Does it bother no one that we have been at this for a [i]year[/i] in the meta for just one session, one the first chapter? Is that really so lacking in reason to be furious? This is not an issue of "grinding experience", but that our characters have evolved and developed far beyond where they were and in terms of ability. Level is a mechanical representative of this. Milestone is legitimately holding us back.

We fought into the town, snuck through the town, got into the keep, fought off enemies in said keep, fixed a door in the keep, survived a dragon attack and rescued the apparently last few villagers in a town. For a single night, that is a significant amount of experience we would reasonably gain, especially at the first level where gains are exceptionally fast. We are not "3rd" level in terms of mechanics no, but as I expressly said we are "3rd" in terms of development of those characters; if we are splitting hairs, we are probably 2nd level, close or at half to 3rd. This means we are so far behind we will continue to be under level and under equipment going forward.

For a game going on year, this is the [i]slowest[/i] pace I have encountered with a tabletop. I have consulted outside the group even and they too are confused at this to the point of asking, "Why would anyone ever use milestone leveling?" If surviving the dragon wasn't a "milestone" I am uncertain as to what is. [i]This[/i] is more grind intensive because we have [i]no[/i] incentive to even be doing this. We are legitimately wandering around flailing at enemies who [i]do not matter[/i]. 

Yes, you can argue this is "plot important" because Kyra's character has a story arc, but I remind you that this started as a two-person attempt, to which I imagine all else joined in on just so the group would not wipe. Again, "Don't split the party." That is all fine and well but we [i]know[/i] there is still some major event to come. If I had to guess, that dragon might make another appearance, or that person we were told about earlier might do something. In either case, it is clear we are far from the effective end of this chapter, months even.

Let me pose this to you, "What happens if one of us dies?"

Just start over? Make another character to play for a year and pray to whatever you find holy that you do not lose on the dice once more? Does that sound like a rewarding experience? Again this has been a [i]single[/i] night. One. Look at the amount of character development we have wedged in to it in one night. Levels that you see in movies, that which need condense it down so much because the audience only has so much attention to give.

Transitioning some, this goes back to inactivity. I understand the issue of, "My character has nothing much to say." to which I can say, "Neither does mine, so I find stage business to do to keep posting and contributing something." Bring effectively inactive is worse than posting two paragraphs of basic information or action; it doesn't need to be fluff.

It is clear people want to continue, but the activity, pace and interaction needs to increase in and out of game.