Best (and cheapest) microcontroller to learn to program with?

[cledford]

This question is directed at Miscue. What would be the best Microcontroller to learn to build a paintball board with? Probably one that has a wealth of public domain/free compliers and what-not to be had.

Also, if someone wanted to start playing around with the Emag board what would they need?

-Calvin

[hitech]

I'm not Miscue, but Warpig had a very good article on this subject. Here is the link:
http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/electronics/basic_stamp/