Chat Room?

[Farcaster]

The question has come up about having a chat room on these forums. We definitely have the computing power and bandwidth to set one up, but before I do, I'm curious if you guys would be interested in using one. I also cannot devote a lot of time to policing it to make sure things don't get too rowdy (you know us damned gamers!), so I'd probably need a couple people who'd be willing to moderate the room - if we set one up.

So, what do you think? Would you use such a chat room if we had one?

[Skunkape]

I'd use a chat room sometimes, a lot depends on whether there are people in the chat room when I'm on, but they are nice. I use IM when I'm not to busy, mostly when I'm at work, chatting for a few minutes with friends and acquaintances. Usually, it's up for chatting with co-workers more than friends, but sometimes a friend or an acquaintance will see that I'm online and will chat for a few minutes.

[Shadowfire757]

I would go the way of Skunkape, I would most likely use the chat room frequently if there were others online to chat with. Heck could even get a campaign possibly going through chat. Then all of us in the middle of nowhere would get to game with the others in the more populated areas. ANd those who could not find games in their areas could stretch there wings a bit.

[gurusloth]

Also, if anyone wants to chat via AIM, you can start a chat room and name it 'penandpaper', and then anyone from here can just join whenever they want to talk.

[Farcaster]

Shadowfire757 brings up a very good point. A chat server could be used as a resource not just for idle banter, but for running games over chat. I've setup a chat room to see how well it runs. I'll post an announcement about it shortly.

[Zijaerdran]

I'd be interested in those results. I live in a verrrry rural area and cannot find a group to game with right now. If it works out well I'd be interested in getting into a chat-based group.

[spotlight]

I have used chat rooms before. Mostly on my msn-hotmail site. And I heve even run a short game there. I was in the habit of doing this mostly on Friday and Saturday nights, with the group members. I cannot do it currently 'cause my comp finally died, circa '98. When my budget allows another purchase, I'll be back on at home instead of being restricted to the public library.

[PhishStyx]

In fact, I'm in the chat room NOW.

EDIT: Well, I was in the chat from 10:45 - 12:34am, but never did see anyone. I'll try again another night, I s'pose.

[Farcaster]

Sorry, Phish. I'm going to add a message just below the navigation bar soon that will alert members when there are other people available in the chat room available to chat with. I'm normally up and check the chat rooms at that hour, but I went to bed early -- or rather, on-time, for once -- last night.

[PhishStyx]

No problem, I figured that if we post times we might be in the chat room, it will get more activity.

[ghost_runner]

I see the chat room is setup, however I can't access it, because it uses flash. Could we perhaps set up a room on dalnet/irc? We could use thier bandwidth, and even linux/mac ancient computers could log into it.

[Farcaster]

FlashChat also has an AJAX interface. Would that work better for you?

[bigtony]

yes yes a time to all be on line is a good thing

[PhishStyx]

That's nifty with the chat room notification at the top of the main page.

[Farcaster]

Here is a link to use the AJAX interface instead of Flash:

http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/chat/ajax/