN help you in your journey, it can also sometimes draw you away from the way YOU like to play, which in the end, will affect negatively your Gaming time and experience. Always remember: Play the way you want to play:).
Attribute points:
Note that it is always possible to boost any stat with enchantment (glyphs that increase your magicka, health or stamina pool and can be applied to any armor, jewelry and weapons), the trait stone that is attached to the armor or weapon piece, also makes a difference. Infused, for example, will boost the enchantments you put on your armor pieces. Divine will increase the bonus you receive from mondus stones, etc.
Head, Chest and Legs will always give a "bigger" enchantment boost.
Food is an easy buff and is easy to get, especially with nice guildies. Use it to boost your stats. (I personally choose blue food that boost my health and the stat I use the most, depending on my character.)
Potions are worth it. Drop potions are plenty to come by and enough when exploring and doing generic quests, crafted potions can really help boost your stats when doing dungeons, main questing, pvp, or simply to help your character whenever needed.
Leveling:
Do NOT try to follow others, in their rate of leveling. You could find it to be very frustrating and futile. Play the way you want to play. If you wish to have a boost on the rate at which you level, especially at lower levels, ask a nice guildie to craft you a simple set of exploration gears, and weapons with a training trait stone. It gives a nice little boost and doesn't change to your general playing experience.
***Equip whatever skill, weapons and armor you wish to level, whenever turning in a quest.
What I mean is: Lets say you are questing with a full set of light armor, a destro staff and a few favorite skills. When you turn in quest, you could equip pieces of heavy armor (if you wish to level that), dual wield (or whatever other weapon you wish to level up) and put skills that you are using a bit less. It doesn't matter if you arent using them at all. It will get a boost from having them equipped when turning in your quest. You can then, re-equip your questing stuff.
Friendly advice: Level up the resto staff (even if only passively). It's worth it to have in your arsenal of possibilities, especially at higher level and it can do more than a decent job healing a group, with a little bit of practice and the skill points spent in the tree line.
***World bosses, dolmen and public dungeons are meant to be done with other players. (Although it can be with people that happen to be in area at same time as you (meaning it does not need to always be organized)
Wow, I could keep on rambling on about a hundred things right now... but yeah, ill save you from that ehhe. Just don't hesitate to ask guildies any and all questions you may have. Chances are, if you are thinking it, someone else most likely is too, AND someone else probably found out the answer through their playing journey and will be able to answer you.
Lastly, we do have Zone map clearances groups roughly 3 times a week, plus dungeons run and pvp events. Join in when you can, gives you xp, answers tons of questions and allows you to see the perspective of playing around others that may have the same class as you and what not.
Have fun! and looking forward to see you in game.