Welcome to Empire, and the forums! Geoffrey has done a fab job of covering things, as always 
It’s okay to be intimidated - there’s a lot going on, there’s loads of players and the wiki is indeed huge and somewhat confusing if you don’t really know what you’re looking for. Thankfully, Amy here on the forum has done a fantastic job of summarising some of the things you might need to know as a new player:
They may look at bit lengthy at first glance, but it’s not all information you’re going to need - and it’s a lot easier than navigating the wiki unaided! Obviously if there’s anything you’re unsure of, or want more detail on, just give us a wave. We really enjoy discussing Empire after all!