The epic is fantastic for solo grinding exp. However, you're still just as useful in groups without it. Like everyone suggested, talk to people doing fear whenever you're on and talk to guilds in advance about the possibility of you looting a tear if you're on when they do fear. But while you wait, HS and Seb groups can be good cash and don't penalize you for not having your epic.
Until you get your epic, I'd focus on getting cash over getting exp. The exp will come quickly (relatively, anyways) after you get your epic.
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Winga - 59 Barbarian Shaman <BDA>
Hairyporter - 29 Halfling Druid
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