Newbie Guide

Your own experience will be the best guide once you start playing the game. The game is complex, but you don't need to know everything at the start. Start on the lower difficulty levels and you should be fine. I've heard some tutorials will be included, they should take care of the most important things. Other than that, ask your questions once they come up, they'll be answered. Don't count on anyone writing a full-blown guide within the first few days - people will be busy playing then.

For difficulty setting, I think I will start on the absolute lowest just for the first game. I am sure that it is pretty worthless to play on the lowest setting in terms of learning any strategy.... but just to work out the interface and basic concepts!

I would imagine that those who have played through the beta must have some good knowledge to pass on to us noobs. I always love reading a good guide written by players, I was hoping someone might have already had one in mind just so I have something now to whet my appetite before the game comes out!

whet my appetite before the game comes out!

I understand the feeling. Playing the Beta is nice, but probably a mere joke against the release version. I can hardly wait for it as well!

I share your sentiment. I would suggest trying 'normal' though as opponents aren't gimped and on an equal footing with the player. practice practice practice.

just jump in and randomly click tabs on the interface, thats what i did and through one game of trial and error i was able to find most of the controls out

I recently installed the GalCiv1 demo and started experimenting with the interface.

When I found my economy was being trashed by +140b leases per month, I knew using the "Purchase" button often wasn't the best of ideas.
On my third time through the demo though, I managed to defeat the Drengin and a minor race before 2190.

So yes, you get the hang of it pretty fast if you practise and indulge your curiosity about all the buttons in the game