Hi Spludge,
I know how you feel. It really is a lot to learn isn't it ?!
The free tutorials are really great to start of with. The ones you have to buy also but try to think what you want to focus on. I dit most of the free tutorials and than I did the caveman modeling, texturing and rigging (the animation part is still waiting for me ...
).
The book of Dan Ablan was a great help for me.
On texturing I got great help of the book
http://www.amazon.com/LightWave-Texturing-Wordware-Graphics-Library/dp/1556222858
It gives a really good overview and it is really handy to look things up so one can really learn to understand how things work in LW
btw welcom !
jocco