Yeah, use NPC's for the hx, just come up with NPC's between yourself and the player, the actual hx number doesn't matter with an NPC so just use it to gauge the level of feeling between the player and the npc.

As you're detailing the world and other characters, the player can use the "on your turn" part of the hx section to add some of their own "flavour" to the mix. It's a good prompting system if you start running out of ideas for detailing the world.

As for marking skills either go with ebok's solution and only mark experience on a failure (of any stat roll) or just let the player choose their own and you choose one as normal. It does mention in the rulebook that the player is allowed to lobby the others as to which stat she wants highlighted anyway, so it's not a big deal.

So, I'm running AW at a smallish UK con in a couple of weeks. I know that people have had troubles running AW at cons before and Vincent recommends himself that the system doesn't really sing until a few sessions in. I'm going to do a mix of GM pre designed setting and player input, basically I got a copy of Tony Dowlers excellent Seattle Doomsday map - Doomsday Map - which I will put in the middle of the table and let players draw over the top of it. There's space for 4 players and I'll bring along 6 playbooks and let them choose which ones they want. I'm thinking of doing love letters that involve all 6 playbooks, the spare two will become NPC's, so hopefully there will be some triangles already set up.
I'll make a few fronts as well and see what happens.

Any advice and which playbooks should I include? I definitely want a Brainer and I like it when players have a Hardholder so there's a bit of setting they can define straight away. As there might be players who have never played before I'm gonna avoid more complicated playbooks like the Macaluso.

Mad Max - Fury Road
So excited for this!

What are you going to replace Weird with?

Have you looked at The Regiment? That might make a good framework for a Civil War campaign if it's military focused.

I already had most of these but $3 for a couple of new playbooks and some extra rules is too much of a bargain to miss. Now I just gotta wait for 2 weeks until the ship I'm on gets alongside so I can access my civilian email and download them!

When you take harm from a zombie roll +Cool.

10+ - Both
7-9 - Choose 1
You didn't get bit
You didn't alert the horde

On a miss, you're bitten and you've alerted the horde.