Are you sure you're not a bit premature here? How many nodes do your entities contain? While it is true that too many nodes can be bad, especially for performance, you can still have a significant number of them without worry. Generally, if your most complicated shapes are a few thousands nodes or less, you have nothing to worry about (and it still isn't necessarily a problem if you go over that)

I am mainly asking because, yes, cutting up a fcw is a bit involved with multiple steps, so going through that process needlessly is something you want to avoid.

Basically, the process is very similar to making a local map from a regional map, since you still need to cut up entities even if you're not making a more detailed version

You talk about floorplans here. Did you create that using the floorplan tool from a city map? Did you perhaps pick a floorplan template for a style you don't own?

Try the print Wizard. Right click on the print button or find it in the file menu. It guides you through setting up the print, including multi-page print.

It depends on how you wish to do the planning. If you have an idea of how you want your world to look, I would start there. But if you don't, it is better ti start with a regional map, and then gather some ideas as you play.

The advantage of having a world map is that it is easier to be consistent with the information you feed your players, but it can also restrict things a bit as well.

Are you looking in the right tab of the fill style dialog? If you see "Solid 10", that indicates you are looking at the "bitmap files" tab of the fill style dialog, while "Solid" is on the "Brush Patterns" tab.