**NOTE: Many have asked over the years what we use for Guild communication and how do we setup our in-game chat tabs to reduce conversation clutter while roaming through various MMOs. The Order of Laibach cannot be held responsible for the madness deeply seeded in the mind of Firedorn. Please read the very helpful instructions below concerning the configuration of the chat tab for Rift: Planes of Telara:
What did you say?
A tirade of instructional proportions
Figure 1 - OMG Is this Barrens Chat?
Introduction
We all know that having the default chat setting in any MMOG will lead to a mess of useless chatter in your chat box (See Figure 1). While at times, it may be amusing to participate in the idle banter present in today's MMOGs, most of the time, they lead to lost time: at best, time lost trying to find something a guild mate said, at worst, being baited into a troll's idea of a debate. (See Figure 1 - again)
We at the Order frown upon time lost to endeavors other than gaming. While that may not be 100% true, I can certainly say that we prefer a cleaner chat window, devoid of all useless drivel. How can one remain true to oneself if they are constantly bombarded by words that are unwise, discussions that are unjust or cowardly trolls that hide behind their online anonymity? (See Figure 1 - you get the idea) I'll tell you how...get a new chat tab.
Here are easy steps to follow to create a new chat tab in Rift and ensure that it is customized to your liking. We'll even tell you what options to pick. However, if you don't follow our recommendations, we won't judge you (much).
Creating a new chat tab
Figure 2 - Let's click on the + to add a new chat tab
Step 1 - Click the plus sign ( + ) on the top right of your chat window (See Figure 2).
Figure 3 - Give your new tab a name
Step 2 - Give this new chat tab a friendly name, like "CleanChat" or "Snootchie Bootchies"
(See Figure 3).
Customizing your new chat tab
Figure 4 - R-Click the new tab and select "Settings"
Step 3 - Right Click on your new chat tab and then click on "Settings" (See Figure 4).
Figure 5 - General Tab Settings
Step 4 - Set up the general settings of the tab (See Figure 5):
Font Size: As the words suggest, this is where you can adjust the font size for the tab you selected. Set it to a value that won't render you blind.
Background Color: You can select any color to be the background of your new chat tab. Default is black and is suitable for most purposes.
Background Opacity: This slider is used to adjust how opaque/transparent you want your chat tab to be. Default is 75% and is suitable for most purposes.
Show Timestamps: Enabling this option will show a time stamp next to each line in the chat. We recommend you enable this.
Once you have set this up the way you want it, click "Apply" to save your settings and continue with the customization.
Figure 6 - Game Messages
Step 5 - Set up the Game Messages settings of the tab (See Figure 6)
System : This option will toggle the display of messages from the system, such as warning of impending shut downs. We recommend you enable this option.
Skill : This option toggles the display of messages that tell you when one of your skills has improved, either through crafting of skill training. We recommend you enable this option.
Notoriety : This option toggles the display of Notoriety gains. We recommend you enable this option.
NPC Say : This option toggles the display of flavor text that you'll hear from NPCs around you in the game world. We recommend you enable this option.
Item Loot : This option toggles the display of items that you loot. We recommend you enable this option.
Money Loot : This option toggles the display of money that you loot. We recommend you enable this option.
Purchases : This option toggles the display of items that you purchase, as well as the price you purchased it at. We recommend you enable this option.
Achievements : This option toggles the display of achievements you gain in-game. We recommend you enable this option.
Crafting Self : This option toggles the display of messages when you craft items. We recommend you enable this option.
Crafting Others : This option toggles the display of messages when other near you craft items. We recommend you disable this option.
Experience : This option toggles the display of any XP your character gains. We recommend you enable this option.
Once you have set this up the way you want it, click "Apply" to save your settings and continue with the customization.
Figure 7 - Player Messages
Step 6 - Set up the Player Messages settings of the tab (See Figure 7)
We recommend you enable all of these.
Say : This option toggles the display of chat said in "Say" mode, which is visible to players in the immediate vicinity of the player that is speaking.
Tell : This option toggles the display of private messages.
Emote : This option toggles the display of emotes.
Yell : This option toggles the display of messages that other players yell, which is visible to players in a wider area from the player that is yelling.
Guild : This option toggles the display of your guild's chat channel (/g).
Guild Officer : This option toggles the display of your guild's officer chat channel. Due to guild rank restrictions, some guild members may not have access to the officer chat channel, even if it is enabled in the chat tab settings.
Party : This option toggles the display of messages said in "Party" mode (/p), which is visible to all players within a party, no matter how far they are from the player that is speaking.
Raid Alert : This option toggles the display of alerts sent out while in a raid.
Raid : This option toggles the display of messages said in "Raid" mode (/ra), which is visible to all players within a raid, no matter how far they are from the player that is speaking.
Warfront : This option toggles the display of messages said in "Warfront" mod (/wf), which is visible to all players within a warfront.
Once you have set this up the way you want it, click "Apply" to save your settings and continue with the customization.
Figure 8 - Channel Messages
Step 7 - Set up the Channel Messages settings of the tab (See Figure 8)
Gloamwood (or current zone) : This option toggles the display of messages spoken in your current zones chat channel (/1). We recommend you enable this channel mainly due to the fact that most LFG messages or zone event messages are posted there.
Level 1-9 (and any level bracket thereafter) : This option toggles the display of messages spoke in the level range chat channels. These channels are readable and accessible from anywhere in the game and contain the most trash talking, the most trolling, the most mom jokes....you get the idea. We recommend you disable these channels.
Once you have set this up the way you want it, click "OK" to save your settings.
Step 8 - Enjoy your new, clean, chat tab. Feel free to tweak it as you see fit.
Step 9 - Pay tribute to Firedorn for showing you how to do it right. I accept donations in game; please send them via in-game mail, I have no time to meet you in person.
______________________________
Thank you to Firedorn for popping together a quick process that creates a new chat tab and assists in the removal of all the non-essential chatter while in game. As a seperate note, members are not required to perform "Step 9" of the above process. We try very hard not to encourage him. Please don't feed the bears.