Hello from a Newb

[frau kaleun]

Welcome aboard!

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice

Don't get sunk.

Other than that - RTFM (which is fine for me to say, I still haven't read the GWX manual all the way through ) and ask questions here.

Best advice I can think of for total n00b - don't make savegames when you are submerged, or within contact range (visual or on hydrophones) of other other ships, planes, land, etc. Corrupted savegames are a known unresolved issue with SH3. Some people never have any problems no matter when and where they make a save, but you never know... following the advice above seems to be the best way to avoid the problem insofar as it's possible to avoid it at all.