Exactly this. I do love this forum. A new player points out how hard the game is for new players and people who got all their lives 10 years ago come along and tell them off.
23rd life here, and I was past 8th life when the early-life XP reduction came into effect.
When the small number of whales quit playing this game dies. There is nearly no new people who stay long-term. And having a crack at new players who point out the completely valid issues with the game just makes it worse.
This isn't a "valid issues" question though, OP clearly stated he has enough packs to easily make it to 20 with at most minimal repetition, but somehow is taking multiple sagas per level just to level up at all. Simple arithmetic says he's not playing to maximize EXP gains, or even just to level at a brisk but not absurd pace, but is expecting to level at an absurd pace despite not being a hardcore zergmeister or playing like one.
But I guess some people like feeling like DDO is all theirs. And driving away the masses gives them comfort.
I love new players. If I see 'em in guild chat I will stop playing and give them all the advice I can on even the most basic questions. I've left and come back several times and every time it's the community that's kept me in.
XP requirements and all the past lives power makes this 2 completely different games. The ones who have spent a fortune, and the ones who will need to spend a fortune if they want to catch up - but it will still take 5 to 10 years.
I rolled a 1st life toon the other day to grind DDO points on a second server. No tomes. No VOM. No VIP. Hit 16 today (started at 7) after only really having trouble with the bargain-basement default gear you get handed with vet status. Once I got a suit of lammy armor and a lammy axe and some moderately useful gear from random quests (note: neither axe nor armor were fully augmented with lammy augs), I've become perfectly capable in r1s. Could probably solo myth d r1 with a healbot.
The difference is largely in gear and player skill, past lives are just a bonus.
In World of Warcraft in a couple of months I can be playing end game raids and mythics with the same power as people who have played for 20 years. Ability is all that is needed to play at the highest level.
Same for DDO, frankly. I can't endgame raid like Guntango or the likes of him because I'm not good enough at the game. Even if you gave me the same build and suit of gear he has on his character, I wouldn't be able to perform at the same level.
Player skill counts. That skill is partially in building the character, yes. But it also counts for actual gameplay.
