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Contributed by Deth-b0y, 12/28/2007.
Introduction
#SpaceEmpires is the premier IRC channel for discussion of the superb Space Empires games by Aaron Hall. It is filled twenty four hours a day, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year, with intelligent, helpful people who have extensive experience with the games and their assorted features and capabilities.
That out of the way, this guide is targeted at the new user, whom is unfamiliar with the channel, or with IRC in general, and it's etiquette and mores. Properly followed, this guide will ensure a smooth transition from anxious new user, to satisfied and happy individual.
Firstly, a disclaimer as to what #SpaceEmpires is not:
- An official tech support system for Shrapnel Games, Strategy First, Steam, or any other game company.
- 2. In any way officially associated with any company, individual, or copy-right holder of the games.
- 3. In no way financially motivated by the games or the companies that run them
Shorter version: we're a bunch of people who like to play the games, and whom are helpful to people from time to time. Nothing obligates us to do anything, and our only motivation is our good will. Which segues us nicely into our next section
Why Go to #SpaceEmpires?
There as many reasons to go to #spaceempires as there are people whom have gone to it! But, the big reasons are all pretty similar.
- We have an active user community for some great games.
- We have several members of the modding community, whom have developed and released some of the more spectacular mods for all versions of the game.
- We have the single greatest collection of knowledge about the game, anywhere including how to resolve (some) technical problems, and how to do various things in game.
In short, if you're having a problem with the game (be it technical, modding related, or game play related) we can likely provide some insight into things. If you're looking to develop a mod, we're pretty helpful with that, to. If you're new to the game and looking for suggestions (for mods, say, or online multiplayer games) we can also help with that, even.
In many regards, we are a one-stop shop for Space Empires related information, news, and explanations.
How to Behave
While IRC's many technical features are dazzling to the user, the most important part of the system resides entirely within the users of the system. Politeness is key. Courtesy should, at all moments, be your byword. Patience is not only a virtue, but a necessity.
Most of #SpaceEmpires denizens are professionals in their daily life, or students. Very few of them are around more then a few hours a day and even then, they are frequently doing other things while actively chatting. To this end, if someone asks for help it may be a while before someone replies. It may be ten seconds, it may be ten hours. You may have to come back, another time, and try again. However, be assured that if someone is around and able to help they most likely will do so, and that any reasonable request for help will be met with, well, efforts to help.
While it may appear that much of the time the entire channel is idle, this is because of the nature of people whom congregate there. Just because their not talking at this moment doesn't mean they wont' speak ever!
We all know how frustrating it can be when things don't work, or something is not understood in a program that you have paid good money to purchase. However, taking that frustration out on channel denizens is ill-advised; it helps no one and furthers your cause not at all. As well, it should be understood that some problems are essentially intractable no one knows a solution, or the solution does not work for all people. If this is the case, usually it will become readily apparent.
Technical Matters
The system IRC runs on is, in fact, very powerful, with many features. The one you'll most need to know is how to change your nick or the name we see you by in the channel can be set by typing the following:
/nick YourNickHere
An example: you want the nickname NewToIRC, you would type:
/nick NewToIRC
Note that the leading / is important here, and is what tells the underlying system that it's a command. As well, nicknames have certain rules nothing rude or vulgar in them, no spaces, only letters, numbers, and a small number of symbols (-, and _ come to mind) are acceptable characters.
If you wish to use your own IRC client, simply connect using it to irc.freenode.net then join #spaceempires easy as fission. If you're unsure how to connect using your client, look in it's documentation or user groups (there's to many clients for me to really go into detail for every one in this document!).
Conclusion
IRC is a medium that works best when everyone agrees to act civilly and with respect towards one another. If we all are patient and assume the best of our fellow man, the lives of new users and long-time channel residents alike will run smoother and better for it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope that it helps you get your issues resolved. And remember: Mineral planets are the best!
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