Re: .htaccess problem?
@theartillerist do you mean you’re still using WPMU 2.9.2 or do you mean you installed WP 3.0.4 and created a network – multisite? In any case, you do not create a physical subdirectory with a .com at the end because all subdirectories and subdomains created with WP multisite are all virtual. You should read or re-read Create a Network.
After installing WP at domain root, create a network then use the domain mapping plugin so that a new domain name e.g. theartillerist.com, would be pointed to domain root so it can be retrieved in subsite.
Before installing BuddyPress, do resolve all installation and configuration issues including domain mapping at WP.org multisite forums – https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite
