| From: | ShadowRN FAQ <jdfalk@************.ORG> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | [faq] ShadowRN Frequently Asked Questions, part I |
| Date: | Fri, 1 Sep 1995 03:00:02 -0400 |
ShadowRN FAQ, Part I
Last modified August 5, 1995
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You will note that this first part contains only brief information on the
subject of the mailing list, as well as information on how to subscribe and
unsubscribe from the list. Additional information will be provided in Part II
of the FAQ, which is mailed to new subscribers and periodically posted to the
list.
You will also note that this FAQ _does not_ contain information about the
ShadowRun game spcifically. This FAQ is dedicated to the list itself and serves
as an introduction to the community created by list-discussion.
Thanks for your interest,
Virtually, The SHADOWRN Listowners
Robert Hayden <hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu>, "Fearless Leader"
J.D. Falk <jdfalk@************.org>, "Assistant Fearless Leader"
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Frequently Asked Questions for SHADOWRN@*****.BITNET
Compiled by your fearless leader, Robert A. Hayden With editing and additions
by J.D. Falk
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The current version of this file can always be found as listed below:
* WWW http://www.cybernothing.org/jdfalk/shadowrn/faq.html
* FTP ftp.cybernothing.org, directory /pub/jdfalk/shadowrun
* EMail jdfalk@************.org, subject "gimme shadowrn-faq1" or "gimme
shadowrn-faq2" (no quotes, body ignored.)
There is a copyright notice at the bottom of each section of this FAQ.
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Part I: Subscription FAQ
I. INTRODUCTION
1. What is SHADOWRN?
2. How do I subscribe to SHADOWRN?
3. How do I post to SHADOWRN?
4. How do I unsubscribe to SHADOWRN?
5. How do I reconfirm my subscription
6. Other Important LISTSERV Commands
7. Why am I getting deleted from the list for no reason?
8. Why does the list reject postings from my account?
9. HELP! Mail from the list has stopped coming, but I'm still subscribed!
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PART I: INTRODUCTION
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What is ShadowRN?
ShadowRN is a discussion list for the role-playing game called
ShadowRun, which is published by FASA.
Shadowrun takes place in Seattle 61 years in the future. Cybernetics,
Virtual Reality, and biotechnology are available to the public.
Furthermore, Magic exists and is controlled by mages and shamans, and
mythical beings once again roam the land. Megacorporations, with the
power of small nations, rule the politics and hold the ultimate
stranglehold on the underclass. Surviving in the world of Shadowrun
takes as much courage as it does skill.
And perhaps just a little luck.
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How do I subscribe to SHADOWRN?
To subscribe, you must send a control message to the listserv at
HEARN.bitnet. To do this, send email with the following parameters:
TO: listserv@*****.bitnet
SUB: <leave blank>
1st line: subscribe shadowrn your-real-name
In a little while you should get email instructing you how to confirm
your subscription request. Simply follow the instructions and you
will soon start getting regular postings.
If you have difficulty with bitnet addresses, you can also use the
internet address, which is LISTSERV@*****.nic.SURFnet.nl
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How do I post to SHADOWRN?
To post to SHADOWRN, you send your posting via email to
SHADOWRN@*****.BITNET (or SHADOWRN@*****.nic.SURFnet.nl for
internet).
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How do I unsubscribe to SHADOWRN?
To unsubscribe, you must send a control message to the listserv at
HEARN.bitnet. To do this, send email with the following parameters:
TO: listserv@*****.bitnet (or LISTSERV@*****.nic.SURFnet.nl)
SUB: <leave blank>
1st line: signoff shadowrn
In a little while you should get email confirming your unsubscription
request.
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How do I reconfirm my subscription
From time to time while you are subscribed to the lists, you will get
a message from the LISTSERV that requests that you reconfirm that you
still want to be on the list.
If you wish to stay on the list, you need to follow the instructions
in your confirmation request.
If, for whatever reason, you no longer wish to be on the list, you
can simply wait for two weeks and your subscription will timeout and
you will be removed from the list.
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Other Important LISTSERV Commands.
There are many commands you can give to the listserv in order to
change how your subscription works.
SET listname REPRO (default)
This command will have the listserv include you in the
distribution of any posting you make (ie, you get your own
things back, too).
SET listname ACK
This is simply an confirmation of the posting you just made. It
is returned to you in email.
SET listname NOMAIL
If you are going on vacation or something, sending a NOMAIL
command will halt your receiving any postings. This is helpful
if you know that your quota will be exceeded during Christmas
break, for example.
WARNING: If you forget to do this and your quota is exceeded,
this will cause all of the postings to be bounced back to the
list, possibly leading to a loop. The only way to quickly
alleviate this problem is to delete your subscription, so PLEASE
use the NOMAIL command if you are going to be gone for a while.
SET listname DIGEST
When this option is set, instead of all of the postings being
delivered separately, they will be delivered in one mailing at
the close of the day (in HEARN's timezone). This is helpful if
the number of mailings become a burden, but can make it harder
to reply within the thread of a conversation.
SET listname MAIL (default)
This option is invoked to restore active status after sending a
NOMAIL request, and is also used to change from DIGEST back to
getting all postings separately.
HELP
Sending this command will give you a listing and brief
descriptions of all available commands, including some not
listed here.
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Why am I getting deleted from the list for no reason?
99% of the time, the reason you are deleted from the list (by the
listowner) is because for some reason mail is bouncing off of your
account.
Usually this is caused by one of two things:
* Your account is filled and can't hold any more
* For some reason your account is not available (either the
machine or your account is down).
When this happens, it causes an error message to be sent back to the
list. The list software attempts to detect error messages and route
them to the listowner. Sometimes, though, the error is not detected
by the listserv software and the error gets reported to the list.
This causes the error message to get sent our to all subscribers,
including the person who is bouncing mail. This leads to a loop that
really messes things up.
Thus, standard procedure when an error message is reported it to
delete the subscription of the person causing the error.
Once the problem has been fixed (you are back on the net or have
room), you are, of course, free to join the list again.
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Why does the list reject postings from my account?
As part of some security features, the list will only accept mailings
that come from the same address your subscription is registered on.
This is to prevent non-list people from flooding the mailboxes of
dozens of people.
Because of this, if you attempt to post from another account or
machine, your message will be rejected. Please read the error message
enclosed with your rejection and determine what you must do to fix it
in the future.
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HELP! Mail from the list has stopped coming, but I'm still subscribed!
Mail has an annoying characteristic in that, while most of the time
it is instantaneous, there are times when it can take up to two weeks
to go from one computer to another that is located ten feet away
(much like snail mail, eh?).
If mail suddenly suddenly stops coming, wait at least 48 hours before
you contact the listowner. Very likely a link is down between you and
the list, and as soon as that link comes back up, you will get all of
the old mailings.
Also note that the listowner won't be able to help at all in terms of
mail not arriving. All he can do is to verify that you are indeed
subscribed, anything beyond that is under the control of someone
else.
This document is Copyright (c) 1995 by Robert A. Hayden and J.D. Falk, all
rights reserved. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced electronically
on any system connected to the various networks which make up the Internet,
USENET, and FidoNet so long as it is reproduced in its entirety (either in two
parts as here, or combined), unedited, and with this copyright notice intact.
