IRC
From Tel'Laerad Wiki
IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is a standard for servers allowing realtime chat online, both directly between users, and between multiple users in a channel. The Tel'Laerad IRC Network, at irc.TelLaerad.net, provides this as a place for general chat and discussion, text-based games, and roleplaying in realtime, accessible through a normal IRC client or our AJAX webchat client. Our list of servers can be seen on the IRC Servers page.
Want to get connected and get talking or roleplaying? Jump straight to the using IRC section of this page.
Our Features
The base IRC server is InspIRCd 1.2, with Atheme IRC Services 5.1, and a customised Iris-based webclient, but our IRC network provides a number of additional features and extensions to this software and over other IRC servers, chosen carefully to suit the network. The primary extensions are listed below, although a large number of minor additional commands and modes, some of which have been shared with other networks, exist.
Roleplaying and Gaming
This is the area in which we have the most custom capacity, including features that to our knowledge, no other locale possesses.
Most notably, it provides the roleplay module, allowing gamemasters to use the NPC and NPCA commands to make NPCs, non-existent users, 'speak' in their IRC channels, and use the SCENE command to display text from the =Scene= user, describing the setting, events, and the players' surroundings.
Additionally, we provide dice rolling commands, which can be used to roll dice and perform calculations in an IRC channel, with the results visible to everyone present, assisting in tabletop roleplaying over IRC. It allows full mathematical expressions to be used, with full support for parenthesis and order of precedence, allowing any calculations to be performed with or without the results of a dice roll.
Furthermore, we have the chanlink module, allowing messages from one or more channels to be displayed in any number of other channels in another to create observer and commentary channels, with the list of links set in a channel visible to any user inside. This works with the roleplay and dice rolling services as one would expect.
Finally, we have the Scribe service, which once set up by a GM, allows gaming sessions to be logged by the service for instant display on the website, without needing to remove irrelevant parts, joins, and other spam from typical IRC client logs. This service also allows you to upload any plaintext logs; for more information, click on the "Scribe" link in the menu above.
Reliablity and Redundancy
Our IRC network aims for the highest reliability, and in addition to our selective and continually reviewed choice of servers, implements features to improve this further, and ensure that if we're down, we're not down long.
Regardless of any servers which are offline, our IRC network will automatically relink together, even without staff intervention, in as optimum an arrangement as possible, ensuring that all up servers are linked to each other, and no running servers are split for longer than a couple of minutes, with no single points of failure.
Additionally, our services databases are automatically mirrored to read-only backup copies of services across our servers, ensuring that nickname and channel ownership, and our additional services such as our dice rolling service, are never down long; in the event of any continued outage, the staff simply start up a backup copy within minutes.
We feel being prepared for when disaster strikes, in addition to selecting reliable servers to begin with, provides our users with an improved ability to rely on us being there, however they use our network.
Using IRC
The following is a guide to getting started on our IRC network. The first couple of sections get you connected and talking in channels, and if you want to know more, like how to create your own account and channels, send and receive memos, and request announcements and vanity hosts, you can read on for more information. If you want to know how to use our custom roleplaying commands, skip to the last two sections.
It doesn't list every command, option, and mode on our IRC network; for this, see the IRC section of our Help index, which directs you to the full command and mode references, usable from IRC once connected.
If at any point you have trouble, and you're on the IRC network and able to join channels, join #help and ask. We can't be around all the time, but we'll help you as soon as we can. Otherwise, you can post on our forums or email us at the details on our Help page.
If you are not using the webclient, you should note that although we try to highlight custom commands that some clients might not support, some clients modify standard or common commands; as such, if commands here do not work for you, it may be a good idea to look at your client's documentation to see if it describes how to do that thing in that client. If you find your client does not support custom commands, it may be necessary to substitute "/msg NickServ" for "/ns", "/msg ChanServ" for "/cs", "/msg MemoServ" for "/ms", and "/msg AnnounceServ" for "/as" whenever running commands beginning with those.
Connecting to the Tel'Laerad IRC Network
In order to partake in the many services that Tel'Laerad's IRC network offers it's users, one must be "connected" to the network. To connect to an IRC Network, such as Tel'Laerad, or any other, a link between one's computer and the network must be established. This link, as known as the connection, will be via either a standalone IRC client or a web-based IRC client.
We include guides here for connecting using our provided web-based IRC client, and mIRC, the most popular Windows standalone IRC client. Any other IRC client can be used, but you will need to check its documentation to learn how to connect using it; XChat and irssi are preferred by some and also offer Linux support.
Connecting via the Web Client
We provide our own web-based AJAX client at http://webchat.tellaerad.net, based on Iris with some of our own customisations. It's relatively simple to use, and has a nice array of features. Unlike many web-based clients, it does not require Java or Flash. It displays a channel list on startup when opened with no other parameters, and you can open this from the main menu and /list to view all the network's channels.
