"Khar Shian Campus: IRC Basics"

1—Basic Introduction: What is IRC

IRC means 'Internet Relay Chat'. It is a series of chat rooms on a number of servers used for socializing and meeting with like-minded individuals. This is where most of the socializing in the DB is done and it is one of our three biggest methods of mass communication, the other two being e-mail groups (Google) and Message boards. This course is an introduction into using IRC, written for beginning users and normal chatters. The Shadow Academy also offers an advanced course for channel operators, but you must first pass this course.

2—Where to get IRC

Depending on your platform, you will require the correct client. Go to one of the following sites and follow the instructions there to download and install your client:

• Windows = http://www.mirc.com/
• Unix/Linux = http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircii/index.html
• Mac = http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/mac/index.html

Further sections of this course have been written with Windows mIRC in mind; other clients will offer you the same functions, but they may be in different menus. Consult the application’s help file for details. The typed commands listed in section four (4) are processed by the server and will work with all clients.

3—Servers

The IRC networks are made up of a number of servers or relays that will process, store and forward messages you type or see. You must connect to one of the servers and then you will be able to talk to all users on servers of the same network. The Dark Brotherhood uses the Undernet network for their channels.

The servers on Undernet are quite temperamental so it is best that you find a few servers that let you connect easily and stick to them. Some examples are as follows:

• Undernet: CA, ON, Toronto
• Undernet: CA, QC, Montreal
• Undernet: EU, AT, Graz
• Undernet: EU, BE, Antwerp
• Undernet: EU, BE, Brussels
• Undernet: EU, FR, Caen
• Undernet: EU, FR, Paris
• Undernet: EU, NL, Diemen
• Undernet: EU, NL, Haarlem
• Undernet: EU, NO, Oslo
• Undernet: EU, SE, Stockholm
• Undernet: EU, UK, Surrey
• Undernet: US, CA, San Diego
• Undernet: US, DC, Washington
• Undernet: US, KS, Manhattan
• Undernet: US, NV, Las Vegas
• Undernet: US, TX, Austin
• Undernet: US, UT, Saltlake
• Undernet: US, VA, Arlington
• Undernet: US, VA, McLean

There is no rhyme or reason to connecting. Some say it is easier to connect to servers near you, but that is not always true. Try out different servers and use whichever tends to provide the best connection. Staying on your own continent is recommended because some servers may reject you if you are connecting from too far apart.

Besides Undernet, there are other networks, from which you however cannot access the Brotherhood channels. The most used of those are:

• QuakeNet
• EFNet
• DALNet

You can manually add servers to the startup connection screen. These will generally appear at the bottom of the list. Be aware that some of those servers may be of a very specialized nature and it is recommended to think twice before connecting a server you do not know anything about - some of those servers exclusively deal with adult themes or pirated software. The Brotherhood does not use any servers outside the Undernet!

4—Basic Commands

• /dns = IP Address.
• /ignore = add nick to the ignore list. If ignore does not seem to work, go to the address book and enable ignore in the control section (it should normally be enabled when mIRC is first installed).
• /ignore -d = Clears your ignore list. If you want to selectively delete names or review your ignore list, it is found in the address book under control.
• /join = joins channels. type /join #[channelname] (e.g. /join #db) in the status screen.
• /me = emote, actions. type /me [action] (e.g. /me sits down).
• /msg = /msg . Send a private message to a user
• /nick = change your nickname. /nick GreatJedi would make your name "GreatJedi". Nicks are limited to 9 characters. In trivia sessions, you indicate your score in your nick, e.g. "Kaiann-4" would mean Kaiann has four points.
• /notify = add to the notify list. Go to the address book and enable notify in the notify section. This allows you to be notified when selected individuals join or leave IRC.
• /query = /query Start a private conversation with a user
• /whois = /whois Brings up basic info on the nick typed.

5—DB Channels

Communication of IRC is done in channels (rooms). You have to join at least one channel to talk about anything. There are several thousand channels at any time, catering to very diverse groups of users. The Brotherhood has their own set of channels, split into official Brotherhood channels, supporting channels and Clan channels.

Official channel:

• #db
  This is the main Brotherhood channel. Please review the IRC guidelines. You are subject to these guidelines in #db and any future official channels if more are added.

Supporting channels:

• #DBGaming
  This channel is primarily used to set up matches for the gaming nights.
• #DBPA
  This channel serves the DB Star Wars Galaxies Player Association.
• #outerrim
  Used by the DB and its allies, this channel hosts the interclub training night at 4pm EST on Saturdays.
• #ACC
  This channel is used by members and prospective members of the Antei Combat Center
• #Shadowacademy This channel is used for the purpose of assisting members with the various Shadow Academy offerings and for other SA business. There are weekly trivia events hosted in this channel. These events are open to all Brotherhood members.

