This is for people playing their first time, to help them just get familiar.
Please note - this is not the OMG Awesome sauce BBQ class guide. It's just to get people started - so don't be a Prox.

For each area - I also include a "Why?:" area that explains the reasoning for the decision.

It's on the upper right hand corner of the new game screen.
Why?: It's an achievement and it will teach you the basic keys you need to use.

Add a Name:
Why? You have to have one - right-click for a random name.

Choose Difficulty Normal and Permadeath Adventure:
Why?: Normal - you aren't a wuss are you? Adventurer means you get X# of lives and gain more when leveling. This is the best way to learn as well as learn from your mistakes. (If you don't permadeath, you never learn).

Choose Campaign: Maj'Eyal: The Age of Ascendancy (default)
Why?: because the rest of this won't make sense if you don't.

Choose Race: Higher
Why?: It has a racial ability and no real downside. Most races have a racial ability, so learning about and using them is an important part of the game. It also sets your starting zone to TrollMire - which is the simplest start.

Choose Class: Warrior -> Berserker or Warrior -> Bulwark
Why?: These classes are the easiest to get some of the very basic learning of the game done without dying too soon.
Rogues are squishy, Alchemist are complicated. Use one of the suggested warrior classes.

Setup your new character:
Put stat points into Strength
Why?: Warriors most important stat is strength for damage.

Put 1 class point into Rush under Technique/Combat Techniques
Why?: This allows you to "charge" into battle from a distance, which you need to do as a melee class you they don't shoot you to death.

Put the other class point anywhere you want.
Why? There are lots of builds and other guides on line, but have fun. You are going to die anyways and there are no awful answers. Stunning Blow (berserker) or Shield Pummel (bulwark) are good answers.

Put your Generic Point into Technique/Conditioning - Vitality
Why?: Not super critical, but opens up more stuff for later.

You are ready to Rock and Roll!

Only Go the first 3 levels until you beat Prox (he's a troll) - don't do the bonus level:
Why?: You get some experience and leveling running around. The Rod of Recall is how to get out of the bottom of dungeons. The bonus level is a little more difficult and you can come back in a bit. (You absolutely want it). FYI - the 'g' key to get stuff sucks now, but we will fix that a bit later.

Escort Quests: You may (it's random) - get an escort quest during this process. These are random (you might not).
Why?: Because they like to torture us. Also - if you get this idiot to his "recall point" you get a bonus. Go ahead and accept them, just keep in mind, you don't want to rest (use #5 for elapsing a turn) while escorting or they will run into monsters and die. The reward you get doesn't really matter at this point - pick something cool. Build guides and other things later will tell you what to choose.

Don't Open the things that say Open or Leave:
Why?: They contain monsters that will kick your but until you are more prepared. To quote the movies: "You are not prepared" and "It's a trap!". Later on you can make decisions about these, but until you know the game - it's a one way trip to dead land.

Use Rush:
Why?: Get in close to hit them in the face more!

Rest (r key) is your friend:
Why?: This lets you rest and recover hit points and stamina without having to hit the 5 key a lot. This is critical for resetting your abilities.

Dying: I died - Halps.
Why?: A rare monster (red circle) happened or you forgot to rest or you opened the thing I said not to open. There is a dudette/dude/androgynous one who watches over you called the Ethereal. First - REST - get all your talents cooled down. Then let him send you back. The monsters will also be back at full heath.
If you keep dying - you will eventually run out of lives and start over. remember when I told you not to open the thing. Don't do it.

Auto-Explore (z key) is your friend (for now):
Why: It makes things go a *lot* faster when the monsters are not that difficult. (Don't worry experts - I will explain how it's not your friend in part 2).

Practice using Inscriptions:
Why? - What the heck are Inscriptions? These are essentially Magic Runes or Nature Magic painted on your body that give you special abilities. These generally replace potions and are only allowed to be used every so many turns. (Called a cool-down). These are CRITICAL to your survival.

You start with 3:
1. Healing - Heals you Right now! and clears a Wound/poison/disease - probably most useful. Instant! (doesn't take a turn). Use when you are ouchie.
2. Regeneration - Heals you over time. More healing, but takes your turn. Use when you aren't quite ouchie, but you know more ouchie is coming.
3. Wild - Gets rid of Physical Condition and Gives Damage Resist X% - Instant! (learn how to use this - stuns suck!)

Practice using Racial Power:
Why?: Almost every race has a racial power. Each is different, but they work into your plans.

This is also an opportunity to use: Auto-Activation!
Right-Click on your "Wrath of the Highborn" power in the toolbar. Select the Auto-Use when enemies are visible and adjacent.
Why?: This allows your power (which is instant! and doesn't use a turn, to trigger automatically - meaning you don't need to click it.

Why - Part 2: Auto-Activation (you can read each case) becomes very important as you play more complex characters. This prevents you from having to click the button for things you use all the time. Be careful though, you can stab yourself in the foot with this if not careful. As a rule of thumb - Things you want sustained all the time - set out of combat for ease. Certain Instant Traits: You might want to make these Enemies visible or Enemies adjacent. Anything that takes a turn: You almost never want these when enemies are visible.

