so this paper backup i generated from Armory consists of a Root Key and a Chain Code. is the Root Key the same as the Master Private Key discussed here earlier? whats the Chain Code and where is the Seed?
The "root key" is a Bitcoin address that serves as the "root node" of the deterministic wallet. All other addresses are based on it. The chaincode is another 32-byte number that helps you get from PrivKey(i) to PrivKey(i+1) or PubKey(i) to PubKey(i+1). In order to have "type 2" deterministic wallets, you will need to be multiply the priv/pub keys by a number... so the chaincode is used to create that number.
As described by gmaxwell, you could easily use lots of different chaincodes to create different address "branches". Right now, in Armory, there is only one chaincode per wallet. But you could could add multiple chaincodes to create multiple "branches" that would then appear unrelated -- i.e. you could give someone a watching-only wallet with the first chaincode, another person with a different chaincode but same root public key -- they'll generate two completely different address chains even though they both have the same root public key. You can generate all private keys in both, but the two people will not be able to generate or even recognize addresses on the other branch.