New to Gamestar Forum? Read This!
Mar 7, 2016 21:37:06 GMT -5
Post by LeapingMomo on Mar 7, 2016 21:37:06 GMT -5
Hi, and welcome to Gamestar Forum! This thread will walk you through the process of setting up both a forum account and a chat account, and it will answer some of the more common questions people ask when they first join the forum. If you have any questions regarding these things, I have chosen to add a list of the forum staff members at the end. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
What is Gamestar Forum?
We're glad you asked! Gamestar forum at it's founding was a place for the users of Gamestar Mechanic to talk to each other, as that website didn't allow much communication. However as Gamestar Mechanic itself became more stagnant and less relevant, we've grown into much more of a community and writing forum.
Our main functions here are our:
CSTs - Or Collaborative Story telling, a novel form Role-Play where you write as a character or characters that you design.
Community - We have a vibrant and active group of people here, and a place to talk. Just take a look at the chatbox to the right!
Forums - The forum also serves as a place to have discussions on almost anything you want. There are small minigames and larger organized games to play as well.
Part 1: How to Setup a Forum Account
Assuming you have already created an account (If you haven't, look in the top right corner of the page. You will see a 'register' option.), the first thing you need to learn is how to edit your profile. In the bar at the top of the page there should be a 'Profile' button. Clicking that will lead you to a page with a summary of your profile. You will see a little button labeled 'Edit Profile' on this page.
This will lead you to a page that offers you the option to change your avatar by either using the provided avatar maker, uploading or providing a link to an image, choosing a forum avatar, or choosing to have no avatar. You will also notice some tabs above the main section labeled (in order) 'Avatar', 'Personal', 'Social', 'Settings', 'Privacy', 'Notifications', and 'Badges'.
Clicking the 'Personal' tab will lead you to a page where you can change your display name, email address, password, displayed gender, displayed location, your website's name and URL (Well, if you have a website.), your status, and your signature. You can even add personal notes that only you can see! As a reminder, any personal information you share here is shared with the entire internet.
Clicking the 'Social' tab will lead you to a page where you can add what social websites and instant messengers you use and your username for these things.
Clicking the 'Settings' tab will lead you to a page where you can edit your forum preferences. The preferences include the option of a 'Participated' button which shows what threads you have posted in and if there are new replies in any threads you have replied to, which is very helpful. There is also an option for displaying member signatures and avatars, changing your theme, drafting posts while they're being created, changing your default editor for posts, adding a default message that will appear in all your posts, allowing plain text to be displayed as smilies, choosing how you would prefer timestamps on posts to appear, and deleting your forum account.
Clicking the 'Privacy' tab will lead you to a page where you can change who can see your profile, online status, email address, gender, birthday, and activity. You can also change the date for your birthday and which members are allowed to interact with you.
Clicking the 'Notifications' tab will lead you to a page where you can change whether you get notifications for certain things (which I'm too lazy to list) and, if so, how.
Clicking the 'Badges' tab will lead you to a page where you can buy useless badges.
Now, go forth and use this long list of information I have given you too finish setting up your forum account!
Part 2: How to Setup Your Chatango Account
In order to chat in the forum's chat box, you have to create a chatango account. Well, you can chat as an anon actually, but the admins tend to frown on that. In the bottom right corner of our lovely chat box (which is located on the righthand side towards the top of the page) is a little option labeled 'Set your name'. Clicking this will bring up a little box giving you two options: Chat with a temporary name or chat as a Chatango member. You will notice that the second option also provides you with the option to create a Chatango account by simply entering a username and password and clicking 'Sign up'. (Please note that you will be asked to provide an email address for your account.)
In order to add an avatar to your chat account, you can either (a) click on the three horizontal bars in the bottom right hand corner and click "Edit profile" or (b) say something in chat then click on the current avatar of your chat account which will automatically pull up a box where you can edit your profile.
If you wish to change the font or color of your text click on the italicized, underlined 'A' next to the place where you type. Some options should come up.
Use these to change the appearance of your text. Click the 'T' to see a list of fonts you can use. Click the '11' to change text size. Click the 'B' to make the text bold. Click the 'i' to make the text italicized. Click the 'U' to make the text underlined. Click 'bg' to change the color of your username on your chat as well as the background. Click the 'A' with a black rectangle underneath it to change the color of the text.
Another thing you can do is change the channel you're in.
Also, clicking 'Filter channels' will allow you to filter out content in certain channels.
