A WELCOME and COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION to this Board - The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien

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A WELCOME and COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION to this Board

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PLEASE READ!
Petitioner to the Council

Alliance: The One Ring
Last Visited: 22 Dec 2004
Joined: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 15

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 11:09 am

A WELCOME and COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION to this Board H e l l o N e w M e m b e r ! ! ! W e l c o m e t o t h e M e s s a g e b o a r d ! ! ! We are glad you are here !!! This messageboard is affectionately known as TORC which stands for The One Ring.com . So, you are now officially a TORCer ! In the other announcement in this forum is a message of welcome and some guidelines that will help you settle in here. It provides additional information that will help make visits here much more enjoyable for yourself and everyone else. _C O N T E N T S_ In this introduction message you will find information on... The Terms of Service The Administration / Staff of TORC The Layout of TORC The Help? Threads The Emoticon Gang , a.k.a the Smilies Pictures and Text in Signatures (The bottom portion of each post) Codes for formatting your posts (bold text, lists, polls, links, special characters etc) The fine art of "Bumping" Double-posting Subscribing to Threads Searching Threads The Art Gallery There is a lot of information in this message, but I feel it is all worth reading. It is a compilation of many tips which I picked up from other members since I joined TORC. Before we get started here are some good words of advice from your fellow TORCers. From ateelah ... If you find a thread on the messageboard that you would like to participate in, it's a good idea to read the beginning post and some of the replies. Some of the threads are started as jokes. This sometimes gets lost as the replies start to stack up. Some of the threads are serious and your response should be too. If you feel someone has responded to your reply in a harsh manner, ignore them. There is no point in exchanging insults with them. It's better just to find another thread, or start one of your own. Make sure you are posting in the correct forum. There are many to choose from related to the different books, movies, art, etc. From Liendle Open your eyes, open your mind, pay attention and make a habit of reading more than you post. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 1 _ _T H E _ T E R M S _ O F _ S E R V I C E_ A must read for all members is the [url=http://www.theonering.com/landing_pages/1,3.html] Terms of Service. [/url] The TOS covers the rules of etiquette and decorum for this Family Friendly Site. If you come across a post that is in violation of the TOS you should use the global mod address, mods@theonering.com . Finally, consider getting adopted . Several respected members of the TORC community take newcomers under their wings in the Adoption forum and mentor them in the ways of this site. To become "adopted" just look at the list of adopters , choose the one you feel would best suit you, and post to their thread. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 2 _ _T H E _ F O U N D E R S _ A N D _ M O D E R A T O R S _ O F _ T H I S _ S I T E_ To just drop a friendly note/suggestion, provided below are the email addresses of the people who maintain this site. All of them want you to enjoy your visits to TORC and need your participation and help in keeping this a fun place to visit. The Founders of this fine web-site are: J o n a t h a n - Jonathan@theonering.com or info@theonering.com T e d Jon and Ted no longer handle interpersonal messageboard problems, please refer problems to the - Messageboard Moderators These are the guys who oversee the running of the board and help keep a "method to the madness", which means they have the power to lock threads, delete posts, move threads to the appropriate forum, and if necessary warn or ban people for anti-social behaviour, or refer problems they can't handle to Jonathan and Ted. There is now a global Mod email address, mods@theonering.com . But if you need to contact them individually, the currently-active Mods are ... Alys Tirith@theonering.com Blackwood blackwoodtorc@yahoo.co.uk Daefaroth Daefaroth@theonering.com ElvenArcher ElvenArcher@theonering.com Hobbituk Hobbituk@theonering.com InnocentEvil innocentevil@theonering.com luthienelflover luthienelflover@theonering.com Metatron/Gilaglar metatron@theonering.com Sandra Sandra@theonering.com NOTE: The Mods receive a lot of spam and virus mail. Please be sure to start your Subject line with the word "TORC" . Otherwise, there is a good chance your e-mail will be lost in the Great Spam Flood and will be missed / deleted. You can recognize the Mods by the symbol that appears above their names, which is also the TORC logo: ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 3 _ _T H E _ L A Y O U T _ O F _ T O R C_ _____________________________________________________________________ THE THREE THINGS YOU WILL SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN (Around your user name): FIRST . The symbols