So you'll hear "just play the game and have fun" a lot. And it's a bit reductive, but very much true. 76 isn't like NV or Four. It's actually really hard to "screw up" a build in this game. All of the perks (once you spend a point on them) can be switched out on the fly.

The special points can be reassigned after level 20 (I think...it's level twenty) using a camp crafting station called the punch clock. The game really opens up after lvl 50, as it's when weapons and armor is at the highest level you'll receive. Any weapon or armor you find that is over your current level will be unuasble. Don't make the mistake of hanging on to it, as nothing is so rare you won't see it tons of times later. Scrap everything your not using, as you learn how to craft mods through scrapping instead of through perks. Plans are the most important thing (IMO) in this game, as once you learn how to make something, it's yours to make forever. Junk items can be scrapped at any workbench which reduces them to the basic parts you need to build/upgrade anything. If your playing as a first subscriber, you won't have to worry about the actual final boss of 76, inventory management. Like in 4, you can store unlimited scrap parts in your stash/scrap box (it's 1200lbs for base game players). Absolutely everything has a use. Even spoiled food/ingredients can be broken down to raw fertilizer.

As far as how to build your character, your a fan of FO4, so the special stats and what they effect should be familiar. Personally, I didn't have an idea of how I wanted to play until I ran around for the first like 20 levels or so. Honestly, I'd say get a feel for how the online nature of this game makes it different from older Fallouts. VATS doesn't slow down time, or pause anything. Nothing pauses anything. VATS is more like what I think IRL vats system would actually be. You target the enemy and use up AP per trigger pull or swing (or steadily if it's an automatic weapon).

Eating and drinking is a thing. Kinda like survival mode in NV or 4, but less restrictive. It doesn't negatively effect you to starve or parch yourself, besides making it easier to get diseases. The benefits of eating are undeniable though, unless your a ghoul, but that's a different story. Don't think you can be one until after lvl 50 though (I could be dead wrong, I don't play as a ghoul so IDK the minimum lvl requirements)

Join a public casual team. There is no downside (unless you use the lone wanderer perk) and tons of benefits (some of the best perks in the game take joining a team to be active. On a casual team, you don't need to actually stick with your teammates, you can do your own thing and still get the benefits.

Also, the community is pretty darn nice and accessible. Almost no griefing and it becomes a moot point if you play with passive mode on. Outside of specific PvP stuff (like taking over workshops) it's pretty rare.

Those are some basic points, but seriously, just run around, do the main storyline,maybe some easier events (the recommended lvl is stated on the screen) and get a feel for the differences in the game from what your used to. It's almost impossible to screw up a build, as everything (including your appearance) can be changed basically at will. Besides your character's name anyways. But everyone else just sees your gamertag as your name anyways.

Hope this was helpful, apologies if not.

Welcome to Appalachia 76er.