New player advice?

[JerseyFresh609]

I'm new to P99 certainly not new to EQ. I played off and on from 99 to 08 or so. I've played a paladin, bard, shadowknight and shaman in high end content (Raiding from Luclin to SoD) with some experience with many other classes as well. I played on the Povar server as Rathkin, Noprintz, Bradaic, Donne... would be awesome if I found someone I used to know. Anyway to the point, I have minimal experience in classic, at least on the high end (I think I only played to level 30 or so during classic before quitting and later retuning during PoP). I'm just looking for any general advice regarding classes, where to xp, gear to search out, etc..
I've currently started both a paladin and a shaman. The shaman I plan to level as a duo with a friend of mine who used to play as well, him being with some kind of melee. I'm thinking a warrior would be best because then we would have tanking, dps, heals and some root CC. Perhaps someone could suggest a better duo?
The paladin is the one I'm looking to play when we can't play together. My main concern right now is the xp penalty. Is it really 40%!? Like I only xp at 60% the rate of a normal character? I'm concerned I don't have the patience for that. I took the boat over from BB to FP assuming that that is a better area for me to level and acquire gear in. Luckily the player base so far has been VERY friendly as a few people have already given me some starting gear and plat upon noticing I was new. I'm wondering if I should continue with this or scrap it and go with a class I haven't played before such as a monk that will level much faster. Anyway, just looking for some input and maybe find someone who would like to play some lowbies with me. I can usually be on from 4pm to 10pm EST and occasionally I can be on during the day while I'm at work, though in a limited capacity. Thanks in advance!

[falkun]

Paladins and other hybrids will retain their experience penalty until Velious, when class penalties are removed. Yes the penalty is 40%.

See How Experience Works on the P99 wiki for the best explanation.

Also note that iksar monks will actually level slower than paladins (44% penalty vs. 40% penalty) because stacking experience penalties are multiplicative, not additive.

[SCB]

IMO don't be too concerned about XP penalties. Just play what you are enjoying - race and class both.

You're going to be spending a LOT of time with your character, and enjoying the process is far more important than leveling fast or slow. Hell levels suck whether you're a troll SK or a halfling warrior, you may as well be having a blast.

[falkun]

I have to admit, leveling is a time where it's nice to only have 1 character. I am a bard, with my 40% exp penalty. I don't know if I could have made it through L54 if I had already gone through it 40% faster. Now, leveling almost anything will be faster, so it'll feel like I'm flying through levels (until you realize that no class in the game levels as fast as a bard from L18-47).

[webrunner5]

A Paladin is pretty tough to solo unless you do undead. They are pretty bad at damage to regular mobs. But I like them a lot in a group. Good Tanks.

But like a few have said play what you like. You are not going to get to level 60 in a week in this game no matter what you play. And lord knows this game does need more tanks. Enjoy.