Chat?? Where???

[Mantis]

Ok, now that Sadman is back and taking care of the OPFOR duties, I find myself with alot more free time (in spurts of 5 minutes, damned kids lol) and I have yet to see anyone in the caht room at all.

I'll be the first one to admit that I hate chat...

But the opportunity to yap it up with like-minded individuals, especially about TOAW, EA, the tourneys, etc, is something I'd be willing to get into once in a while. But since there's no way to tell if anyone's ever in there, I'd like to offer a suggestion.

How about if anyone's gonna chat, do it at the top of the hour. Time zones aside, we all have that in common. This way, there'll be a much improved chance of actually finding someone in there. If I go in there one more time and end up saying HAAAALLLLOOOOO to myself, I think I'll go bonkers.

How about it boys, give it a shot? It still might take several tries to actually catch someone in there, but what the hell, it beats what's happening in there now.

My wife works tomorrow (sorry guys, unless I pull it off tonite, no turns) but the day after I'll be in there a few times at the top of the hour, and maybe I'll bump into one of you in there.

It also couldn't hurt to mention that you might drop by in there later, others might be more inclined to give it a shot if they thought they might meet up with you.

[Mantis]

Also!

I'm cooking a stew right now, and doing some laundry, but I'm in the chat room right now, and I'll stay in there for the next hour or so. So if someone wants to drop in (remember it might take a few minutes for me to pop back to the computer to notice someone's in there) I'd love to yap for a bit.

[JAMiAM]

Get your butt in there!!!

~ 6:10 PM, PST

[Dan Neely]

Originally posted by JAMiAM
Get your butt in there!!!

~ 6:10 PM, PST

He was there for a few hours, but left before you joined. no timestamps so I can't say how long you missed him by.

PS I don't mean to confuse anyone, but I always use Summoner as my nick when chatting, and am completely irrational on the subject.

[Saber]

Checking in to how the other games are going, I haven't seen any new e mails floating since this morning. I sent Fitz my second turn an hour ago.

[Fading Captain]

Originally posted by Mantis
Also!

I'm cooking a stew right now, and doing some laundry. . .

Ah yes Mantis, a brief glimpse into the real life of a grognard :) Cooking, laundry, and kids. We are all such warriors :D I myself get in my PBEM turns when my son takes a nap or goes to bed for the night ;)

On a more serious note. . . what software do you need to run chat? I have Windows 98SE. A blank chat box just pulls up for me right now.

Fading Captain

[Siberian HEAT]

There has to be a better chat program out there! The fact that you can't even see who is in there just rubs me the wrong way.

I am completely irrational on the subject. :D

[Dan Neely]

IMO all webchat is badly limited in features. I'd suggest a java interface to an IRC chatroom instead. You'd have a basic webinterface for anyone new to access, and anyone who wanted more/better functionality could use a real IRC client instead. I know there're freeware java clients in existance, but am not sure where to find one. Asking in alt.irc would get you something though. You wouldn't need to run your own server, and with your level of technical skills I'd recommend against it, but instead could create the channel on any of the hundreds (thousands?) of existing networks. Which network is best is verymuch a theological issue. Like everyone else I've got my own favorite server, but I'm not picky. The only notwork I refuse to use in any way shape or form is dalnet. The inability to disable any of thier netnanny features infuruates me. I'm an adult and've been IRCing for yeats, not an ignorant newbie. I know that the hot_naked_girl.jpg.vbs that was DCCed to me by someone I've never is a virus not a porn pic, and delete it unopened.

[Siberian HEAT]

Whoah! A wild one in the chat room tonight! All are welcome! Come into the light, children!

[Siberian HEAT]

Originally posted by Dan Neely
IMO all webchat is badly limited in features. I'd suggest a java interface to an IRC chatroom instead.

Dan this is an excellent idea and I second the notion that we could really use a better interface than the one there now. Do you know of any software packages (preferrably free) that allow you to make this link? If we come up with ideas we can then see if Maddog is able to implement them.

As Spartan as the chat function is right now, I still had a good time shooting the bull last night with Mantis, Jamiam, Jball286 and yourself. I can only imagine how cool it will be once we have more features! :devious:

[Mantis]

Oh ya, last nite was a total blast... All we needed was a few cases of some excellent Canadian beer (Molson Special Dry, anyone?), and I could have gone all nite!

'Twas good to yap with all you guys, thanx for the fun!

[Don Maddox]

Yes, a good chatroom is something the Warfare HQ staff have long had on our "to do" list. The intent was to host special events on an announced date and time and possibly invite game developers and programmers for an hour or so.

Let me look around some more. If anyone has any solid information let me know.

[Mantis]

Perhaps, in addition to attempting to chat at the top of the hour (I'm in there right now), during the day it would be wise to come to this particular thread and drop a quick line saying that you'll be in there for a little while. It's less likely to be busy during the day, and users causually browsing the forums can check the time stamp on your post, and compare it to the time listed at the bottom of the page, and be able to tell if you'll be in there or not.

Just a thought.

I'll hang about in there for a little while. Wife doesn't want me getting into 'those damned turns' right now, but I'm still surfing.

[Dan Neely]

If I'm online, I'll be idling there, but if the rooms empty I won't be checking more often than every 15 or 30 minutes .this afternoon I saw 3 poeple do hi/byes while I was elsewhere. don't assume that just because you don't get a responce immediately that you're the only one there.

[Mantis]

Exactly. Someone went in and out before I could even really get a 'Hello' out, and I was watching.

BTW, we're still in there, if anyone's interested. And the evening (US/Canada time) seems to be a good time to check.