But then I hold the odd view that competiton isn't about who wins or loses, but about having fun playing the game and learning from those who've developed differeing styles and techniques.
The biggest thing I've learned about leveling is that it's never enough. I went through phases where I was content with my level. Phases where I wanted to be a lower level. And phases where I did nothing but run around killing stuff all day because I felt I had to get that level so bad. It's a cycle that everyone goes through (and it NEVER stops... even at level 20+). Thing is, the most satisfying thing about Layonara for me was always the role playing. Often I'd lose sight of that when the powergamer in me would pop out. It's not wrong to want to level (I always want to), I just have to remind myself that no amount of levels will make Layonara fun for me. It's the people you hang with and how you hang with em. I've been on worlds that seem to have nearly as many areas as Layonara. I can level two or three times faster and the items are more powerful. What are they lacking then? They're lacking Rhynns, and Frins, Peragos, and Tolinars, Rhizomes and Nawens. Yeah, levels are good (heck, they're freaking awesome), but you can't role play with your levels. My advice: seek people out, play your character, work on developing his/her personality, his/her story, his/her emotional depth and knowledge of the world and the plot. Go on quests, forge friendships, adventure and explore. The less you concentrate on levels, no matter how much time you play every week, the faster they'll seem to come.