Welcome to the forum, @Cantasy already dropped some links that will be very useful to you and I hope you read them. I have seen many newbies make mistakes that cost them their accounts, some abandon their account because they don’t seem to be getting merits. My advice to you is don’t be in a haste, build your account slowly…merits and ranks are things you will surely achieve if you’re committed. Find your interests in the forum and grow it.