v14...playing daily sense beta....I disagree with your entire list.

[7] Gathering and refining raw materials, together with deconstructing each and every item of green and better quality that isn't used, has a chance at getting mats for item improvements, which in turn can be used to improve any level of gear. Starting early enough with this will yield a nice cache of those by the time one reaches end game. One can even increase the chance by investing skill points.

Xerger wrote: »

Valen_Byte wrote: »

v14...playing daily sense beta....I disagree with your entire list.

I respect your opinion, the game has changed and even if it didnt you probably dont even remember what leveling is like anymore xD

I have 8 characters....lvl range from lvl 6 to v14...I lvl characters all the time.

Xerger wrote: »

Tip 1: Don't craft - crafting is time consuming, provides mediocre equimpemnt, wastes your skillpoints, and your guildies could craft for you. Start crafting later on max level.

I will agree with this, to a point. Skill points are a premium at the start and placing them into crafting can use up skill points that could be used elsewhere. However, in concert with Tip 6 and Tip 4, crafting should not be ignored. Deconstruction of equipment is important to gaining XP in a craft and can be done without actually creating a single item. Sell the results of the deconstruction, to merchants if nothing else. This works well at lower levels.

Long before you get to max level, points will have to be put into skills to get more research slots and to keep up. While you don't need to actually craft anything, throwing a couple points into crafting starting in the middle levels will help. You will want additional research slots because it can take a long time to research traits at the end and you want to be ready for that when you get to that point.

I will craft items, although not many, since often times crafted items are better than what I am currently picking up. This is usually to pick bonuses from sets while leveling. If this is necessary, then I have to put additional points into crafting. Usually, I am not hurting for skill points by this time. If you can buy them or get them from a guild mate, all the better, but sometimes this is not possible when it is needed.

(Note: I do not do enchanting, alchemy or provisioning. I deconstruct glyphs until they yield nothing useful and I learn recipes that I come across, but ignore these skills beyond that. Woodworking, blacksmithing, and clothing are my preferred crafts. That may change with additional alts.)

Xerger wrote: »

Tip 6: Start researching early - Keep buying infused and divine armor pieces, and sharpened and precise weapons from guild traders and keep researching them first, DO NOT research random useless traits. More traits you have, more SETS you can craft later in the game when you do start crafting. You don't need any crafting skills to research.

The term "early" is not good enough. Start researching on Day 1.

I do not purchase items for research until I need the trait. I research any trait that I come across in my chosen crafting skill and for the weapons and armor that I am interested in. To monitor this, I use Research Assistant and a research grid add-on that I cannot remember. I do not research every weapon. I will research every armor in the category (light, medium, heavy).

At the start, the time to research is not a problem, but eventually it will be. To keep research items from stacking up, I put points into search slots as my skill in a craft increases. This avoids excessive blocks due to the long research times.

Xerger wrote: »

Tip 7: Do not refine ores, plants, wood and scraps - if you do collect those materials, sell them at guild trader as non-refined versions, they will sell for more than refined versions.

Selling raw resources is quick cash. Refining raw resources can result in more cash. This is why raw resources sell so well, people are hunting for gold crafting tempers and they need a lot of raw material to get it. When they do get it, they can use it or sell it for a lot of gold.

Xerger wrote: »

Tip 8: Download Guild Store pricing addon - And list all items you have in guild stores, it's almost free storage (1% fee) and if you need that item you can easily buy it back. This habit will eliminate your money problems in the end-game.

While I have done this, I would not consider this to be a top-10 tip.

Xerger wrote: »

Tip 9: Gradually level many different skills - Do not run around with 5 Two handed abilities on your skill bar from start to finish, always have at least 2 abilities from class and weapon skill trees to gradually level them also. If your Two handed skill is 50 and you are not max level running around with a greatsword, you are wasting skill xp.

In addition to this, plan for your second weapon and carry it with you. Change weapons and redo skills from time to time so you can at least level both of them while under level 15. You can have a preferred one for skill points, but starting out with a new weapon at level 15 can be an issue.

EDIT: Oops, must have cut out this paragraph by accident.

I would add one tip to avoid a lot of pain. Do not collect crafting materials that are not being used. This comes more easily when not actively crafting, particularly provisioning and enchanting, but only keep what you need short term and sell or destroy everything else. Deconstruct or sell equipment right away; sell or destroy everything. This eliminates the need for mules and advanced inventory management.

As an aside, some of these suggestions are things that would not apply to "when I started" since I started more than a year ago.

Tip #11 Take everything you read on the forums "with a grain of salt". It's usually subjective and opinionated anyway.