I have played this game on and off since 2016 and it does make you learn in some round about and odd ways, eg I was having so much trouble at the beginning of EoD with the jumps. So I went back and made myself a new Mesmer leveled him up all the way to 80 -Bam! I Knew that I should be able to portal myself and others, went to practice, realized there was something way off with my ground targeting that I needed to fix in the options controls { huge intake of breath } and then, of course, I realized that's exactly why I couldn't use the cannonball mech from Aurene and so that HUGELY round about way of doing things taught me how to use some of the Mesmer's skills, to stick it out with what I find to be frustrating must-do story paths and a bit of confidence with jumping. You do need to push yourself a bit. That does not mean that I am a fan of MUST do story lines - particularly when it is stopping access to maps purchased. Having to do boring, slog it out story lines - Outreach I'm yelling at you! is very aggravating - It's not like my character actually has a set of NEW moves they need to practice! Why not have the map accessible and parts to the storylines blocked if a player doesn't want to be crossing off a list of effing chores? I have tooled around very happily fighting when I must on a map partly played as storyline, partly played as gathering and exploration. I have 3 mounts and different skins for them all and I am really only ready to think about working for a Griffon now. The ridiculous amount of work that needs to happen for a Skyscale is, I think, punishing but it probably makes it more worth while to those that manage to stay with it and get the reward, I hope so, anyway. Still I think it is a good balance of buying some things that may make other things attainable and getting in game gold to buff up your gear. Not one of my characters have completed the map and one of my most rewarding characters to play slogged it out to level up and has only just now reach level 80. It's a great game just not all the time, I don't think there is such a beast.🤨😉