- First click the "IRC" menu item on the website, or simply visit this link: http://webchat.tellaerad.net
- Scroll down the list, and click a channel to join it. If you're new, #tellaerad, the network lobby, is a great place to start and meet everyone.
- If you've not connected before, you'll be sent to the Connect tab to enter a nickname before connecting. Type any desired nickname you wish to have in the box next to "Nickname".
- Click the Connect button.
- You will immediately see the client start connecting to the server, and after a short time, it will have joined the channel you selected.
- The input box in which you type is at the bottom of your now connected page. Say hi!
Connecting with mIRC
While there are many standalone clients, mIRC is easily the most popular of Windows clients. It may be downloaded from www.mirc.com, if you wish to have a client separate from your browser, or with features that our web client does not provide, such as scripting. For full information on using mIRC and its features, you should read its own documentation, which is very complete.
To connect using mIRC...
- Execute mIRC.exe and run the program.
- Once the program has started, you will see your "Status" screen. A popup will appear on the "Status" screen labeled "mIRC Options". Filling in the fields of "Full Name" and "E-Mail Address" are optional. If you wish to fill them in, then fill them in now.
- Filling in the field of "Nickname" is a must do. Fill in this field with any desired nickname that you wish to have on the network. Filling in the field of "Alternate Nickname" is not necessary, but useful. This field is your secondary default if your primary nickname is taken. Fill these in now.
- In the "mIRC Options" popup, look to the left side. There is a heading called "Category". The first category is "Connect"; There will be a "+" next to the category, indicating that there are subcategories within this category. Click the "+" to expand the categories.
- Once expanded, click on "Options" to highlight it. Once it is highlighted, this is the screen in the "mIRC Options" that is now viewable. Just below the check boxes and above the three buttons, there is a space that says "Default Port". Make sure that this reads 6667.
- Once the port is verified, click the "Ok" button at the very bottom of the popup. This will exit the popup and verify the fields you entered information into.
- Now you are met with the blank "Status" screen. This is your main screen which will show you things that are going on with your connection. Click your mouse in the white box that is separated from the bottom of your "Status" screen by a gray highlight. To connect to Tel'Laerad, type: /server irc.tellaerad.net and then hit the enter button.
- Once you hit enter, you will be almost instantly connected to the network.
Joining Channels
Joining an IRC channel is normally the first thing you want to do after connecting, and is the same in both our webclient, mIRC, and most other clients. Simply type "/join #channel", where #channel is the name of the channel. For example, to join the help channel, type "/join #help". All IRC channels on Tel'Laerad have a name beginning with #.
You can get a list of channels by entering /list, and join channels by simply double-clicking them in the list.
Sending Private Messages
To send private messages to another user, enter "/query nick", replacing nick with their nickname. A new window will open, and you can then type messages to them in it. In our webclient, you can also click someone's nick, then select "PM" from the menu to open a PM window with them.
Changing Nickname
To change nickname while connected, simply enter "/nick nickname", replacing nickname with your new nickname. You can't change to a nickname someone else is using, and if you change to one reserved for someone else, you'll be forced to change nickname to a nick beginning with LostSoul followed by a series of numbers after you fail to login to their account; you can change to another nick of your choice that isn't reserved to someone else after.
Registering an Account
Before you can own or be an operator in a channel, request announcements or vanity hosts, or send and receive memos, you need to register your account. This process also reserves your nickname for your usage, preventing anyone not logged into your account from using it. This only takes a single command: "/ns register password email", replacing password with your desired password (make it secure), and email with your email address. There's no email activation; your account is created and your nick reserved instantly.
In the future, whenever connecting using the webclient, you'll need to tick "Identify to NickServ" and enter your password, and when using another client, otherwise send the password as either the server password, or run "/ns identify password" after connecting, with your password in the place of password, to login to your account and avoid being kicked off your nickname. If your client supports SASL login, we support this.
If you are kicked off your nickname, you can use "/ns identify nick password" to login to your account while not on the nick, replacing nick and password with the nickname you were kicked off, and your password, then enter "/ns release nick", replacing nick with the nickname again, to release your nickname, followed by "/nick nick" as normal. This is needed because after someone has been kicked off a nickname, the network prevents someone from using it again for a short time to prevent them from just changing back.
Reserving Additional Nicknames
If you have other nicknames you use sometimes, and want to reserve these, too, it's as simple as connecting using your first nick, providing the password for it, and then changing to your additional nick, and entering "/ns group". Both nicks are now owned by you and reserved for the same account, with the same password, and shared operator status in channels.
Requesting a Vanity Host
A partially-hidden form of your real IP or hostname is visible to other IRC users, as a means of identifying people without letting them see each other's real IPs. If you have a registered account, you can request a custom made-up host for your account be shown instead. To do this, enter /hs request some.fake.host and wait for a Tel'Laerad staff member to look at ionit for approval. Using dots for spaces, and making it a place or location of some sort is common.
