public void newGame() {

	String s;
	String name = "";
	int choice = 0;
	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 = "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
	System.out.print("Choose your job: \n\t1: Warrior\n\t2: Mage\n\t3: Rogue\n\t4: Archer\n\t5: Pirate\nSelection:");
	try {
	    choice = Integer.parseInt(in.readLine()) ;
	}
	catch ( IOException e ) {}

	if (choice == 1)
	    pat = new Warrior( name );
	else if (choice == 2)
	    pat = new Mage( name );
	else if (choice == 3)
	    pat = new Rogue( name );
	else if (choice == 4)
	    pat = new Archer( name );
	else if (choice == 5)
	    pat = new Pirate( name );

    }//end newGame()