I didn't know where to post this so...

[swift]

Hey man, welcome to the place. I was just like you too, yep, all excited at seeing how many players were still running about in this awesome game.
I wish you good luck with setting up your shall we say, identity here, and a fun time playing.

...I posted it here.
1. Should I just jump into the online game or lay low for a while, surfing the forum (that faction forum that the site keeps telling me to visit won't show up on my screen), playing Discovery SP some more to get acquinted and building a RP character?

SP you don't have to play that much, it's actually best to learn while playing online, I find. As for surfing the forum, that definitely helps. It's a friendly place most of the time, and you can get almost all, if not all, questions answered around here. There's a lot of helpful people.
As for building a character, just start slowly. Get a basic idea and start expanding it with time. If it makes it easier, keep a biography or log of sorts and post it in the RP Hub. It will allow people who want to find some info about your char to do it easily, and it will give your char a bit more depth.
With time, make more chars if you feel like it, and join a player faction or two. It's a great experience if you find the right ones.

2. When I do start online, should I explore around, checking out the systems to decide want I want to do or look for faction applications etc.?

Everything! Sirius is your oyster.

3. Why did I get uber pwned when I jumped into Virginia off the Texas trade lane (its a guard system...no idea what that means)?

Well, you see, guard systems are shall we say, 'high security zones' owned by certain player factions. Those kind of systems mostly have extremely strong defences. Consider them fortresses of a sort.

4. What is a lolwutter?

That's a derogatory term we use on this here RP server for those that just run around spouting OORP in system chat, or commonly seen, saying 'lol'.

5. And if I start using the forums regularly do I have to create one of those colorful, interesting banners with Freelancer ships that is displayed after everyone of my posts because I am not that comp savvy and do NOT think I could pull one off with any success?

Well, you can always try and get someone to make one for you. Those designers mostly get paid with credits, but perhaps you can find someone who'll make one for free.
You don't have to have one, just look at my propaganda sig! Those are useful too.:P

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Maybe I'm taking this way to seriously, but this is pretty new to me. I'm pumped and slightly apprehensive at the same time. Thanks!

A serious approach is good, no worries. But just remember we're here to have fun. If you do that, everything will be great.

Oh and, one more piece of advice. Besides 'read the rules', that is.
If you have a question you'd prefer a quicker answer to, use the Wiki.
Some of it is a bit outdated, because of the mod version transition, but most of it is updated, and the rest of it is info that doesn't really age.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions, just ask.

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<span style="color:#000000">All morons hate it when you call them a moron.

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<span style="color:#33FFFF">The CFF</span>

<span style="color:#33FF33">CFF Communication Channel and RP Collection</span>