Effects - I have a Boss Gt-6 and that frigging thing rocks! Got all the effects you need and good control of them as well.
Amps - you don't neccessarily need a half - there are some good combos out there too - like the guitar, get what sounds good - remember a good combo can keep up with drums and if you're playing out odds are you'll be going thru a PA so volume won't be much of an issue.
Books, etc. - again, whatever you might be interested in, lots of tabs on the net to mess with (a lot of lesson stuff right here on this site) - I would say find someone to jam with, that helps more than you night know.
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