directly above your post count indicate your current "post count status" . (Sword) = 10 posts (you may have up to 4 at one time) (Diamond) = 50 posts (at the most 1) (Red Shield) = 100 posts (at the most 4) (Rohan Shield) = 500 posts (at the most 1) (Gondor Shield) = 1000 posts (at the most 4) (Mariner's Shield) = 5000 posts (at the most 1) (The One Ring) = 10,000 posts (Unknown Maximum) _____________________________________________________________________ SECOND . The symbol above your Nickname is your "BANNER" . You start with a "default" banner (Blue Wizard, or Eowyn, ) but can change it by going into Profile (located at the top of any screen). The Alliance , just below your title , corresponds with your current banner choice . Some of our most popular banners and Alliances: "Valinor" "Rohan" "The Shire" "The House of Elrond" "Gondor" "Servant to Galadriel" "Angband" But there are many more! Go to your profile and scroll down to the avatar control panel to find one that fits you! The Moderators can be identified by their Alliance, "The One Ring", and by their banner, What is this banner and why can't you find it on your Alliances list? It is a mod Alliance with a medal, and symbolizes a person who was once a Moderator but has since retired to being a regular poster. It's a sign of our appreciation for them and all they have done. _____________________________________________________________________ THIRD . The "Title" just below your Nickname indicates your ranking as follows... _____________________________________________________________________ We have a number of members who have over 10,000 posts ... Behold and all hail the "Ringbearers" (in approximate chronological order for First Ring ONLY): !ISAIAH! IsildursHeir LiMuBai erinhue sandra Elian_Ranel Earnil TerryD The,real,Maeglin Klonkku Mithfânion Themedes InnocentEvil Tarina Silmarill gimli_axe_wielder Telemachos Rodia SilverScribe Vanaladiel Canamarth Lady_of_Rohan Didi luthienelflover elf_maiden Evenstar_of_Imladris elfshadow -\|---Anduril Ugluk ILvEowyn oldtoby Hobbituk Tookish_Traveler Evenstar_Elfstone rwhen rowanberry Calma IrisBrandybuck balrogthane Silwen Lalaith-Elerrina GwenElf Tygarya ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 4 _ _T H E _ H E L P ? T H R E A D S_ "Comprehensive list of Abbreviations" courtesy of FrodoTook , now run by Earnil , in the Welcome Forum. It has a list of most of the abbreviations you will run into in the message boards. There are some abbreviations you have probably not seen in other message boards. You can even post an abbreviation for your own TORC nickname in the thread for your convenience and for other members. Earnil will be glad to add your abbrev. for your "nick" to the main post. _____________________________________________________________________ "Newbie Adoption" TORC is a big place and some of our new members benefit from being "Adopted / Mentored". There are many members who offer their services in answering questions and showing new members around this place. Please check out the list in the "Adoption Forum" for further information. _____________________________________________________________________ " Alliance and Guild REFERENCE LIST - See them all!" in the "The Peoples of Middle-earth:Alliances and Guilds Forum", courtesy of Falling_Starlight . At this link you will find helpful information and a comprehensive list of the large variety of fun groups (Alliances/Guilds) you can join. A Guild, Alliance and/or League can be defined as follows... All are a gathering of members who have a common interest. All Guilds, Alliances and/or Leagues have a particular "theme". The theme defines the interests of the gathering and is usually denoted in the "title/name" of the Guild, Alliance and/or League. The easiest way to find out what the particular theme is, in addition to the "title", and I highly recommend this course, is to read through some of the messages within the respective Guild, Alliance and/or League . Especially the first ones and the last ones . The main thing is to "look before your leap" and to keep in mind that in some of the "established Guilds, Alliances and/or Leagues", the members may take offence to a "random" unrelated post by someone with whom they are not familiar. Some of the Guilds, Alliances and/or Leagues are rather cliquish, while others are very receptive of new posters. Once again, the best advice I can give is to do a little research by reading the beginning and ending messages prior to just jumping in there. Get a "feel" for the thread before you jump in head first. You are most likely to have a more pleasant experience in the Guilds, Alliances and/or Leagues if you do. _____________________________________________________________________ Role Playing Look at Rules and Guidelines for Role Playing and Role Playing 101 for an idea of what Role Playing is and how it works. Then, get your "ROLE PLAYING" feet wet in the Beginner Role Playing Thread entitled The Lucky Fortune Inn , courtesy of erinhue . erinhue welcomes all newbies to pay a visit to the The Lucky Fortune Inn in the Welcome forum. Many times new members are uncertain or intimidated by the role play in the The Prancing Pony:Role Playing forum. So stop in for a drink on the house and get your first taste of newbie-friendly role