feds without enemies and a resonable means to defend new players are good. Feds are bad when they have enemies and new players get caught in the politics of the fed at large. You can learn just as much from the forum and human interaction in chat than being assed to join a fed and get caught up in their nonsense. Free nations surpasses that of IDC. Nevertheless both seem willing to take on larger issues that new players should avoid. All I'm saying.
Best start hands down for any new player would be to look under the general tab, and find
"Wildeyes leaving guide to everything"
I know for a fact the largest and well known feds copy and pasted the information in that guide to their fed forums with public admissions supporting that fact. Feds are the not the only means of learning, and certainly not the wisest course of action. Back in the day when you had feds like Valde... now that was a fed worth joining. The UC of old... maybe even AF of OLD... those are feds worth joining. Given the recent events with the most peaceful, large, well known feds in the past few months, feds are highly NOT recommended for new players.
Just my honest opinion, and only because Chiwoo asked. I hope that helps Nikki.