1. The wiki /zones has maps that are very helpful. You will notice a grid with y,x coordinates on the map images. You can find your coordinates with the"/loc" command or just "/l". Many NPC's have their location listed so you can use /loc to find them as well. I you have your wits about you when you are getting beat to death you can /loc before you die to make corpse recovery easier.
3. The exp quests are really worth doing. Bones chips, belts, lightstones, gnoll fangs, scalps etc. Just looks up these items in the wiki and there should be quest information there.
http://wiki.project1999.com/Bone_Chips_Quests These items are also worth selling - for this reason.
A few select class/race specific quests that are worth doing - these you can find in the wiki under class or race specific quests.
Quests givers are not forgiving. Make sure you hand in exactly what they require in the correct quantity. If you "hail" someone and they talk with a [word] in brackets, you need to type that word to continue the dialog. "what word?" The word I [just] placed in brackets. "just give me j-boots already!"