The primary rules for approval are to not include things which could not, by the rules, be permitted in a public channel topic, not insult other users, and not be too inane. Additionally, if it is set to a real domain with a non-generic name, you don't represent the domain, and we feel that the host implies you do, it cannot be approved. If a host is not approved, you'll get a notice, and probably receive a memo or be contacted by a staff member to let you know why.
Requesting Announcements
Additionally, with a registered account, you can request announcements to be sent. To do this, enter "/as submit announcement" or say "#announce announcement" in a channel, replacing announcement with your announcement. The Tel'Laerad staff will look at your announcement for approval as quickly as possible before it is sent out to the network.
Announcing your new community or roleplaying campaign on the network is a way to get other interested people on the network to know you're there and join your channels. This is the main use of announcements, which are moderated to keep them and meaningful as possible, but major new events and contests and tournaments can be announcement-worthy, too. We will usually approve up to two announcements on different days for a single community or group, but moderate this to avoid excessive messages being sent.
Sending and Receiving Memos
Once you have an account, you can send and receive memos to and from other registered users, to leave messages if they're not around when you want to send something to them. Whenever you have a new memo, you'll receive a message letting you know, with instructions on how to read it. To send memos, you can just enter "/ms send nick message", replacing nick with the nickname of the person to send to, and message with the message.
If you don't want to be able to receive memos, you can enter "/ns set nomemo on" to disable this functionality.
Registering and Running a Channel
Registering a channel, and optionally getting an AJAX webclient to embed in your own website, is easy; we have a new channel guide to get your channel running in minutes. You'll need a registered account, or to create one before doing it as described in the guide.
Running a channel involves a substantial number of commands , including adding other operators (staff), ban users, set the topic and customise channel options and modes. For a brief guide to these, check out our channel operator guide.
Rolling Dice
Rolling a dice in a channel is as simple as saying "#roll diceroll" in the channel, replacing diceroll with XdY, where X is the number of dice you want to roll, and Y is the number of sides to each die. Your results will be printed in the channel for everyone to see. Some channels may restrict dice rolling to certain people, or not allow it at all. A registered account is not needed.
You can also create a more complicated mathematical expression using +, -, /, * operators, parenthesis, and mathematical functions, including "d" as an operator to do a dice roll wherever you like, for everything from "1d6+5" to "sqrt(1d(100*1d10))". Additionally, there are built-in rolls for various roleplaying systems, including D&D, WOD, Shadowrun, and Exalted amongst others; enter "/helpop roll_presets" to see a full listing and how to use them. We're open to suggestions to add more systems, so if there's any you would find convenient, let us know.
It is also possible to roll dice only you can see, or that the results of are sent privately to another person; entering "/helpop roll" on the IRC network provides instructions for doing this using the /roll command.
We also provide the ability to generate character starting scores for some systems, primarily D&D, by saying "#scores system method" in a channel, with system replaced by the RPG system, and method replaced by the method to be used. For a list of supported systems, enter "/helpop scores", which also describes how to use the /scores command directly, as for the /roll command.
If you are not using the webclient and your client does not support custom commands, you will need to insert "/quote" in front to use these commands, for "/quote helpop roll" and similar. For more information on all of our IRC network's RPG-related functionality, enter "/helpop rpg" or "/quote helpop rpg" on the IRC network.
Making NPCs Speak and Act
Making an NPC speak requires either being an operator (member of staff) in the channel, or they have given you the ability to do so. If you have the ability, you can just enter "/npc #channel npc message", replacing npc with the NPC's name and message with what the NPC is to say, to make an NPC speak in that channel, appearing as a normal message from a user, but with the NPC's name, underlined, in place of the nickname. If you are using the webclient, you can leave the channel out of the command; it will automatically be the channel window you are writing in.
Using "/npca" instead of "/npc" makes the NPC perform an action instead of speak, and "/scene", with the NPC name left out, creates a message from =Scene=, letting GMs describe what is happening.
If you are not using the webclient and your client does not support custom commands, you will need to insert "/quote" in front to use these commands, for "/quote helpop roll" and similar. For more information on all of our IRC network's RPG-related functionality, enter "/helpop rpg" or "/quote helpop rpg" on the IRC network.
Official Channels
Official channels are those with "TelLaerad" as the listed owner, and "[Official]" at the start of the topic. They are owned by the Tel'Laerad staff, and all IRC network staff are automatically staff on any listed channel, regardless of whether they are on the access list or not; they may place themselves on the access list when needed. Note that this does not mean that everyone with access in these channels is automatically a member of network staff.
This is a list of the most important official channels. It does not include IRC game channels, which are named on the Games page.
- #help - Official Tel'Laerad IRC help channel. Come here to get help on anything Tel'Laerad related. Please be patient when asking for help, we're not always immediately available. Ask once, and your question will be answered as soon as possible.
- #TelLaerad - The network lobby and a general chat channel.