Welcome to the game and the forums!

1. You can change class by changing your weapon, so if you want to go from being a Lancer to an Archer, simply find a bow and some arrows to buy, equip them, and bada-bing - you're an Archer! Changing class will not affect your allotment points for the class you have already been playing and some weapon skills and magic are cross class so, for instance, yes you can use cure on Archer, but you cannot use cura as that is a class specific spell. full list of class skills can be found here -http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post476429

2. Levequests are pretty simple to grasp, once you pick a few up. Basically you locate the Adventurer's Guild in the city state you are in (it should be marked on your map, when you open it up) go to the desk, and depending on who you talk to, you will either open up a menu that has levequests for Disciple of the Land (Botanist, Miner, Fisher) or a menu with levequests for Disciple of War/Magic (called Battlecraft leves) or Disciple of the Hand (called Fieldcraft Leves) and you can choose the catgory that corresponds or is closest to your level (they go up in incremements of 10 I believe), choose the leve you want and go find the camp where the leve takes place and start killing things.

As for grouping up to do leves, I *think* it is a more solo effort nowadays til the later levels, but you can begin grouping at around lvl20 or so, but feel free to make a group before then.

3. It is possible to start your own guild, but in this game, they are called Linkshells. I think this wiki adequately describes how to get one started -http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Linkshell

I hope all this answers your questions, happy adventuring! ^^