Not 100% hashed out as it popped into my head last night as I tried to go to sleep.
Make it so clan/cabal mates can pay CP or something simliar to "mentor" a cabal/clan mate and go down to within their lvl range so that they can assist in ranking.
Also make them still target-able by their own PK range and as soon as attacked reverts back to their range. So it can not be abused.
Maybe even take it outside cabal bounds and be able to pay GOLD.
Maybe limit it to a time.. say 100,000/100 gold/cp for 24 in game hours
Dont really like this idea aside the help factor. Reason being is you have a lvl 30 say Hope member who doesnt have a group, a lvl 50 then does this and bam instant lvl 50 in a god suit to tank for you. Hmmmm.
It opens a lot of room for abuse.
Well, there is not saying that EQ can not be mentored down as well, that is easy enough.
Gear/Stats all get mentored down with you.
Make three levels of mentor-ship so its not alot of work to code.
lvl 20 - Current gear turns into Mithril Quality
lvl 30 - Current Gear turns into " ? " Quality
lvl 40 - Gear Left Same
What ways of abuse? I am sure there are some, but can be ways to fix that.
I personally think that's too much of a hassle for a very small return.
Here's coulpe suggestions about what you can currently do:
Get practice gear (defensive very low dmg weapon, battered breastplate, oaken/glass rings, pink stone, etc). Tank the mob, while your buddy makes the kill.
Harm the mob until it's in bad shape, then flee. Hastens the mob killing quite some. If you one-round the mob with your current weapon, use something weaker. Grab some idea from #1.
Get a good punch of uncursed talismans, get some coin, and hire a thief to plant the talismans on the target mobs. Those mobs will become a child's play to slay. Four talismans should be enough if your aid is not in a hurry.
Maybe your friend isn't getting bigger exp due to lack of groupmates, but the quicker pace of kills should compensate that some.
Alternatively, let people apply for cabals pre level 50, like in 2.0. I remember getting some levels like that for my old bard.
Cabals are open from level 30 to 50. We once ended up with a sub level 30 Knight bc he went crusader but he ranked past the 30 mark fast enough to not make it a problem 