I guess I am pretty new bc I dont know how you would run an Owl. What are the race specifics for that and how did you find that? I dont have battlemaster in my guidebooks so I'm assuming its part of Tasha's or Xanathar guide?

I meet a random group tomorrow, fittingly enough, in the town tavern, for session zero. The other group I'm about to get involved in I at least know half the people so I think that will be ok. They were pretty happy to hear I was interested.

I think playing a intellectually inept character would be so fun.
Spectacular Settlements - that sounds like a huge help. Most things I find are online but its nice to have it at my fingertips sometimes.

I have 3-4 youtube channels I follow:
Dungeon Craft: https://www.youtube.com/c/DUNGEONCRAFT1
He does some crafting but does a tonne of rule hacks to make the game faster and grittier.
Dungeon Dudes: http://www.youtube.com/c/DungeonDudes
They have some streaming but do a lot of videos on their take for how to play certain classes, or their favorite spells for clerics etc...
Matt Colville: http://www.youtube.com/user/mcolville
He is immersed in DnD for so many years and has a gaming company that has released 2 books for 5e and has the Flee Mortals book out soon. He talks fast but has lots of good ideas