From what I hear they made it easier a bit ago...Back then what you would do is the daily challenges grind of...I wanna say 5-10 of each element of your level? The XP of challenge complete was huge and that's how you get your first several levels. I wanna say at about...level 8 you start finding NM fate chains of the early variety to get your next set of levels till 15. Also getting elemental plates is nice. More means more damage to the opposite or if tanking you can match it for even more resistances.
The level amounts might be different but the tactic was sound.