Lessons I think I've learned from my mistakes

[Frizze]

Maybe other stuff?: Experienced players: Please let me know if there's another 'kiddie pool' I've missed.

Two tips immediately come to mind.
1. Be willing(or at least dont be afraid) to try different types of content. Optional trials, optional dungeons, normal mode raids and alliance raids often introduce mechanics that will make their way into required content later. And as these are mostly full group instances(or multi-group for the alliance), there will usually be someone else along in your role - so the whole group isnt usually depending on you playing at a high level. These will also often have interesting stories, and there are plenty of rewards(glamours, minis, music, etc) to be had.
2. Learn to use the Party Finder tool. The game never really highlights it, but this tool lets you form an open group other people can join. When making the group you specify the content you want to do, so the people joining will typically be other people who need to do the same thing or people who like to help newer players along. I actually consider this a skill to practice, as the description you use(or dont) to form you group makes a big difference in how quickly it fills and the types of people who join.

Side tip, your "edge case" hotbar would be a good place for a tank or healer to stash the limit break button. Most of the time a tank or healer limit is completely unneeded(if not an outright waste of the limit bar), but those times that it is needed its an absolute run saver. Ill come back if i think of any more good ones.

[Noitems]

2. Learn to use the Party Finder tool. The game never really highlights it, but this tool lets you form an open group other people can join. When making the group you specify the content you want to do, so the people joining will typically be other people who need to do the same thing or people who like to help newer players along. I actually consider this a skill to practice, as the description you use(or dont) to form you group makes a big difference in how quickly it fills and the types of people who join.

I cannot recommend this enough. I've seen posts on Reddit of people waiting over 90 minutes to queue in for Bowl of Embers HM because they just queue into it. Post a listing for this on PF state "First time bonus" and watch people flock from all over the DC to help you out with it. Nothing makes us feel bad then content that can easily be run through in a matter of 5 minutes gated for progression because these tools aren't utilized.