impressions of leveling the DNC subFollow

I recently started leveling DNC for a sub. Needed a break from other stuff and noticed I might be the last THF/NIN on the server.

The last time I leveled a job must be back in 2004/2005 when I leveled SAM. It used to be a total grind to lvl 10, getting 5-15 exp per kill and probably dying a few times in the process. Upon reaching 10, even EP became very difficult or impossible to solo and it was off to the dunes for the party experience.

So I started leveling DNC this weekend and I was quite amazed to be getting 120 exp or more for EP on my way up to 10, which I achieved in under 2 hours. The mobs also seem to be hitting for a lot less damage. So I kept going and killed stuff as I made my way from Bastok up to valkurm. By the time I was through the highlands I was already level 15! When I reached Valkurm I just kept right on soloing, taking on Tough lizards and Gobs in the south end with no problem at all and averaging 5-6K/hr. Tonight I just dinged to 23 after fighting two Tough sheep at the same time. I ended the fight with 100% health!!!

Ok, I was away for a few years, but when did SE make this game so retardedly easy? Or is it just the DNC job? It seems unkillable. Does DNC continue to be easy to solo exp or does it even out at some point?

It was done in increments over several years. In no particular order:
*Player mentality has changed (we went from big number syndrome in 2004 to less exp per mob/faster kills.
*The update that brought FOV really changed low levels, as an easy source of refresh and the temp items really helped solo.
*One update raised your DEF when fighting anything EM or lower with signet on.

You will also note level sync makes exp MUCH easier (when you do begin to party):
*No more getting less exp than your party members due to levels.
*No more having the only WHM lfg be 2 levels above everyone else, throwing off the killrate of the party while lowering exp at the same time (OR having 1 DD 2 levels higher than everyone else and having pretty much the same effect).
*Parties are much quicker to build due to there being a larger pool of people.


And, just as a note, DNC - at those levels - is probably one of the best soloers in the game, as it can still take noticeable chunks of health out of enemies with each swing AND it can cure itself.