I've never played RnF before so I'm wondering how the difficulty levels correspond to the ones in the normal game. I'm generally a Noble player so I want to pick a matching difficulty level, preferably one where the AI doesn't get any extra perks over the human player.

Also what civilization would be a good choice for somebody who is starting out?

it is based on which CIV you pick, more then level....

As a general guide, the civilizations that are strong today will be easier to play for someone starting out (China, India, Japan). Some civilizations are on the stronger side but have unique challenges (Mongolia for military, Spain/Portugal/England for colonialism, Netherlands for diplomacy). Other civilizations that have never really stood out in history are slightly harder (Turkey, Egypt, Mali). Finally, civilizations that could not stand the test of time are by far the hardest, even on the easier difficulty levels (Aztec, Inca, Byzantium).

For someone starting out, the best choice is to have a civilization that starts at 3000 BCE and playing it though, switching civilizations as new ones get founded if you please.

China tends to be quite difficult I found. Japan was much easier.
Russia's alright if you get setup properly and can deal with the Mongols when it becomes necessary.

some1 played (and won) with the germans?
it's quite hard i think.

some1 played (and won) with the germans?
it's quite hard i think.

http://wikirhye.wikidot.com/rfc-german-strategy