I feel your pain as a new shaver as well, I have the "no air flow bathroom" ( little apt in NYC) that leaves me dripping sweat while shaving post shower. In addition to this, like another member said my hair grows horizontally out toward my ears on my neck from my Adams apple to my chin and im just getting the groove of stropping properly(so my newly honed blade is prob at 80% efficiency already)
I have not tried a cold shave yet, I stick with the "standard" shower prep and I do use a pre shave oil. I'm getting better with the blade pressure, this was the largest issue at first. The number one thing that has helped me was to put feeling zero stubble on my neck post shave on the back burner and just concentrate on blade angle and pressure. I good aftershave is crucial for me as well, I could not survive without it.