Well you're definitely tougher than a level 1 character when you start and I do seem to recall noticing in the past that I'd gone up levels rapidly so I'd say you are supposed to start at 3

wut bothers me is though is that the gamespot guide says 2 get 2 lvl 3 or 4 b4 going into the mausoleum. but if u start at lvl 3, then how can u adv 2 that point.

Since when does Gamespot know anything about RPGs?

Well I just started the game and TNO begins as a level 3 fighter with 6000xp so it looks like that IS the way its supposed to start. Morte starts as level 2, maybe they mean getting the whole party up to at least level 3-4

YES, TNO starts at level 3.

What the guide probably means is don't tackle that one before you've leveled up 3 or 4 times, which would put TNO at lev. 6 or 7 - sounds about right to me.