Red mage and warrior from Bastok, levels 9 and 10 right now. Reasonably geared. Never played FF11 before this week unless you count getting to level 3 and quitting over a decade ago. We lacked patience back then.

The main problem we're having is that no matter what we do, it's significantly worse exp and money than simply one hitting things at the bottom range of EP. Every guide we've read - and we've read many - tells us to go somewhere else and kill higher level enemies, but when we do that we end up getting maybe 40 exp per kill if we're really lucky for about twenty times the effort. I'm not even talking about DCs or EMs; they're still EP, just slightly higher level.

We can clear the South Gustaberg goblin camp, but the exp per hour we get is worse than if we were soloing level 3 trash mobs near the gates. We can kill Land Crabs all day, same problem. Quadavs, lizards. It's all exponentially higher effort for a meager increase in per kill exp.

Are we doing something wrong, or is that just how it is? Are there greener pastures for a duo out there?

Typically people solo until 12 or so then go to valkurm dunes and do 6 man pt's, as you pointed out solo xp is faster. What you can try though is going to dangruf wadi (southwest corner of south gusta) and head to the south side of the map, theres a big open area of gobs, crabs, etc...basically just do a circuit of the area and just kill things as fast as you can. Should be able to do 10-15 in about 2-3hrs. Once you hit 14/15 you can go further south\west and there's ambushers\tinkerers\butchers and wadi hares that you can duo until 18'ish.

Hope that helps.

RDM and WAR is perfect for Dangruf Wadi. In Gustberg all the way to the South west past the crabs theres a zone. Go in there. That is Dangruf wadi. Inside there stay toward the left and youll come across lizzards and gobs. The gobs are better exp since you can just keep killing them but really worms, gobs, lizzards are all pretty good. You can chain gobs there til about 13-14ish. Once you hit 13-14 youll wanna exp in a party with 6 out in Valkrum Dunes.

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Once you're both level 10+, use level sync to maximize your xp gains. [Party menu > Level sync (on the person of lowest level.)]

The other thing is: have you updated your equipment? Getting 40 xp from an enemy at your level should be easy. I'd suggest making friends with others who can point you in the right direction. You're probably falling for a classic noob trap, which this game has plenty of.

Something no one has mentioned is that +1 weapons and high attack food for your level like mithkabobs help a ton. Bother some ppl in your linkshell or around town if you have time. Someone nice will give you 20k to buy this stuff. Unless you have that already from exping. Make sure if you are a warrior you are using a great axe and the red mage is using a sword. eventually the red mage will just cast spells but below 15 melee is decent for them too.

Also make sure you are getting signet (+20% exp) and if you can get the empress band with conquest points.

Finally, for the duo... killing things EP->DC fast and not having to rest (and getting lower exp) is better than getting higher exp and stopping to rest all the time.

A good place in sandy to lvl 13 is the whole bottom area by the lake, then into latheine. Not sure about other starting areas.

If you two make it to Sandy, I know a guy who's got some

ENRICHED URANIUM

left over from relocating Windurst to the far side of forever.

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The universe is so large that, if life is not rare, a world much like Vanadiel probably exists out there somewhere.