The way I leveled was:

1) Do every heart, POI and vista in each region.

2) Farm every ore node I came across

3) Do almost every DE that popped up on my map. 

4) Did story quests when I hit the appropriate level

I tried WvWvW just once, I was turned off by the zerg nature and the low EXP.  I was later turned off by the long queues.  I also tried crafting but found it didn't get me very far and I ran out of mats pretty quick.  I skipped the dungeons because I didn't want to run instances and felt I shouldn't have to.

In order to reach the cap with that four step approach, I ended up having to go to almost every zone that was tagged between 30 and 75.  The problem is that when I roll an alt, I'm going to be rerunning a LOT of content.

My expectation is that it should be simple and wait free to run one zone for each of the following level ranges: 1-15, 15-25, 25-35, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70 and 70-80.  Doing so would allow my first alt to run the alternate versions of those zones.  And a second alt could fill in by going to zones like the 35-45, 55-65, 70-75 and 75-80 zones.

The only way I could see that happening using my leveling preference would be to have rerun and search for DE's after I completed the zone.  I feel that the zones were plenty large but that they didn't present me with enough EXP to be at the cap of the current zone.

I also felt that the EXP per story quest was far too low in many cases relative to the time spent. especially at higher levels.

Originally posted by Aerowyn
wow you guys are crazy.. my highest character isn't even 30 yet and I play a couple hours everyday during the week and most of the day on weekends.. I also have repeated several starting zones which i found fun even the second and in a couple cases a third time through but ymmv.. also WvWvW is a ton of fun with a good team.. yes there is a lot of zerg but also a lot to do without following the zerg and be very usefull to the team.. just gotta learn the maps

Just going to guess that you will take your  time and actually enjoy the game.

Originally posted by waynejr2

Originally posted by Aerowyn
wow you guys are crazy.. my highest character isn't even 30 yet and I play a couple hours everyday during the week and most of the day on weekends.. I also have repeated several starting zones which i found fun even the second and in a couple cases a third time through but ymmv.. also WvWvW is a ton of fun with a good team.. yes there is a lot of zerg but also a lot to do without following the zerg and be very usefull to the team.. just gotta learn the maps

Just going to guess that you will take your  time and actually enjoy the game.

i do spend a lot of time helping my friends learn the game as many of them are new to MMOs so this does take a chunk of time but still even if i wasn't i doubt id be past 40 on a single character

I have a lot of things coming up that will impact my playing time and I love leveling.  I also get totally focused on leveling, but just because I put my hours in now and didn't spread them out over a month, that doesn't mean I enjoy it any less.

Regardless of when I put my hours in.  There is an issue with each zone after 25 not really giving enough EXP by the time you complete it.  I shouldn't have to run both 30-40 zones to reach level 40.  I didn't skip or avoid anything while in them.

My alt is level 14, and I haven't left the 1 - 15 area other than a quick trip to LA. I completed Divinity's and LA and approximately 60% of content in the 1 - 15 area. Mind you, I'm just enjoying the game and not using the  "make the best value out of my subscription" mentality, so maybe it's just more suited to me.  I also had a couple hour run in WvW at level 12 which netted me 1 levels xp.

My main is a 27 and has completed  2x  1-15 areas, and 1x  15 - 25 area  but I think I rushed that character a bit too. 

I don't doubt that if you've pushed max level, you're missing out on ALOT of the content. It's a shame if you ask me.

Originally posted by eyelolled

I don't doubt that if you've pushed max level, you're missing out on ALOT of the content. It's a shame if you ask me.

The point is to see them on alts.  Not to shoot my wad on the first character.

Originally posted by FrodoFragins

I have a lot of things coming up that will impact my playing time and I love leveling.  I also get totally focused on leveling, but just because I put my hours in now and didn't spread them out over a month, that doesn't mean I enjoy it any less.

 

Regardless of when I put my hours in.  There is an issue with each zone after 25 not really giving enough EXP by the time you complete it.  I shouldn't have to run both 30-40 zones and both 40-50 zones, ...

with the amount of XP crafting and PVP gives it seems the curve of XP for the zones was designed with this is mind.. granted not everyone wants to do crafting or pvp but just seems like thats how it goes.. 

I'm levelling a lot slower than some, maybe because I'm a whole lot less methodical than that.  I wander around, hardly complete any of the areas, and basically just do whatever I feel like doing.  Guess I've already repeated a lot of the lower level content numerous times, but not really worried about repeating content.  The way I'm playing it, it's just a massive world to run around in, rather than a railed linear path to be repeated.

Originally posted by FrodoFragins

The way I leveled was:

 

1) Do every heart, POI and vista in each region.

2) Farm every ore node I came across

3) Do almost every DE that popped up on my map. 

4) Did story quests when I hit the appropriate level

 

I tried WvWvW just once, I was turned off by the zerg nature and the low EXP.  I was later turned off by the long queues.  I also tried crafting but found it didn't get me very far and I ran out of mats pretty quick.  I skipped the dungeons because I didn't want to run instances and felt I shouldn't have to.

 

In order to reach the cap with that four step approach, I ended up having to go to almost every zone that was tagged between 30 and 75.  The problem is that when I roll an alt, I'm going to be rerunning a LOT of content.

 

My expectation is that it should be simple and wait free to run one zone for each of the following level ranges: 1-15, 15-25, 25-35, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70 and 70-80.  Doing so would allow my first alt to run the alternate versions of those zones.  And a second alt could fill in by going to zones like the 35-45, 55-65, 70-75 and 75-80 zones.

