Nobody here likes you, but if you behave like most others here, it's not long before you're a part of the community.
Everyone started out just like you, and everyone found their spot in the big jigsaw that is the ZDoom community.
Now, what you need to learn is some simple rules, behaviour and some internal terms. Some of these I wrote myself, and some are taken from other places, like the wiki, which is highly advised to read, should you be a newcomer. This is merely a quick rundown that's easier to find for the general newbie.
Feel free to submit your own thoughts to this thread.
The latest official version is ALWAYS at http://www.zdoom.org/Download
Official (off-topic) rules:
(Spoilered because of it's rather large screen size)
Spoiler:
Information about ZDoom
Versions
The newest official version is 2.5.0
If you have 1.22, no-one will help you if you can't be arsed to upgrade.
The latest official release is always at http://www.zdoom.org/Download
The latest compiled subversion can be found at http://svn.drdteam.org/
ZDoom and custom WAD/PK3 files
Should you wonder how to launch ZDoom with a custom WAD/PK3 file, [wiki]Installation_and_execution_of_ZDoom[/wiki]
Short summary; it's almost always as easy as dragging the WAD/PK3 file(s) in question over (G)ZDoom.exe (and start playing with the appropriate IWAD).
Forum behaviour:
Should you break these guidelines, you will most probably receive at least 97% flames in return of your original post. Chances are that close to everyone visiting on at least a weekly basis will participate, if the thread has not been cleaned/locked/deleted by a moderator.
Information
Don't make a thread that asks for or informs of what information is easily obtainable (either through the wiki, the forum search, or even easier, the manual), or about how 1337 you and your project is (especially when it's under-detailed and overpopulated (or in some cases, vice versa)).
Don't ask people to e-mail you this and that in threads. And you shouldn't ask questions directly to other people in threads. The PM function is there for a reason.
The wiki
The wiki is where you could turn to for information on ZDoom. If you ask stupid questions, you're gonna see either "WIKI" or <!>, depending on the stupidity of the question.
Threads and replying to them
- Try to have a point when making a thread, it's annoying when pointless threads pop up.
- When replying to a thread, make your post on-topic. If the thread is derailed, at least make a post concerning the "new" topic if you absolutely have to post and don't want to discuss the original subject.
- Make sure you post in the right subforum.
- Don't make a second reply if you're the last person to have a post, unless your intention is to bump the thread. The "edit" button is there for a reason.
- Use your brains before laying your fingers on the keyboard.
- The forum is NOT a chat room! If you wish to treat it as such, we have something like that. Just look at this: http://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22711
- Don't make a post consisting of l33tsp33k, because you will be treated like a moron.
- Don't make a post without proper punctuation (no periods, commas, tons of exclamation marks and other loser-inspired things) or bad capitalization (like writing only in UPPER/lowercase or CrAzYcApS.
- Write full words, or you'll be considered lazy.
- Don't overuse the smilies either.
You might see the average forumgoer breaking this guideline in a joking manner, but it is imperative that you, as a newcomer, do not break this guideline in your first posts. Break these simple grammar rules, and you will be marked as an idiot.
Bumping
Most of the forumgoers doesn't like near pointless bumping (reviving) of old threads. Make sure you've got something useful to add to the topic. Don't ever post in an old and abandoned topic just for the sake of posting. The boss himself says that as long as the post isn't way off target, it's okay.
Warezrandy wrote:If it's relevant, why does anybody care if an old topic is bumped? I don't.
Most of us don't really care if you've pirated all of your games, but don't discuss it on the forums, because it probably violates one or two rules in the agreement that randy has made with his webspace provider. What does discuss mean? It means talking about how to obtain software/media that you do not have a license to use.
In effect: If you ask how to obtain such software/media, no-one on the forums can/will help you. Yes, this includes "abandonware!"
Avatars
Don't use an avatar that could give seizures, they're pretty damn irritating.
Custom titles
Custom Title and Avatar insults are usually a quickfire way to get yourself unpopular.
(See Doomguy0505 and his old "binning Graf's avatar" avatar and stx's "STFU Jalla" title)
Bugs
When posting a bug report, please be sure to look at the Bug Posting Guidelines in the "Bugs" forum. Also, please be so kind to check if your bug is already fixed in the unofficial version or fixed for the coming official version. If that's the case, it's located in the closed bugs forum.
Please, check if your bug is already reported. Duplicates aren't popular.
The waiting game
When you ask for help in a thread, you should only hope for it, not expect. No one really owes it to you, but in ideal circumstances, such a community will be willing to help. Be thankful for what help you do get, and if you feel that you are not being helped, please be courteous when addressing this. This applies to both content and timeliness of replies. No one knows everything, and no one browses the forums constantly, noticing every new thread that has been posted instantaneously. Bumping a thread before a reasonable amount of time has passed is poor form.
