how would i make a script that would display a random thumbnail from a db(the url[thumbnail not stored in db, only url]), and then have it hyperlink it to a asp page that get the full size image?
Check out the Member Spotlight MOD(in Archives). Almost all the functionality you seek is in that. Although, to do it right you would need 2 images and 2 URLs. One for thumb and one for the full image but that would all fit in the same record just fine. The Member Spotlight just has the one image and in thumbish mode it merely has the dimensions resized but still download the whole thing.