My first 50 was my emp/elec. We were fighting an AV - and I was pretty busy healing and buffing - the team was pretty weak, so I didn't have much time to blast a bit, but I did use my Tesla cage on a baddie or two. The mission completed finally, and when we exited, I started getting the "Grats" and all that. Because my system was a dinosaur and I was always one of the last to load in or out of a mission map, I think I leveled from the mission completion bonus, but I never heard it or saw the effects. I didn't even realize it until my team told me, lol.
Once I realized it, I shelfed the emp and didn't play him again until the incarnate stuff came out. Respec'd him more than once, and realized that I only thought I was a good emp. There were a lot of lousy emps, sure. But there were also a lot of empath players that made me look really slow and clumsy. I think rolling a tank for my second character was also a mistake, even though it had the fire primary. Burn was a thing of awe and wonder. It made me reluctant to team because I didn't need buffs. Or to think. All I had to do was run through a mob, run to the next mob, taunt a bit and jump in a dumpster and mash burn and a couple of other attacks while I waited for burn to recharge.
The third 50 was a blaster. This was where soloing was exciting and encouraged me to use tactics and develop strategies - like ice patch in the doorway, pull, hide behind the door, and wait for them to slip and fall and pick them off as needed. A very real character I could get behind and enjoy - whether teaming or soloing.
And the rest...well, I guess that's for another post.
