Installed Montezuma as first theme - trying to learn mods...bad idea?

I really like the layout and everything with my new theme but am having a heck of a time trying to get custom things to do what "I think" they should...based on searching for answers on the web and reading tutorials.

Is this theme different enough that I should start with a basic theme that doesn't do Virtual Files while I am learning all of this? Or will it be simpler once I get the Ah Ha moment I have been waiting for?..lol

Right now I want to make a new template that I can use if I want when posting a single post...and I want it to use the Advanced Custom Fields plugin I downloaded so certain posts will show content if and when I tell them too.

Can anyone help out with this and or tell me if I should be learning wordpress backend stuff with this theme or not?

Thank you.