Noob questions

[jabbywocks]

There's a chat box at the bottom left of the screen. You can filter it to shout (entire map), yell (smaller area), or say (anyone standing in sight on you). When you join a free company, you can switch the filter to that chat and the same when you join a party. There are also Link Shells which are like a group chat. All communication is done from the chat box.

To join a free company, you can go to any major city and watch for people shouting, advertising their FC. Tell that person and ask to join. Or you can go to the forum for your server which is always filled with FC advertisements.

You're on Brynhildr, so here you go: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forums/966-Brynhildr

[Tachiban]

ahhh the forum, thx

[gadzi_h]

There are also Link Shells which are like a group chat. All communication is done from the chat box.

I second that. A link shell will generally have a decent number of people at a variety of levels to do general chat and also help with game related content if need be. You can have several different link shells so it is not like committing to a free company (payers guild).