Overlevelling

nsa · April 2014

I'm finding that my character levels faster than the available quests. I'm not sure if this is good or bad: on one hand it means I'm making good progress, on the other hand I feel like I'm missing out by not doing the available quests that have turned gray on my Journal. E.g. what if there's some lore or cool info revealed by the quest that I'm skipping?

After hitting level 15, I have just started the Mage's Guild line which is marked for level 8. I'm also now having to skip whole areas since I need to start harvesting nodes for the next tier of gear (which starts at level 16) to progress my crafting skills and also craft pieces for myself.

I know that others are saying they're running out of quests to do and can't level anymore while I have the opposite problem...I normally like to do *every single quest* on my first playthrough but I guess I'll skip a few this time...haha.

dawnrise · April 2014

Hmmm, that's interesting. I feel as though I'm progressing along with the quests exactly (although, in terms of crafting, I'm slightly behind the nodes). Maybe you have a really efficient play style? I could imagine that if you killed every mob you encountered, your level would be significantly higher than the normal in-game track.

PBpsy · April 2014

The quests were designed such that a fair number of them may be skipped. You can have quests at your level all the time even if you do not do all the side quests /guild quests /public dungeons etc. On the first character being compeletionist is fun but after that I usually want to skip ahead.
As for not having enough quests to level, that is just troll nonsense

Aureli · April 2014

I feel like being a completionist is maybe a bad thing. On the one hand, sure you don't want to miss stuff, but coming through on a new character and doing stuff you've already done before is old. If it's just a little it's fine, but if you did every single quest, every single nook and cranny, in Stonefalls on your first, there's nothing left to discover on your second. So I go through wherever the quests take me, and keep going. I'm not taking Aureli back through places she's already been because she saw an untouched quest there, unless that's where her quests take her.

mrceridaneb17_ESO · April 2014

How do you do this? Seriously, I feel like I'm underleveling all the time. I explore, craft and do the occasional open dungeon, and I still feel like I'm not the correct level most of the time. How do you people level up so fast that someone can actually say the are leveling TOO fast? Do you grind mobs to no end? Do you spend hours just farming materials? Do you run a public dungeon a gazillion times?

I'm not joking, I'd like to know. How do you level up so fast?

mrceridaneb17_ESO · April 2014

PBpsy wrote: »

The quests were designed such that a fair number of them may be skipped. You can have quests at your level all the time even if you do not do all the side quests /guild quests /public dungeons etc. On the first character being compeletionist is fun but after that I usually want to skip ahead.
As for not having enough quests to level, that is just troll nonsense

??? To me it feels like they've forced me to do every single quest, every single public dungeon, find every single skyshard and craft at the same time. And to me, it still feels like I'm 1-2 levels too low for the next quest (allthough I manage, I like a challenge)

Kueller · April 2014

I don't think it's a problem specific to this MMO. As PBpsy pointed out, they have to cater to many different play styles... All I can say is I feel your pain, I like to be a completionist as well, and rare is the game that requires you to do every little quest to keep you on the leveling curve..

bodom85 · April 2014

I feel like the the first 3 lvls are the fastest

. I have a few different characters, as I haven't figured out what I want to play yet. Some did the starter island while others jumped right into the game. I think the toons that just jumped in are pretty well in line with the main quest chain that sends you to ash mountain and beyond, but the toon that I lvled through it island and back to Davon's Watch and then up through are ahead in the lvling a good bit. As they should be seeing as they did a a lot more quests and found more shards and explored more area.

Mix · April 2014

I am also feeling a bit over-leveled. 16 and still not done Stonefalls and I know the quests for the next zone are marked 15 in my journal.

I just do the grey quests anyways. I explore everything! This results in finding a lot of chests which grant nice xp when opened. I kill everything that is standing in my way (not running past and wanting the mobs to reset). I search for the skyshards, the lorebooks, every nook and cranny - I stick my nose into! I also talk to every npc I can and gather any resource I spot along my way. Oh and I fish but I don't think that grants any xp.

I did each of the 12-15 dungeons once. Personally I think the treasure chests do make some difference, but I haven't actually recorded how much xp they give. I enjoy doing all the quests and if they happen to be grey - oh well:p

Stonie · April 2014

I read somwhere that they increased the amount of xp gained from quests compared to beta and they shouldnt have done that imo.
Since I want to explore everything in a new area im always too high lvl for the next content making the quests trivial at best .. and dont get me started on the public dungeons wich have no challange what so ever due to the amount of players in there.

davymanners_ESO · April 2014

I think it's a good thing. I still finish the ones I've outleveled, but I don't run out of quests. Considering the number of quests that are bugged and can't be finished, it's reassuring that they aren't going to cripple me.

mikeyyyc_ESO · April 2014

I'm certainly feeling overleveled as well. From what I understand, you get bonus xp for grouping, which I usually do since I mostly play with my friends, along with the xp bonus I get from the ring of mara, so I find myself opting to skip a lot of quests. I still try to do as many as I can, and will still do a quest 4-5 levels lower than my level if they seem interesting, but i've still ended up skipping a decent bit.

