http://wdl.square-enix.com/ffxiv/dow...Content_EN.pdf

The link shows the changes that are planned before 2.0. They are releasing quite a bit. However if you are a new player you are first introduced to the town and getting around the city. Then you're introduced to leves where you can fight moar. AFter that, it's just a grindfest. As you level up, more quests will become available. When you hit rank 25 you can join the grand company and get access to a chocobo, and an instanced dungeons.

So just level up a while, get into a Linkshell, and the game will gradually open up for you. ^^