You don't have to do the solo quests to successfully level up and participate in high-end group content. You will understandably miss out on some storylines, as well as quest rewards (including skill points). You will also be grinding mobs more to make up levels. But yes, you can level and gear up without completing these solo quests.

Thanks for the information. If a knowledgeable player like Willow needs a 2-4 level advantage to succeed, my friend will need that 6+ level advantage to have a chance, mainly because she misses about half the time due to her inability to accurately aim with a mouse. I am not willing to level ahead of her, since that ruins our "play together" team spirit vibe that has served us so well in games going back to the original EQ.

Based on the answers so far, my conclusion is her current view is correct. Her current character, a pure healer that relies absolutely on my tanking skills to stay alive, will need a huge level advantage in solo quests. This means that no meaningful XP will result. This in turn means our team will end up playing ESO much like an Asian grind-fest RPG to make up the XP difference, since quest XP is so much larger than kill XP.

Alternately, she can roll up a more combat-capable character that might survive with a 3-4 level advantage. Unfortunately, she's even more hopeless in melee than ranged combat (turning during battle via mouse doesn't work for her). We've been looking with a critical-hit archer in medium armor who knows sorcery (for a pet 'bodyguard' and that initial, powerful nuke). Is that the most survivable ranged fighter for someone who misses about 50% of their shots, can't turn very well to face new-direction attacks, and inevitably reaches for a non-functional key in unexpected situations?

Thanks again for all your help and information.

~Berylin

The only problem I can foresee is the main quest line you know the one with the prophet and company. These are all solo only. They are required if you wish to move on to other faction areas with your current toon. (vr content) I am not sure what one will be able to do about them.

The guild quests for mages and fighters are solo only but...they are only required if you wish to progress through those skill lines. They do not affect as far as I know your ability to progress pve wise plenty of other things one can do to level up.