This is the topic describing the "official" chatroom of this forum.

Depending on the day and the time, there might be nobody or more than 20 persons online (PROBABLY NOBODY). If you haven't used IRC before, you should take into account that not all people who are in the chatroom must actually be presently sitting in front of their computer, and so they might not respond instantly or at all (if you're impatient).

Sometimes people even go to bed with the chatroom open.

• Network: SorceryNET
• Connect to: irc.sorcery.net (supports SSL at port 9999!)
• Channel/chatroom: #MUGEN

IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat.

The principle is this: a bunch of "IRC servers" together form an "IRC network." After connecting to one of these networks you can join any number of chatrooms called "channels" there.

In order to connect to such a network you have three basic way you can go:

• 1) Use a web application. This is the fastest, easiest and least reliable way, and you don't need to install anything apart from what the application needs (usually just a web browser, and Java). Ideal for checking out what an IRC channel is like if you've never seen one before, but not recommended for actual longer use. These applications are usually very limited; some don't even have colors to separate different users, and you will often get disconnected for no apparent reason.
  
  • http://irc.netsplit.de/webchat/?net=IRCHighWay&room=%23mugen&nick= (requires Java)
• 2) Use a standalone program that is meant only for IRC, just like you might use a Internet browser that is just for . . . browsing. You normally need to download and install these programs. This is the recommended and most stable way you can go if you plan to use IRC more than once or twice a month.
  
  • XChat (recommended for Linux)
  • XChat 2 (recommended for Windows)
  • mIRC (the most popular Windows IRC client; annoys you with a "REGISTER NOW" start-up dialog)
  • Visual IRC 2
• 3) Use a all-in-one program. Depending on the quality of the program, this way can be as good as the middle way--but very often all-in-one programs can do many things, including IRC, but not as well as a stand-alone application that specializes just in IRC might, so there can be bugs or incomplete features. But if you already happen to have one of these programs, you might as well use it to check IRC out.
  
  • Miranda IM (if you're a control freak who loves adjusting programs and settings)
  • Opera browser
  • Trillian