EVE New Citizens Q&A

Returning after a couple years, but I didn't play a whole lot in the first place: a few months around the Incarna update and returning now.
Two years ago I didn't have much time to play, so I just did a bit of the standars newbie stuff: tutorials, SoE arc and missions up to level 4.
Went a grand total of two times in low-sec. Two hours of nothing the first time, insta-killed and podded the second time.

This is me: http://eveboard.com/pilot/Shizu_Eisenkreuz

This time around I have more time to play the game and definitely want to look more into pvp, but I have a few questions before committing too much.
Right now my income comes from hi-sec l4s with a Maelstrom around Rens. I feel I'm quite slow but I'm never in danger of losing my ship, from what I've seen in the last two days. Most missions are cake, in some I need a bit of extra care but overall is easy, steady income.

My goals would be:
- solo or small-gang pvp with sub-BS ships. I want to get a proper base of frigate warfare here, flying various types before moving to bigger stuff.
- eventually get into a Machariel to maximize L4 efficiency and look a bit into incursions

Now the questions.

- I don't want to join a real corp at this point. I still don't know if I'll stick along for more than a couple months and I prefer to play on my own, for now. So, for pvp, I'm mostly looking into factional warfare.
Is FW good practice for a noob or should I simply stick to low-sec roaming?
How will my 'normal' life be affected if I join FW? Will I still be able to run missions in safe Minmatar space?

- Future skill plan. I'm currently on a per/wil remap and have one available.
I still don't have a specific ship in mind, for pvp. I know I want to stick to minmatar frigates and destroyers for a while.
And I know I want to get into a Machariel for pve.
So I think the next few months will be spent on T2 autocannons.
But I'm open to suggestions.
Any obvious hole in my skills wich needs fixing?
Any recommended ship to refine for beginner's pvp?
Should I focus more on shared skills here (looking at gunnery stuff here) to help both pvp and pve?

- Clones. I know how they work but I don't know how should I use them to start pvping. Right now I have three +4s and one +3, wich are more than affordable for my current wallet, but not a whole lot of them.
Should I get into a jumpclone every time I go pvping?
Should I install cheap +2s on the jumpclones to minimize training inefficiency or will I lose too many of them to make it worthwhile?



That's it for now.

Dude's right. Join a corp. You don't actually have to fly with them if you don't want to but it's nice to have the company, back-up, help/advice, people to brag to about kills, etc...

FW is fine for beginner pvp...Also better when doing it with others. It's hard to learn pvp solo.

You can get by for a while without a corp, but it makes things way more fun.

If you want to learn small ship/gang pvp in FW join Gallente. I'm biased of course but the data backs it up.

http://facwarstats.appspot.com/

Pure and simple the frog march kills the most people consistently while having fewer pilots.

Not sure why the character wasn't updated. It's 7 millions, wich I know it's a very low level for everything. (the link should be fixed now)
But, when I returned, I realized I was still missing the most basic navigation skills, for example.
So I'd like to know if I'm still missing something fundamental even for entry-level pvp.



Corp: ok, I guess I'll look for some relaxed FW corp wich doesn't feel like becoming a second job for the members.