I played this game off and on from '03-'11 and compared to games like WoW, it's not very accessible. WoW and MMOs since then are of a different hand-holding breed which has really killed the genre for me. However, one thing that it has compared to other MMOs is a very friendly and welcoming community. Other MMOs are essentially single-player games with the option to converse and level with other people. Hell, I just got to 50 in FFXIV with only ever really talking or doing anything with a couple friends I met in XI. In XI, grouping is more of a requirement than a possibility, which is how it should be in an MMO in my opinion.

When you start out, you'll have a small cutscene explaining details about the city you chose and from there you'll just be thrown in there with no real direction. There won't be an NPC right in front of you with an exclamation point over his head telling you what to do, etc. Even basic game mechanics, the game won't tell you about. I didn't know about Weapon Skills(equivalent of Limit Breaks/Trance/etc.) until I was level 12 I think lol.

You'll probably get a linkshell(guild) relatively quickly. Probably within the first few days, if not the first day, you'll have someone telling you asking if you want a linkshell, instead of the usual having to beg someone for one in the more modern MMOs. lol. I guess one could argue that the accessibility will be similar to modern MMOs but different. Because while the game won't straight out tell you things, you'll have someone to ask.

Me needlessly explaining what your leveling experience to 99 will be like.You'll solo to at least 8-10. Then you might(don't know if people still do it or if it's been nerfed or what) be able to go to Korroloka Tunnel and get in a "SMN Burn" party. If it's still being done, you'll probably get a trout ton of tells for them. The SMN Burn will basically make you 20ish in an hour or less. At 18, you'll be able to do the subjob quest. At this point you'll repeat what's been said above for another job. At 20, you'll run to Jeuno (the current main hub city) and you'll do a quest to get your Chocobo License. You'll have to walk everywhere until then.

From to 20-25 you *might* be able to get a party in Qufim Island. It's been a year and a half so I don't know if parties are still forming on a regular basis there or if everyone has everything 99 now. From 25, you'll need to do a quest for a Kazham Airship Pass, which you may need your LS to help you with. After that, you'll go to Kazham to level 25-30. 30 being the magic number.

After you get to 30, it's all downhill. Experience will be coming a lot faster and you'll probably hit 99 in probably the same amount of time, if not less, it took you to get to 30. Unless you're lucky and manage to get some really good parties 20-30. At 50, 55, 60, 65, 75, 80, 85, 90, and 95, you'll have "Limit Break" quests which will increase your level cap. The first 3 being the biggest pains in the ass, IIRC.

So yeah, I really don't know why I chose to give a somewhat detailed explanation of what leveling your first job to 99 will be like. But I did. So enjoy. lol.

/exhale~ :P