Economy barrier for new players

[veejur]

Folks,

Long time EQ player, loved pre-luclin, loving the concept of this server. Have made several chars just messing around over the past couple months while trying to figure out which I want to really level up. Highest so far is a 26 monk. Her gear is pretty pitiful and I find every group I join is full of insanely geared twinks. Sure, it's part of the bane of a new char on a new server that your not going to get that kind of gear out the gates - I get that.

I remember on live being able to do some greater lightstone quests or sell some weapons and pick up some starter gear in EC tunnel. I'm talking items from upper guk, befallen, najena etc. that would sell for 10-25p.

On this server, these same items are 100-300p. I understand how there are so many high level chars equipping alts, so I can see the "if people will pay it, charge it" mentality. I wonder though if people have considered how difficult this makes it for new players to push prices up so fast. I've been duoing a necro with my wife who's playing an enchanter with the hopes that less gear dependent (read caster) classes will not hit into the same issues. I'm convinced there has to be a serious real life transaction thing going on or plat duping occurred at some point and went out of control.

Any others have similar experience who came to p1999 recently, or advice for how to work around it? Just doing the ol' grind in groups until the zone your in drops some stuff and hope you win a roll for now.