Exemplar
An exemplar is a higher-level hero who willingly trades earning experience for a temporary drop in level to match their partner.
Exemplars gain prestige and influence, but do not earn experience. If the exemplar has an experience debt, they earn half experience towards the debt as normal.
Exemplars do not suffer a loss in security level, but are reduced to a combat level equivalent to their partner. For example, a level 50 character who has been exemplared to a level lower than 40 can still enter the Rikti Crash Site, even though it has become extremely dangerous to do so.
Some trials, task forces, and all PVP zones will auto-exemplar, meaning all characters in the zone, trial, or task force fight at a given effective combat level regardless of their actual level and without requiring a partner.
Time spent as an exemplar does not count towards the Mentoring badges.