i've got that thread bookmarked still, if anyone wants to go take a look at it during the next six to eight years when i'm too busy and/or lazy to deal with it myself, they can access the old thread here:

http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/u...c;f=2;t=004573

also, the Wizards of the Coast D&D webpage has a brief introduction to D&D and role playing in general:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/whatisdnd

myn, those were good suggestions. in six to eight years, i hope to have made use of them