ok im sure this has been answered b4 but i need a quick answer.
clock tower prison. . .does that act as a waboku? meaning the monsters WONT be destroyed? or u just dont take any life point damage?

Your Monster is Still Destroyed but you Receive no Battle Damage.

Clocktower of Seclusion ("Clock Tower Prison")
Field Magic
Put 1 Clock Counter on this card during each of your opponent's Standby Phases. While there are 4 or more Clock Counters on this card, the controller of this card does not receive any Battle Damage. When this card with 4 or more Clock Counters is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Destiny Hero - Dreadmaster" from your hand or Deck.

It is worded just like Spirit Barrier and Hallowed Life Barrier and The Sanctuary in the Sky.

ONLY the controller, meaning the player him/herself, does not receive the Battle Damage. Monsters can still die as a result of battle, but if there would normally be any Battle Damage (higher ATK or trample) then you would not receive any. (However, Effect Damage still goes through like E. Hero Flame Wingman's effect)

What if I have no monsters on the field and the other player attacks directly. Is that still considered battle damage or is it a different category of damage? The way I see this situation is it would still be battle damage because I took damage from the monster battling directly with me.

Battle Damage is basically considered ANY Damage as a result of Damage Calculations between 2 monsters or a monster and a player

Attacking directly is STILL Battle Damage (a monster "battling" a player) unless an effect specifically makes it otherwise (like Gravekeeper's Vassal specifically says that any normal Battle Damage done is treated as Effect Damage like the kind of damage done by Cannon Soldier's effect).