Much question from only one n00b :)

1. Yes, there are several stories in the online game. You have to find the clues & follow them yourself.
2. You start with lvl 18, because of the starting money you have.
3. Your level decreases, because you are spending your money. Your level depends on the amount of money you have. The less money you have, the lower your level is.
4. You can level up by earning money, when performing various tasks. Do missions, trade...
4.1. A player with a higher level doesn`t necessarily mean, that he`s a better player than you. I`ve seen lvl 40`s kick asses of lvl 90`s. (Read 2nd sentence of answer 3 again)
5. There are 3 Types of chats.
5.1. The system chat (the word ''system'' appears in your chatbox, when you hit ''enter'' The chatbox appears white & your text is also white.) As the name allready suggests - only those ppl in the system, you are currently in, can see your text, same goes other way around.
5.2. The private chat. (The name of the character, you want to talk to, appears in the chatbox, the chatbox itself & the text appears green.) You can select the player you want to talk to in the channel list. You can open the channel list by pressing the ''Y'' key. You can also hit the ''Enter'' key & cycle through the private channels using the up & down arrow buttons. Only the person, you write the msg to will see it, same goes other way around.
5.3. The group chat. (the word ''Group'' appears in the chatbox, the chatbox itself & your text appears pink) You can select the Group chat, from the channel list, only when you are in a group. Only the ppl in your group will see your text, same goes other way around.
5.4. The console chat (the word ''console'' appears in the chatbox.) You can access it by pressing ''enter" & cycling through the channels until you find the Console channel, but Don`t pay attention to that one. Only Admins & Server Police can use Console chat. But what they write in that chat, can be seen by every player online. It`s usually used for universe-wide messages, such as event announcements.
5.5. The Channel list is also your chat log. The last few pieces of chat can be seen there.
6. The only connection to the game & the forum is, that in the forum, news are posted, of what`s happening on the server. The rest can be ignored.
7. Yes, all your new characters start with 150 000 start cash. (But don`t try to exploit it or you`ll get banned, fairly quickly)

think that covers them^^

well, not so sure you ned to watch out for pie rat wenches and currupt cops once you get going. If you need protection Hire a merc I recomend the best Dark Phoenix Ltd we'll take on anyone as long as you pay enough.

But helping you out in New York if we are around is free to all new players.

ah the good old DK's they will and can rip apart just about any player ship in the game, 1 gunboat can be beat by getting behind it and blasting away like a pie rat whench during that time of the month. however encounter more than 1 at a time or a squadron of fighters whilst you are alone, it won't matter what ship you have. the ship you have thought of i beleive is called the dromedary, it is available in more than 1 place now.

And there isn`t a cargo ship with 150 000 units. The Max is 5 000 units in the Soulforge Train, but that alone costs around 60 mil. Start off by shipping VIP`s from Manhattan to Newark station & get at least 300 000 Credits (which will take you about 30 minutes...) You can also buy a Dromedary in Custodian, but you better ask a BG, if you may enter their system & buy a ship. You don`t have to fix your reputation for that one tho.