If you wanted to get a hold on the story and lore of the world then you start from the first. But it shouldn't affect your playthrough of FO4. Only thing you will miss are various references to the previous games.
Join a lan game over the same wifi network.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.