I've gotten kills at level 1 with a pitchfork. Early on you play as a peasant, this a role playing game, and is to simulate you getting skills and this time should be spent trying to buy armor and weapons for when you have the skills to utilize them.
One or two nights of playing and you should be at level 20 easily, probably closer to level 24 or 25.
I'm pretty sure you would get dominated even if you had the skills of a level 30 player (which you should building your char for a level 30 build using character calculators
http://infinitum.dyndns.org/crpg/calc.htm). Your first generation should be about acquiring equipment, and getting familiar with the game. Most of us have played c-rpg for thousands of hours, so you won't hear much sympathy about the grind of a generation 1 player, we've all been there, and it can seem very overwhelming, but it's really not that bad once you're more familiar with the game. You can be useful to your team winning as a peasant, and the more your team wins, the faster you gain levels.
Also, I would highly suggest you check out the faction hall of these forums, find a faction's teamspeak or ventrilo and hang out with them until you learn the ropes of the game. Most factions are willing to show a noobie the ropes and answer any questions you might have (you will probably have a lot) and even more things you won't even know to ask, they can explain to you.
Don't listen to Firebrand. DTV is not the place for new players. You should be playing on the battle server, it's the only server that you can get high multipliers and keep them for some time. Also, on battle, you can stick with a group of infantry with your pitch fork and rear horsemen who charge, or poke at enemies when they get close (to interrupt their attack and allow your friendlies to get a hit in). Or just stand next to an archer and try to protect them. You should be on the battle server, 10 hours of playing (if telling the truth) and only level 15 is absolutely horrible. I get to level 15 (300,000 xp) in a couple hours, maybe 3 hours tops if I have a x1 the whole time.