All this hemming and hawing about having to do the Crystal Tower raids is reminding me of my first time playing this game. I leveled all the way to 30 or so on multiple classes without pushing very far in the Main Scenario because I was afraid Sastasha would be too hardcore for me. Not a 24-man raid, not an 8-man trial, Sastasha.

Abandon your preconceptions entirely, do the Crystal Tower questline, pop right into Labyrinth of the Ancients synced down to item level 130 or so when the raid is balanced around you being closer to fresh off of Praetorium, and realize that you have completely overblown how difficult it was going to be. It's nothing more than a dungeon with a higher than normal headcount. Syrcus Tower is even easier, and the World of Darkness, while better tuned, can still be cleared with half the party sleeping at the wheel.