You can also change sound preferences. However, the admins highly suggest that if you wish to turn off the chat sound, that you set it to "Only on @ replies" instead of "Never" for summoning purposes.
One of the things we use a bit on the forum are chatango private messages (aka CPMs). In order to access that from the chat box, click "Chatango" in the bottom left corner. There should be a "Private messaging" option available.
Also, if you wish to see who's online, there should be a number in the bottom right corner that when clicked will show you who's online and how long they have been online.
Another thing you'll notice in chat are emoticons. Look at the picture below to figure out how to access them.
Well, I think that's about everything you need to know about the chat. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the staff.
Part 3: Frequent Questions
Here are the answers to some of the more frequent questions asked by newcomers.
1. Can I be a forum Moderator/Admin?
In short, no. At least not right now. However, if you are interested in applying for a position as a mod there are a few requirements you must meet. You must be 13 years old at least, have a Skype account (and be able to use it), be very active on the forum, and prove yourself to be reliable and trustworthy. Either way we aren't looking for a new mod at the moment and probably won't be anytime soon. If you are interested in becoming an Admin...I just have two words for you: Good luck.
2. What's a CST? Can I participate?
CST is short for "Collaborative Story Telling". Each participant creates one or more characters (the amount you're allowed to create varies by CST) for the CST using the provided character form. They can then post for these characters and have them interact with other characters or just have them wander about doing things related to the plot. It's basically a much better form of roleplaying. Not to say it is roleplaying, but the two do have similarities.
To answer the second question, of course you can participate! We enjoy having new users join our CSTs and are willing to help if you ask. We only ask that you follow the general CST rules and the unique rules in whatever CST you choose to participate in. Here's the link to the general CST rules.
3. How do I post/create a topic?
You would be surprised at the frequency of these questions. To post in a topic, go to the topic first. You will see two "Reply" buttons, one towards the top of the page and one at the bottom. There is also a "Quick Reply" option.
To create a topic go to the board you think it would fit under and click the "Create Thread" button.
((I may end up adding more questions later.))
What is Gamestar Forum?
We're glad you asked! Gamestar forum at it's founding was a place for the users of Gamestar Mechanic to talk to each other, as that website didn't allow much communication. However as Gamestar Mechanic itself became more stagnant and less relevant, we've grown into much more of a community and writing forum.
Our main functions here are our:
CSTs - Or Collaborative Story telling, a novel form Role-Play where you write as a character or characters that you design.
Community - We have a vibrant and active group of people here, and a place to talk. Just take a look at the chatbox to the right!
Forums - The forum also serves as a place to have discussions on almost anything you want. There are small minigames and larger organized games to play as well.
Part 1: How to Setup a Forum Account
Assuming you have already created an account (If you haven't, look in the top right corner of the page. You will see a 'register' option.), the first thing you need to learn is how to edit your profile. In the bar at the top of the page there should be a 'Profile' button. Clicking that will lead you to a page with a summary of your profile. You will see a little button labeled 'Edit Profile' on this page.
This will lead you to a page that offers you the option to change your avatar by either using the provided avatar maker, uploading or providing a link to an image, choosing a forum avatar, or choosing to have no avatar. You will also notice some tabs above the main section labeled (in order) 'Avatar', 'Personal', 'Social', 'Settings', 'Privacy', 'Notifications', and 'Badges'.
Clicking the 'Personal' tab will lead you to a page where you can change your display name, email address, password, displayed gender, displayed location, your website's name and URL (Well, if you have a website.), your status, and your signature. You can even add personal notes that only you can see! As a reminder, any personal information you share here is shared with the entire internet.
Clicking the 'Social' tab will lead you to a page where you can add what social websites and instant messengers you use and your username for these things.
Clicking the 'Settings' tab will lead you to a page where you can edit your forum preferences. The preferences include the option of a 'Participated' button which shows what threads you have posted in and if there are new replies in any threads you have replied to, which is very helpful. There is also an option for displaying member signatures and avatars, changing your theme, drafting posts while they're being created, changing your default editor for posts, adding a default message that will appear in all your posts, allowing plain text to be displayed as smilies, choosing how you would prefer timestamps on posts to appear, and deleting your forum account.
Clicking the 'Privacy' tab will lead you to a page where you can change who can see your profile, online status, email address, gender, birthday, and activity. You can also change the date for your birthday and which members are allowed to interact with you.