 

The only way I could see that happening using my leveling preference would be to have rerun and search for DE's after I completed the zone.  I feel that the zones were plenty large but that they didn't present me with enough EXP to be at the cap of the current zone.

 

I also felt that the EXP per story quest was far too low in many cases relative to the time spent. especially at higher levels.

 

 

 

 

 

see the green highlighted part ? how does that equate to "skipping" game content ? i love how you make out likt the OP rushded through the game somehow magically  , its quite obvious he enjoyed the PVE content to almost completion in all zones..... gotta laugh at some of the fanboi's responses

Vanilla WOW wasn't the most fun leveling experience, but I think they got it right in the fact that your first character could easily level off of the zones in one continent and see the other continent on an alt.  That should be the standard.  

GW2 has the zones, just not enough content or EXP in them without grinding DEs.  The goal should be to provide choice and options on where to go when leveling.

Originally posted by Medicated03

Originally posted by FrodoFragins

The way I leveled was:

 

1) Do every heart, POI and vista in each region.

2) Farm every ore node I came across

3) Do almost every DE that popped up on my map. 

4) Did story quests when I hit the appropriate level

 

I tried WvWvW just once, I was turned off by the zerg nature and the low EXP.  I was later turned off by the long queues.  I also tried crafting but found it didn't get me very far and I ran out of mats pretty quick.  I skipped the dungeons because I didn't want to run instances and felt I shouldn't have to.

 

In order to reach the cap with that four step approach, I ended up having to go to almost every zone that was tagged between 30 and 75.  The problem is that when I roll an alt, I'm going to be rerunning a LOT of content.

 

My expectation is that it should be simple and wait free to run one zone for each of the following level ranges: 1-15, 15-25, 25-35, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70 and 70-80.  Doing so would allow my first alt to run the alternate versions of those zones.  And a second alt could fill in by going to zones like the 35-45, 55-65, 70-75 and 75-80 zones.

 

The only way I could see that happening using my leveling preference would be to have rerun and search for DE's after I completed the zone.  I feel that the zones were plenty large but that they didn't present me with enough EXP to be at the cap of the current zone.

 

I also felt that the EXP per story quest was far too low in many cases relative to the time spent. especially at higher levels.

 

 

 

 

 

see the green highlighted part ? how does that equate to "skipping" game content ? i love how you make out likt the OP rushded through the game somehow magically  , its quite obvious he enjoyed the PVE content to almost completion in all zones..... gotta laugh at some of the fanboi's responses

TYVM for backing me up.  My approach seems very reasonable and my expectations aren't unreasonable in my mind.

I loved leveling, I just hated seeing so much content on one character.  It leaves less to experience for the first time on my other characters.

I think one of the issues is that youre doing the DEs that pop up on your map. There are a lot more DEs than that, and I think a lot of people dont realize it. When youre running around and random NPCs start shotuing at yout hings like "Hey you, come over here" or "Need some help over here", etc. They actually do need some help. Talking to them usually triggers DEs that dont spawn automatically, and unless you keep an eye out for them and interact with them, youll never even know theres a DE to do there because it doesnt show anything on your map.

I was making the same mistake at 1st. I was just watching my map for DEs, and kind of ignored the NPCs shouting at me as I ran by, treating it like normal NPC bullshit like in most games. I only recently started paying attention to them and have uncovered a lot of DEs that I hadnt run into before.

you do know that 30-40.40-50 are suggested level not the amount of levels you can get in the area right?

anyways  im level 80 and had no problem leveling. never had to grind never did crafting. beside the few dragons i killed a few times over but good loot was got for those.

not a fanboy, the game isnt perfect but i didnt have any issue with the exp. everything after 40 i flet gave too much exp and i leveled faster 40-80 then i did 1-40

Originally posted by Vhaln

I'm levelling a lot slower than some, maybe because I'm a whole lot less methodical than that.  I wander around, hardly complete any of the areas, and basically just do whatever I feel like doing.  Guess I've already repeated a lot of the lower level content numerous times, but not really worried about repeating content.  The way I'm playing it, it's just a massive world to run around in, rather than a railed linear path to be repeated.

 

same exact way I'm playing.. hardly even notice my XP bar till i see i ding a level

Originally posted by kaiser3282

I think one of the issues is that youre doing the DEs that pop up on your map. There are a lot more DEs than that, and I think a lot of people dont realize it. When youre running around and random NPCs start shotuing at yout hings like "Hey you, come over here" or "Need some help over here", etc. They actually do need some help. Talking to them usually triggers DEs that dont spawn automatically, and unless you keep an eye out for them and interact with them, youll never even know theres a DE to do there because it doesnt show anything on your map.

I was making the same mistake at 1st. I was just watching my map for DEs, and kind of ignored the NPCs shouting at me as I ran by, treating it like normal NPC bullshit like in most games. I only recently started paying attention to them and have uncovered a lot of DEs that I hadnt run into before.

noticed this as well my buddy is in his 30s and was in a zone said something along the lines of "damn not as many DE's in this zone" I asked him if he had explored around and talked to npc's to try and start DE's himself.. his repsonse "you can start DE's yourself?"

Originally posted by FrodoFragins

Originally posted by eyelolled

I don't doubt that if you've pushed max level, you're missing out on ALOT of the content. It's a shame if you ask me.

The point is to see them on alts.  Not to shoot my wad on the first character.

I see your point, but some people treat content differently.  When Im doing DE's I dont just do them until the quest is updated then  move on.  I will sometime spend an hour or more in one place in a zone, farming mobs to learn their loot tables etc.  But thats just my play style.

edit : I actually create spreadsheets on all the mobs that show all the mats they drop etc, so some may see it as grinding but to me its all about the discovery of things.