The uses of eJapan's Forum and how to use it ! (v3.0)

Day 1,932, 17:03 • Published in Japan Japan • by Zodiarque

Hi, its Zodiarque again!

I won't speak here as the Speaker of the Congress but as one of the "eJapan Official Forum Moderation Team" Staff.

Anyway, I wanted to write a brief article for I am glad everyday more and more people feel concerned about the future of eJapan and decide on taking part of its building up anew.

Maybe you never heard of the eJapan Forum or maybe you were told it was no significant thing but there is a real community beside the game that you can all get involved in.

Well, who do you think set the taxes values, the minimum wages or allow people to get citizenship? With our eCountry becoming a whole again, we need to gather and lay the foundations for a better future. Whatever you might have been told or just figured out yourself, this is not a single person's business but the daily work of bunch of active citizens that wanted to extend their game experience.

You too may want to get in our country's affairs, sharing your opinion about the direction we are borowing. And you know what? That community wants you too, I'd rather say, that community needs you! The more able-bodied, intelligent, social and diligent players we have, the better (and the merrier)!




1. The Forum

Our forum is the foremost place here in eJapan where politics are discussed, in particular in the Diet (Kokkai) section but also throughout the various ministry, party and general discussion sections. There's also several off-topic sections for Japan-related stuff, anime, manga, or western media or whatever you like. When you join, be sure to check out all the sections and don't be too shy to post! So without further ado, let's make presentations.

Click the aforedisplayed banner and enter the Forum.

[1] At anytime click on the banner, you'll go back to the main page (aka Index).
[2] That bar holds the main links you have to keep constantly at reach. (This tutorial is one of them)
[3] That bow will display every ramifications along with your exploring sections, making it easy to go back from a subforum to its parent-forum.
[4] First time on the Forum? Click here and start registration process!
[5] You're a regular of the Forum now, there is one way to login.
[6] Those are just adds, commercials relying on where you are located.
[7] The welcoming message, click on the link if you are not registered yet.

2. First arrival, I want to read everything, write everywhere!

When you first join the forum, you'll have access to every single parts of the forum. But soon you are too discover that you are seemingly unauthorized to read or write any post in those every sections. It's just a foretaste of what is waiting for you. First you have to register!

Click on the [4] or [7] link.

[1] That is the registration pannel.
[2] Write down your username here. It has to be your eRepublik username.
[3] Here use the e-mail adress of your choice. It won't be displayed to anyone by default.
[4] Here choose a strong password. We advise you to choose a different one from eRepublik.
[5] Enter there your functional Citizen link.
[6] Follow the captcha's instructions (I wasn't able to get the "marry me" one... Sorry everyone)
[7] Read the core charter of the Forum before you submit your registration.

3. I'm a registered member, is that enough ?

Now that you registered you'll see... little improvement to your posting and reading rights. Unless you login on Forum, you won't enjoy the benefits of your new registered status.

You better login then.

[1] That is the login pannel, shorter versions are on display directly on the bottom of the Index.
[2] Write down your username here. You know? The eRepublik one...
[3] Check the box you want and login!
[4] Giving another read to the core charters of the Forum cannot harm anyone, can it?
[5] You thought you could login without registering? Bad idea!

4. Logged in... What? Still can't read everything...

As a matter of fact, you miss a crucial element for every Forum to run perfectly. A mask!

Go back to the Index of the Forum to see some changes.

[1] You swapped the Welcome box for the News box where Moderators introduce you to every little changes.
[2] First time you login, you may want to either read all the posts you missed or just mark them as read, as you prefer to be noticed of only new posts since you registered.
[3] This is where you are heading to get more access to other Forum sections.
[4] This is where everyone can inquire about the diplomatic embassies eJapan hosts.
[5] Here, registered or not, you'll enjoy listening to eJapan's sound.
[6] Acknowledge the number of topics of a section, while you may not be able to read any.
[7] Acknowledge the number of posts of a section, while you may not be able to read any neither.

5. I need a mask ?

Mask \ˈmask\ Something that serves to conceal or disguise.

Forums use "masks" to group people and allow them to access different level of information depending on their situation in the eCountry. When you arrive, you are just a "Registered member" which allows you to access completely public sections only.

