If you are already over the commander sets then EDHRec is a good site for newer players to EDH. It provides a lot of options for each commander including deck lists and pricing options so that you don't have to play into the idea that expensive is best. After you start playing you will notice power cards and similarities and such, and its probably a good idea to pick up those cards.
Example: Eternal Witness, Board wipes, swords to plowshares, draw and card selection spells, 2 mana ramp rocks, etc.
There are lots of videos and podcasts that can offer perspective about EDH but tbh youll have to decide how competitive you want your decks to be. Just play make a deck and play around is the only real advice I can stand behind, its how the format evolved to where it is now.
It shouldn't be too expensive to build a budget Rafiq deck if you want to try it out. Most of the exalted card are not really played too much and the most expensive thing that you dont need but would be cool to have is the Sword of X and X. I've played decks without "power" cards like Rhystic Study, Oracle of Mul Daya and Seedborn Muse for years and I still win. It really depends on your play environment.
Edit:
Umm... If I could continue a bit with recommendations. There are two recently new commanders that are both incredibly powerful and can be built cheap while retaining said power. They are:
They both have a cheap mana base, can rely on cheap Commons and uncommons for their main theme (sacrifice or ramp), and have built in advantage engines. Issues are they themselves cost a chunk and others may dislike you for playing something so powerful but you can design these decks with a lot of flexibility after you have your main engine built.
Example: Eternal Witness, Board wipes, swords to plowshares, draw and card selection spells, 2 mana ramp rocks, etc.
There are lots of videos and podcasts that can offer perspective about EDH but tbh youll have to decide how competitive you want your decks to be. Just play make a deck and play around is the only real advice I can stand behind, its how the format evolved to where it is now.
Rafiq EDHREC
It shouldn't be too expensive to build a budget Rafiq deck if you want to try it out. Most of the exalted card are not really played too much and the most expensive thing that you dont need but would be cool to have is the Sword of X and X. I've played decks without "power" cards like Rhystic Study, Oracle of Mul Daya and Seedborn Muse for years and I still win. It really depends on your play environment.
Edit:
Umm... If I could continue a bit with recommendations. There are two recently new commanders that are both incredibly powerful and can be built cheap while retaining said power. They are:
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
Urza, Lord High Artificer
They both have a cheap mana base, can rely on cheap Commons and uncommons for their main theme (sacrifice or ramp), and have built in advantage engines. Issues are they themselves cost a chunk and others may dislike you for playing something so powerful but you can design these decks with a lot of flexibility after you have your main engine built.