[SwordMage]

I agree with much of your assessment of the game.

However, I have not had the trouble you have had with quests on Thestra. I have gotten a human, dwarf, high elf, and varanjar into their early teens completely solo with no problems. The group rated quests I have run into were either soloable or completely outside the main quest path (such as the quests that draw you into the rift dungeon near Tursh).

The quests for Tursh (which is where sound like you were leveling) are a bit more disjointed than the other areas I have started in. But that is probably a product of having separate but overlapping quest series for the halflings and humans.

While there is a huge problem with aggro mobs in and around Khal and down the central valley (a really dangerous area), I have found that the other Qalia starting areas don't share the problem. Mobs tend to be clumped a bit better and cross-country travel is easier.