Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
IRC is the default form of instant messaging used by the combine. It allows large groups of people to communicate in either public rooms, private rooms, or through private messages. It is accessible from a variety of programs. The simplest, but least versatile, option is to use the Live Chat button in the top right corner of the SWCombine page.
Details
There are an array of IRC networks for a variety of uses. We however are only concerned with the SWCombine IRC network. Everyone has a "nick", this is just their username on the IRC network. Nicks are restricted to just letters, numbers, and a select few symbols. Spaces are not allowed. A private message (PM) is a way of communicating privately (unless either of you choose to share the logs) with any other user logged on to the IRC server at that time. There are a variety of IRC rooms, unique to each network. All rooms names begin with "#" and follow the same restrictions as nicks. Each registered IRC room has an access list. Owner, Operator, and Half-op can police the room. Access and voice levels are required if the room is private or moderated respectively. Banning a user means the server will deny that user access to the room(s) they are banned in unless an operator removes it later.
- Symbol, Name
- . Owner
- @ Operator
- % Half-op
- + Voice
- Access only
- Banned
- #SWC-Members: The general members room for all players.
- #SWC-Traders: The standard, and most used, trading room.
- #CMG-NAO:The Anzatan Commonwealth's public room.
- #CMG-NewAnzatOrder: The Anzatan Commonwealth's restricted members room (citizens only).
Clients
There are various benefits to switching to an IRC client. The main ones are the ability to log conversations and save them for your records and the auto perform list which allows you to create a list of commands to perform automatically upon sign in in order to save time, especially if you join numerous rooms.
- mIRC: The default client used for IRC, however it is not free.
- XChat: Another common client as it is available on Windows, Unix, Linux, and Mac OSs, however the Windows version is no longer freeware. An alternative free Windows version of this client is available here.
- Miranda IM: A free open source client which runs various IM protocols including IRC.
- ChatZilla: A free plugin for Firefox which allows IRC access through the Firefox browser.
Commands
- /me ACTION By replacing the word "ACTION" with an action, such as "waves" (this can be any text you want it to be, it is just another way of writing a message) the command "/me waves" would appear as "NICK waves", where "NICK" is the nick of the user using the command.
- /join #ROOM By replacing "#ROOM" with the room you intend to join, such as "#SWC-Members", the command "/join #SWC-Members" would make you join the SWC Members room. Some rooms have restricted access lists in order to protect against spying. To be able to join them, you first need to register your nick and then you need to identify each and every time you login to IRC before you try and join restricted rooms.
- /msg nickserv register PASSWORD EMAIL You must replace "PASSWORD" with a password of your choice and "EMAIL" with a valid email address. It must be valid as you may need to verify it once it sends you an email. Once you have registered your nick, when you come back to the network you must identify yourself. This allows you to be added to access lists and it also prevents others from impersonating you (a bannable offence) unless they know your password.
- /msg nickserv identify PASSWORD Replace "PASSWORD" with the password that you used to register your nick. You are now free to join any restricted rooms you have been added to the access list of.
- /msg chanserv unban #ROOM If you attempt to join a restricted room before you have identified it will ban you. This can easily be removed either by an operator or by using this command once you have identified, presuming the room settings allow it. Just replace "#ROOM" with the room you were banned from, and you should be free to attempt to join it again.
- /msg nickserv link NICK This command links additional nicks to your registered primary nick. For example, the character with the handle "Joe Bloggs" may have "Bloggs" as his nickname, but it can be beneficial to have others, so he may use the command "/msg nickserv link Joe_Bloggs" which would then add Joe_Bloggs to his list of nicks. Currently the server limits a user to a total of 5 nicknames at any one time.
- /nick NICK This command changes your current nick to any currently unused nick you want. If the new nick you choose is registered you will be forced to enter the correct password before it takes the protected nick away from you. It is best to ensure all nicks you use are linked together, otherwise you may find yourself accidentally banned if you try and join any room you're supposed to have access to while you are not using your registered nick.