When you first log into the game you have to select what server you want to play on. For new players this can be overwhelming as there is a lot going on, on this particular screen. Below this image you will find detailed information, to help you navigate your way through this screen.
This is one of the most important features of the server selection panel. You will find this on the bottom right hand side, under your list of steam friends. Make sure this is unchecked if you have people on your steam that you don't want finding you in this game. If this is checked it will tell everyone on your steam friends what server your playing on.
This icon will appear to the left of the server name once you have created a character on a server.
This arrow appears 5 times across the top of the server selection screen. You can click this arrow to sort the server list by name, type, region, population, and by where you have created characters. The one on the very left side is the one you would click to put the servers that you have characters on at the top of the list.
Rules
This icon indicates it's a PVP server.
PVP mode allows players to kill one another. It also allows players to "raid" bases with the use of various in game explosives you can blow up other user built structures and take everything they have collected while playing the game.
This icon indicates it's a PVE server.
PVE mode disables the ability for players to kill each other and for bases to be raided. PVE players survival threats are those of the environment including (but not limited to) zombies, wildlife, self inflicted injuries, etc...
This icon indicates it's a "First Person Only" server.
First Person only servers do not allow you switch into a 3rd person perspective.
This icon indicates it's a "Head Shot Only" server.
Shots to the body do not register on this server type. No matter what you encounter in the world it simply will not die unless you hit it in the head.
This icon indicates it's a "Wipe" server.
Servers with recipe wipe features will erase your recipe list when you die and you will have to re-learn them. You will also loose everything in your inventory (including unique items) and any base permissions you may have had.
This icon indicates it's a "Restricted Area Building" server.
All servers have this feature. You can not build within a certain proximity to POI (point of interest) sites. Major cities and neighborhoods are within these restrictions.
Nomad
There are 4 "Nomad" servers 2 of them are PVP and 2 of them are PVE. Nomad servers are different than all the rest in that you can not learn the recipes for building structures. There is no icon to indicate the difference with these servers however it tells you when you have one selected that they have that restriction, also they are all named "Nomad"