PSO2 Newbie seeking Tips+Tricks+Advise and suggestions.

[Xaelon]

Brand new PSO2 player here. Started the playing the game today, did the tutorial and a couple quests. I did some hunting around the forum and I didn't see any kind of a 'new player guide' or any sort of guide that offers general advice regarding what to do after you get the game installed and ready to go. So, I'm just going to ask some general questions about the game and what's the best way to get started. I did quite a few hours in PSO ep 1+2's offline mode so I understand what the general gist of the game's about. If there's any info that you think will be helpful to me as a new player please feel free to let me know. Thanks!

If there is some kind of a new player guide out there do point me in the right direction. It's possible that I may have missed it despite my best efforts, joined the forum today after all.

Anyways...

Here's some general character about me
---------------
Character Name: Xaelon
Starting Class: Hunter/Male (Humar?)
Ship: 2
Preferred input/play method: Xbox 360 controller (wired)

Questions I have:
(I'll number these, that way if you want to answer without quoting the question you can use the shorthand of : A1:*Insert answer here*)

Q1: What's the a good way to find English players to play with?
A: - Block 20
- R81672

Q2: On the Hunter Skill Tree, I see "Gear" Skills. What do those do?
Do they let me use a new weapon type? Increase the atk of that weapon type?
Suggestions on skill build are also welcome.
A: Directed -Here-
- IndigoNovember

Q3: How's the class system work?
The general gist that I get, is that there's main classes and sub classes. Is the main class' level tied to the level of your sub class like in FF11? (Sub class/job can only be half the level of the main class.)

A: All classes level up individually of each other. You gain access to Fighter, Gunner, and Techer after you have leveled up Hunter, Ranger, and Force to level 30 respectively. You can switch between them freely (you can go HU/RA or TE/GU or any other combination) and you get all of the skills from a subclass's skill tree as well as 20% of their stats and access to any Photon Arts or Techniques that the class has. The catch is that you cannot use the subclass's weapons unless they are special all class weapons.
- IndigoNovember.

Q4: When should I start looking for groups?
A: You might as well start right away. Having a good group of friends to play with makes the game a lot of fun and it also makes leveling more efficient.
- IndigoNovember.


Q5: Item Guide/Item Icon key. Where can I find one?
I'm not expecting one for equipment(though that would be nice, but I can make due with stats for now), just for consumables and what they do.
A: http://cirnopedia.frostsabre.com/
- R81672

Q6: "FUN" Currency. Should I save it or use it?
Is this something they give out on a regular basis? Once per character/account?

A:You get fun once a day when you log in. you get fun every time you buy an AC item. you get fun every time you use a friend's partner NPC(once per day). you get Fun up to 10 times a day by sending people "good jobs" and you get fun my receiving good jobs. No need to save it.
- SociableTyrannosaur


That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anything else, I'll add to the thread and bump if need be. I'll also take good answers and add them under the question, that way they're easy to find if anyone else decides to read this thread. Thanks in advance for your time.