Hi there! Welcome back to the game! This response has got a little long, so, sorry in advance.
1: "phase of the world"
In my experience, players tend to RP at roughly the time that the game's main story has gone up to, mainly due to how that can affect the world and due to the additions of new zones. Once Ishgard opened its gates in Heavensward, for example, setting RP before the gates were opened would be fairly nonsensical (especially considering Ishgardian roleplayers). However, there is often a delay following new content releases - we can't expect everyone to have played the entirety of the expansion within 24 hours, so for a little while roleplayed characters will be 'catching up' to wherever the main story has gone.
You're absolutely right about the undisclosed WoL part, though. Most RPers frown on anyone claiming to be The Warrior Of Light who did everything the main story involved. On the occasions I've had to refer to something the WoL did, I either speak generally of rumours of the Scions, or mention the Warrior of Light as some anonymous figure with no specific details.
2: "jobs"
Jobs vary based on individual lore. Scholars and Summoners aren't exactly extinct, but are rare. If you wanted to roleplay as one, you'd likely need a character whose background is heavily tied to either Nymian research or to the study of Allagan summoning, respectively. (Summoners also need to have canonically survived an encounter with a Primal, which is DOABLE but difficult, unless you feature them as only having access to Dreadwyrm Trance, which everyone in Eorzea could theoretically access).
There are a few jobs which allow larger numbers of members (Paladin or Machinist, for example), and a few which are highly frowned-upon in roleplay terms (White and Black Mage are both stated in their backgrounds to require incredibly rare things, with the WoL being implied to be the sole exception to the Elemental's law of Padjals being the only users of White magic).
Ultimately, it varies from Job to Job and on what character you want to RP with. Some use the base Class which is much less restrictive (Arcanist, for example). Others take a common Job like Machinist. And some go the route of the rare, hopefully with good explanations as to why they have a fairy following them and how it connects to their character.
Multiclassing is also fine, but again, is something where individual discretion is encouraged. Someone military might be a Gladiator, Marauder and Lancer ICly. But they're unlikely to be a Dragoon, Paladin, Scholar and Culinarian.
3: "RP PvP"
I'm afraid I don't know what "open world PvP area" you're talking about. There are no zones like that in the game - every PvP area is an Instanced region. I don't know of any PvP RP groups, but it wouldn't surprise me if there are one or two. The lack of open-world PvP doesn't lend itself to that, but RPers always work with what they're given.
4: "linkshell vs company"
Free Companies, in my experience, have been the more reliable of the two, though, as everyone gathers under one banner for shared reasons. But, Linkshells can be good at gathering people with shared interests who might be under multiple banners, and can definitely be useful as well.
5: "hubs"
The Quicksand is the biggest RP hub on Balmung - if you're looking for random walkup RP that's the place you're guaranteed it. However, there's a fair chance that it might be walk-up ERP, so if you choose to hang around there, be ready for that possibility.
On Balmung, it's fairly safe to try and field-RP. No one is likely to be annoyed by it at the very least, considering how prominent RP is on the server. At worst, they'll ignore you and carry on Gathering or questing. At best, you'll find RP.
6: "conflict"
This really depends on the individual conflict and how it develops. There aren't any established rules to the best of my knowledge, and I've never stumbled upon any impromptu duels caused by any dishonour. This, I think, works on an FC-to-FC basis and could be anything from arguing ICly until something gives, ICly ignoring one another to avoid argument, RPing a brawl or duel, or anything else. PvP duels don't tend to be used for it, though, as there is no open-world PvP zone and the only duelling area is found in the Wolves' Den Pier - PvP duelling isn't allowed in the normal open-world.
Again, welcome back to the game, welcome to Balmung, and I hope these answers were what you were looking for!
1: "phase of the world"
In my experience, players tend to RP at roughly the time that the game's main story has gone up to, mainly due to how that can affect the world and due to the additions of new zones. Once Ishgard opened its gates in Heavensward, for example, setting RP before the gates were opened would be fairly nonsensical (especially considering Ishgardian roleplayers). However, there is often a delay following new content releases - we can't expect everyone to have played the entirety of the expansion within 24 hours, so for a little while roleplayed characters will be 'catching up' to wherever the main story has gone.
You're absolutely right about the undisclosed WoL part, though. Most RPers frown on anyone claiming to be The Warrior Of Light who did everything the main story involved. On the occasions I've had to refer to something the WoL did, I either speak generally of rumours of the Scions, or mention the Warrior of Light as some anonymous figure with no specific details.
2: "jobs"
Jobs vary based on individual lore. Scholars and Summoners aren't exactly extinct, but are rare. If you wanted to roleplay as one, you'd likely need a character whose background is heavily tied to either Nymian research or to the study of Allagan summoning, respectively. (Summoners also need to have canonically survived an encounter with a Primal, which is DOABLE but difficult, unless you feature them as only having access to Dreadwyrm Trance, which everyone in Eorzea could theoretically access).
There are a few jobs which allow larger numbers of members (Paladin or Machinist, for example), and a few which are highly frowned-upon in roleplay terms (White and Black Mage are both stated in their backgrounds to require incredibly rare things, with the WoL being implied to be the sole exception to the Elemental's law of Padjals being the only users of White magic).
Ultimately, it varies from Job to Job and on what character you want to RP with. Some use the base Class which is much less restrictive (Arcanist, for example). Others take a common Job like Machinist. And some go the route of the rare, hopefully with good explanations as to why they have a fairy following them and how it connects to their character.
Multiclassing is also fine, but again, is something where individual discretion is encouraged. Someone military might be a Gladiator, Marauder and Lancer ICly. But they're unlikely to be a Dragoon, Paladin, Scholar and Culinarian.
3: "RP PvP"
I'm afraid I don't know what "open world PvP area" you're talking about. There are no zones like that in the game - every PvP area is an Instanced region. I don't know of any PvP RP groups, but it wouldn't surprise me if there are one or two. The lack of open-world PvP doesn't lend itself to that, but RPers always work with what they're given.
4: "linkshell vs company"
Free Companies, in my experience, have been the more reliable of the two, though, as everyone gathers under one banner for shared reasons. But, Linkshells can be good at gathering people with shared interests who might be under multiple banners, and can definitely be useful as well.
5: "hubs"
The Quicksand is the biggest RP hub on Balmung - if you're looking for random walkup RP that's the place you're guaranteed it. However, there's a fair chance that it might be walk-up ERP, so if you choose to hang around there, be ready for that possibility.
On Balmung, it's fairly safe to try and field-RP. No one is likely to be annoyed by it at the very least, considering how prominent RP is on the server. At worst, they'll ignore you and carry on Gathering or questing. At best, you'll find RP.
6: "conflict"
This really depends on the individual conflict and how it develops. There aren't any established rules to the best of my knowledge, and I've never stumbled upon any impromptu duels caused by any dishonour. This, I think, works on an FC-to-FC basis and could be anything from arguing ICly until something gives, ICly ignoring one another to avoid argument, RPing a brawl or duel, or anything else. PvP duels don't tend to be used for it, though, as there is no open-world PvP zone and the only duelling area is found in the Wolves' Den Pier - PvP duelling isn't allowed in the normal open-world.
Again, welcome back to the game, welcome to Balmung, and I hope these answers were what you were looking for!
