Thanks for the advice everyone. As it happens I got a pity invite in the dunes and now I'm nearly there, they let me pull for all the use I was doing it! I took your advice Del Murder and levelled around the La Theine Plateau for a bit, which is where I got picked up.

I'm in Bastok, Yeargsdribble but I quite like the walk across to San D'Oria so I'll check out Fort Ghelsba, thanks for suggesting it. I know I get Sneak Attack when I hit 15, so I'm hoping I'll be much more useful after that. I've been levelling my Monk for when I do get the Subjob though.