Advice for a new player

[NamNem]

I recently started playing and have been really enjoying the game so far. This is the first story in an MMO that I have really paid attention to, but being a fan of he Final Fantasy series helps that, I suppose. I just recently reached level 30 on my Archer and I plan on going Bard, but after reaching level 30, I realized that I had to be level 15 as a Pugilist as well and I was grabbing most of the side quests up as well when I was leveling Archer. I made it to level 8 last night as Pugilist through leves and Fates. Is this the most efficient way? Is there another way?

Should I be concentrating on Leatherworking now or should I wait until I reach level 50?

I have received many random invites to Free Companies, but have accepted none, because it feels like spam when nothing is said to me. Are there benefits to being in a Free Company?

I am on Exodus server if anyone plays there. I could use friends! Everyone has been really friendly that I have encountered though.

[Takfloyd]

Use your Hunting Log. That's a couple of very easy levels. Other than that, fates and dungeons/guildhests are good. Levequests I find to be mostly boring and pointless.

There are many benefits to being in an FC, but there's no need to rush it. Wait until you find one you like.

[Taika]

For low level leveling, I've found quests combined with your class hunting log and FATEs the fastest way. Guildhests are ok too, and completing each once gives you a first timer exp bonus (for each class separately). You can also run Guildhest roulette once a day. From level 16 onwards, remember to run your daily low level roulette every day. Make sure you have unlocked your challenge log for bonus exp.

Also, notice that you should level both your subclasses (Pugilist and Lancer) to higher level than 15 to get all the useful subclass abilities for your main job (Bard). You'll want to level Lancer to at least 34 for Blood for Blood and Pugilist to 42 for Mantra.

[NamNem]

How do I access the hunting log? I am on PC.

[Kaelah]

How do I access the hunting log? I am on PC.

Have you been doing the class quests every 5 levels? If I recall correctly I think your guildmaster gives you the hunting log. It's been a while though I could be wrong! You can open it quickly by pressing H on the keyboard I think. Or it's under the logs button at the bottom of the screen.

[Taika]

Have you been doing the class quests every 5 levels? If I recall correctly I think your guildmaster gives you the hunting log. It's been a while though I could be wrong! You can open it quickly by pressing H on the keyboard I think. Or it's under the logs button at the bottom of the screen.

Yeah it's under Logs --> Hunting Log in mini menu, default key is H I think.

[Soonkyu]

There are many benefits to joining a Free Company, depending on the kind of FC that you join. The ones sending you random invites are just looking for people to add to their roster, so you're justified in finding it as almost spam. While I can't speak to the quality of any of them and whether or not you'd find a good home off a random invite, the perks of being in a Free Company can be hit or miss. If you join one with lots of people leveling, it's likely they're going to have the experience point boost Action executed, so you would gain an extra 10% experience points. There are a lot of other Actions they could have going, like increased food duration, gear durability, or teleport cost reduction. These are quality of life things, though, and you aren't necessarily missing out by not being in one. Everyone else gave good advice on how to squeeze out extra experience during lower levels.

[NamNem]

Have you been doing the class quests every 5 levels? If I recall correctly I think your guildmaster gives you the hunting log. It's been a while though I could be wrong! You can open it quickly by pressing H on the keyboard I think. Or it's under the logs button at the bottom of the screen.

Well, not every 5 levels, but I went back and did them. So, if I need higher levels than 15 on my sub classes, should I gte them to 15 and Bard to 50 before I level Lancer and Pugilist past 15?

[sirDarts]

Well, not every 5 levels, but I went back and did them. So, if I need higher levels than 15 on my sub classes, should I gte them to 15 and Bard to 50 before I level Lancer and Pugilist past 15?

Most likely yes.
But there might be some cross-class skills that might help you. Blood for Blood for example.

[Soonkyu]

Well, not every 5 levels, but I went back and did them. So, if I need higher levels than 15 on my sub classes, should I gte them to 15 and Bard to 50 before I level Lancer and Pugilist past 15?

Some of the cross-class perks are worth getting as soon as possible. For example, Lancer's Blood for Blood is a great damage buff. It's honestly an essential ability. Things like Mantra, however, show you've gone the extra mile (or just leveled monk) to have all the abilities available for your particular job, but aren't necessarily going to really change your performance (unlike B4B, which will). At the end of the day, do it in the order you want to do it in. You could leave Bard at 30 while you level the other two to where they need to be, or you could get Bard to 50 before getting them. Play as you want to play. Don't get yourself into a rut by forcing yourself to level a class if you don't really feel like leveling it at that particular time.