I segregate gameplay from roleplay by far most of the time. The only reason why I level classes related to my characters skills, is because usually those classes have gear that I would like my character to wear and look pretty in. I do not mind if someone is level 15 or 60, if they're a fresh character or a two year old character. What I do mind is if someone hasn't bothered to give good reason as to why the character is strong, or how they became strong. If they're more powerful than people older of their age who have studied whatever they're practicing for longer, I'd expect there to be a reason as to why they have attained more strength. It shouldn't just be because it sounds cool and there's an OOC motivation to be stronger than everyone else, so you can win fights. There has to be ample reason and justification.. There's no way I could take it seriously if someone tomorrow just became a powerful astrologian from one day to the next, because they hit 60 astrologian, to give an example. I'm also a fan of progressing characters over time as you play them, so you may stark out weakish, and then get a stronger character during the course of whatever events they might partake in.Â
It was one of the first things I was taught about roleplay back in the day, that level did not matter. I'm also quite a slow leveller, I like to take my time - in another game it took me 6 months to reach the level cap because I was roleplaying so much. I'd be in a terrible position if people hadn't taken me seriously just because you are slow.. And if anything needs to be rated, the time a player spends roleplaying should surely be more important than time spent on their pve level.
It was one of the first things I was taught about roleplay back in the day, that level did not matter. I'm also quite a slow leveller, I like to take my time - in another game it took me 6 months to reach the level cap because I was roleplaying so much. I'd be in a terrible position if people hadn't taken me seriously just because you are slow.. And if anything needs to be rated, the time a player spends roleplaying should surely be more important than time spent on their pve level.