??MONSTER ENCOUNTER AREAS??

(RPG Maker XP)
Yeah, this is my fourth post in less than two days. But at least I'm learning something. And I hope the answers that I get to my questions help other people too.

So here's my next question. In the previous versions, like RPG Maker 2000, you could set Areas within a Map, so that only in certain parts of your game would you encounter enemies. You could also set encounter rates and all that jazz within these designated zones. Apparently RPG Maker XP doesn't have that function. I don't know if there is a better way to do this, but I've read a few posts and obviously the only way to simulate this option is to set something called Border Events. The idea is to create an Event that has variables that give you a chance to encounter a monster. Then you copy and paste the events as a border around say a forest, or desert, or smaller area. I have NO IDEA how to even begin to do this, mostly because I still don't know how to even begin with variables. I understand what the definition of a variable is, and I have had many people try and tell me that. That doesn't help me in the least. Yes I've had Algebra and Geometry. But what I need to know is how variables are a part of RPG Maker, and how I can best put them to use.