Hey there. Returning player here. I quit shortly after ToAU came out. me and 3 friends (their first time playing) are gonna start playing this week. I just wanted to know, is the levelling process the same as before? 1-11 solo, dunes, qufim, etc? I keep reading about something called "Abyssea" and people leeching XP and it all sounds very discouraging. I don't want to come back to this game and realize that the game is being lamed out in such a way and we wont even be able to find a 5th party member. I don't want us to be the only people in qufim and feeling like we are all alone playing the game with no other people.
If this is actually is the new reality of FFXI, does SE plan to address it anytime soon?

