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IRC? Chat? where and how do I do this?
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imbriModerator
Entrenched


Joined: 21 Sep 2002
Posts: 1182
Location: wonderland

 		 IRC? Chat? where and how do I do this?
A number of the active players on unfiction hang out in IRC (Internet Relay Chat). Not only is it a great place to discuss the games (most of the popular games have their own channels), but it's a great way to meet and get to know some other ARGers. IRC has been around for ages, but it's a bit confusing at first. Hopefully, this will help you find your way (if not, feel free to ask questions!)

The absolute easiest way to get into the chat channels is through unfiction's chat applet. Though, because it's used in your browser, it's often easy to accidentally close the window or lose it among other websites. For that reason, most of the regulars prefer to use an IRC Client (a program specifically made to connect to IRC). I'll list the instructions for both here. You may want to start out with the java applet and see if you like being in chat before downloading and using an IRC client.

Java & CGI Chat

The java client provided to unfiction chat users can be found at www.unfiction.com/chat and will allow you to connect to the various channels used by unfiction members.

When you first go to the chat page, it will look something like this:


The only boxes that you'll likely need to worry about are "nickname" (choose something unique to you and that does not contain any spaces) and channel. For the channel, if you would like to connect to the general unfiction chat, just make sure that unfiction is selected from the drop down menu. You'll also notice a few other channels there. Those are for some of the games that are currently being played. If the chat channel that you would like to join isn't listed, you can type that channel into the box yourself.

Sometimes certain firewalls block access to the java chat. If you're having problems connecting with the unfiction chat applet, you might want to try using a CGI client. The one that people seem to have the most success with is located at PolarHome(Note to Firefox users: hitting "backspace" in this client sometimes kicks you out of chat, so be careful -- I'd highlight and delete rather than backspace whenever possible.) Enter the following information (only use #unfiction to access the general chat or the #channelName for the game's chat channel, in this example #lastcall for Last Call Poker):


Then hit "enter" or "log in."


IRC Clients
There are a number of irc clients available, though the one that I am most familiar with is mIRC. It's very popular and, after the initial set up, very easy to use. You can download mirc from the mIRC website.

Once you have downloaded and installed mIRC ( instructions here), you will want to set it up as follows.

Under the "options dialog" (it should pop up first, if it doesn't click on the little hammer thing or go to view > options), you will be asked for a bit of information under the "connect" screen. You don't have to be honest about your name and email address (I usually just use "me" for both of them). Choose a nickname and an alternative. In IRC, nicknames have to be unique for each server, so try to choose something that others won't have already selected.

Now it's time to set up the server. The server that unfiction uses is not listed, but it's easy to add. You'll only need to do this the first time that you connect, after that it's stored in the program.
1) Select "Servers" (it should be right below "Connect")
2) You should see several drop down menus for IRC Network and IRC Server. Click on "Add" You will need to fill out several boxes as follows.
a. Description: chat-solutions: (any description, I use chat-sol:irc)
b. IRC Server: irc.chat-solutions.org
c. Port(s): 6667
d. Group: chat-solutions (again, this could be anything, but that's what I use)
3) Time to connect. You can click on the little lightning bolt or go to file > connect

More information on mIRC and IRC can be found on the mIRC website or at IRC Help

Hope to see you in chat soon! And, as always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask Smile

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:13 pm
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SirQuady
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Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 576

 		Ah, we needed that post, Imbri. Well, i could have used it! Thanks alot!
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:13 pm
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ircdood
Guest


 		the Java IRC client provided on the site here can't seem to connect

PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:57 pm
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imbriModerator
Entrenched


Joined: 21 Sep 2002
Posts: 1182
Location: wonderland

 		It's probably a bit late now, but I just tested the java client and it connected just fine. If you're still having problems with it, you may want to try one of the cgi clients or download mIRC or another irc capable something or other Smile

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:42 pm
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h0neym0nster
Boot


Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 14

 		I hit the button that changes the colour of the text I type by accident, and now it will not let me post in chat. How to I solve this little problem?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:09 pm
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aliendial
Unfictologist


Joined: 29 Sep 2002
Posts: 3438
Location: Far Far Away. Nowhere Near You. Really.

 		If you're using the UF client I think you can just back out and start over. If you have mirc or something like that, poke around the menus for the setting you changed.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:47 pm
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
h0neym0nster wrote:
I hit the button that changes the colour of the text I type by accident, and now it will not let me post in chat. How to I solve this little problem?

why can't you just click on a different color in the palette?

/me goes to load the applet and try this out.

