Well you normally go to 3rd party websites when in need of info in other final fantasies. They made XI feel like the old ones. Don't know why you say more friendly, everyone is FFXI is more friendly then any user base I've met in any MMO. The forced grouping was to make it feel like you were still playing Final Fantasy and not just another MMO. But people hated it lol so they now adding more solo. I'm still for the partying, but soloing is nice when you can't find a party *cough* NO EXPANSIONS *cough*