Quote Originally Posted by JAL_1138 View Post
The XP tables were different than they are now, too. They differed by class, and also weren't consistent patterned increases. There were bumps where certain levels took a long time to get out of even compared to later levels, and others you could breeze through. My memory's really fuzzy, but something like by the time the party Fighter went from 9th to 10th, a thief or mage starting at 1st could be caught up (if they survived)--their similarly-delaying levels happened later.
There's a degree of that still depending on edition. In most of them you'll shoot up to approximately 5th level in the time the higher level guys gain a level. Then gain 1-2 levels per level they gain after that. Of course, depending on edition, being level 5 with a group of (for example) level 10s will mean different levels of ability to contribute.