Some help for a noob

[Skandranon]

1) I am playing a warrior naturally. I have read a bunch of guides and they all have certain build and talent points distribution schemes. I am puzzled however, as to one thing: They talk about talents like Improved Rend, Improved Battle shout, improved this and that and also there seems to be a finite number of talent points. Do those "Improved" talents have pre-reqs like plain Rend or plain Battle shout, and how many of those would I have to take before being allowed to get to the improved stage. I am right now at lvl 9 and have not gotten anything yet as I am afraid that if I take the plain versions, I will run out of points necessary for the future. Is this the case or can I take the plain versions without running out of talent points in the future? I have to say that without any of the skills I am finding this game a difficult grind so far, soloing and all at least for now...

At level 9, you do not have talent points yet. Talent points start at level 10 and you get one per level thereafter, placed in Diablo II-like skill trees. You cannot see this menu yet because you're not level 10: once you are, a new button will appear ("N" will also display it on the default mapping) that shows you your trees. You can choose to unlearn all your talents for an increasing gold cost, as well, so no point assignation is ever permanent.

Currently, what the trainers are offering you are skills. You may freely train all of these: there is no limit.

2) Also, about professions. Do I get 2 priomaries and 1 secondary or 1 and 1? I've been thinking about Blacksmithing and First Aid, although I read that once you get Blacksmithing you are pretty much locked into Mining (or something like it), so I do nto know if I would be able to take first aid too. Bleh.
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You get two primary professions and all 3 secondary skills. You can always have First Aid, Fishing and Cooking, the three secondary skills: taking them doesn't lock you out of anything. You can only pick two of the primary professions, though: Skinning, Mining, Tailoring, Enchanting, Blacksmithing, Herbalism, Alchemy, and Leatherworking. You do not need to have Mining to Blacksmith, although getting materials will be expensive. At any time, you may unlearn a primary profession to pick up another at skill level 1, though if you drop that one to go back to your old one, you start back again at skill level 1 in your old one.