OT: D&D 4e or: Wanna slaughter some minions?

[Nocturnal]

Me IZ s0rry. Me M sometimes lapse-ing into l33+ when getting EXCZITED! HOIIIIIEEEeee...

What I meant to say was I'd be happy to help and play if you need another player.
I can be a chaotic neutral (edit: what? Why can't I be chaotic neutral anymore?) dwarf cleric, even though what little I've seen of clerics in 4th edition looks kind of stupid (why does rushing into battle to strike at enemies heal everyone?) Can't see how I'd make it work with an evil character. I could just be an evil thug, hitman, or mercenary of some sort. (I guess that means neutral evil human fighter?)

Unfortunately I have never actually played a tabletop RPG (though I'm a wizard at Tragic: The Garnering for what that's worth?) and I take it you actually have you pay Mr. Bling-Bling's Cash Money for the rulebooks in order to learn the new D&D? A problem with that is they cost over $60! Is there any way to learn at least a watered-down version, enough to be playable, without shelling out so much for a set of hardcovers that'll be obsolete in three-to-five years?