[Saxon]

One thing you might want to try is taking Ermor. In single player, they are pretty powerful and will give you a chance to learn a lot about the game while not worrying about getting run over right away. They can also go underwater, which can give you and advantage.

You might also want to start a game as one of the underwater races and make sure you do not include any others or Ermor. It will provide you a nice safe start, a training ground and a retreat. It is more fun learning the mechanics of the game when you have a decent chance of living past the first few turns.