Originally posted by HerrBaron:

- WHEN do I start seeing "portals"?

Have you not chopped down a birch tree yet to obtain fine wood? If so, the portal should be in your build menu.

Originally posted by HerrBaron:

- WHY does literally ALL my stamina vanish on the appearance of a bunch of rabid Graywhatevers, when I haven't been running or swinging an axe or anything else? This REALLY stinks! And no, they haven't sprayed me with anything, stamina just gone at the beginning of the fight.

Stamina vanishing for no reason isn't a thing that happens; most likely situation is that you're using up all of your stamina very quickly without realising it.

Originally posted by HerrBaron:

- WHERE is this mythical IRON everyone yaks about? I have yet to get beyond copper and tin and bronze.

In swamp biomes, accessible once you've defeated the second boss.

Originally posted by HerrBaron:

- WHEN do I get to start building with STONE?

Once you have access to iron.

Originally posted by HerrBaron:

- WHEN do I get to build something bigger than a raft?

You could do this with the materials available to you right now, as well, if you had picked up any fine wood and crafted any bronze nails.

Originally posted by HerrBaron:

Heh! Yeah, see what I mean? tons of vidoes, 85 hours of play, and a bunch of questions no one covers. I think the problem is the age-old one of too many assuming everyone is going to play the game the same way and for the same reasons as they do.

Don't bother with videos - use the wiki, it can answer questions like these immediately.