Robert and Rodney, I love that this forum exists and that folks are so eager to jump to the aid of struggling newbies, such as myself, but I refuse to believe that a better set of basic documentation wouldn't get people off to a quicker and better start. The technical reference manual is so oddly designed that it's nearly impossible, at least for a beginner, to figure anything out. At least group the reference by category: modeling, texturing, animating, rendering. Something that puts like with like. I can't even fathom what the organizational strategy is in that guide. David Rogers' book is wonderful; it's gotten me started in a way that I never would have with the included documentation. Perhaps Hash could license his book and include it with future purchases?
Having said that, now that I'm getting my head slowly around this software, I'm definitely becoming excited by it. I'm a television and motion picture editor by day, and an aspiring 3D storyteller at night.
I'm off to experiment with cloth simulation now.
Chris Conlee
Editor
The Flash