Solved the tea problem - if you don't have the item box icon in your upper right, you are fubar. I had to switch browsers to get it to appear. Then you can combine stuff.
The biggest problem is that old players have a lot of runes, and there is no good way to early on get them. So, their cards are already over powered are even more powered. Since the "random" pairing always puts you with the hardest people, you are basically f'ed. Also, no Arena when it is supposed to unlock.