For new players, I feel like one of the most valuable resources is the "New Player Handbook" section. When you're starting out, some of what is in here, especially stickied posts, are invaluable.
If you're not playing regularly, and are just following the server for technical changes, and the overall setting and theme etc, and IRL life players stuff, some other threads I find useful are: (I will try to put these in priority order)
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Announcements. Especially the OOC ones about the server, and other changes, etc.
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/category/3/announcements
I think server updates, haks, other technical issues are in here too (if they are considered important enough). -
A lot of important OOC discussion is in the main forum "General" thread (same with on the discord).
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/category/2/general-discussion
I usually skim the headers of these, and sometimes check which ones seem to catch my interest. -
IRL player stuff, or just goings on in the game, are sometimes found in:
(little in game hooks, flavour snippets, not always accurate, that hint, often ambiguously, at ongoing plots, etc) is the
Rumours thread, here:
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/topic/12236/rumours/
The Tip of the Hat and Out-of-game/ leaving threads sometimes have hints about cool stuff (or not cool stuff) happening in game, or important issues for your player friends in real life, and when they will be around, or not:
Tip of the Hat:
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/topic/8474/tip-of-the-hat/
Out of game /leaving thread:
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/topic/42414/out-of-game-leaving-thread/
If you are actively playing, or want to try to keep up on plot, or jump in with a little bit of background and stuff from the forums before you do,
the Arabel Diaries,
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/category/10/the-arabel-diaries
and the IC Discussion (IN CHARACTER discussion, ie one of your characters talking to another player's character usually)
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/category/60/ic-discussion
are important threads; in particular, people may be sending MESSAGES TO YOUR CHARACTER(S) and/or responding to YOUR MESSAGES this way, about in game actions, plots, and activities, so if you are actively playing, you might want to scan this forum regularly for your characters names (you can do this with searches as well). This forum has tag functions, so it is possible you will get notified when someone tags you in a message, which may simplify things if you are busy/ away.
I find if I log in every few days/ week or two (at least if the server isn't too busy), if I browse the 'recent' posts, I can sometimes scroll back to the last time I read any messages, scan through the new messages, open a thread or two that seems important or that I'm interested in, etc.
Once I've scanned through most of what I feel like I have time or interest for, or bookmarked, ones that seem important buy I don't have time to read for later, I usually jump to the "Unread" messages (if I'm logged in) and clear all the unread messages, so it will give me a sense of how many new messages have popped up in the forums I have access to since I was last logged in and to a look through.
Just a heads up: if you are ACTIVELY PLAYING, and there is a fair amount going on in game, a fair number of players in game, there may be a LOT more IN CHARACTER messages to read, sometimes long, sometimes not well edited or clear etc lol, maybe 1-3 more hours per weeks of stuff that might be relevant to you and your characters (I'm just estimating, I didn't really log or run any numbers: others might be able to provide a much better estimate). But it is possible that it will MORE THAN DOUBLE the amount of time you may be spending in the forums, etc.
I hope this helps any new players who want to try to dive into this community, etc.