I bought a brand new player in recently. Absolutely green to MMOs, this is their first ever and they had zero idea of anything. It's been incredibly interesting to watch. To do it properly, I rerolled myself to level 1 on a new server so I could do the exact same quests as them.

We've been going slow, we had to really as it's a lot to learn for a fresh player, weeks in and only today we did MSQ Titan, level 35 SMN quests, and a few side quests.

At this point, the XP to level has been about ideal for a brand new character on ARR content. They are enjoying the story without grind, their awareness is starting to grow at about the timing I expected, although I need to keep working on explaining rotation.

I know we will soon head into Coerthas and levelling will fall off a cliff when we do. So far this is fine to me, as the dungeons are getting much harder for the new player with me, and the practice will be handy for them.

I will put myself in the - the levelling rate is about correct for a new player - group. Any faster and they would be in too deep.

I know and accept some will want to rush to the end and jump into FC raids. But maybe for these people an extra form of XP pot on top of food and rings might help. Something alternate to an insta-level, but something that allows faster levelling than the natural for those genuine new players who want to experience the story.


(As an aside, I'd forgotten how shockingly bad ARR MSQ was. When I did it years ago it seemed very fresh and exciting, but ugh, so many delivery quests.)