Enter the Welcoming hall [3].

[1] You entered the Welcoming hall. Feel... welcomed.
[2] This is where you are heading to get more access to other Forum sections.
[3] Access is restricted to Citizen only, but you are not yet considered by the Forum as a Citizen. Meditate this...
[4] This is where you can ask questions if you find yourself lost... But obviously not lost enough not to find this subforum.
[5] There isn't any on the picture... Don't meditate this...
[6] Get a glimpse at who is currently on the same section as you.
[7] My fan is browsing the Forum, look at how black is the username. It's the black of a just registered member who has no mask yet.

6. Like Zodiarque's fan, my username is black...

You'll need to post in the Applications section to get access to the entire forum. This is a security measure to keep eJapan business in eJapan. When you post in the Applications section, a forum administrator (typically me Zodiarque, although Squibeel can do this as well) should contact you shortly to verify your in-game identity and then give you full access to every sections !

But as no one approaches things the same way, let's go through this together, step by step.

Enter the Applications [2]... and not the Sempai&Kohai Programs [3].

Typically what you get for entering a section you have no right to access.

7. I gave it a try... Sorry.

...

Enter the Applications.

[1] The Forum rules box is used to display conveniently shortcut links to the Archive sections.
[2] First time on Forum, you should probably write a Topic.
[3] Screen the applications list more efficiently with the searching tool.
[4] Here, immigrants should inquire about the current Immigration law.
[5] You are already Citizen In-Game ? An Ambassador ? Then read this GUIDE to apply for your mask.
[6] You are not already Citizen In-Game. Then read this GUIDE to apply for your citizenship.
[7] Inquire about your permissions in a specific Subforum, it depends on your masks.

8. Is that the place to be for beginners ?

Whether you are already a Citizen of eJapan in eRepublik or an applicant to the eJapanese Citizenship, this is the place where you'll post your very first topic.

Owing to the GUIDES, you'll either post a [CM] "Citizen Mask" request or a [CS] "CitizenShip" request. Be sure to make it properly.

Click the New Topic [2].

[1] The title of your topic. It should be starting with [CM], [CS] or [EM] if your read well the GUIDES.
[2] Those are the BBCodes you can use to make your posts more lively.
[3] Those are Momo the Monkey's smilies. Display the full list of them by clicking the "View more smilies".
[4] The body of your application, what to write is described in the GUIDES.
[5] Inquire about which BBCodes are authorized in he subforum.
[6] Submit whenever you feel like you have answered the Applications prerequisite.
[7] Check the boxs you want for few options.

9. I wrote the best application ever !

Then, someone is soon to answer you.

Have a look at how you topic is gonna display in the section.

[1] Seems like my fan is a Citizen of eJapan and applied for a Citizen mask.
[2] You may want to answer the application, vouch for the applicant or comment on it.
[3] Some threads are so long, you may screen them with the search tool.
[4] The body of your application, note that the username of my fan is still black as not yet masked.
[5] Someone answered right away. You can inquire about few details from others profiles.
[6] Owing to the guide, if I were to receive a PM in eRepublik from my secret fan, I'd be prompt to answer as a Moderator, mask and later lock and archive the thread.
[7] See that "Post reply" left place for "Locked". You can no longer write in that thread on its way to be archived.

10. I... I got masked? How would I know?

You can notice your status gradually change as the color for your username changes with your being masked in different groups.

[1] Almost as soon as you posted your application, you were masked as a Tourist in our beloved Country. Just being there is sufficient.

[1] Once you met the prerequisite for your application, you'll be masked as a Citizen of our beloved Country.

Note please that Applicant granted Citizenship on Forums in [CS] threads and accepted In-Game will automatically receive the Citizen Mask as their application is locked and archived. So they don't need to apply for a Citizen Mask by opening [CM] threads.

You can now browse every section opened to Citizens and enjoy your legitimate rights.

Here you are granted all the keys to be part of something, to quit undergoing and start acting !



See you soon in the Forums or IRC.

Feel free to comment or ask for any further or personal explanations.

Moderation team is here to accompany you in any troubles you may encounter through your way to socialize and exercize your eCitizens rights.

Sincerly,

Zodiarque on behalf of Moderation Team.