play. _____________________________________________________________________ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 5 _ _T H E _ E M O T I C O N _ G A N G, _ a. k. a. _ T H E _ S M I L I E S _ You can insert "emoticons" or "smilies" to brighten up your post or make it more expressive, by typing the appropriate code. The picture won't appear as you type them, but will when you submit your post. Instead of typing the code, you can also insert a smiley by clicking on its picture to the left of the reply window - more smileys are available when you click the View more Emoticons link. Here are all the smiley codes currently in use (apart from some special mod-only ones ) - this list may be soon out of date though: _Code(s) _ _Smiley_ _Meaning_ : -D or : D Big Grin : ) or : -) or : smile: Smile : ( or : -( or : sad: Sad : o or : -o or : eek: Surprised : shock: Shocked : ? or : -? or : ???: or % ( Confused 8 ) or 8- ) or :c ool: Cool :l ol: Laughing : x or : -x or : mad: Mad : P or : -P or : razz: Razz : oops: Embarrassed :cr y2: Crying or Very sad :e vil: Evil or Very Mad :t wisted: Twisted Evil :ro ll: or B ^ Rolling Eyes :wi nk: or ; ) or ; -) Wink : !: Exclamation : \| or : -\| or : neutral: Neutral =: ) Devil : rofl: or : rotfl: Laughing : cry: or : '( or : '-( Sad : nono: No No :a ngry: Very Angry >- O or > O Angry : Q Shocked : sleep: or : zzz: Sleeping : drink: or : sing: Drinking : thppt: Razz with Hands :ba ng: Bangs Head :wo ah: Woah! :an gel: Angel Smile :ar gue: Argument :h orse: Stickhorse :group hug: Group Hug :TOR C: I Love TORC : pull: or : hair: Pulling Hair Out :lightni ng: or :lighten ing: Lightning :angeld evil: Devil and Angel : blush: Embarrassed :happyd ance: Happy Dance :hear t: or < 3 Heart :h ug: Hug : clap: Clapping Happy :cave troll: Cave Troll :ey e: The Eye :l ove: Love Smiley : puke: or : ew: Puke : thumbsup: Thumb's Up : whistle: Whistling : doh: or : homer: D'oh! : bookworm: Bookworm : evilaugh: Evil Laughter : hihi: Waving : lmbo: Laughing : roflmbo: Laughing : rose: Giving a rose : yippie: Yippie! ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 6 _ _P I C T U R E S _ A N D _ T E X T _ I N _ Y O U R _ S I G N A T U R E_ *This is available only to members with " Premiere Memberships "* Click HERE for more information on "Premiere Membership". ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 7 _ _C O D E S _ F O R _ F O R M A T T I N G _ Y O U R _ P O S T S_ GENERAL Above the box where you type your post, there is a guide to smilies and formatting your text. There are a few different ways to do this. For example, to make bold text, you can either: type the codes like this: [ b] text to be bolded [/b] click the B button before typing the text to be bolded, than again afterwards. This will insert the codes for you. hold down the <alt> key and B on the keyboard before typing the text to be bolded and then again afterwards. highlight the text to be bolded with your mouse, and then click the B button, which will also insert the codes for you. You can underline or italicise text, or make links , in a similar way - hover your mouse over the buttons above the reply window to see the keyboard shortcuts. See below for more detail on making links. Note, as you will see below, text inside the [ code] tags appears exactly as typed. So smilies or any other type of formatting won't work. _____________________________________________________________________ COPYING AND PASTING TEXT To copy/paste some text... At the text you wish to copy, move your cursor/pointer just to the left of the first part of the text you wish to copy. When the pointer turns into an I shape, while holding down your left side mouse key, "rake" the cursor over the entire text you wish to copy. Now, release your left mouse key. The text will be "highlighted". Now, "right click" on what is highlighted and click on "copy". Now you can start a message, "right click" on your mouse and click on "paste" and what you copied will be pasted onto your message. _____________________________________________________________________ LINKS To post a link to an image or web-site on the internet, including threads in this messageboard: "Right click" on the body of the site or the body of the image. (If you or trying to post a link to a thread, right click on the threads title). Then click on "Properties". "Highlight" then "Copy" (as above) the long string of characters (beginning with http) just to the right of URL/address. Now, start a message and "paste" what you just copied. That's it! You have posted a "link". You can now make "WORDED" links! the format is: [URL=http://your link] your description [/URL] For example...Now I can just type... "Be sure to visit The Abbreviations Thread " _____________________________________________________________________ LISTS There are three different types of list you can make: Make a bulleted list like this: code: [list] []Caranthir []Curufin []Celegorm [/list] ... which gives this: Caranthir Curufin Celegorm Make a numbered list like this: code: [list=1] []Fingolfin []Fëanor []Finarfin [/list] ... which gives this: Fingolfin Fëanor Finarfin Make an alphabetical list like this: code: [list=a] []Finwë []Elwë [*]Ingwë [/list] ... which gives this: Finwë Elwë Ingwë _____________________________________________________________________ POLLS This board has the useful option