How to I find a party?

Hi all, I'm a FFXI veteran. In FFXI, you would just raise your flag and await an invite, or, you could start your own party and look for the appropriate classes. I'm at a loss as to what is the common way to find a party for leveling in this game. First of all, I'm a rank 15 Archer - is it possible to get a leveling group at that level?

Also, anyone have some advice on finding an LS? It seems every person I talk to is Japanese lol. I'm on the Trabia server. Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the game, Starplayer. (Great forum name, by the way. :))

Ready for some circular logic? The best way to find a party is to join a linkshell, and party up with them. The best way to join a linkshell is to party up with some people.

I know, I know. Really not helpful.

Outside of the logical trap above, one way to find a linkshell is to check the forum for the Trabia server. Some linkshells post ads there. I also know there are some posts here in the New Players forum where people will talk about their LSs being open to new players. May want to look around a bit here.

Another way to find a linkshell is just to go to Uldah and /shout that you're an FFXI vet looking for a LS. Most people seem to have migrated to Uldah, so it's usually best to go where the other players are.

And honestly, it never hurts to just ask someone about their LS. See someone with a LS crest? Ask them about it, and if they're accepting new members (especially FFXI vets).

One way to pick up a random party is to just go to the appropriate level camp -- usually in Uldah, since that's where the most players are -- and /say or /shout that you're looking for a party to do leves. And every 30 minutes, you can join behest. (A Battle Warden will pop at every camp and ask for help defeating the enemies of Eorzea, etc. It's like a free leve every 30 minutes. Just click on the Battle Warden, accept the behest, and then join into a party with whoever else is doing behest at that time.)

Leves and behests are kind of under-populated at the moment, because XP for leves and behest got nerfed quite a bit in the last patch. But they're going to be increased in the next patch, which is ... tomorrow! So they might start becoming more popular again.

Hopefully some folks from Trabia will pop in here soon and send you in the right direction. :)

also be open if you notice someone grinding on the same mobs as you just say hey party with me and kill faster ^^

Thanks for the helpful advice guys. Much appreciated!

Or you could just use the search party function on the menu.
I do not know why no one uses it when it works so well and you could save a lot of time without having to disturb the people using /shout