When you said it will not let you post in chat, i'm not sure I see that behaviour. I changed my font color, by clicking on the palette, and I could still type and enter text. I changed the bold font and it allowed me to continue. I clicked on that icon of a pair of crossed tools, and got a different screen -- it was non-intuitive to click on the icon of a hand broom (or paintbrush?) to return to the chat window, but that worked just fine.

I'd say click on the black chip in the color palette. It's the 2nd one in the grid, just to the right of the white chip. Was that your problem?

(If you're using mIRC instead of the java applet, all bets are off. Just kidding, if you have AIM next time it happens, give me a ping and we'll walk thru the colors menu. If you're using Trillian, find a Trillian user.)
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:27 pm
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bwochinski
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Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 164
Location: Wisconsin
h0neym0nster wrote:
I hit the button that changes the colour of the text I type by accident, and now it will not let me post in chat. How to I solve this little problem?


I believe your problem there is that the #unfiction channel does not allow color codes. ( mode +c ) Or actually the problem is with the java client, as once you choose a color it will not let you choose "no color", it will only allow you to choose black again, so it still inserts the color code for black in your message.

Reloading the client is the only way I know of to fix it, unless I'm missing something. (I use mIRC, so this is just my memory of the java client)
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:20 am
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RedHatty
Unfictologist


Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 1428
Location: x¡Jyœ–‹˜VJvk

 		Chatzilla?
How do I configure chatzilla to open at unfiction channels? Or can i even do this?
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:57 pm
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xnbomb
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Joined: 13 Oct 2003
Posts: 660
Location: J302B S8JDC

 		Re: Chatzilla?
RedHatty wrote:
How do I configure chatzilla to open at unfiction channels? Or can i even do this?

There are several ways to do this, but this is the easiest way to explain:

1) Get Chatzilla started

2) In the text input area along the bottom, type the following:
Code:
/server irc.chat-solutions.org


This should get you connected up to the irc.chat-solutions.org server, and if successful, you should see a tab labelled accordingly appear.

3) Right-click on that tab. and click on the menu item labelled Open This Network at Startup. From now on, chatzilla should automatically connect to irc.chat-solutions.org every time you start it.

4) To join a channel (e.g. #unfiction), type the following in the text input area:
Code:
/join #unfiction


This should cause you to join #unfiction. A tab should appear for the new channel next to the irc.chat-solutions.org tab.

5) Right-click on that tab. and click on the menu item labelled Open This Channel at Startup. From now on, chatzilla should automatically join the #unfiction channel every time you start it.

6) Repeat steps 4) and 5) for as many channels as you'd like.

There are other ways to do this, and set various other things up in the Chatzilla Options/Preferences, but this should get you started.
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:07 pm
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RedHatty
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Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 1428
Location: x¡Jyœ–‹˜VJvk

 		Thanks! Xnbomb! I was feeling like such a tech-dummie on this!
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:21 pm
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natas
PHP Ninja


Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 3177
Location: Northwest Indiana

 		Ophiuchus channel
A few people playing "Project Ophiuchus" stated a wish to talk in IRC chat in room #ophiuchus. Do we have to put in a request to create that room? How does that work?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:07 pm
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ScarpeGrosse
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Joined: 30 Nov 2002
Posts: 1678
Location: The Shiny Castle in the Sky, Full of Cotton Candy and Hazelnut Lattes

 		You guys should be able to make that on your own Smile

If you've never started a room before, what you need to do is type in "/join #roomname." The first person in there will be designated a channel op.

The next thing you'll need to do is register the channel so that it doesn't go away if everyone leaves (or during a netsplit Razz). The way to do that is to message chanserv (this is where my memory gets fuzzy - I always have to type in "/chanserv help register" to get the correct commands).

If you need any help with this at all, drop into #unfiction and one of the channel ops or admins will be happy to help you guys register the channel and set up your operator list Smile

Hope that helps!
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:17 pm
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natas
PHP Ninja


Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 3177
Location: Northwest Indiana

 		Thanks for the quick reply.. Apparently Rogi Ocnorb already made the ophiuchus channel and I am there now. Thanks.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:22 pm
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Pied Piper
Unfettered


Joined: 28 Jan 2007
Posts: 362

 		Link to Chat Applet, Please?
Would it be possible to put a link for the chat applet up in the welcome box or with the other default links (i.e., calendar, FAQ, Search, Memberlist,...) on the unforum web pages?

When I started playing ARGs a little over a year ago, I didn't even know there was such a thing, and I ended up irritating some of the other players since many (most?) preferred to have general discussions in chats rather than cluttering up the main boards for a game--which I entirely understand. Even now that I know that they exist, though, it took me a while to find the link to the applet.

Please know that this request is not criticism--I'm deeply grateful for all of you who do the work in maintaining this website!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:01 pm
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