I have some probably dumb questions to ask about marxism and wasn't sure where to go. Is there like a ask marxists or debate marxists forum? Anyway
What and how many branches of marxism want state socialism during the socialist transition period before Communism? I was under the impression that all (or most) leninists wanted state socialism during this period. I have since been told that Trotskyists don't want this. Is this correct if so what do they want instead? How does this all relate to vanguardism?
Furthermore how does marxism define a state? Is this different from how other groups define statehood?
I still don't fully grasp the difference between marxists and anarchists. I thought the difference was mainly that anarchists don't want a state, and encourage mutual aid. Now that I hear not all marxists want a state I am pretty confused.
Some good answers here, and you pose good, fair questions. I would just add that left-ism is still quite a broad umbrella, we're united in the broad strokes of improving society somewhat, but nobody can give you a complete answer to your questions. Even the purest Marxist-Leninist spaces will have some wide divergences in thought, especially about what a vanguard or a socialist or communist country actually looks like.
My own personal cop-out supplement though, is it's good to think about these ideas, but it's impossible to be overly prescriptive about them. Revolution into socialism is a process that is long yet to be perfected, and will require ability to adapt.