Just wanted to get some solid (though rough) numbers out in this thread. First, let's assume you're not an AoE kiting bard (they level faster than anyone else). Say you're leveling up as a player that groups rather than solos (soloing efficiency varies wildly per class). In an EXP group going at a good pace, you'll get about one yellow bubble an hour during non-hell levels; that's a level every five hours. During hell levels (30, 35, 40, 45, 51-59) that speed is halved, and during double-hell levels (54, 59) it's quartered.
Doing some (again, very rough) calculation, and starting at level 2 since level 1 is much faster than the other levels, we get an estimate of 375 hours of play, or about 16 straight days of play. This number is actually conservative since it assumes that you'll be spending all of your playtime actually EXPing in actually efficient groups; you'll actually be spending a lot of time looking for or forming groups, running from place to place, trading/whatever, so a more realistic estimate would be 25 straight days or so.
A soloing character, generally speaking, levels faster than a grouping character. Assuming you're non-twinked, I'm talking specifically about the following classes: wizard, druid, bard, magician, enchanter, necromancer, shaman. Also, to some extent monk and shadowknight, although without gear they'll be slower. EXP efficiency varies wildly as a soloer depending on what class you are, like I said. A quad kiter (wizard or lazy druid) can do something like four or five hours a level once they can actually quad kite (wizards can't until level 29 without outside assistance). A charming class (enchanter, necromancer, or good druid) can probably do three hours a level (again, these numbers are extremely ballpark estimates). Other, slower methods (root-dotting as a shaman, root-dotting or fear kiting as a lazy necro, magician soloing) probably do about five hours a level. AoE kiting bards are the fastest and can do an hour a level in good circumstances, somewhat slower in bad circumstances (e.g. unlucky kites resulting in deaths, awkward level resulting in not much of value to pull, etc.), but AoE kiting comes with its own issues.
All of the above soloing commentary assumes non-hell levels, and many solo methods don't really work in the mid to high level 50s, at which point several of those classes will slow down. Also, a big benefit of soloing is that you don't have to wait for groups to form and you're not dependent on group members being competent. A downside is that it can get very boring soloing and you don't experience a lot of what makes EverQuest what it is. All that being said, for a competent soloing class, say a non-bard because bards are just not fair, I'd move that above ballpark figure of 25 straight says to something like 10-15 straight days.
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Let me say that EverQuest is NOT only about being level 60; it's very much about the journey to 60 as well. Learn to savor that slow ride instead of impatiently waiting to hit 60.
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