- 1. Frequent the channel, for about at least a month or so, or until most of the ops know you. This does NOT mean pop in and out 2 or 3 times within a month's time. If that's your idea of how to become a regular and get your own personalized pic page, you're sadly mistaken. This ALSO does NOT mean become a regular, drop off the face of the earth for a year, then pop in once and expect to be put back up on the page immediately... If you pop in after a long absence, the slate is wiped clean and thus, you begin anew.
- 2. You must engage in "techie talk" with DrkBishop, silver, or Worff at LEAST twice.
- 3. Get hit on by Worf, or receive an open invitation to enjoy a dinner with and made by silver (if you're female)
- 4. You must be kicked on the average of at least once by every op.
- 5.You must get into a senseless argument with Bootable at least twice.
- 6. You must drool over at least two regulars of the opposite sex openly and blatantly, or one of the same sex.
- 7. You must become the subject of channel abuse for a day/night.
- 8. Something stupid you say in channel must become the channel topic.
- 9. You must participate in making fun of a roleplayer/masquerader.
- 10. Spinning the bunny arm excessively (or even once if the ops aren't in the mood) can automatically disqualify you.
Commonly used IRC terms
Common questions asked on #Vampire
Rules/Guidelines for #Vampire
How to Become a "Regular" on #Vampire
Newbies
Where is #Vampire & how do I get to it?#Vampire is on IRC, which stands for Internet Relay Chat, a real-time chat network. In order to utilize IRC, you must have an IRC client, usually downloadable from the web. Such versions include mIRC, pirch, ircle, ircii, etc. For a tutorial on IRC, see IRC Central.
What is an IRC Client?
Basically, IRC clients are programs that end-users run in order to participate in IRC. They come in a variety of flavors and in every platform you can think of. Whether you have Unix, Windows, or even a Mac, there's an IRC client just for you. For a detailed list, Click here. If you use Windows like the majority of people, the most common clients to use are mIRC and pirch. See below.
Windows Clients
Since, the majority of people use Windows here is a brief overview of some of the most well known and most used Windows IRC clients.
mIRC
mIRC is the most used and most well known IRC client. mIRC is the shareware IRC chat program made for Windows by Khaled Mardam-Bey. It offers a fast and clean interface to IRC and it is well equipped with options and tools. Visit mIRC's Homepage for more detailed information. The latest version of mIRC can be downloaded here.Don't worry, it's less then a meg.
PIRCH
PIRCH is mIRC's main competetion. It is a full featured windows client, that offers its own special features like real time video support. For more information and to get the latest version of PIRCH go to the PIRCH Homepage.
For a list of the top ten Windows-based clients, Click here.
Ok, I've downloaded a compatible version of IRC. Now what do I do?
Open your IRC client. Connect to an IRC EFNET server. Make sure it's an EfNet server, or else you won't find us. Then type /join #Vampire and welcome!!
Okay, I'm in and no one seems to be talking. What's going on?
This could be for a number of reasons. Many of the ops are bots, (we'll get to terminology in a moment), and it also may be because the users are in private messages with other users, multi-tasking, or just chatting in other channels. Usually the time with the highest amount of traffic is evening to late night, although sporadically you'll catch a few morning or afternoon chats going on.
How did #Vampire start?
Back in 1993, Sinc, Venger, & Strahd, took over the channel from a bunch of dorks (who are rumored to have been hackers of some kind), as well as a couple of others. Sinc then brought in the bots, and the first ops, including Alijah and Worff, soon followed, and thus began the evolution that has become #Vampire as we know it. It went through its RPG phases, its cycles of takeovers, and now has become one of the, if not THE, most stable & longest-running channels on Efnet today.
Basic Commonly Used Terms on IRC
Bot: A separate process that's automated or semi-automated designed to emulate a human on the net. A good way of thinking of them are as virtual robots.Op: Short for "operator". A user that runs the channel. Has an "@" by their name.
Client: A program designed to connect to a server and access and use specific resources.
Server: A computer on a network dedicated to hosting resources and services for other computers. They can be all-purpose or dedicated... an IRC server is a dedicated server, for example. An all-purpose one can have mail, news, and IRC processes, for example.
Netsplit: occurs when two servers lose connection wuith each other, causing the IRC network to be split apart. It can be as small as one server being split, aor as large as half the network being split from the other.