Clan Channels:

• #arcona
  Clan Arcona
• #plagueis
  Clan Plagueis
• #naga_sadow
  Clan Naga Sadow
• #scholae
  Clan Scholae Palatinae
• #taldryan
  Clan Taldryan
• #tarentum
  Clan Tarentum

Clan channels are owned by their respective clans and while DB rules generally apply in these Clans, you must also abide by any particular Clan rules. Join a clan channel only if you're on good terms with the members of the Clan and when asked to leave a Clan channel, do so. Not every Clan is happy with members of other Clans in their channel at all times. Especially during vendettas, Clans might restrict their channels to Clan members in order to discuss strategy.

6—Control Codes

You can create colored text, bold text and underlines by using specific control codes in your text entry line. Use them sparingly - overuse of color and bold may lead to getting kicked or even banned.

• [CTRL-B] makes text bold. Use [CTRL-B] again to stop bold text.
• [CTRL-U] makes text underlined. Use it again to end the underline
• [CTRL-K] begins a color code. A small window will pop up showing the 16 available colors. To color just your text, enter one number after the [CTRL-K], to color the background as well, enter two separated by a comma. Go back to black on white with [CTRL-K]1,0

In your input line, control codes show up as black boxes.

7—Advanced Functions

7.A—DCC

The DCC (Direct computer-computer) function of IRC enables you to send or receive files. You will usually want to use "send" only, with the sender initiating the file transfer. Using "receive" will require the other user to have set up a folder with shared files which poses some system security dangers. It is recommended that all DB file transfers via IRC be done via DCC send.

To use DCC send, click on a user in the user list, then right-click to bring up the context menu. Select DCC/Send and choose the file to send.

When someone sends you a DCC file, you will get a dialog in which you can accept or reject the file. Accept files only from people you know! After the download completes, the file can be found in the "download" folder of your IRC program folder.

7.B—Logging

In the Options dialog, you can enable logging of channels you talk in. This is found under IRC / logging. The options are mostly self-explanatory; just make sure that if your disk space is limited, you do select a maximum size for logs (an active DB IRC user will receive about 500 to 1000 KB of data per day). The option "daily filenames" is important for organizing logs - if enabled, you get a new file each day and channel, enabling you to quickly find a discussion you still know the date of, while turning it off gives you each channel in one monster file you can use string searches on to locate specific topics. Whichever you use is a matter of personal preference.

You can also do a copy / paste from the window to get a short log execerpt still on your screen. mIRC does not behave like most Windows applications here. To copy, highlight the text you want to copy from beginning to end (you cannot highlight backwards!). As soon as you let go of the mouse button, the text will de-highlight. This indicates the text was copied. (You do not need to use Edit/Copy or CTRL-C to copy). You can then paste the text into any application as normal.

7.C—Operator and Voice

Some users in channels have additional rights. Operators are gods; they can determine everything in the channel. When an operator asks you to do or cease doing something, you should do what they ask, or risk being kicked or banned from the channel. Operators can be recognized in the right-hand user listing by the "@" in front of their nick.

Voice allows you to speak when the channel is moderated. Only users with voice and operators can speak during a moderated time - this is for example done during special trivia events or if members get particularly out of hand, forcing the Operators to suspend chatting to get the situation under control.

7.D—Kicks and Bans

When you receive a kick, this is a warning. You will be removed from the channel, but you can rejoin it. Be sure not to continue the behavior that got you kicked or you'll just get kicked again and may be banned.

Bans prevent the banned user from rejoining the channel. When banned, you're out of the channel for as long as the operators say so. Bans range from 5 minutes to lifetime, depending on how badly you misbehaved.

8—Short Speech

These are a few acronyms you may encounter on IRC (more or less frequently). IRCers are notorious for being lazy in typing and thus you may see more than these. If in doubt, ask.

• AFAIK - As far as I know
• bbiab - Be back in a bit
• bbl - be back later
• brb - be right back
• gtg - got to go
• IIRC - If I recall correctly
• IMO - In my opinion
• IMHO - In my humble opinion (variations on this are possible)
• ISP - Internert Service Provider, AOL, juno, etc.
• IRC Operator (or IRCop/Oper) - Server Admin, these people keep the network running and get rid of abusive clients
• k-line - Server Ban. (You been a really bad boy or you got zapped for having the same info as a bad boy)
• LOL - laughing out loud
• Ops - Operator status
• PM - Private Message
• r/l (or RL) - Real Life
• ROFL (or ROTFL) - Rolls on floor laughing
• LMAO - Laughing my ass (arse) off