RuneScape:Off-site/IRC

Internet Relay Chat, usually referred to as IRC, is an online chat protocol that bears some resemblance to instant messenger protocols. The main difference is that IRC is oriented around channels that allow a conversation involving dozens or hundreds of people to take place, rather than the two-person conversations that usually take place with instant messaging. (Note, however, that IRC also has a private message mechanism, but its main use is its channels.) Each IRC user is usually running client software on their computer, which enables a connection to an IRC server. Groups of servers are usually set up to communicate with one another, sharing channels and users, and forming networks. There are hundreds of publicly accessible IRC networks today.

The RuneScape Wiki has its own IRC channel, #wikia-runescape, set up on the Freenode IRC network. Freenode is focused on broadly licensed projects such as open-source software and wikis, and a number of other wikis (including Wikipedia and other Wikia) have their channels there. Anyone is welcome to join the channel; no special permission is needed. There are two gateways set up for easy access, the CGI:IRC gateway, and the Java gateway. Simply enter a nickname to use and connect through the web-based interface.

Users who are in the IRC channel regularly might find it more useful to download a more complete client onto their computer. mIRC and XChat are two of the most popular. If you would like to use one of these clients, point it to irc://irc.freenode.net/wikia-runescape to connect to our channel.

Commands
IRC supports a number of commands, with varied uses. An incomplete list of commands is found below. Note that the commands should be typed exactly as is, with the slash in front, replacing the parameters (if any) for their values.


 * /nick nickname - Changes your current nickname to the provided nickname. This fails if another user is already using that nickname. Also, your registration DOES NOT change over to the new nickname.
 * /join #channel - Opens a new chat page containing the provided channel. You MUST include the # before the channel name. This may fail if the channel requires a key to enter—in that case, if you know the key, just type it in after the channel name in the command—or if the channel has been set to invite-only, or if you have been banned.
 * /part #channel - Causes you to leave the provided channel. If you are using the CGI:IRC gateway, you should manually close the actual chat page using the grey X in the top-right of the page. Don't click the RED X that closes your internet browser!
 * /me emote - Causes you to send to the current channel an emote, along the lines of "Mynick emote". Example: if I am Oddlyoko, "/me dances!" writes "* Oddlyoko dances!"
 * /whois user - Gathers the information of the specified user, including their ident, hostmask, and whether they are identified with NickServ or not.
 * /quit [message] - Disconnects you from the network. A quit message is also optional.

Administrators' commands
All administrators, please read this section thoroughly. To make use of any of these commands, you must have op access in the channel, which is not given by default. Authorized users (administrators who have registered with NickServ and have been added to the access list) can give themselves op access using the "/cs op #wikia-runescape" command. This should only be done when you need to make use of an administrative command, and should be undone with "/mode -o your nick" when this is complete.


 * /kick nickname  [reason]  - Removes a user from the current channel. Optionally can take a "reason".
 * /remove channel user  [:reason]  - Removes a user from the current channel, similar to /kick, but it circumvents any auto-rejoin commands the targeted user may have. Optionally can take a "reason", but the : character must be placed at the start of it.
 * /invite nickname #wikia-runescape - Invites the given user to #wikia-runescape.
 * /mode flag - Sets the given flag-mode. (Some clients require that you specify the channel name between "/mode" and the flag.) Flags are either channel flags or user flags; see table. All flags can either be set (using a preceding + sign) or unset (using a preceding - sign). A full list of user and channel modes as well as their functions can be found here. Generally, however, you will deal with channel flags rather than user flags, and user flags sometimes require a different command.

Please use the invite and mute flags sparingly. Mute may be used in certain cases to prevent spam before kicking the users who are spamming. Use all the administrator commands only in appropriate situations. Only kick users who have broken the chat policies. Only ban users who have repeatedly broken the chat policies, show no signs of improving, and do little but break the chat policies. Misuse of the administrators commands violates the RuneScape Wiki's User treatment policy, and abusers will be warned or demoted accordingly.