Was level 20 the original planned max level for EQ?

[Jimjam]

It does feel like you can stumble into level 20 just following quest lines, exploring and adventuring. To hit 50 in any kind of timely fashion requires an assembly line mentality of mob processing.

Despite their DND / Dev / blow backgrounds the team were too cool and normal and didn't realise the basement dwelling munchkins appetite to consume content as if they were sweatshop labourers. I think these noisy neckbeards are a large part of the reason for the 50 cap.