I finished Arena about a year ago, and now I'm playing Daggerfall for the first time. I'm a Redguard Warrior, I've done a few quests, gotten some gear (mix of chain and plate, an Elven Saber and Tower Shield, and some understraps that boost my endurance), and my stats look like this:

Level: 3

Str: 71

Int: 53

Wil: 53

Agi: 60

End: 99 (boosted)

Per: 50

Spd: 54

Luc: 60

First question, when I level up, what stats make sense to increase?

Second, when I was on a quest that took me to a dungeon, I found some scrolls with a map that had on it the location of another dungeon. Any reason to visit it? The province is dotted with dungeons already, though they're mostly tombs and crypts. The one on the map is a castle. Does anything make it special?

I'm also not sure what some of the items do. I have a lantern and a holy candle, but I can't use them.

Also, are recipes/ingredients worth it to a Warrior type? I'm not sure what I do with them, or if I can even use them.

Are Homes worth visiting? I've went to some, but I didn't find anything of interest at them.

Lanterns should be usable like a torch. I never needed the additional light, so not sure. Try placing it on a table and see if it lights up. Or, try Equiping it, then Ready it, see if there is any light output. If not, then it is just clutter.

Alchemy is always a good thing to know, if you have the skills for it.

This game is biased more towards magic than melee, so keep that in mind.

Most of the buildings in towns are just filler and have insignificant loot. Stick to the places that have names or the game directs you to. I gave up poking around in random houses after about 20 of them, so perhaps there are some worth visiting.

If the game gives you a map, then there is some reason to go to that place. It might not do anything for your character, but there is a reason.

Note, get a Horse and Cart, you can carry more and it should stop the random attacks outside when your not using Fast Travel (FT is a must in this game, there is nothing to see between places really)