'.mysql_error() );
//connects to Database
$db_select = mysql_select_db( mySQL_database, $db_link )
or die( 'Error connecting to Database
'.mysql_error() );
//selects desired table
$chars= mysql_query("SELECT `online` FROM `characters` where `online`=1");
//tells how much rows are there (will come helpfull with while loops)
$rows = mysql_num_rows($chars);
echo "
Online Players:
".$rows.""; //prints out the $x number of players online
?>