General Question(s) on Group content and midgame

[Estellios]

Thanks for the tips on seals (along with everything else). I do wish they changed how the beginner classes worked. Lvl 30 is the highest lvl req for a basic class outside of skills. Seems like a time sink to make you level further (old gripe I'm sure).

IDK if glamour is worth investing in atm. I like the idea, but I wasn't sure if the glamour pieces you made are item bound and not transferable (or not requiring Ca$h). All I know is that I want a monocle... but it would be a PITA to have to keep making a monocle for every headgear I get (I'm sure I don't understand the process). That being said, I doubt it's anything I would need to pay attention to until endgame.

You might be misunderstanding Classes and Jobs. When you unlock a job you do not start at level 1. The job is basically something you equip that modifies the Class into something more specialized, so leveling either Conjurer or White Mage levels them both. Arcanists can become both Scholars and Summoners so leveling any of the 3 levels up all 3.

Glamour is unlocked at level 50 but until you get there just keep any items you like the appearance of. Glamours use a consumable to make a piece of gear look like another, but it does not get rid of either pieces of gear, only the consumable. So if you want to use a monocle you only need one and can keep reusing it when you get new gear.

Also for cross class skills, if you unlock a class you can look at its ability list and see what it can learn. White Mage can pull from Arcanist and Thaumaturge. Arcanist to 15 is required to unlock White Mage, but if you take it to 34 you get the surprisingly useful Eye for an Eye skill which has a chance to debuff enemy attacks when your target is struck.

Thaumaturge to 26 is highly recommended as it gives you Swiftcast which makes your next spell instant cast and is incredibly useful. You don't particularly need it while leveling up but if you wish to spend the time on it it is well worth it. You will definitely want to prioritize getting it once you hit level cap, though.

For Free Companies, their affiliation with specific Grand Companies has absolutely no bearing on anything except where leaders need to go to purchase company buffs or where members need to go to apply the FC crest to gear. The most important thing when looking for a FC is to join one that matches your playstyle and has people you like playing with.