http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd7kachAfSc
Good video highlighting the recent changes to combat and the first hour of gameplay. If you like ESO it's worth the 10 minutes.
Here's a few highlights pulled from the private test server patch notes specific to what I mentioned:
-Now after the tutorial completion, new characters will go directly to first alliance city where you will then have the choice to go to the starting islands.
-Player to NPC collision.
-Updated camera shakes for all light and heavy attack impacts or projectile launches. They should generally be slightly larger than before.