Speed Leveling tips please!

At the start of the open beta I was quite amazed that I was still level 2, while someone had already reached level 5. For every level I reached, the other guy seemed to make one or two as well, in spite of me trying to speed it up to overtakeo him.

So I need to get some general pointers as how to level fast.

The way I see it, combat yields XP, so in order to level fast you must

- be able to kill quickly
- find more enemies quickly (do you skip side levels, which ones?)
- not waste time to go back to town often (when would it be appropriate?)

Is there anything else I have missed? I would really like to get some general guidelines.

my suggestions- not recommended (at all except one )

run through maps that are not required by quest

aoe skills only

plan your tree as such

portal before a boss or death, always. (always)