Nuke/Nuked:A nuke is a program explicitly designed to crash a remote system on the network.
Ping:a message sent to a remote computer sent to determine how much time a message takes to get from one computer/client to another.
LOL: Laughing out Loud.
:-) or :) : A smily face.. what IRC users call an "emoticon". Use your imagination and design your own.
Flood:A large amount of messages or service requests to a computer within a very short amount of time. This causes bandwidth to be bogged down, and often results in lost connections.
DCC: Stands for Direct Client to Client. The two functions of DCC are to send files over the net to another user, or establish a direct chat session with another user without the need of the IRC server network.
j/k: Abbreviation for "just kidding", just as BRB is "be right back" and AFK is "away from keyboard"
"heh": What someone says when: a.) They have nothing to say or b.) They really don't care about what you're babbling about.
Clone:A seperate IRC process coming from the same host.
ISP:Internet Service Provider
script: a set of instructions used to enhance an IRC client, by simplifying commands, adding extra instructions, and generally customizing the interface to one's personal tastes.
Basic Questions about #Vampire Answered
Are you guys really vampires?If we were, do you think we'd really tell every Tom, Dick, and Harry who popped in the channel? So don't waste your breath asking.
What's the topic in here?
Whatever your little heart would like to discuss (as long as it doesn't offend the ops). Whatever is set in the titlebar of your IRC is the supposed "topic" but anything and everything is discussed in #Vampire.
Does Venger own this channel?
No. Venger was the public face for the channel's founding triumverate, but the power lay with Sinc. Venger departed #Vampire in October of 1998, and did not return. He died in August of 2000, at the age of 29.
Do you guys really suck blood?
if you consider Dr. Pepper and Twinkies blood, then yes, we suck blood.
Is this a RPG channel?
No. This is a channel for conversation. No one actively roleplays in #Vampire, although many do frequent channels that DO roleplay, the most prominent one being #VampireHall. Check them out.
Do you guys do White-Wolf/Masquerade/Is this a channel for Vampire:The Masquerade?
See above.
I am a vampire-hunter/real vampire. I am here to suck your blood/stake you all in the heart
That's nice. NEXT!
And without further ado... we have the Guidelines for #Vampire
=============================================
#Vampire Guidelines, v. 1.2 (revised 7/28/97)
By Worf & DrkBishop
=============================================
This does not quite fit the considerations of a real FAQ, all it really is is a small listing of what, for the most part, the ops consider to be policy for public chat on #Vampire. This is in NO way an established set of channel rules that every op follows to the letter, but more of a general guideline of how things USUALLY work on the channel. For the most part, the ops will usually follow these guidelines, so it's best to know them now so that you don't get in trouble later. This is in no way complete, but this will give you an idea of the "laws" we enforce on channel.
Colors: Since the release of mIRC 4.7, mIRC users have been able to view messages in colors. However, other IRC clients (including older versions of mIRC) cannot view the code correctly, and often show it as streams of garbage characters. Please do not use colors on channel. If we catch you doing it, you will be kicked... and repeated usage will result in a ban.
Sounds: Also in mIRC and other clients is the ability to make sound requests. These requests may be fun to you, but they are extremely annoying to those who either cannot engage in sound requests or do not have the wav file requested. Therefore, if you make a sound request on channel, the bots will kick you off and ban you for ten minutes.
CAPS: This is IRC not AOL. We do not use excessive caps or talk in all caps on the channel. Don't do this or you will be kicked.
Netsex: This is a hazy area, but one that needs to be addressed. A lot of people find vampires to be erotic and sexually attractive. However, #Vampire was not created as a sex channel. Each op has their own limits as far as what they will allow on channel, so be very careful as to what you do. If you don't know what's permissible, ASK.
Age/sex checks: This is a minor point, but one that should be addressed. Don't ask for these. If someone wants to tell you their age and/or sex, they will. Otherwise, when you do this it just annoys everyone else on the channel.
Riding netsplits: If you ride a netsplit in and take ops you risk the possibility of being temporarily or perm banned. No questions asked, simply do not do this. If you happen to either be on a server that splits or happen to join the channel while in the middle of a split and are the only one there simply deop yourself. Don't play with the channel modes, Don't fuck with the topic, Don't play with bans, simply deop yourself and wait for the split to merge or change servers. ( note if you notice a server has split off in the second manner and the channel on the split server is empty, please inform a live op if you change servers to connect to the nonsplit servers)
Asking for ops: It's simple. You won't get them. We are VERY picky about who we op, and that is one of the major reasons we have been so stable for so many years. If we decide that you are op material, then so be it. Until that time, don't waste your time and ours by needlessly asking.
