I want to pose a question in a way to remove bias and flame that usually gets in the way when someone is speaking for themselves (with strong bias towards their wants).
Let us say a new player; new to MMOs gets their first character to level 90 today. What is the path this person is going to take at getting into the current content? Realistically how long would it take this person to get to that point.
I'm using a new player, in a new to them genre, with a fresh max level character specifically for several reasons. They have no knowledge of past paradigms. They have no idea of what they should do or how they should go about it. They wouldn't have any gold; because new players are notorious for spending it as they level, not maximizing earnings, nor know much about the auction house. This means that buying gear is not an option.
For this particular purpose, let us also assume this person has no desire to PvP, nor would they be able to do so in any adequate way if they tried. They would be fodder and fodder usually won't (at least ones with any sanity) continue to just run to their instant death for hours, days, weeks.
We'll assume that this person is in quest reward gear appropriate for their class. They wouldn't know about farming rares or elites, so they are in basic greens and maybe a low ilvl blue or two.
On a positive note, let us assume this person knows their class and spec well. They understand priorities and how to move and use defensive cooldowns and cc. Not top tier player, but let's put them on the upper part of the average curve.
How does this person go about progressing through end game outside of being carried by a really nice group of people (at one time called a guild).
Through playing the game, what is the order and pace they'd need to take starting from scratch. Remember they are in quest rewards from basic storyline hitting 90.
Thank you for your responses.