Joining clans, as or be asked in a server. Best to get some experience first online.

As for servers only pick servers that:
1. actively admin them selves
2. have a contact email/website
3. have a No Pking/PvP[Player killing/player v Player rule for New York or its a night mare with idiots dock camping Manhattan
4. have active players, ask about in the server if its laggy, used a lot etc. Your making it a online home so ask questions. No point in investing 30+ hours on a character to loose it, after the server dies if it was just a home based server.

the other thing to consider is whether to pick a server with or without players able to damage each other
i dont see the point on the no damage servers but im sure some people love them
also on most servers someone will help out a noob with a little starter cash
i know i help if i can as ive had help myself on many occasions
from personal experience ive had problems withservers with over 40 people
so i would recomend servers with less connections than that

Also stay away from MOD SERVERS. They can really mess you up lag,crashing etc.
I HATE MODS AND MODDERS!

"Mega T,Mega Ta,Mega Tor,Mega Too every time I click it's $9.95 to you!" -Dana Carvey

see the other Mp help things

beware of the leopard
bill gates is watching you