TKZZ

In case anyone is interested in trying out DF, I recommend using the "Lazy Newb Pack". It provides a nifty GUI that lets you use different texture packs and change some settings that can improve enjoyment (cap population, remove aquifers, etc.)

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=126076.0

If the labels are all incorrect, you would want to start with the one labelled with the drink you don't want. This would give you an initial chance of 75% of getting the drink you do want (.5 + .25). If you don't get it on the first press, then you would press the one labelled "random", as this would 100% be the drink that you do want.

Maybe in the short term, and to learn the basics/conversational Chinese, however I believe in order to fully and best understand the writing system it's still best to learn how to write the characters. Plus, the deliberate act of creating the characters stroke-by-stroke seems to better implant them in my brain more than just typing out some pinyin, but maybe that's just me. Spending 5-10 minutes writing a character helps me remember the meaning and shape of it much better than an hour doing pinyin/duolingo esque practice.

But I still probably can never see myself memorizing some of the more complex characters that even native Chinese folks have problems with :P