Clones and bots: We do not allow unauthorized clones and/or bots on the channel. How do we define "unauthorized", you ask? It's simple. If you're not an op, it's not authorized. Violators will be kicked and/or banned. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Vulgarity: This is prolly the most hazy of the rules on the channel. We do not censor the channel against curse words in general. So 1. if such words as fuck shit damn hell bitch whore asshole etc etc in themselves are offensive to you, you may want to reconsider hanging out on #Vampire. However, we do not appreciate bashing others on the channel. We all pick on each other frequently, but if you come on channel and maliciously attack or harrass another user, you may and probably will be kicked, temp-banned, or even perm-banned if the situation warrants it.
Flooding: Trying to flood the channel, while it may sometimes not seem like that big of a deal to you, is a major annoyance to us, and is something we take very seriously. Therefore, if you accidentally flood the channel, you will be kicked. If you intentionally flood, you will be permanently banned from the channel. Again, no exceptions.
Role Playing: In the past, #Vampire was very heavily involved in role playing. However, over the years, #Vampire has grown to be less and less of a roleplaying forum. We still allow free-form roleplaying on the channel, but role-players must understand that not everyone in the channel is there to roleplay. Obnoxious and/or aggressive roleplaying (such as trying to force others to roleplay as well) will earn a kick and/or a ban.
Idling: Admittedly, there are times when we get called away from the computer. It happens to the best of us. However, there are instances when an idler causes any number of problems, because we can't get a hold of him/her. Therefore, the bots are programmed to kick anyone who idles for sixty minutes, and place a brief ban to prevent automatic rejoining. Repeated offenses will result in a perm ban. If you find yourself called away from the keyboard, and you know you will be away for a while, the best thing to do is leave the channel.
Recruiting: What is recruiting? We define recruiting as advertising your own channel to people in another channel. It's annoying, and it's EXTREMELY rude to those who run the channel you're recruiting from in the first place. For that reason, recruiting on #Vampire will earn you either a kick and/or a permban from the channel.
The "Smeagol Rule": This was partially covered under Vulgarity, but it's important enough to warrant its own section. If you come onto the channel with the express intent of pissing other people off, you WILL be perm-banned. This includes racism, overly aggressive sexual comments, threats of RL violence, etc. (This rule is named after smeagol, who earned himself a permban by making the mistake of referring to himself as a racist during a "salute to Hitler" in front of Sinc, our head of security... whose fiancee is Asian.)
Domain Bans:If your entire domain is banned, it isn't necessarily because of you. More likely someone from there has proven to be a security threat and the whole domain needed to be banned because of it. For instance, Candian Netcom.
Removing bans: It's not very often that we remove permbans. Most of the time, when a permban is placed, it means you're persona non grata, and you are no longer welcome on the channel. However, in the event you wish a ban on you removed, then YOU (and no one else) must talk to the op who placed the ban. As a rule, no op will remove another's bans. If the op who placed the ban will not remove it, then you are out of luck.
Harrassing the ops: This one should be fairly obvious, but I'll go ahead and cover it. If you decide to harrass an op, whether via msgs or on the channel, you run the risk of getting permbanned. Most of us ops have better things to do than listen to your insults and whining because of something we did.
Ops' perogative: This is sort of a "catch-all". The previous rules are guidelines most, if not all, of the ops will follow. However, each op has their own specific set of rules that they go by in addition to the rules above. So, if an op threatens to ban you for something not covered in the rules, he/she can and probably will.
And, as always, the ops' decisions are FINAL.
The channel operators are:
Master ops: Sinc, silver/revlis, DrkBishop, Worf, Kanan
Ops: Sh|fter, Dementia, LordRaven, aZRa, marii
As stated this is in no way an official policy text, nor is it complete. However it is the general guidelines that if followed will lessen your chances of getting kicked or banned
=============================================================================How do I become a regular?
Often we have been asked: How do I become a regular? Well, we thought it over, and in order to obtain such a status of prestige, we have compiled the following list of prerequisites: