Can't imagine not doing the quests. The stories in the game are fantastic, you're missing a lot if you don't do the quests, and read the text.
That said, grinding done right is faster then questing at later levels, as you start getting the better talents (IMHO it just feels longer
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). A few hints based on my experience. Others may have better ideas.
* Choose an AOE class. I suggest warrior or ranger. Since you are two, if you want to work together (see next point) a warrior and prophet also make an interesting team at level 26+. ( Ranger starts getting AOE talents much earlier, but once you hit level 26, IMO, no class is better then warrior at quickly taking down groups of mobs. Iif you don't mind using a lot of potions.)
* Grouping is effective if you take advantage to kill more mobs. (I've been told that two players need to kill twice as many, 3 kills 3x, etc to fully offset the group penalty, haven't tested myself.) If you're both primarily DPS it's usually best to concentrate on different mobs. The group XP buff then becomes icing.
* Choose your mobs. Some mobs can be killed faster then others. Or may drop more loot. The goblins in Adera (level 29/30 I believe) are a good example. If either of you are skinning, then skinnable mobs make a good choice (of course).
* Look for opportunities to complete a quest 'by accident' as you grind. At level 25, for example, take the reputation quest and grind the bears or clear the Cursed Tower.
* While your at it, take all quests. Many have no prerequisites and involve grinding. Do those, ignore the rest. Might as well get all the free XP you can.
* Try other activities. Arena, PvP, TOC.
Thanks for the advice, but as for questing it was never meant to be used in the way developers have started using them over the past several years.
Quests were meant to be this grandious thing that wasn't trivial to do, and actually required a lot of work. Then comes along WoW and literally spoon-feeds people experience with trivial tasks while calling them "Quests".
I'm not one for story because they don't belong in MMOs. (Character driven story, you can have as much Lore as you want so long as there isn't any "hard" story that makes you some super hero or some such nonsense). After all, MMOs are about YOUR journey, and not some pre-scripted one
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This is probably why most people find quests boring. It's cool if YOU like them, but i've only met an extreme minority that actually enjoy doing them.
On top of that, currently anyways, questing is more of a chore to do because of the lack of quest management.
With such a steep group experience detriment it detracts from grouping as a whole (games that do this normally don't do very well as grouping == social aspect, a major point to MMOs) we'll probably just let our subscriptions lapse and wait for major changes. Otherwise we'll be looking for a new home
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Just though I'd throw suggestions out there that seemed to scream "This needs fixing/etc!" so the game can become more popular. Right now, it's frustrating to say the least to play.
ps: Another suggestion would be to soften, or remove entirely, level requirements on dungeons. At level 7 I should be able to go into a level 10 dungeon if I so choose to do so. A group of 3+ level 7s would be able to do a level 10 dungeon, but are not allowed to due to trivial dungeon minimum requirements that simply do not make any sense. As it stands the gameplay just doesn't lend itself any challenge at all simply grinding on mobs the same level, or 1 below, our own currently.
Cheers~
