I do know the paths. Been playing since the very beginning so not my first time doing this. I've put in 24 hours easily this week and that is not enough time to do every single drop and grind all the bounties for artifact leveling. Not to mention that you need some RNG. My alt got great drops. My main, energy weapon, energy weapon, energy weapon. Comparing myself with my clan mate the only difference is a) TIME and b) some of them afk'd forges. And again RNG. Disclaimer of I do not have the time, or more accurately have chosen not to take the time because then Destiny is literally all I do, to do 3 characters and that is a huge hit I know. But i've focused on 2 characters as I can generally get 90% of the things in the game done on 2. It is too much of a slog and makes the game feel like a second job to 100% all three for me.