Web Based Game Development?

This is basically a curiosity, and a somewhat spare time project. I am bursting with ideas right now, and want to put it to creative use. Basically I wanted to try and slowly develop a Browser/Turn based MMOG.
I wanted to use SQL databases to handle all the data, and i wanted to most likely use PHP/XML as the front end.

I am very technical minded, and know a lot of how such systems work in theory, however my knowledge of PHP/XML and programing in general is somewhat limited.

What i would like to know is, what are my best options as far as resources to learn what is required to tackle such a project? Even if it requires smaller projects, to learn how to manipulate data via PHP/SQL

Any websites? guides? tutorials? books?
Im completely open to suggestions.
thx in advance,

=mufar=