I don't find players friendly.

[Risvertasashi]

Joining a group (and this applies to any game or similar) of friends that already know each other... occasionally, it can be great. If they are very welcoming. Most aren't, they just want to talk to people they already know.

Now if they're outright giving you sarcastic answers... Yeah, ditch them. I've found most people in the game pretty friendly but as with any generalization, it is nothing more than a generalization.

[Twilite]

Joining a group (and this applies to any game or similar) of friends that already know each other... occasionally, it can be great. If they are very welcoming. Most aren't, they just want to talk to people they already know.

Which has been the primary thing working against me in making meaningful friendships. You're at a disadvantage with people who have established friendships.

[Zephrey]

Which has been the primary thing working against me in making meaningful friendships. You're at a disadvantage with people who have established friendships.

Most free companies, unless you build on from scratch or its brand new will have these sort of friendships. You could always do what I did and force your way into these "cliques" takes a bit of effort but it's 100% possible. That's how a friend of mine for 10 years met. He wanted to do stuff, so he went and did everything with people he found interesting. He made sure if there was something happening, he was being apart of it. Some people wait to be personally invited to do things, other people ask to join. And ask to participate. Those are the kinds of people that tend to get further in a "clique" type group.

I have a "clique" and I constantly invite people outside of said clique to join. Constantly welcoming, constantly asking if they want to come along. It can be tiring, especially when later down the line they say things like, "They don't feel welcomed." When I see a person log on and I say, "Hey! We've been waiting to see you get on! Wanna do stuff with us?" and then weeks later they say they're unwelcomed. I don't know, I think some people try to purposely try to avoid other people with friends, and think of every reason not to join them. Or be apart of their "group" because it was already once established.

Some cliques are very welcoming, if you're willing to work on a friendship just as much as they try to. Some people just don't want to, or come up with every excuse not to because they feel they "can never fit in" when that's never always the case.

[Kosmos992k]

Joining a group (and this applies to any game or similar) of friends that already know each other... occasionally, it can be great. If they are very welcoming. Most aren't, they just want to talk to people they already know.

Yep, Risvertasashi is right, and it can be discouraging.

I think the key is finding a Free Company that is newbie and new person friendly. Many FCs say that they are, but they are also kind of structured around progression, and that itself tends to form clumps of players who play within that small group and don't interact as much with the rest of the company. It's not that people are necessarily unfriendly, but the game encourages players to work with static groups for end-game progression and this does lead to cliquish behaviors, but it's not typically out of malicious intent. If end-game progression is your cup of tea, then you may find it easier to integrate into a FC once you are able to participate in that type of content.

On the other hand if end-game progression is not the thing that lights your candles, or perhaps lights a few candles in the back - so to speak, you may be better served by smaller free companies that are not focused on end-game progression. There are some FCs that describe themselves as social, but sometimes it's more like a club 18-30 kind of thing. So you still may want to shop around to find the right fit for yourself. My Free Company is not end-game progression focused. We have player that participate in that content in statics of their choosing outside the FC, but the FC is focused on simply enjoying our life in Eorzea. I think that for brand new players who are not focused on end-game progression, a Free Company that focuses on playing the game for the pleasure of playing together with others.

Last thing is that this is a social environment, so communication is key. Unfortunately that means that it shares many things with real life, so it can be hard to get started with a group of friends. On the other hand, because this is an online environment people are more free to be who they want to be, so some people who in the real world are a bit shy and introverted, may be more extroverted and talkative in-game. That makes it a bit easier to integrate, and become a part of the community. Of course to an extent you'll get back what you put in as well.

On the darker side of things, because this is an online environment with little fear of consequence, and no real player reputation system in place, there is a small but vocal group of players who simply don't care if they walk all over you, ignore you, insult you or simply use you because there is very little consequence for their action. I call this anonymous group of Internet fiends the "Eye of Moron"... Avoid the Eye's gaze.

Seriously though, ask around, talk to FC members of a few FCs you've looked at, and try to find a friendly, relaxed group who play for fun.