Here is a concise process for your first few sessions in Perpetuum to enable you to progress as fast as possible.

1) Open and Arrange all the basic windows of the User Interface:
Scanner, Targeting Computer, Robot Status, Landmarks, Modules, Landmark Info, Radar

2) Highlight Unpassable Terrain:
Press L to ensure unclimbable areas are highlighted in white on your screen.  Right click Radar, choose map type-unpassable terrain.
Now you can see where you can and cannot walk by zooming in the Radar.

3) Get to the Alpha Terminal to start your Training missions:
Every starter island has an Alpha Terminal.  It is the square on your radar.
Think of it as your multipurpose base to find missions at, to buy things, to fit your robot (right click robot and equip), to store things and to do industry at.
Head there and dock, click assignments and do the training missions.

4) Complete all 10 Training missions, get a Light Robot:
The Training Missions teach you the basics and give you an Arkhe Mk2 at the 4th mission and a light robot (Yagel/Castel/Prometheus) at the 10th.
Therefore, it is a bad idea to skip these missions.

5) Join a good corp, go for Assault Robot:
It is hard progressing solo in Perpetuum so consider joining a good corp with teamwork.
A great first goal is an Assault Robot (Arbalest/Baphomet/Waspish), Argano/Termis for mining or Laird/Gargoyle for harvesting or Sequer for hauling.
Your corp should be able to help you get that so you can progress faster in the game.

For EP planning use http://forums.perpetuum-online.com/topi … m-planner/.
You get 1 EP per minute subscribed to the game, no faster no slower.
First priorities are usually Navigation for faster movement, Accelerated Locking/Long Range Targeting for faster/longer range locking and Energy Management for faster accumulator recharge.
Also do check out the extensions tab of your desired Assault Robot to see what extensions you need to pilot it.

After this, what you specialize in is up to your interest!  Enjoy Perpetuum, the coolest sandbox to explore.