Funny you'd mention that, for I got a whole different experience with most browser games. While this one stands out from the rest, most games that make you build up your resource fields, build buildings and eventually an army go way faster then this. ^^ It could be due to the clearer overviews on how many resources you get per hour, and they didn't had any functions like an Explorer and so but eh. Settlers online is in my opinion one of the slowest browser games I've played.
Does that make it bad? Not at all, I love it. I just got surprised by your opinion. Travian, Ikariam, Ogame, Imperion, and many more, were/are much faster. The unique functions on Settlers however makes this one truly stand out and be a lot more enjoyable.
Regarding the tutorial ; I've got to level twelve on my first day, sixteen on the second. I didn't had the Anno voucher or extra resources so I think it's quite doable. I do wish it would give resources for completing quests instead just a load of XP but without the XP gain Settlers would be impossible to advance in. (Due to buildings being level restricted)
All I can suggest is, build more masons, build more woodcutters and sawmills, my storages are overflowing with resources and now at level 16, I got nothing to spend them on apart from troops as I need the XP from bandit camps to advance further.
So, I'm a bit mixed on the stance. The tutorial itself is for me fast enough, resource rate as well but XP from bandit camps seems to be what's slowing me down at this moment. You take heavy losses, which take time to rebuild, which slows the process even more for that little XP gain per bandit camp cleared. Maybe they could look into that instead? All in all, I already like the game more then likewise games, I just wish the whole attacking process went faster and smoother. (Losing units due to the enemy being allowed to attack despite already dead on the first hit is one of such things, but that's fit for an other topic.

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