Quote Originally Posted by 'kadaan',index.php?page=Thread&postID=33243#post33 243
Level makes a difference as well. The cap is based on the level difference, so as the alt levels up they'll get more experience per kill. I don't remember the exact numbers, but it's like you get 50xp at level 20, 55 at 21, 61 at 22, etc until the mob cons green. PL'ing mobs much higher than you (SM at level 25) is pointless, as you'll get the exact same exp per kill killing lower level stuff (like stockades for alliance.) So raw XP/hour is semi meaningless, % of level per run is a better measurement. From 18 to 25 my alt got just under 25% of a level per clear of stockades at about 8 minutes per run.

I'm not sure at what point a 5-man group no longer becomes the "sweet spot," if ever, but for Deadmines/Stockades/SM, you always want 5 people in the group. The group split penalty is above the level difference cap, so you get the exact same base XP as you would with 2 players PLUS the group bonus. When PL'ing my alt I would always offer free runs through the instances so I would maximize the group bonus.
I moved to SM at 25 on the sole reason i was able to clear and loot stockades faster than my lock out time .. so i was getting locked out for 30 mins at a time or so. then it would get messed up .. my alt would be locked out but not my main .. etc .. since i went to SM i just hop from armory 2 pull and loot to cath 2 pull and loot .. never hit a lock out since.