One of my buddies want to start a PBP site to game with his far-flung navy buddies and not so far-flung friends. Any helpful how-to's or suggested reading I could direct him to that will get him started?

If you're looking for technical help on how to set up a messageboard like Dead Goblins, Mike set this one up. I'll drop a link to this thread in the Scales of War game in case he hasn't seen this (I'd missed it for almost two weeks myself!).

It depends what you'd like to do, but there's a lot of free software out there to set up a site like this one. I use UseBB software (http://www.usebb.net/) and I'm lucky that I run my own web hosting company, so I could just buy up a new domain and get going. If your friend knows the basics of web hosting, they could probably do the same thing. If not, there are other sites that allow people to start their own games (doesn't wizards do that, Gary?).

I'm not sure if there are PbP games on the WotC site. I do know there are forums for them on EN World, and I've played there a bunch. It depends on if he wants to share space with whoever or wants a more private environment like we have here at Dead Goblins.

I think I was thinking of En World. I bet there are other places to play online too, if someone isn't looking to set up their own site.