If I like Path of Exile's gear, gems and skills, will I find Elder Scroll Online limiting?

If you're expecting ESO to be "PoE with controller support" I think you will be disappointed. It's a completely different game and not at all an ARPG. However, in terms of MMORPGs, I think that ESO provides quite a bit of character customization and I quite enjoy this aspect of the game (I also really like the game in general).

I'll give you a quick rundown. Whenever you level up, you get an attribute point that you can put towards Magicka, Stamina, or Health and a skill point. You also receive skill points as quest rewards (in some quests, not from all quests) and by collecting "skyshards" scattered throughout the maps, so they are not purely tied to leveling. You use skill points to level up a variety of different skill lines. For example, your chosen class will have three different skill lines. I play as a Dragonknight and there is a skill line dedicated to DPS, tanking, and one that is more support-based. You can mix and match active abilities and passives from these skill lines. Additionally, any class can use any weapon and armor type and each weapon and armor type has its own skill line to level up. The crafting disciplines also have their own skill lines. You can also join the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, etc. which have their own skill lines. So, you have a huge amount of customization over your character. You could be a dragonknight that wears heavy armor and uses a sword/shield and focuses on tanking. You could also be a dragonknight that wears light armor and uses a bow. You also level up the "stats" tied to each skill line by using the ability/weapon/armor in question. So, by using a sword/shield I will level up my sword/shield skill separately from leveling up (hopefully that makes sense). And, because skill points are not tied to leveling, you can eventually level up most skills on your character (though you can only have one class on a character).

So, I would say you have a ton of control over the development of your character. And, I think it's a bit more free form than PoE, though maybe not as extensive. I can't speak too much about the loot aspect, but I think that ESO has great, flexible character development. Sorry for the wall of text, I hope that it helps.

/r/ShouldIbuythisgame Thread