Can't pass the tower barrier with gear score > 30

[hardy scarab]

Hi sorry if this has been asked before, but I haven't found anything that explains my exact problem. I still can't get into the towers that have a magic/electric barrier. I've read that gear score 20 is required. Mine is now over 30 and I still bounce off (I'm trying this in my starter realm Abeyance Forest). Any help about what I'm missing would be very much appreciated.

EDIT: don't know if that's important but I joined a party and a friend's game very early on, and in my friend's realm I was perfectly able to pass the barriers. I just can't pass them in my own realm.
The gear I am wearing was crafted in my friend's realm.
Did I mess up my character now, because I skipped something from the main quest line?

[pastel ore]

There are several different towers, and they each have different gear score requirements. If you're in a party, you can still get in with your group if someone else goes through before you who has the right gear score. Did someone already clear the Site? That might also be an issue.

FWIW, I have a gear score of 54 and bounced off the Antiquarian Site of Power's entrance. My friend who shares the realm with me had already cleared it. We were grouped. He went in first, and I was able to summon the boss (no other mobs present). I had already been in an Antiquarian Realm and did a few of those quests. I was able to finish the quest, so you're not messed up as far as I can tell.