1. Download mIRC. You can find the newest version of this program at
www.mirc.com -- it's a little over one megabyte in size, so it might take a bit of time to download if you're on a slower connection. Install the program, following the on-screen instructions. At the end of the installation process, you'll get the option to launch mIRC.
2. Load up mIRC and close the About mIRC window. You'll see a dialogue box called mIRC Options. Fill out your name, e-mail address and nickname at the bottom, then hit the Add button. Be sure to choose your nickname carefully; common Final Fantasy names like 'Sephiroth' or 'Zidane' will in all likelihood already be taken.
3. Under Description, fill in 'Espernet', then select a server from the drop-down list. Leave Ports as it is; the default number should be '6667'. If it isn't, change it. Then hit Add. Alternatively, you can just select 'Espernet (Random server)' from the drop-down list above the Connect to IRC Server button.
4. Click on Connect to IRC server. A new dialogue box, mIRC Channels Folder, should appear. Hit Add.
5. Under Channel, type '#returners'. If you are only using mIRC to connect to #returners, check the Auto-join channel on connection option as well. Hit OK, then double-click on the newly-created listing in the Channels Folder to access the channel.
6. Before you start participating in the discussion, check back on the Status window for the following message:
-NickServ- This nickname is registered and protected. If it is your
-
-NickServ- nick, type /msg NickServ IDENTIFY password. Otherwise,
-
-NickServ- please choose a different nick.
If this message comes up, your first choice of nickname is already in use. Into the command line at the bottom, type:
/nick [new nickname]
--and hit Enter. [new nickname] should be replaced with whatever nickname you want to change to when entering the command. If the same message comes up again, keep trying until you find a nickname that hasn't been taken yet.
6. Now register your nickname with NickServ to ensure others won't use it. Type:
/msg nickserv register [password]
[password] should be replaced with whatever password you intend to use to verify your nickname. Each subsequent time you log onto mIRC, you can confirm your identity by typing:
/msg nickserve IDENTIFY [password]
Once inside the channel, basic rules of netiquette apply; disruptive behaviour will result in immediate banning from the channel by moderators for the remaining duration of the respective session. More assistance can be found in mIRC's own help files and among the various, more detailed IRC FAQs available on-line.
Alternately, you can use our embedded IRC client. Note that it is not anonymous, and your IP is logged and used for the chat.
Note: The client should automatically join the channel, but you see no users in the user list on the right hand side, simply type "/join #returners" to fix it.
