The Xenoblade Chronicles Series Thread: Definitive Edition (All Spoilers in Tags)

[Shaunodon]

JWeinCom said:

RolStoppable said:

Option 1: You aren't any good at the game.

Option 2: Common travel points and landmarks don't grant big EXP, but early in the game you only need small amounts of EXP to level up. Without expert mode, you'd have level 6 at the beginning of Tephra while avoiding all battles and sidequests up till that point. Doing only a few sidequests would bump you to level 10 which is more than sufficient to get through Tephra.

Could be both.  I was at level 5 when I entered the cave.

That seems like a problem with expert mode.  It's kind of hard to judge where you "should" be.  So far, doesn't seem like there is a recommended level or anything like that. 

Can't you turn it on and off? Maybe leave it off for the first 15 hours or so, while you get re-adjusted to the game.