Recruiting
You have a big project in your mind? Well, you'd better show some kind of progress if you want people to join in. Most of the people here are probably busy enough already, and you're unlikely to get serious members if you don't have anything to show.
Don't be a gullible bitch
Some "special" people's capacity for mis-information is unparalleled on these forums. They're smarmy, asinine and irritating. Don't listen to anything these people say; they're leading you up the garden path.
Who these people are? They shouldn't be that hard to spot.
Monkey see, monkey do
You probably shouldn't jump right into the action. Take some time to watch and learn how the system works, especially if you don't really know how to interact with other people you don't know personally.
Flaming
Flaming is what's being done to n00bs (not newbies, mind the difference). Do not bash regulars unless they deserve it (being an asshat is not restricted to n00bs). Flaming is not supported in any way from randy or the moderators, but it does nevertheless occur.
Usernames
Don't register under a username that contains two or less characters in it. This is because of administrative purposes.
Pornographic material/excessive graphic violence
As well as probably breaking a rule in randy's license with his provider, take note that these are public forums. Both 8 and 80-year-olds have access to these forums. Don't insert images of or excessive violence. Most of us can handle it, but there might be someone who'll react. This includes avatars, of course.
Politics, opinions and other [censored word] activities
We don't give a shit about your personal political opinion about Bush or Clinton or Obama or Osama or any other politician and their politics. We all have our own opinions, but we're not trying to convince you what's right and wrong about [insert conflict or debate here].
Don't make a thread about your personal tragedy. Most of us don't really care.
Forum terms:
You will most probably face some ZDoom or ZDoom-forum specific terms, and here are some of the more archaic terms that might pop up from time to time.
3.0
...or 2.6 or .64 or .99, anyway, it's "the coming version". You won't find it, because it doesn't exist. It's supposed to contain über stuff, but you won't get it (at least not yet).
GZDoom
Graf Zahl's version of ZDoom. Contains an OpenGL renderer, 3D-floors and FraggleScript (so it makes roughly 99% of all Legacy maps more or less compatible with it). Home page here.
randy
(One of) our god(s).
DoomScript
randy's super mega ultra hyper 30000+ deluxe script. Usually considered vaporware because of randy's apparent unwillingness to work on it.
ZDCMP
The ZDoom Community Map Project, a project which is open for all mappers to join in on.
ZDCMP1 can be found at Realm 667
KDiZD
Tormentor667's infamous ZDoom project, an effort to recreate all of Episode 1, "Knee-Deep in the Dead" with the power of ZDoom.
Get it here!
ZDForums / ZDoomForums [.wad]
Sir_Alien's discontinued joke wad, intended to make fun of the forum and the many personalities found within. Now it's all but lost.
Jesusing/jesusifying
This means breaking a thread intentionally by posting so much information and formatting codes that the page layout breaks and the page takes forever to load. The term jesusing/jesusifying comes from the thread "O MY GOD I FOUND JESUS" by Liquid_paper_dk, should you ever wonder. Also, this is a violation of both off-topic rules #2 and #4.
timeline[.png]
Old news aren't exciting.
You fail it!
Recieving <!>, <!> in your thread or as a reply to your post means that you fail at whatever topic in your post. Your skill is not enough.
If you aren't able to follow the rules, you can exit your web browser immediately, for the sake of all good.
If it sounds harsh, it's by all means not. Check other forums' rules and guidelines, and you'll know that the ZDoom forums are a haven. Just don't misuse your liberty. Respect the other users and you will gain respect from them. Should you ever wonder about anything, please consult the wiki before using the forums. And using the forums means searching before asking.
Welcome!
Changes:
Dec 12th 2010 22:45 CET - Updates
Aug 27th 2010 12:28 PDT - Clarified warez.
May 15th 2010 19:08 PDT - Mild updates. -ww
Nov 28th 22:53 CET - Updated stuff.
Jan 4th 2009 10:32 GMT+2 - Changed svn link - Siggi
Jun 13th 2008 15:43 CET - Changed title a little and some minor info additions.
Feb 20th 2008 00:17 CET - Updates because PEOPLE NAG.
Jan 17th 2008 06:33 CET - Stuff.
Jun 2nd 2007 18:10 CET - Updated KDiZD
Nov 4th 2006 20:32 CET - Changed minor miscellaneous stuff and version numbers.
Oct 16th 2006 22:35 CET - Updated version numbers and changed title.
Sep 2nd 2006 3:22 CET - Updated version numbers and a few minor edits.
Jul 30th 2006 15:25 CET - Updated version numbers and a minor edit.
Jul 23rd 2006 16:30 CET - Minor edits.
Jul 13th 2006 16:50 CET - Minor stuff and DoomScript added.
Jul 3rd 2006 22:52 CET - Updated version numbers and spoilered off-topic rules.
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