Okay dokey, I am a newbie to Planeshift. I currently have three characters: one for my brother, and two others; one I use mainly for roleplaying. I logged into the game, I figured out how to kill rats quite fast, got a progression point and also figured out how to loot. The good thing is, I already knew how to roleplay so I at least felt at home in some way. I ran around a bit, frustrated at finding these flat closed doors all around me and not being able to open them in anyway. I contantly walked up to doors and typed "/picklock", but nothing happened.

I then found out that my cat character was in its own city, and that I should make a journey to some other one. So I set off, excited at locating the doors to the outside. I got attacked by a rogue and died, going to the death realm. It took me a while to get out, I got helped to halfway by a kind player. Once I got out, I tried to get to Hydlaa(? i hope thats it) again, I managed but I had no idea where to go. I managed to locate the Laanx temple and library. They were the only useful buildings I found - and I found the sewers.
Currently I am a little newbie characters, with no weapons (hoping to get some), roleplaying experience and wanting to locate certain shops. I picked up the game interface pretty quickly - I know how to train and talk to npcs (I had to ask a few where things were but sometimes got the response: "Sorry, I don't understand that - repeat again?". Tried asking real people, but they don't seem to care much, busy doing something. I am fed up, I desperatly need a map, i wish there was one already inputed into the game. Is there any way I can find out wheres where?
Gah. Post in reply if you have answers and questions.