New to MMO's any general advice would be appreciated!

[Kraggy]

Marks in this game are simply numbers above the mobs' heads if someone marks them, sounds like so far no one's been bothering to mark.

In early instances marking is probably not worth it, the pulls are generally too many and go down fast enough no matter who's hitting which so I guess it's likely the leader/tank isn't bothered. Tanks usually mark because generally they're expected to, because the usual advice is a new player should run the content on a DPS or healer to get to learn the run before trying to tank it, but again in the early instances new player tanks shouldn't have too much trouble.

That said, some group leaders may decide to mark or get someone else to who isn't the tank, it really doesn't matter as long as that player knows the encounter, but I expect it'll be some time in later instances when you'll see marking in use.

Have to say, grouping on a console without a keyboard or voice chat is to me, a confirmed PC player, something I'd not want to do. I played FFXI with a couple of PS2 players but both had keyboards, I really don't see how one can communicate with fellow players in group content on a console without one.