Leveling (the 'p' key) - When you see the blue Level Up! (or if you forget - before you go to the next level).:

Stats: Strength Con or dex if you see another cool ability you want.
Why? Cuz - Warrior!

Class Points: It Doesn't matter.
Why? Cuz - have fun

Generic Points: Heavy Armor if possible
Why? Armor matters. (More on Armor and Armor Hardiness later).

I is for Inventory:
Check this at least once per dungeon level.
Why?: You might have gotten something cool. Weapon damage and armor help a lot early. Belts/Shoes/Rings all are things that can be assigned.

Item Colors - what do they mean?:
Please note - the community (and probably the code and Dark God <makes sign of aversion>) calls the special abilities of items "egos" .
https://te4.org/wiki/Items#Item_Color - Wiki okay, but helpful for this.

Item Tiers:
Tier 1 - 5: In general - higher tiers are better, but rarity and ego combos may make things better.
These also match up a bit to zones or groups of levels you can explore in.

I killed Prox the Mighty, Now what!? :
Why?: Pat yourself on the back - you are a mighty champion. You also have a rod of recall. Click it on your screen and then Rest. Then Rest again - 50 turns must pass before Rod of Recall Takes you back to the world Map.

Do Not - I repeat Do NOT go to the Hidden Trollmire Treasure Level

Why:? You might die, you really want to do it once the first time and do it right. Once you are experienced you can plow through it on lower difficulties.

Avoid Any Adventurers or Patrols on World Map that are Red (enemies)
Why:? They will kick your but until you are at least in your teens in levels unless you are awesome. (hint: you aren't awesome.....yet).

Journey to Derth: You will see Derth and Ruins of Kor,Pul - Go To Derth (south west)
Why:? Most games after this you will hit Kor'Pul first, but this will give you your first interaction with stores.

Go to stores, sell the stuff you aren't using (tedious now, but will get easier later).
If you see a good infusion (better than what you have) - buy it.
If you see a brass lantern that is + Health - buy it.

Don't do the quest in Derth with the hooded man.
Why:? You aren't ready my young padawan

Do it to it! Go Beat the Boss and keep leveling.
Why?: Um - Moar XP = Moar Awesome.

Watch out for:
Rare Monsters - Have Pinkish-Red circles around them. They can kick your butt. Be careful.
Open/Leave Rooms - Don't do eeeeet! You have been warned.
Why? - Ummmm, do you want to talk to the glowing guy again?

Don't get click happy:
Why? If you see your health going down, use your regen or healing infusions.
You definitely can die in here. Be patient.

Don't be afraid to run away:
Why? If they are too tough - run the other direction until your infusions recharge.

Don't forget to Level Up! and check your items
Why? make sure you are being your best you!.

Items with Abilities:
Hey wait, I equipped an item and it made a thing show up on my tool bar.
Why?: Some Items have abilities - These items allow you to take special actions you may not normally be able to take. They usually have both a cool down period as well as a time to recharge the charges of the ability. These can cool and useful/useless.

Charms/Wands/Torques - Etc:
These are items that will almost be used only for their ability. You can generally hold only one. They frequently are wand's but may be other things as well. Again, they may put an ability on your toolbar you can use. There are a lot of different types of these. Figure out what works for you. There are many guides etc.

Remove Abilities from Toolbars when you Remove them from your body!
Why?: If you don't remove them from your toolbar, it will equip and then try to use the item. You may have a need, but generally it's an inferior item you forgot about you will accidentally click and it will eat your turn and hurt your abilities.

Why do I have a question mark on my toolbar?
Why:? You sold the item(s) with that ability. This may not happen on this play through - but it will happen.

Upgrade Infusions:
Upgrade your healing/regeneration infusions if you get a green one or better when checking your inventory.

Why?: Double-check to make sure it is better - but these things keep you alive. Certain ones (of the warrior for example) may be better for you.

Beat the Boss and use your Rod of Recall!
Why?: - Are you a hero or are you a zero? Heroes beat bosses like the chumps they are.

Return to Trollmire and do the hidden treasure level - level 4:
Why:? Because it's important.
Also - you get to "OPEN" an open/leave item. - You are prepared. You are ready. You are special!.

This is a boss level with a boss that will take all of your training.
It will take your awesome skills to beat him and get an item that is critical to the future of your game play.

This item will force you to check your inventory at the end of every level - that's all I will say for now.

This is the end of Part 1 - You have graduated to Tier 2 and should have the quest "into the Darkness" that lists the 4 tier 2 dungeons.

Play this character until you die horribly, then try a couple more.
Once you've go the "hidden treasure", try different classes and starting locations to see how they start as well.

Why?: Because unlocking stuff and learning new ways to die is a fun part of this game. The best way to learn is to play. I just wanted to give you a good foundation for the other things to start making sense.

Have fun!

Some key resources (some may have spoilers - be careful):
Wiki: https://te4.org/wiki
Forums: https://forums.te4.org/ - There are some specific guides in here that can be helpful. Keep in mind many changes were made between editions though.
Discord: https://discord.gg/tales-of-majeyal