Need game creating resources!!!! Help?

I have for many years played a game called War Of Conquest, however the game has gone offline and I lost the very first online game I have ever played. It is a very simple 2D tile based game. The game was 80% text based, with only about 1/4 of the screen that showed the map. The map however was huge. There were no characters in the game, simply colored tiles. Your nation "Group of colored tiles" would earn bonus combat stats by capturing (occupying the land) resources that were scattered around the world map. There were many different types of resources, that were only indicated by a very poorly drawn icon. You could also generate money by capturing things called orbs. The entire game map was one big grid. With water, rocks, grass, etc. You would only attack by clicking on an adjacent square. Depending on your nations stats, you would either win or lose the battle for that square. The game has quite a bit more to it, however it was the only one of its kind, and I have always wanted to create a video game. I am very good with computers. I just learned HTML & XHTML, CSS, and working with some java. I am fully aware that there is A LOT of work to be done, but the hardest part is just getting started. Every time your nation leveled (by attacking other nations. Points per hit/win), you would learn a new skill. Each level, you can chose one more skill. Each skill, would grant your nation bonus stats in certain areas, with about 30 different kinds. The game format was simple, yet there was so much too it. I have the patients and determination to make this happen, I am just lacking the knowledge and resources.

I am open to any suggestions, programs, websites, videos, or anything else that will help me reach my goal in creating a video game based off of my first and favorite video game ever. Thanks in advance!