TL;DR: The Newbie Helper is the first NPC every new character meets. It hands out free No-grade starter gear, basic Soulshots/Spiritshots and your first quest. The nearby Newbie Guide adds free buffs up to level 25 that speed up early leveling.

Overview

The Newbie Helper is an NPC found in every starter zone. It gives out your first equipment and explains the basic mechanics. It also hands you the Newbie Guide item with useful tips, plus a starter weapon and armor. This is the very first NPC a new player interacts with.

What the Newbie Helper Gives You

Everything from the Newbie Helper is No-grade and bound to your character, so you can't sell it or trade it away. Here is what you get and what the NPC helps with:

ServiceDetails
Starter gearA basic weapon for your class (sword, bow, staff or fist weapon), a No-grade starter armor set (Moon Set or equivalent), and a stack of No-grade Soulshots / Spiritshots.
First questsGives the opening quest, First Whisper, and points you to the next NPCs to continue the chain.
TutorialDialogue tips explain camera controls, using skills, the inventory, the map and the party system.
BuffsApplies basic buffs to characters level 1-6 to make the starter quests easier.

Newbie Guide Buffs

The Newbie Guide is a separate NPC standing next to the Newbie Helper or in the starter town. It hands out free buffs for characters up to level 25: Might, Shield, Haste, Guidance, Focus, Empower and Magic Barrier.

DetailValue
Buff level capUp to level 25
Buff duration2 hours
After level 25Switch to the Adventurer Guide (buffs up to level 76)

These buffs last two hours and dramatically speed up leveling at the early stages. Once you pass level 25 the Newbie Guide stops buffing you, so move on to the Adventurer Guide, which keeps you buffed all the way to level 76. On most servers these starter NPCs follow the standard mechanics.