[Turin]

I´d just play around for a while, get crushed by the AI and then ask specific questions.

As for your questions:

1) he referred to the scales you choose when you pick a new god. You can set them from +3 to -3.

2) I would include all nations except ermor and maybe Caelum. Ermor is too strong vs other AIs and Caelum is very annoying with seeking arrows and call of the wilds.

indy strength means independent strength. The higher you set it during game creation the more independents will garrison the neutral provinces.