Please bear in mind that the goal is NOT to get to 80 as fast as possible.
Story, crafting, dungeons, exploring ALL give big chunks of experience AND suitable equipment (for its intended level range), and will all help you towards reaching the level cap. Grinding towards level 80 without enjoying the game content that gets you there is the WORST way to play this game.
- When to play personal story:
Especially at lower levels, you should consider playing the personal story at the level that it is recommended for. The XP reward is 1/3rd of a level, and the item rewards are suitable for that level.
Especially after level 70 (or earlier if you don’t particularly enjoy it), you could delay doing personal story until you are 80, as there are many story entries all centered on one area of the world map.
- When to play dungeons:
As you progress through the personal story, you will receive in-game mail to notify you for which dungeons you are eligible. The first one will come at level 31, after completing the level 31 story step. The others are level-dependent.
- When to complete maps:
Exploring PvE maps is best done when you are in the appropriate level range for that map, because the rewards (like karma vendors) will be suitable for your level, and the difficulty will be at its most balanced.
When there is a dynamic event going on nearby, don’t hesitate to join in (even if nobody else is there; not all events are group events). This is a nice way to earn some coin, karma and experience.
Things to do at level 80:
- World versus World
- Fractals of the Mists
- Dungeons (explorable mode)
These are all ways to get better (exotic/ascended) equipment, because you either collect tokens that can be used to buy it, or may find loot that eventually allows you to craft it, either with your regular crafts, or in the Mystic Forge.
Furthermore, you could complete exploring the world map, to get around to doing the things you never got around to before.
Ways to get rich(er):
- Visit the Trade Post, learn what items are valuable, and sell these when you find them.
- Complete map explorations and dungeons (first time completion awards coin).
- Remember that you may salvage Globs of Ectoplasm from any rare (yellow) item of level 68 and higher, if you use a good salvage kit. The value of the item is usually based on the value of ectoplasm.
- Walk around in Orr and kill things.
Finally, there is a new patch going live in less than 12 hours. Read up on the patch notes, because it has been announced that there will be a new reward system for playing PvE.
