Welcome to another edition of Damsel's Guides! I'm answering the cries for help, and I'm here to teach you: How2Forum.
I'm going to assume that you're slow, ok? No offense, it's just generally easier to understand something that was created for slow people. ^-^ I'm going to be as obvious as possible, with lots of arrows pointing you in the right direction. If you're not slow (or even if you are) here's an amusing flash video about how to use a forum (aka message board): Posting and You! Thank you, unununium, for reminding me that this exists. XD
Hello there, first time on a forum/message board? Well, then this is a guide to teach you how it all works.
First...and this is important. See this? It's an eye. You have one (hopefully two). It's likely one of the colors that eye is (maybe two). If you don't have at least one eye...er...what are you doing on the interwebs?! D: The #1 thing to do on a forum: Use your eyes. If you don't like reading....GO AWAY. This is a message board. It is type. There are words. You must read. You must write. If you don't like to read or write, you're going to have a problem. Forums/message boards are TYPE BASED not PICTURE BASED. This is not your elementary school picture books. So use your eyes, or go somewhere else.
Components
All forums are a little different, but they follow the same basic formula. Forum>Category>Board>Thread/Topic>Post
You go to the Forum. You look through the categories to find the section most likely to contain the information you're looking for. You look at the boards that are in that category and find the most appropriate one. You look at the threads on the board within the category to see if someone else has already posted what you're looking for. Pick a thread, read the first post and at least some of the following posts, and think about what you want to say. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE, THEN SAY IT. OTHERWISE, DO NOT POST.
The search function is one of the most important, and useful, functions of a forum. Yes, the Trickster forum has a search button:
Navigation
When you first go to a board, look for Sticky Threads. Stickies are threads the GMs think are important. They stay at the top of the board, even if no one posts on them. Stickies are very important, and you should always check and see what they say. Even if you don't think a particular sticky looks like what you're looking for, read it anyway. They will nearly always contain important information, or be staple threads of the given board.
Threads
When you're reading a thread, there are some important things to make note of. Never post on a thread that is over 1 month old unless you have something important to add. DO NOT post just to comment, or to revive the topic (unless it's an important subject that has returned to current events). Do not post on a thread just to bring it back to life because you think it's funny. Such behavior is not taken well here on the Trickster Official Forum. After an issue has been resolved, we like to let it stay dead. There is one exception to this: Bug reports. No matter how old a bug is, if you find a thread about it, you can post on it, assuming you've encountered it. Do not post a solution on a really old thread in the Bug Reports. If it hasn't been posted on in a long time, it's probably either solved or forgotten. Posting a solution on a resolved report helps no one. But if you encounter a glitch, and the only thread about it is 4 months old, it's OK to post on that thread.
The image above shows (part of) the first post of the Trickster FAQs thread. The red lines and text point out and explain important aspects of what's found at the top of a thread.
The "favorites" option allows you to add the post you click it on, the user who made the post, or the board the post is on, to your favorites. You favorites are accessible from your profile.
The image below shows the bottom of the first page of the Trickster FAQs thread. Again, the red lines and text point out and explain important aspects, this time of what's at the bottom of a thread.
Posting
Ok, so you've found the thread you want, on the right board, in the appropriate category, and you're ready to make an intelligent, contributory reply. You click "reply" aaaand:
**Another important note: When making a post, make SURE your subject line is relevant to the topic. Don't post a misleading title just to get attention. And try not to do something as simple as "HALP!" because we don't know WHAT you need help with! If you want people to read your threads with an open mind, and offer you constructive feedback, you must be perfectly strait forward, honest and clear about what your problem is. Provide as much information, in as simple terms, as possible.
It's important to understand, forums can be SLOW. Especially this one. Clicking the "post" button WILL NOT make it process faster. Once you click, you have SENT. It can take a while (I've had it take up to 10 minutes between hitting "post" and the post showing up) before it shows up, but DO NOT click "post" more than once. Ever. Period. Look at the status bar in the lower left corner of your browser. If it says anything other than "done", then the forum is receiving your info. IF you click "post" again, you'll be starting all over, and sending a second post. DOUBLE POSTING IS BAD!
It is possible to delete you own posts, as long as no one has clicked "reply" on your post.
The "edit" button is also very important. If you have made a TYPO in your post, use the edit button. DO NOT MAKE A 2ND POST TO CORRECT MISTAKES IN A PREVIOUS POST!
Below shows what the "options" tab looks like.
You might be wondering what "related" is. The "related" tab will show you other recent threads with similar titles/key words as what is in your thread (or whomever's thread you're looking at when you click the "related" tab.)
Preview lets you preview your post. Always click "preview" if you're inserting images in to, or using codes in your post.
Personal
At the top right corner, above the Trickster and Grand Chase buttons are your personal functions. You can edit your profile and check messages.
The Inbox doesn't flash or turn bold when you have a new Private Message. So if you care to check your messages, take a look in yout inbox at least once a day.
For a detailed guide on how to edit your profile, you can look at the stickies on this board and the Questions/Guides board, as there are guides about that in both locations.
Ok, that's all, folks. Follow the steps, read the rules, and have a good time! You have no excuse for saying "I didn't know" now.
(As a sidenote, this guide has taken me over 8 hours to complete, so it better get a ton of views, and you guys had better revere it for all eternity!! D;)
