No matter how much seed-starting experience you have, starting tomatoes is easier than starting primroses. This is because some seeds will germinate almost anywhere, while others have strict requirements for moisture, temperature, and light. So if you're new to seed-starting, I recommend that you stick with some easy varieties such as tomatoes, zinnias, marigolds, peppers, and coleus. These seeds don't have any special requirements in terms of light, moisture or pre-treatment. You'll need to supply your seedlings with a complete fertilizer to maintain healthy growth.
Most seed packets provide little if any information as to specific germination requirements.
I am a big fan of Stokes Seeds in Buffalo, NY because their seed packets are written for commercial growers and provide lots of useful details. When you're growing a challenging type of plant such as primroses, the information they provide is invaluable. It provides specific germination requirements, growth habit, time of bloom, and much more for over 500 different kinds of flowers and herbs. Containers are a personal choice. The Gardener's Supply catalog offers over a dozen different seed-starting trays.