Yes and no ;)
1. People will have a ridiculously hard time roleplaying with you in-game if you can\'t type properly, do not form coherent sentences, and -definitely- if you use symbols in your speech. It\'s just not done if you\'re here for a reason beyond mindless monster bashing, which you should be - this is a roleplaying game first and foremost.
2. Not familiar with the Diablo system, but currently there are healing potions available, and a healing spell/glyph.
3. We have no butterknives, though we should :P It will take a while to get a weapon, but no more than a week, and that\'s if you hunt for 1-2 hours a day. Or at least that\'s how I remember it. Once you move up to stronger critters though, things just pour in - this is a balance issue that is known and will be addressed as soon as it is possible. AKA \"soon.\"
4. Doesn\'t matter how much roleplay experience you have, as long as you\'re willing to try it out and learn along the way.
Welcome! ;)