If you've been lurking, you probably already know this: Play your games in strategic mode. That is how PBW is played and it is quite different from tactical.
Almost any game is receptive to newbies. Just be sure you have the right patch-- 1.91 is the latest and is used in most games-- and the right mod. Many games are unmodded but many use a mod. Good idea to learn a bit about the mod for the game you join.
Good luck and welcome to the best game anywhere!
