I have been on extended business travel since June. This has kept my playing down to an average of once every
other weekend. My (obsessive) friends are, needless to say, a bit ahead of me now. Level 40 at the minimum,
which makes it impossible to group with them anymore. So I've been reduced to attempting to solo, or trying to
beg my way into random groups.

One soloing story:

I decide it might be fun to solo Broon at level 22. Doesn't really work well, so I make a run for it. Almost
to the zone, and Broon starts to hit me from behind. After much desperation, I find that the program thinks I
am sitting down. Sadly, I figure this out just a little late. I'm now level 21. POed, I decide to kill some
of those crag spiders in the Karanas to get my level back. I kill one, but am unable to get healing on before
the poison kills me. I kill a second, but am unable to get healing on before poison kills me. I kill a third,
manage to get healing on, but his brother hits me from behind. I give up and go kill crocs in Oasis.

One random group story:

The first time I go to Cazic, I get grouped with five other players, including two(!) Clerics. Cool! Two
hours later, I have died three times and have spent half my gametime running back from Freeport. I should have
asked earlier, but in my state of disbelief I had not yet done so, but I decided to politely ask the Clerics
where the (bleep) their healing was. Cleric A: "I'm a Battle Cleric, I don't cast healing". Cleric B: "I
like to reserve mana so I can heal the party quickly after the battle."

My experience in Cazic (and elsewhere) is that, at my level, I have five choices:

1. Solo for experience, which is VERY slow.
2. Group with a COMPETENT healer (MUCH easier said than done)
3. Stand around twiddling my thumbs while the group fights, and heal them later. They don't like that much.
4. Sing songs and run when I'm getting whacked (which means that I am always out of zone when the experience
is earned).
5. Sing songs and die.

Does anyone have any suggestions about where to go to earn solo experience at my level (24)?
Does anyone have any tactical suggestions to permit me to keep my butt alive when grouped with mediocre
players?

I hate playing for eight hours and earning only one bubble of experience. Or less.

Kenross Cantoforjado, 24 songs, Innoruuk