This thread is meant to give newbies a somewhat systematic guide on how to become a functioning part of the clan community. It will assist the newbie in joining previously existing clans, and creating his or her own clan.
I will now explicate a list of criteria the newbie should keep in mind when wanting to become part of the clan community. This list is arranged in order of importance.
1.)
Achieving a high score in a public server does not make you good at Tremulous, nor does it provide a clan with sufficient reason to recruit you.
This is because 99.9% of the time, match play does not reflect public play.
2.)
Connecting to, and idling on IRC. IRC, is the chat program where the Tremulous clan community is based. A very common program used for IRC is mIRC. You can download mIRC here:
http://www.efnet.org/clients/win32/mirc/mirc621.exeAfter the 30 days is over, just wait 30 seconds, then click continue.
Another Common (and Free) IRC Client is XChat. XChat works on Windows AND Linux. You can download XChat here:
http://www.xchat.org/download/Install this executable to whatever drive you like. When you open mIRC, a ‘mIRC options’ windows should pop up. Click the ‘add’ button. In the description field type ‘Trem’ (or whatever you like). In the IRC server field, type “irc.quakenet.org.” Make sure in the ports field, the number is 6667. Now click add. Next, go to the left hand box in the mIRC options window with a bunch of words with plus signs next to them. Click the plus sign on each word, this should expand what’s contained under the word.
A) Under ‘connect’ click options. Check the box that says ‘reconnect on disconnection.’
B) Click the word that says IRC (now with a minus sign next to it). Check the boxes that say ‘Rejoin channel when kicked,’ ‘Rejoin channels on disconnect,’ and ‘keep channels open.’ There are many other options to be toyed with under the IRC section, but these are the three that are really essential.
C) Under the word that says ‘Display’ click the word that says ‘Tray.’ Click the check box that says ‘Place mIRC in tray when minimized.’ This is important so the mommies and daddies of all you 12 year olds don’t see the naughty things we say on mIRC.
You are now done configuring mIRC options. Click back on connect and press ‘Connect to IRC server.’ A bunch of words should scroll down your ‘status window.’ When they stop, you are connected. Here are some basic commands within mIRC to get you situated.
For XChat, install it via whatever means you like, open it and click "XChat" -> "Network List".
Fill out "Nickname", "Second Choice", "Third Choice" in with your preferred nick, and alternate nicks. For "User Name" and "Real Name", put Whatever you like. Then Under "Networks", Scroll down until you find "QuakeNet", Select it and then Click "Edit...". Make sure the boxes for "Use Global User Information" and "Auto Connect To This Network At Startup" are checked. Then for "Channels To Join" put #tremulous . Then click Close and then click "Connect".
A) Once connected, the /join or /j command allows you to join a channel. Type /j tremulous or /j #tremulous, whichever you prefer (#tremulous is the main Tremulous channel). On the right hand side, you will see a list of all the people within that channel. Hopefully you recognize some names. The main window is the window in which people enter text to communicate. The best way to find clan channels is by seeing what channels other people in #tremulous idle in. To do this type /whois nameofpersonhere. For example a newbie could type /whois
[TL]Smokey and see the channels I idle in (these channels will display in your status window). /whois a lot of people, find channels of clans you’ve seen in public games and idle in them. (you can also double click on #channels without having to type /j and join them).
B) The /me command. If you type /me texthere you will type a sentence that is purple, says your name, and the text you typed. This command implies an action. For example, I would type ‘/me goes to grab a beer.’ /me here is designating the action of me going and grabbing a beer.
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Idling. This is important for the clan community. If you idle in a clans channel it shows that you support and respect them. Thus, you should definitely idle in a clans channel you want to join. What idling here means is leaving mIRC open even when you aren’t at your computer. Always being connected to mIRC and in that clans channel. When you leave your computer with mIRC open, minimize it and it will go in your tray. Thus, further people using your computer probably won’t notice it and won’t close or read it.
Sadly, XChat has no such option.
3.)
Spelling and Grammar. Generally text is the only way in which a clan can get to know you. Thus, it is good to evoke decent spelling and grammar so you don’t come off as an idiot. However, it is hard to define strictly just how well you should use these two things. If you overuse them, you will come off as someone who thinks you’re better than everyone else (i.e. capitalizing every sentence and using perfect punctuation). Not misspelling words makes it clear to the clan that you have some cognitive abilities. Using acronyms is sometimes convenient and not looked down upon. The ‘words’ ‘u’ for you and ‘ur’ for your usually aren’t that bad. However, rewriting ‘anyone’ as ‘ne1’ or no one as ‘no1’ makes you look like an idiot (there are many possibilities here as you can see).
There is also a fine line between typing like a newbie because it’s funny, and typing like a newbie because your brain actually functions like that. This line is usually drawn where one over exaggerates how a newbie would type. For example, ‘hI Im neW 2 Teh hoLE chEeTinG SeeN lOl!!’ This is clearly grossly exaggerated and funny. However, typing something like “me killer and shake we are [FIRE] just won are ferst clan battle we won 2 he one 1 we wint v pmw and we rocked” is obviously a product of an underdeveloped mind. (This specific quote can function with the truth of criterion 1 and 8 as well.)
4.)
Having a good sense of humor. This should probably be ranked higher. It is utterly important that, as a newbie, one has a good sense of humor and one
can make fun of oneself. You
will get made fun of. You cannot take being a called a newbie or other ‘insults’ of this type as insults. Just laugh with people.
5.)
A corollary of 5, use either unique or funny aliases, not extremely common names. Typical names tend to turn clans off. This is because it is usually newbies that use typical names. Names like ‘killer121’ ‘kingsniper’ ‘skater’ ‘sniperkiller’ ‘bloodykiller’ ‘dragon net’ vicious’ etc are all common and not funny. Names like ‘Khalsa’ ‘Blazeraid’ ‘Catalyc’ ‘DASPRiD’ etc are at least unique. Of course names like ‘Smokey’ aren’t particularly unique, but they work.
6.)
Don’t ask a lot of questions. Often times, as soon as newbies connect to IRC, they just start spamming questions about assorted topics.
Don’t do this, it annoys people. Only begin asking people questions after you’ve gained someone’s respect. (refer to criterion 8 for further information).
7.)
Don’t make useless posts on the forums. This is a huge turn off. There are so many useless posts on the forums right now it’s hard to even come up with the best example. Posting about your newbie clan beating another newbie clan is not something anyone wants to read, nor do you gain any respect from it. Posting about the fact that your leaving Tremulous (when we all know you’ll be back in 2 weeks under another name) is also not something we care to read. Whenever you feel the need to make a thread concerning a question you have, always check to see if there is a document or tutorial you can read that might answer your question. Newbies that consistently make threads about questions they have that could easily be solved by clicking on the ‘FAQ’ section are a huge turn off to clans. (this also applies to criterion
.
8.)
Speak when spoken too or when you have something funny or substantive to add to a discussion. This criterion is fairly self-explanatory and doesn’t need to be argued for.
9.)
Emulate those that have been around the game for a long time, and those you wish to join in clan membership. This is fairly obvious. Clans are obviously going to like people that are like them. But don't try to be a carbon copy.
Thanks to DirtyTaco from 20id (
www.20id.org) for the tutorial this is based off of.[/list]
