Keetarra, be sure to ask a LOT of questions as well once you're back in the game. The wiki does not even cover half of what this game is about and the depths of it (strategies, political relationships, wars, trash talking, OPs, etc). This game is VERY complex and will take months maybe even over a year to fully learn and understand the game. There are people who have been playing for years who still don't know everything and aren't too great. What'll determine how good you are is you. By asking questions, reading, participating in what your alliance is doing (once you join one) and communicating. Here's some basic tips for you as well to kind of give you some direction as to what to do once you're back:
1) Attack the bandits camp often -> Gives you BP (Battle Points), which after you've gained 300, you can run a VP (Victory Procession). The more VPs you can run, the more CPs (culture points) you can get (Theater plays, olympic games and city festivals all produce CPs as well). The more CPs you have, the more "Slots" you'll have. A slot is the difference between how many cities you have, and how many you can have. If you go into your Agora (little pointy building beside senate), you'll all that I'm talking about here.
2) Get at least 4 Farming Villages and upgrade them to at least level 4. Then, demand resources every 5 mins -> More resources = more buildings built = more units you can build. More is always better.
3) Attack often -> Once you're out of the Base Protection, attack pretty much everyone on island that isn't under a blue or green flag. Remember that "Red is Dead" (Red is enemy alliance your alliance is at war with). But be sure to attack only what you know you can handle. If you're at 2K points, and you attack someone at 10K+, expect to lose. If you're at 2K and you attack a 4K-, you could win that battle and develop BP. Every unit you kill grants you x BP. More BP = more VPs = more CPs = more cities. Yay for a bigger, stronger you!
4) COMMUNICATE -> This makes or breaks you, and your alliance. Under attack? Talk to someone. Taking a city? talk to someone. Have a question? TALK TO SOMEONE!!
5) Be Active -> Daily. Going away for over a day, especially in faster worlds (Check settings of world by how crusader said above - Speed 4 is fastest, speed 1 is slowest) makes you a prime target for someone to take your city/cities. If you feel you need to be MIA for 2+ days, hit the VM button (Vacation Mode, found in settings).
6) In a CONQUEST world (This part does NOT apply to revolt worlds) you do NOT want to build a wall. Build it to MAYBE level 1 only. Walls aid defending units. Since there are two chances to block an opposing player's CS (Colony Ship) from landing in your city, a higher wall level only hurts you IF you miss your first chance to kill it. This part here is VERY in depth and detailed. Be sure to read up on the battle system in the wiki and ASK QUESTIONS.
7) Respect everyone you talk to. Here, or in game. Even your enemies. One day, your enemies could be your new teammates. Maps & teams change all the time and rarely does a team last start to finish of a world.
All super basic stuff but hope it helps you. Best of luck!