The first thing you should do is familiarize yoursellf with the controls. There are several different ways to operate the game; using the WASD keys, the arrow keys or enabling the 'Click-to-move' method. For those players familiar with other Blizzard classics such as Starcraft, Warcraft 3 and Diablo 2, the 'Click-to-move' option may be your preferred method of play. Any who take kindly to 'first person shooter' type action will benefit more from the WASD or arrow keys.

Once you understand the basic operation of movement (both the character and the camera) it's time to find something to do. Quests are represented by exclamation marks either over the NPC's head or marked handily on your compass (remember to always refer to your compass; you will be at a huge advantage).

Completing basic quests will make you really comfortable with all of the functions and features of the game including combat. They provide massive XP boosts to level up your character, and in this ruthless world the quicker you can raise your character's level the better. Quests also offer unique opportunities to collect money and certain items in return for your services.

Speaking of money, don't forget to loot all defeated enemies for gold or items that you might be able to sell/use. It will come especially handy to repair your items, which will eventually lose their durability and you will be unable to equip them until the repair is done (find any merchant to repair items).

As you complete quests you will find yourself venturing further and further out into the world and the enemies will grow in difficulty. One thing to look out for is any monster that is highlighted with a red circle. In the beginning of the game, most of the enemies are tame and will not attack you unless provoked. Monsters that appear with this red circle indicate that they will attack you the moment they see you. If you are low in health (or mana if you are a magic-oriented character) and you spot one of these it is recommended that you find somewhere to recover before engaging battle.

You will not 'die' in World of Warcraft, you merely become a ghost, but finding your character to revive him can be a difficult task. Be advised that you are only restored to partial health, so if you die in an area where monsters are actively hostile, it is likely you will need to plan an exit strategy or else suffer a repeat fate.

If you are finding it difficult to defeat monsters and you just aren't leveling up fast enough, then it's time to put the money you have to good use. Locate a merchant and upgrade as much of your equipment as possible. There is no reason to save your money initially; spend as much as you can to get good items equipped because this will compensate for your lack of XP (experience points that level your character).

Note that every new city you discover is likely to have better goods than the one previous. This is done on purpose to give you a valuable edge against your opponents.

Take advantage of your Class Trainers. Upgrading your skills and learning new attacks is just as necessary to survival as your character level and equipment.

One last tip, the guards found in cities are an awesome resource if you are completely lost. Simply talk to them and they will point to some of the important but sometimes hard to find people and places in the area.