This is my first time playing FFXI and im pretty damn lost as to how things work.

I know the game is very group oriented and you need people even to do basic quests, how do I go about finding people to group with?

Is there an easy way to hotkey my abilities?

Any good tips for a brand new player?

Here's the FAQ from the nasomi wiki(link available at top of page):
http://nasomi.com/wiki/index.php?title=New:First-Time

You can probably find an old user manual for ffxi sitting around online or maybe squarenix's ffxi site for the full interface overview. Just reference the wikinas for things that work different or not at all due to out of Era things. We shoot for things as the were around 2005 or so.

And here's a quick guide on macros:
http://ffxiclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Macro

Good things to start with.

-- Talk to a guard near an exit with Initials by his name. He gives you a buff called "Signet" it will let you earn points to be used on useful items like warp scrolls / equipment based on Nation Rank. It also allows you to gather crystals which you can sell for gil at the Auction House or Use for crafting (Sell them to start since crafting can get expensive)

-- You won't party until around level 11-13 and that will be in the Valkrum Dunes zone. So just focus on leveling and having fun. If you are a caster, you have to buy your spells, each city has a spell shop, the first couple can be bought after you sell some crystals.

-- Hot keying abilities is done through "Macros" if you hold the CTRL or ALT key on the keyboard you will see #1-#0 as options. going through your menu to "Macros" you will need to pres "-" twice to get to the 2nd menu options, you can locate each macro set there. an Example of a warrior skill provoke would be below. Also I put a Cast Cure spell one below it

Provoke one ---- /ja "Provoke" <t>
Cast Cure ---- /cast "Cure" <t>

Useful things

/ja = Job Ability
/cast = Cast Spell
<t> = Target
<me> = Yourself

There are lots more like <st> and and <HPP> and such that you can find on the wiki. Also check out this Nab made a great beginning guide.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4645

TIL: /cast is a thing

Shout in your starting city (Windy Woods, Bastok Mines, South Sandy) for a LS. You'll get one full of ppl that can help answer questions as you get started too.

_________________

I think /ma also works in place of /cast....or maybe /cast doesn't work idk it has been a while since I've made a magic macro

I use /ma.

_________________

_________________

SAM75 RDM75
Formerly Sephyrus/Katashuro

Thank you all for the responses, this was all really helpful. Cant wait to jump into the game with my friend

TIL as well. I always use /ma for magic /nin for ninjutsu, /so for songs... guess I've been doing it wrong.

Here's a fun macro TIL (well, I learned it yesterday): instead of /wait X as a separate line, you can add <wait X> to the end of your macro. Got a couple macro's i need to condense now.

_________________
~~Guedj~~
WAR37 MNK10 WHM38 BLM61
RDM18 THF63 PLD15 COR24
BST75 BRD46 RNG12 SAM71
NIN37 DRG60 SMN70 BLU15
DRK0 PUP0

i use /ma for all of those.

_________________