tooltips would help immensely when learning what each thing is in your inventory
Multiplayer spawn protection - presently players are unable to edit blocks near the spawn point. this is a reasonable anti-griefing measure, but should be improved: ** Instead of disappearing and reappearing, blocks should be invulnerable.
Upon hitting an invulnerable block, a message should come up, along the lines of "Spawn point protection prevents you from editing this block. Travel X distance to an editable area."
Perhaps visualize this? Could temporarily change the color of the protected blocks or light up the perimeter of the protected region. * beginners' guide
before nightfall, either dig a tunnel or build a wall. enemies can't jump over something 2 blocks high, though you may want 3 blocks high to prevent jumping archers from getting you.
find some coal if you can, to make torches, in order to do anything useful at night