public void newGame() {

        String s;
        String name = "";
        String type = "";

        s = "Welcome to Ye Olde RPG!\n";

        s += "\nChoose your difficulty: \n";
        s += "\t1: Easy\n";
        s += "\t2: Not so easy\n";
        s += "\t3: Beowulf hath nothing on me. Bring it on.\n";
        s += "Selection: ";
        System.out.print( s );

        try {
            difficulty = Integer.parseInt( in.readLine() );
        }
        catch ( IOException e ) { }

        s = "Who are you? A generic warrior, a portly but courageous Hobbit, a rogue Rogue, a magical Mage, or a skilled and ruthless Archer? Pick one.";
        System.out.print(s);

        try {
	    type = in.readLine();
        }
        catch ( IOException e ) { }

        s = "Intrepid warrior, what doth thy call thyself? (State your name): ";
        System.out.print( s );

        try {
            name = in.readLine();
        }
        catch ( IOException e ) { }

        //instantiate the player's character
	if( type.equals("Warrior") ) { pat = new Warrior(name); System.out.println(Warrior.about()); }
	else if( type.equals("Mage") ) { pat = new Mage(name); System.out.println(Mage.about()); }
	else if( type.equals("Rogue") ) { pat = new Rogue(name); System.out.println(Rogue.about()); }
	else if( type.equals("Archer") ) { pat = new Archer(name); System.out.println(Archer.about()); }
	else if( type.equals("Hobbit") ) { pat = new Hobbit(name); System.out.println(Hobbit.about());}

    }//end newGame()