Very good. But let me comment on "So the resistor doesnt need to be directly inline with the circuit as such to effect the voltage"

I know what you are asking here, you are referring to a parallel circuit, in which case yes, the resistor doesn't have to be in series with other components in a circuit (switches, LEDs, transistors, capacitors etc) to have an effect, but I will correct you one one thing, which you will learn as you read...when a resistor is in parallel with another component in a SIMPLE parallel circuit, it doesn't have any effect on voltage but rather it divides the CURRENT between the different branches of the circuit.

Also, remember this point...All components in an electronic device, be they in series with each other or in parallel, are PART OF the circuit and work together at the same time. Well, at least this is true when all components are switched "on" and actively working in the circuit. While you can analyze a circuit as the sum of its parts and study each part independantly, remember they all act together and as such are ALL part of the circuit. Like players on a soccer team (football for the Brits on board LOL), each player has his job, forward, back, goalie etc. No one player is more important than the other, though some have a more active roll, they all work together to score points for the team.