When should I join a Free Company?

[Garlyle]

When you join an FC is up to you. If you have friends that are playing, join theirs, if you can. Otherwise, it's more a matter of finding people you like, which can be a little tricky. If you get any invites for an FC, check the FC's information (you should be able to although I forget how) for at least some info on them. It can be hard getting into just any random FC, more because you may find very quickly that your personality and theirs don't mesh at all.

FCs have access to housing (which will include personal rooms when 2.3 hits), and also are able to maintain up to two Company Actions, which are (somewhat minor) buffs that apply to all players, like slightly increased EXP, reduced gear wear, enhanced Control for crafters, etc. Past that, it's all about the social aspect, and whatever shared goals you're interested in - a more relaxed FC will regularly party up with each other, or offer hands to new players that need to get dungeons, etc.

If you're not sure about an FC you get invited to, message whoever invited you and ask! "Do you guys take the game seriously, or relaxed?" "Do you guys regularly help out new players or is it all endgame?" etc. etc.

Some people never join an FC, but I think that's a waste of perfectly good opportunity for social interaction, which really helps kill some of the boredom of the game sometimes.

There are also regularly Free Company advertisments on their individual boards (on these forums, look for Worlds (NA/EU) and then select yours)