You do need a balanced group in order to make it in the world of Vana'diel. Battles can be tough if you're not prepared for it and that means knowing the role you play for your party. Managing hate is an important part of that. The more damage or cures you dish out, the more likely the mobs will target you. Since most magic users are weak, the party will need somebody to tank and keep the hate from the mages. Dragging out battles would exhaust your healer's MP and that requires nukers to deal good damage to keep battles manageable.
As for finding a party, it's fairly easy. Finding a good party is difficult. FFXI does require a good balanced group and it really depends on who's on at the time. Sometimes people will have to leave in the middle of a quest or grind and that could break up a good rhymth your team was building. Killing mobs in quick succession gives you a slight boost in EXP, so if you've got a good group going, you'll level up very easily.
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