Norgarth

Hi :)

I don't know of any "quick start" guide for the discussion forums, but I think the Archive is probably the closest thing there is.

Regards,
Jeanne

http://www.jhedge.com
Anime/Manga Forum: http://go.compuserve.com/Anime

We keep meaning to do a forum faq, but it keeps not getting done. In the meantime, all the posts are archived. In some forums (UF, for instance) that's a lot of backlog, but I suppose you could just go looking for the ones with questions in the subjects and whatnot.

Don't resurrect dead threads with new posts, though, especially if they're already large.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor in Chief, Netadmin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

When traversing the Internet a true hacker cannot help but stumble across Eyrie Productions, Unlimited. Once there, after digesting several kilobytes of well-written reading, most times it's off to the forums for a bit of discussion and an all around good time. However, as one approaches the forums, even the most experienced hacker can daunted by the sheer volume of posts. Therefore, this informal, unofficial, highly opinionated, and less-than-thorough guide has been put togther to help a wayward sojourner understand their way around the forums.

Part One: If I Had An Account (I'd Flame You All)

Like many post-Matt's Script Archive forums, the Eyrie Forums, or EF as we may say, require a user to be logged in to post. Fortunately, an account at the EF goes for a reasonable price: free.

To sign up, simply click on the "Please Register" link at the top right of the main forums page as you enter. Next, you will need to read through the Terms of Service, and then either agree (and continut) or not (and forfeit having an account). If you choose to agree, click the proper button and proceed to the next screen. You only need to fill out the forms that have red asterisks by their titles: Username, First Name, Last Name, and EMail. Other bits of requested information can be added either at the time of signing up, or later when you wantr to update your profile. When youre finished, click the "Submit Registration" button at the bottom (once), and ideally your account will be created.

As any good hacker knows, things online may not always be ideal. A database may be messed up, wiring may be dewired, and routers may not properly route. If you get an error, as with all problems, be patient, think logically, and try again. If you get a message that says your user id is taken, you will have to pick a new one.

Part Two: Warning, Hackers May Actually Be Weasels

Once you've signed up, or logged in, you can start posting to the various forums. Do this, however, with a modicum of care and self-respect. Imagine, if you had a forum, would you want people playing through the records, leaving behind ill-typed posts, and making it unpleasant for everyone else?

if (m/Yes/i) { exit; }

First, read the rules up at the top, they are very handy to know. You don't have to pledge your life to following to get along around the EF, but it helps if you at least respect them. They are there to make life easier for the writers, fans, posters, lurkers, and you.

Next, "Don't investigate to closely." Eyrie Productions, Unlimited and the works created under its umbrage are wonderful pieces of fiction. However, they are just that: fiction. Except for ReRob's statement that the ability to greate Cyclones from pure data is an example of the "true power of Unix," little here should be viewed as hard scientific fact. These forums exist for discussion, discourse, questions, and such. Nitpickers, on the other hand, will be shot (cold, lingering glares).

Also, do have fun, but be responsible. The EF are a bit like a public swimming pool. Everyone can have their own kind of fun, but said fun needs to be responsible fun. Before you post, ask yourself, "What would Michael Garabaldi do?" After asking yourself that, proceed in the opposite direction. (Note: Other acceptable soul searching questions are: "Should I drink this," "Does it really mean 'Authorized Personel Only'," and "If a Incom T-26 Skyhopper leaves Mos Eisley at seven in the morning and a Z-85 Headhunter leaves Mos Epsa at eight in the morning, how am I going to get to work without an astromech?")

Finally, don't be afraid to start a new thread. Often, current threads get very long, and get even longer when people don't start new threads. Never be afraid to branch your discussion off into another thread.

Part Three: Third Floor: X-Wings, Evangelions, Hardsuits, and Shadaloo Warlords

Now that you have an account and you feel fairly confident that you won't knowingly irritate anyone, the one questions that you're asking is where should I post? If the titles (and provided descriptions) of the forums haven't given away the surprise, the following is a list (with a bit of an explanation) of the forums should spoil you rotten:

• Miscellany, a good place to discuss creativity in general. An ideal forum for asking general questions about Eyrie fiction, general fictions questions, and often items in the Subterranean Vault.
  
• Undocumented Features, _THE_ forum for talking about "Undocumented Features" and all inclusive characters, planets, ships, and the like. This is, from the writer's observations, one of the busiest forums.

• Hopelessly Lost, the forum for discussing the cyberpunk-ish created as a sub-universe of the "Undocumented Features" world. Conversations here tend to range from discussions on automobiles, artificial intelligences, to Priscilla Asagiri (rowr).

• Gods Willing, a forum for discussing the Eyrie Productions, Unlimited take on "Oh My Goddess!" An quiet, unbusy forum that is a pleasant place to stroll through on a Sunday afternoon.

• Street Fighter: Warrior's Legacy, dedicated to discussions of Gryphon's saga as a Street Fighter and his war against M. Bison.

• Neon Exodus Evangelion, a forum for discussions about life and adventures in Worchester-3, the children who pilot the Evangelion suits, world-wide government conspiracies, and exo-demonic invasions (possibly, this needs to be confirmed).

• .45 Caliber Angel: unknown at present date

• General, the forum for discussing "off-topic" items. Anime and technology discussions crop up in here a bit. It's a good place to go to get the feel for the forums.

• Website, a place to ask questions and find answers to questions about the Eyrie Productions, Unlimited website.

• Conferences: See above, replace "website" with "forums."

• Marketplace, a forum to post eBay actions, items for sale by forum regulars, and stores run by regulars. A good forum to often find manga and anime for and on sale.

• eyrie.introduction, the forum to introduce youself in if you're new here. A good way to announce yourself, and let people get to know you before they get to know you.

• eyrie.private-mail, a place that's a little more relaxed that the General forum. It acts as sort of a sounding board, a place to announce fortune, to mourn loss, to say "Hello, World" to friends.

• eyrie.test, generally the place to announce the addition, updating, or modifications of forum signatures. An even more relaxed forum that eyrie.private-mail, if you can imaging it.

Part Four: And The Link You Came In On

The EF exist as a place where fans of Eyrie Productions, Unlimited; fans of Kei and Yuri; fans of "Undocumented Features," "Hopelessly Lost," "Gods Willing," etc.; and even fans of anime and manga can hang about and talk among peers on the world-wide web. It's a community created by the hard work of Internet legends such as Gryphon, Megazone, ReRob, and countless other gweeps. It's an open forum for discussion and discussion, a place for prose and play. If you've been here before, this is old news to you.

If this is your first time, you are (in all likely hood) welcome aboard.

Static-Pulse
(apologies to Douglas Adams)
Cyber-Shaman & Freelance Hacker
(defun goodtime (x) (if (Gryphon-wrote x) 'good 'bah))
http://www.darkbeast.com/