Yes, you need something to soften the beard area. You can use pure oil, shaving gel from a can (poor choice), Proraso products are ok, the english creames and soaps are better and other creames or soaps depending on brand. The goop in a can doesn't work well. I am not a great fan of the "method" and is just a way to make money.
I have a hot shower and put conditioner on my beard for the last part of my shower. Then I rinse off and leave the water on my face. I add a few drops of olive or jojoba oil and massage it into my face. Then I lather up my brush and face and shave with the grain for two passes, sometimes three depending on how smooth I want. Then you do a cross the grain shave to bring it baby smooth and touch up a few tough spots certain strokes. When you are learning it is best to just start with the grain passes and stop until your face is used to shaving properly.
In terms of blade, razor and brush choice the worse thing is twin blade; almost all aren't holding the blades at the right angle and rip the hair out instead of shaving it. The cheap single blade bics, expensive multiblade cartridges, disposable blade double edge or straight razor or bite the bullet and buy a reusable shaving wedge or straight razor. Brushes go from synthetic, boar, and types of badger. A cheap badger will do you well and the synthetics are a bit more expensive to get a decent one. Most of my boars brushes are dead except one and I like it a lot as a travel brush.
Blades choice is wide and depends on the person. I can use most but the feathers I just have to dull a bit or I look like I had a fight with a cat. I don't like Gillette blades because they don't hold an edge well.
You need a brush (10$+ 5+ years), second hand razor (free-40 and one time), soap (2-10$ and last 3-months to a year), oil (pantry) and 1-2 blades a week (20-
