Any good (TOTAL) beginner tips?
LOL That's a pretty broad question but I'll attempt to provide some tips.
1. Food, food and more food. Food supply in Rome 2 is critical so always make sure you have a positive supply.
2. Don't waste food upgrading religious buildings if the province already has a very high public order. No sense in having overkill with public order because whether public order is at +10 or +50 the effects are the same.
3. The AI is predictable and is easily prone to flanking attacks in 3D battles. Hence, recruit lots of cavalry and use them to good effect by outflanking his army and hitting it from the rear.
4. I've found that ramming attacks are by far the most effective way to defeat an enemy fleet. Ramming will damage and sink ships much faster than using boarding actions or ranged attacks.