I'm playing just to the traditional RPGs games (Dragon Quest, the rest of Final Fantasy...) but this is my first MMO and i am very lost (really, i defeated Penance in FFX but I don't have any idea of games like this

), so i have some questions:
*The first question is, if I play for a party, this is gonna be forever or just for missions in concret?
*Is exists any list of friends in the game or something like that?
*I'm in Windurst, in what mission or rank I'm gonna really need the help of other players?
For now I'm in level 11 and I just make my first mission and for now i'm just interesting to still leveling for now, but I want to know everything what is possible for me in the momment.
Thanks!