of making polls , if you want your fellow TORCers to vote on a question. A running total of the votes cast appears at the top of your poll thread. How to make a Poll: Click on "New Topic" like starting any other thread. Enter in your title in the Subject line. Enter text into message body. A poll MUST have text in the body. Enter in your poll question in the field provided. Enter in your first poll option. Click on "Add Option". After clicking "Add Option" you will have a second poll option. Repeat until you have all the options you want. Every poll option must have "Update" and "Delete" next to it in order to show up. Therefore the last poll option should be blank. Choose how long you poll should run, or leave that section as blank or enter zero for a never-ending poll. Hit "Submit". _____________________________________________________________________ THE UMLAUTS AND SPECIAL CHARACTERS eg. å ç ê ë è ï Yes, they have a name and here is a link to a thread which will give you all the information you need to make them appear in your messages. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 8 _ _" B U M P I N G " . . . . ? ? ? _ W H A T _ I S _ T H A T ? ? ?_ During your visits you will eventually go into a thread and in the last post the only word you will see is BUMP . When you see the single word " bump " posted in a message, the poster did that with the single goal of making that particular thread appear at the top of its respective forum again. Since threads are listed in order of the most recent post, everytime a thread is posted into it moves back up to the top of its forum. The "bump" is a quick way to do this if you really don't have anything else to say. It is usually done for the benefit of someone else who is looking for the thread or it might be because the "bumper" wants all members to see the thread again with the hope of them clicking into the thread and reading it. Please be discerning with your "bumps" as too many of them will be seen as spam! Instead of just using the word "bump", try posting something of value in line with the general subject of the thread. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 9 _ _D O U B L E - P O S T I N G _ Sometimes you will accidentally post the same message two (or more! ) times in a row. This happens quite often, and is nothing to get too worried about. The best option is to go back to to your extra posts and edit them, to remove all the text in place of something of like "sorry! dp" [dp = double-post]. If you post, and immediately get an error message, DON'T press the refresh button. Go back to a view of the thread, and press the refresh button to see if your post went through or not - most likely it did ... and you've just avoided double-posting ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 1 0 _ _S U B S C R I B I N G _ T O _ T H R E A D S_ This is a very helpful free service this messageboard offers for when you have initiated a thread or if you come across a thread and you want to know whenever it is updated (ie: someone posts a new message). Each time the thread is updated after you visit you will recieve one email letting you know. To get notifications, just click the "Watch this topic" link at the top of a thread you want to recieve updates for, or, when you make a post, check the "Notify me when a reply is posted" box below the reply box. ???GETTING TOO MANY E-MAILS??? (from TORC subscriptions) Uncheck the Notify me when a reply is posted box when posting or editing. Or go to the thread and click the Stop watching this thread link. If you never want any email notifications, go to 'My Settings' and set the Always notify me of replies option to 'No'. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 1 1 _ _U S I N G _ T H E _ " S E A R C H _ F U N C T I O N "_ . At the top of each page is a "Search Function". Use this to quickly find threads by "Keyword" (ie: Gandalf, help, dragons, Galadriel, signature, etc). Click on the forum(s) you want to search. The new window will show the applicable threads in order of the most recent update. There is also the "front-page" search box (underneath the links menu on the left of the front page ) which can search the other parts of TORC besides the message-board. Check out didi 's Search Lite thread for more searching tips. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ _ 1 2 _ _T H E O N E R I N G _ A R T _ G A L L E R Y_ . For the "Highest Rated" section of the ART Gallery click here ...(the best images are in the lower numbered groups)...( note the "Ratings" ). ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ In closing, a few more tips : Roam around and visit as many forums as possible. It will help you find the places where you can regularly meet with other members with interests which match your own. Join in on and reply to the threads you enjoy. Everyone's voices need to be heard. Initiate threads ( Start "NEW TOPICS" ) on things that interest you. PLEASE , Try to post your "NEW TOPICS" in the APPROPRIATE FORUMS so you will get more responses to your post, and remember to make sure there isn't already a thread with your topic! Last, but certainly not least , WE HOPE YOU HAVE FUN!!! Once again, Welcome!!! FrodoTook , Blackwood , and luthienelflover last updated: February 2010

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