In order to fully utilize the abilities of this forum, the administrator will probably require that you register as a member. Registration is free, and allows you to do the following:

• Post new threads
• Reply to other peoples' threads
• Edit your posts
• Receive email notification of replies to posts and threads you specify

To register, you will need to specify a username and password, and a valid email address. Entering your email address will not leave you open to 'spam', as your address is hidden to others.

The administrator has configured the forum to send you the final part of the registration process by email, so ensure that the email address you provide is valid and working.

The use of permanent cookies on this forum is optional, but may enhance your experience of the site. Cookies are used to enable functions such as automatically log you back in when you return to the site after being away for a while. If you are using a shared computer, such as in a library, school or internet cafe, or if you have reason to not trust any other users that might use this computer, we do not recommend that you enable this.
 
This forum also uses a temporary cookie to track your current session, ensuring that you remain logged-on while browsing the site. Choosing not to use a cookie may cause problems if your computer's connection to the Internet uses a proxy-server and you share links with other users behind the same proxy. If in doubt, we recommend that you select 'yes' to enable the temporary cookie. After you have registered, you may alter your cookie options at any time by changing the settings on this page.

In Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP:

1. Click the "Tools" menu.
2. Select "Internet Options" from the menu that appears.
3. Click "Delete Cookies" on the dialog box that appears. It will be in the center area of the "General" tab.

In Mozilla Firefox:

1. Click the "Tools" menu.
2. Select "Options" from the menu that appears.
3. From the dialog box, select "Privacy" on the left.
4. Find "Cookies" on the main pane, and click the "Clear" button adjacent to it.

You can change your profile at the ‘Personal settings’ link found on the main top menu of this forum.
 
It is your responsibility to keep the information in your profile up-to-date. You should especially ensure that your email address is kept current. You can alter any of the fields in your profile, except your username. Once you have registered your username, it becomes yours for life. In extreme circumstances, you may request that the administrator change your username, but he or she will require a very good reason to do so.

After you have registered, you may set your signature. This is a piece of text that you would like to be inserted at the end of all your posts, a little like having headed note paper.

If the administrator has enabled signatures, then you will have the option to include your signature on any posts you make. You can set your signature by editing your profile. Please note that html, javascript and vB Code have been disabled for user signatures.

If you forgot your password, you can click on the ‘Forgot password’ link on any login screen.

This will bring up a page where you should enter your registered email address, an email will be sent to that address with instructions for getting your password.

These small images are called Avatars. They are displayed below your username on all posts that you make.

You can upload custom avatars from your computer at the ‘personal settings’ page.

You can search for posts based on username, word(s) in the post or just in the subject, by date, and only in particular forums. To access the search feature, click on the "search" link at on the top main forum menu.

No, member e-mail addresses are hidden and the option to mail members through the forum has been disabled for security and abuse reasons.

Private Messaging has been disabled in the Dampkring forums for security and abuse reasons.

Announcements are special messages posted by the administrator or moderators. They are designed to be a simple one-way communication with the users. If you wish to discuss announcements, you will have to create a new thread in the forum, since you cannot reply to announcements.

The administrator may have enabled RSS syndication, this allows you to view newly created threads in guest viewable forums without visiting the board.

For the most part, your posts will contain plain text, but on occasions, you may want to emphasize certain words or phrases by making them (for example) bold or italic.

Depending on the rules of the forum, you may use HTML code to produce these effects. However, more often than not, the administrator will have disabled HTML code, and opted instead to use vB Code: a special set of tags which you can use to produce the most popular text-effects. vB code has the advantage that it is very simple to use, and is immune to malicious javascripts and page layout disruption.

You may also find that the administrator has enabled smilies, which allows you to use small icons to convey emotion, and the [img] code, which allows you to add pictures to your message.

If you post a new thread, or reply to an existing thread, you can choose to be notified by email when someone else replies to that thread.
 
Only registered users may receive email notification, and they can set whether they want to receive email notification by default by editing the ‘Personal settings’ page.

Emoticons are small graphical icons which you can insert into your messages to convey an emotion or feeling, such as a joke or embarrassment. For example, if you entered a sarcastic comment, rather than type 'that was a joke', you could simply insert the 'wink' emoticon.
 
If you have used email or internet chat systems, you will probably be familiar with the concept of smilies already. Certain combinations of text characters are converted into smilies. For example, :) is converted into a smiling face :).

These controls allow you to quickly and easily enter vBcode into your posts and messages. To use them, simply click the appropriate buttons or select items from the lists to enter vB code.

The Dampkring forums allows you to upload/attach images.
 
To attach an image to a new post, simply click the ‘add images’ button at the left of the post composition page, and locate the file(s) that you want to attach from your local hard drive. After posting, the image attachments will be displayed in your post.

The administrator may have enabled message icons for new threads and posts. Message icons allow you to specify a small icon to accompany your posting, which is used to convey the emotion or content of a post at a glance. If you do not see a list of message icons when you are composing your message or post, the administrator has disabled the option.

If you have registered, you will be able to edit your own posts. Note that the administrator can disable this ability as he desires. Your ability to edit your posts may also be time-limited, depending on how the administrator has set up the forum.

Administrators oversee specific forums. They generally have the ability to edit and delete posts, move threads, and perform other manipulations. Becoming a moderator for a specific forum is usually rewarded to users who are particularly helpful and knowledgeable in the subject of the forum they are moderating.