I recommend still doing all the public dungeons, as all of the ones I've encountered have a skyshard, and usually a boss with a good unique drop. The bosses are also super farmable, if thats your thing.

dagmundna · April 2014

I have the same 'problem'. I'm lvl 25 already and not finished with Deshaan. I'm already trying to sneak past as many mobs as possible not to gain too much xp. I curse every time I gain a level

Uviryth · April 2014

I have exact the opposite problem. I always feel underleveled for the current content. Even the questrewards are always 1-3 level above me when I get them.

LonePirate · April 2014

mrceridaneb17_ESO wrote: »

How do you do this? Seriously, I feel like I'm underleveling all the time. I explore, craft and do the occasional open dungeon, and I still feel like I'm not the correct level most of the time. How do you people level up so fast that someone can actually say the are leveling TOO fast? Do you grind mobs to no end? Do you spend hours just farming materials? Do you run a public dungeon a gazillion times?

I'm not joking, I'd like to know. How do you level up so fast?

I certainly do not level up fast as I am only level 32 (half-way to level 33) and I have only completed about 40 quests in Shadowfen (plus one quest in The Rift). I like to stay 2-3 levels above the quests I complete because the bosses at the end of many quests where fight them 1 on 1 almost always kill me very easily if I attempt them at level. I learned this lesson during the Beta test weekends so that is when I started down the over leveling path. Here is what I do.

1. Do not leave The Wailing Prison until you are level 4. I made sure I killed plenty of those bluish flame atronachs to attain that level. I also ran around exploring every square inch of the place searching for chests and other items to loot. Each chest you open grants you XP and there are some in the prison. Also, immediately start placing your skill points in your Class and Weapon skills. Skip Passive Skills and any other types of Skills like Armor or Crafting.

2. Upon arriving in Davon's Watch, immediately join the Fighters Guild and Mages Guild. Once you are a member which can be completed without combat, proceed to Bleakrock. Joining the Fighters Guild is especially important because you will battle skeletons in Bleakrock which levels up the Fighters Guild.

3. Find all of the missing villagers and complete every quest in both Bleakrock and Bal Foyen. Like I said above, never run from a fight you can win. That helps level your skills and your character level so at these low levels, these are practically free XP. I love the Fighters Guild Silver Bolts skill so I loved the opportunity to kill all of these low level skeletons to help reach FG 2 which unlocks the skill. Not much grinding is involved but it is worth the effort for that skill line.

4. Kill each end of quest boss at least twice, if possible. The extra minute or so waiting for the respawn is worth it. There are usually several other players around which helps things go quickly.

5. Discover all locations and Skyshards while completing every quest in Bleakrock and Bal Foyen. Try to be level 7-8 once you leave Bal Foyen if possible. Spend time searching the coastlines in Bleakrock for chests.

6. Once in Stonefalls, you should be able to stay 2-3 levels above the quests. Make sure you complete every quest and such. The same goes for the skull bosses, dark anchors and dark fissures. If you are questing or exploring and an anchor drops or a skull boss spawns, take the time to complete it, even if you have already finished it. The XP is worth it. Fight every enemy you encounter. Do not avoid them.

7. If you do this and stick to it, you should be able to stay 2-3 levels above your quests. At BI and BF, try to stay 2-3 levels within the zone and within 5 levels in the other zones otherwise you will not receive XP or loot from enemies you kill.a gray quest will indicate this as others have stated.

8. I collect ore, wood or clothing mats so spend plenty of time doing that which allows me to fight plenty of enemies and find plenty of chests to loot. I also love Silver Bolts and its Silvef Shards morph so I spend a lot of time hunting Daedra with them such as the ones around Ash Mountain in Stonefalls and Selfora in Deshaan. I am 4-5 levels above where I should be(probably level 28 instead of almost level 33 because of this skill. I love it. I also love Lava Whip for DK so killing enemies is an absolute blast for me.

I hope this helps answer your question. Oh, I do NOT use my Rings of Mara and I have only completed 1 quest while officially grouped and that was Fungal Grotto (but not Spindle or Banished). My XP have come the hard way. Other than in The Wailing Prison and Bleakrock, I do very little grinding. Selfora might be an exception as I was aiming for the next FG level before I left. The initial 2-3 level boost and the above processes have kept me above level and it makes the game so much easier, especially when you play solo and are just an average level player like me. I am no expert or hardcore player or an elitist. I am not good enough to be any of those things. I just play based on my experience and I try to have fun in the process.