How am I meant to level with a friend now?

[Dubont]

I would get like 8 people and do 2 levinshower links etc, it was amazing SP.

Now if I try to do a leve with a friend, my friend gets 700 sp while I get 3500.. that is lame.

this is because your friend didn't link. If he links, he will get a similar sp value as you, if you are within a few levels of each other.