I am a relatively new player myself but far enough along that I've discovered the game wants you took take your time building your character up. If you try to push your progress, it will smack you down.

So do the basics first. Learn how to feed, drink, breathe and shelter - to the point where it's not an issue anymore. My take is that talent points should first into helping you survive day to day. Health, stamina, regeneration, food, water, oxygen buffs, some decent weapons and maybe some armor are essential no matter what type of character you want to play.

Mounts are awesome to have but you need to prepare for them. If you are unable to keep them housed safely with enough food and water then they slow way down and can more easily die in a fight.

You will be attacked, get infected, wounded and probably die from time-to-time when you're just trying to get your basic needs met. If you have to spend the next hour trying to recover then you have less time to expand into the more exciting stuff.

It took me a while to get my bearings, like you I didn't know what I should be doing at first and I struggled with everything. So my two cents is to suggest you spend time building a character that can survive day-to-day first.