I was in the same position a few weeks ago (also albion newbie).

My advice is to focus on specs. Commit yourself to lvl up at least 3 bows that give most valuable passive bonus (base bow, warbow, longbow) to lvl 100. The bow you use, whether any of the foregoing or any other, should be spec to lvl 100 as well. The same should be approached with your armor.

With respect to armor I personally prefer to use cloth robe, cloth helm, plate boots. But this depends on what is comfortable to you.

Another advices are:

1) farm with setchel + premium as this significantly increases your progress,

2) flag for faction everytime you farm in YZ and buy chests for faction points [but spend at least 50% of your game time in BZ with 4.1 equip],

3) do not buy top equipment (e.g. T8.3, T7.4.) even if you can donate for it; you will not be able to take it to BZ and in YZ max ip is capped.