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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ToreadorVampire" data-source="post: 4130525" data-attributes="member: 9619">The first part of that is easy:  A Mibbit embedded client is just plain HTML that can be poked on any web page.  All it requires to run is Javascript support.  "Here's one I made earlier" for the dumpshock.com chat:  <a href="http://toreadorvampire.co.uk/dumpshock/" target="_blank">http://toreadorvampire.co.uk/dumpshock/</a>  It's very minimal by design, since I'd like the DS admins to adopt it as their semi-official dumpshock chat (their website is currently without chat).  Hence I've left it fairly easy to customise.The second part (integrating with the boards user list) is a little harder, but not impossible, and does have a few implications.  (here's where I get a little techie):Integrating an IRC connection with the forum user database <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You would set the IRC channel to have a channel-key that is not shared with anybody in plaintext (lest it become comprimised and shared amongst the wrong people).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You follow the instructions at <a href="http://wiki.mibbit.com/index.php/Widget#Securing_your_widget" target="_blank">http://wiki.mibbit.com/index.php/Widget#Securing_your_widget</a> to make it so that it is impossible to use a Mibbit widget to connect to <the ENworld channel> from any other website</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Configure the channel key with the Mibbit backend (IE:  Go to irc.mibbit.com #help and tell Axod the server, channel, and they channel key and he will configure it for you)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Configure the Mibbit embedded widget to prevent nickname changes and joining other channels (if desired) - again - ask axod on irc.mibbit.com how to do this - he's real helpful</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You use server-side logic on the ENW chat page so that the widget does not appear unless the user is logged in using a valid boards nickname (that is not banned)</li> </ul>With that - you have your wish.  However the implications (that I can think of) are:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The only way to connect to the channel would be via the web page, which whilst not based on Java or Flash, will annoy some people</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You should probably prefix nicknames when connecting to the network (say connect using the nick en_Nickname) - in order to avoid nick collisions with other chatters that use the network.  Say we had a chatter named It_Trolls (actually we do) - he uses the otherworlders.org network but is nothing to do with #dnd3e or ENWorld, (he lives under the bridge in #dumpshock).  If you had a forums member named the same, your forums user wouldn't be able to connect, because their nick is already in use by someone else who (legitimately) got there first.</li> </ul>As a closing statement - whilst this is possible, it does go against the general (considered good-practice) "online community model" of allowing people to participate as much as possible without having to sign up.  Some visitors who cannot access the chat without having a valid forums username will simply walk away, because they don't like signup forms.  Of note is recent ALA article:  <a href="http://www.alistapart.com/articles/signupforms" target="_blank">http://www.alistapart.com/articles/signupforms</a>Also, I would strongly advise against using a chat that cannot be accessed via a normal IRC client.  Being able to chat without having to have a full web browser open (monopolising your screen) is a huge plus that's going for #dnd3e, and the reason that I continued using it 5 years (or however long) ago when WotC changed their chat system to a "can only interact via a web page" model.  When WotC did that a LOT of the regulars - including some really valued ones - vanished and dispersed to other chats.Either way - even if #dnd3e is to be de-sponsored as the ENW official chat (and a new channel created named #enworld, with new admins and whatever) there is no reason not to use otherworlders.org for it.Not that I care, I'm from the 'doesn't use ENWorld' camp, I'm just offering suggestions that  will avoid the gradual breaking up of a community I have grown to love over the last 6/7 years.  I barely even play D&D anymore yet I still connect to #dnd3e because I like the people.</blockquote>

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