Im just starting to get into straight razor shaving and I want to have half a clue what im doing before I start

I have heard I need to use a strop paste, yet some say I dont need to. which is true if I hone it up to a 12,000 grit hone? and a 30,000 grit hone?

I have also heard people say stropping removes the microscopic teeth, while others say it only straightens them out.