Clicking the 'Notifications' tab will lead you to a page where you can change whether you get notifications for certain things (which I'm too lazy to list) and, if so, how.
Clicking the 'Badges' tab will lead you to a page where you can buy useless badges.
Now, go forth and use this long list of information I have given you too finish setting up your forum account!
Part 2: How to Setup Your Chatango Account
In order to chat in the forum's chat box, you have to create a chatango account. Well, you can chat as an anon actually, but the admins tend to frown on that. In the bottom right corner of our lovely chat box (which is located on the righthand side towards the top of the page) is a little option labeled 'Set your name'. Clicking this will bring up a little box giving you two options: Chat with a temporary name or chat as a Chatango member. You will notice that the second option also provides you with the option to create a Chatango account by simply entering a username and password and clicking 'Sign up'. (Please note that you will be asked to provide an email address for your account.)
In order to add an avatar to your chat account, you can either (a) click on the three horizontal bars in the bottom right hand corner and click "Edit profile" or (b) say something in chat then click on the current avatar of your chat account which will automatically pull up a box where you can edit your profile.
If you wish to change the font or color of your text click on the italicized, underlined 'A' next to the place where you type. Some options should come up.
Use these to change the appearance of your text. Click the 'T' to see a list of fonts you can use. Click the '11' to change text size. Click the 'B' to make the text bold. Click the 'i' to make the text italicized. Click the 'U' to make the text underlined. Click 'bg' to change the color of your username on your chat as well as the background. Click the 'A' with a black rectangle underneath it to change the color of the text.
Another thing you can do is change the channel you're in.
Also, clicking 'Filter channels' will allow you to filter out content in certain channels.
You can also change sound preferences. However, the admins highly suggest that if you wish to turn off the chat sound, that you set it to "Only on @ replies" instead of "Never" for summoning purposes.
One of the things we use a bit on the forum are chatango private messages (aka CPMs). In order to access that from the chat box, click "Chatango" in the bottom left corner. There should be a "Private messaging" option available.
Also, if you wish to see who's online, there should be a number in the bottom right corner that when clicked will show you who's online and how long they have been online.
Another thing you'll notice in chat are emoticons. Look at the picture below to figure out how to access them.
Well, I think that's about everything you need to know about the chat. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the staff.
Part 3: Frequent Questions
Here are the answers to some of the more frequent questions asked by newcomers.
1. Can I be a forum Moderator/Admin?
In short, no. At least not right now. However, if you are interested in applying for a position as a mod there are a few requirements you must meet. You must be 13 years old at least, have a Skype account (and be able to use it), be very active on the forum, and prove yourself to be reliable and trustworthy. Either way we aren't looking for a new mod at the moment and probably won't be anytime soon. If you are interested in becoming an Admin...I just have two words for you: Good luck.
2. What's a CST? Can I participate?
CST is short for "Collaborative Story Telling". Each participant creates one or more characters (the amount you're allowed to create varies by CST) for the CST using the provided character form. They can then post for these characters and have them interact with other characters or just have them wander about doing things related to the plot. It's basically a much better form of roleplaying. Not to say it is roleplaying, but the two do have similarities.
To answer the second question, of course you can participate! We enjoy having new users join our CSTs and are willing to help if you ask. We only ask that you follow the general CST rules and the unique rules in whatever CST you choose to participate in. Here's the link to the general CST rules.
3. How do I post/create a topic?
You would be surprised at the frequency of these questions. To post in a topic, go to the topic first. You will see two "Reply" buttons, one towards the top of the page and one at the bottom. There is also a "Quick Reply" option.
To create a topic go to the board you think it would fit under and click the "Create Thread" button.
((I may end up adding more questions later.))
Forum Staff Members
zenwarrior54 "Zen" - Forum Owner
Iaashadow "Iaa" - Admin
nitrox116 "Nitrox" - Admin
widm1999219 "Widm/Box/Fluffy" - Global Moderator
Currently there are no board specific moderators, and probably there will never be.
There are also a plethora of chat moderators.
Link to the Forum Rules
Link to the Chat Rules
...
zenwarrior54 "Zen" - Forum Owner
Iaashadow "Iaa" - Admin
nitrox116 "Nitrox" - Admin
widm1999219 "Widm/Box/Fluffy" - Global Moderator
Currently there are no board specific moderators, and probably there will never be.
There are also a plethora of chat moderators.
Link to the Forum Rules
Link to the Chat Rules
...