[whodah]

oh geez. the solution was VERY simple if anyone else wants to do this. i betcha it's on the forums somewhere, i just didn't know what to search for and it's difficult searching for array variables w/ how the search engine parses them...

at any rate, edit template:
newpost_quote
from:

	
	

			
				

					Originally Posted by $originalposter
					
				
				
{$pagetext}
			
		

to:

	
	

			
				

					Originally Posted by $originalposter
					
				
				
{$pagetext}
			
		

(note extra carriage returns)

then when anyone hits 'quote' or replies to a PM w/ a quote, the quote starts however many lines down u entered above.

edit:
yikes... the code/quote combo freaks out my reply...

just edit that tempate and add carriage returns as you see fit... really easy!