Survival
General Tips
If you are a complete newbie to the discworld, go to Dweezz' Newbieguide to Discworld
First thing you should learn is to use the 'consider' command. It roughly measures your opponent's strength against yours by comparing armour, weapons and health. Attacking a "nasty" target could mean certain death for a beginner. Next would be 'map' and 'temp' command. The first is so that you can get a bearings on your surrounding and the next to check your temperature so that you don't end up freezing to death or dying of a heatstroke. Learn to use the 'alias' command to make life easier for you when typing up complex commands. You can also try making shortcut keys using the F keys for your inventory, health, etc. Use the 'search' command to scavenge items from streets and rooms or to find hidden items. This command is especially useful for beginners. Fencing items to Sol or Jim in theTThieves' Guild will usually yield more earnings than you would be selling it to general stores.
Directions can be abbreviated, so instead of typing 'north', 'east', 'southwest' you can type 'n', 'e' or 'sw'. Depending on your client, you can also use number pad as directional keys. Always 'look down' when you see a down exit around water and terrains to avoid drowning or a nasty fall. Never swim with a heavy burden. Another way to travel is by taxiing, 'who Taxi' to see which members are on-duty to be able help transport you. The basic rate is A$5. If you're a cheapskate and don't mind waiting long in favour for safe transport there are Carriages that run between cities and town (and within AM).
Most cities and towns are safe in the sense that you do not get auto-attacked at unless you harass or instigate NPCs in someway. But beware of seedy areas like the sewers and slums (Shades, Medina and Snaiil in Bes Pelargic). Be wary of thieves and pick-pockets too if you're not from the Thieves' Guild. When facing a much tougher opponent, don't panic when you take a beating and plan your escape properly to avoid getting killed by your own auto wimpy. Simply put, watch before you leap.
Should you end up dead, your items will stay on your corpse (as you can not wear, hold or carry anything while being a ghost) and is safe from being looted by other players as long as the body hasn't decomposed to nothingness. There are a few ways to get yourself resurrected. The first is to use Godmother (type 'godmother help') so that you will be returned in a solid form to your start position along with your corpse and items on it. Another way is to find one of the resurrection rooms where an NPC will raise you back from the dead. Another way is to politely contact a player Pishe Priest to come to your aid and resurrect you. Depending on the priest, you may or may not have to pay for their services. Key in 'who Pishe' or 'refer RIP' to find out which Pishe Priests are online and available to help you.
Ankh-Morpork (and its surrounding)
This is where beginners to DW are recommended to start in. Stay away from the Shades. Don't fight or mime in front of watchmen (they will arrest you), don't kill assassins on the Assassin's Guild grounds or steal there, don't steal without a licence, and don't kill shopkeepers (also applies outside of AM, but punishment is more of a surety in AM). The resurrection point is in the Temple of Small Gods on the Street of Small Gods (find an NPC called Harry). If you run low on lives, head up to the Ankh side of Ankh-Morpork (northern/turnwise AM) and find the Pishe Pool in the Apothecary Gardens. You'll need to toss royals (100 Ankh-Morpork dollar coin) into the pool to buy lives. The first life will cost 2 royals, and subsequent lives bought will cost more (depending on last death, last bought live and alignment).
Stealing or killing in Sto Lat will draw the attention of Royal Guards. Avoid going into Skund Forest unless you want to meet some wolves. If you steal in Ohulan-Cutash and drive up a reputation the shopkeepers will end up refusing service to you. If you're traveling between OC and Mad Stoat, do not go through the Gloomy Forest, take the Ramtops Carriage instead as traveling through the Leggit Loop to avoid the forest may cause you to be confused with the directions.
Bes Pelargic
An Auriental land located on the Counterweight Continent, and pretty much cut-off from the rest of the world. Unless you started here, the only ways to reach BP is via Taxis or the T-shop. The first thing to do is get a weapons permit from a "shifty man" on Tuna Walk (Bad Poo Ning district in southeast BP). Carrying weapons without a permit will lead to its confiscation when you come across an Imperial Guard, however if you are still very young in DW the Imperial Guard will let you off with a warning. Things you should avoid are pickpockets, the Snails and Medina area. Don't fight in front of Imperial Guards (they are much more merciless and will fight you to the death). Don't kill old people, as they are revered in the Counterweight Continent and the punishment for killing them will be harsh. Money is fairly easy to earn for a beginner who starts in BP (they will be able to speak Agatean fluently). If you're willing to do a bit of honest work, there are several food outlets that hire people to deliver meals all over BP. This is a lot better than going around trying to kill tough NPCs for their money (rats and dogs are abundant for your disposal if you want to farm initial Xp). Some outlets give very low wages, while some others would pay handsomely.
Djelibeybi
Djelibeybi sits in a desert is due west of AM (widdershins actually) across the Circle Sea. Passage by land between AM and DjB is relatively safe, although dull. Critters such as snakes and scorpions are abundant here and provide some easy kills, however most other NPCs would prove to be too tough for a beginner. Stealing in DjB will result in getting you thrown out into the desert if you're caught by a priest/ess. Killing a priest/ess or a cat will mean the crocodiles for you. If you are in the desert during the afternoon, check your temperature and remove clothing as when necessary to avoid getting a heatstroke. Certain desert creatures such as lions would auto-attack you, so beware.
Genua
It's a real hard life in Genua, located far-far away from other cities and lies beyond Uberwald. Quite cut-off, the best way to get here is via Taxi or the Carriages. Crimes committed by killing or stealing will mount up and earn you a notorious rep. The city guards won't look kindly on you if you get that. Most things are pretty hard to kill anyway for a beginner. You can clean your slate however by doing community service (go to the watch house for it). Apart from that, doing community service with no bad-rep gets you discounts from the Genuan stores.
Ramtops
Check the room descriptions for any mention of the Lancre Gorge, especially when off the roads and in the terrains. Use only obvious exits or prepare to be afflicted with broken bones or turning into pancake. Avoid pursuing NPCs in Brass Neck, as they tend to run away into places where there's more air than there is ground under the feet. Terrains are best avoided during the night. Avoid killing unique NPCs, especially in Bad Ass or you may get thrown into the forests next time you set foot into the town. The Ramtops can be especially cold at night and in wintertime, and especially more when you go to the higher areas, so be prepared with warm clothing. Escrow borders the Ramtops and Uberwald.
Uberwald
Beyond the Ramtop town of Blackglass is Uberwald. By right, you shouldn't even be here as a beginner. Head back down the Sto Plains why don't you!
Terrains
Stick to the roads, and if possible travel by daylight as brigands and bandits prowl the roads during the night. Depending on your location, terrain creatures may auto-attack (especially as you get nearer to the hub). If you're off the roads and are lost, head in one direction until you hit a river or a road, then follow it. If you have maps, you may 'consult' it or 'locate' things on it to get your bearings. Unless you like the great outdoors and don't mind the repetitive scenery, it's much more faster and safer to use a Taxi to get in-between places.
Many thanks
to Kasimir and many others for their contribution to this page