Extremely bored 19 hours into the game

[Lahoo Eckbert]

I had to take a few days break from the game(not that I played it nonstop) due to poor pacing and progression. Maybe I'm spoiled by fromsoft and team ninja titles but for the last 10 hours or so, I haven't found a new armor or a weapon that interests me. Also "leveling" feels insignificant, almost pointless. I don't feel like my character is getting any stronger. And also I haven't discored any new locations and I have been going back and forth like an errand boy between NPC's I've already met.
I'm mostly doing the main quest and some factions quests in between. Am I doing something wrong or is this how the game basically is?