Alder Hill FAQ

This document should give you a quick overview about the site and it's structure, it's history and purpose, as well as a few "how to's".
If your question is not answered on this page, feel free to write a mail to the Mayor of Alder Hill.



    Where did Alder Hill come from?

  • Is this site based on any Fantasy book or movie?
    The short answer to this is "no". Alder Hill is an independently created fantasy world which has no basis in any fantasy book, movie, or role-playing game. It is a new world, where we set the rules, create myths and stories, history and culture, games, languages, and all other things that a fantasy world needs.
    However, since we all are interested in fantasy, Alder Hill wouldn't exist without the works and worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffrey, or Marion Zimmer Bradley, to name but a few. We're following in their footsteps to create a world of our own.

  • Who made this?
    Both the site and the world of Alder Hill was created by a group of people from literally all around the world who met online at a different chat site. Creating Alder Hill was very much a team effort. If you would like to know who created which part of the world and the site, visit our Credits page.

  • Why was this made?
    When two of the founding members met one summer day in a pub in north England, after a planned walk through the woods had to be cancelled because of Mad Cow Disease, the idea cropped up to create a fantasy chatroom. Very soon, it was clear that these two didn't want to latch onto something that was already there, but wanted to make something new. The chatroom idea developed into the site you see before you now. If it hadn't been for MCD, you wouldn't read this.
    Alder Hill has been online at alderhill.net since the summer of 2003.

  • Is this site finished?
    That depends on the defition of the word "finished". Certainly all the parts of the site are running fine, but we are continually looking for new and exciting additions to it, such as self-created games, fantasy or RPG resources, etc. The site is not supposed to be stagnant, but alive and changing.
    If you have anything you would like to see on alderhill.net, or something you would like to do, please don't hesitate to contact us and let us know.

  • Is the fantasy world of Alder Hill finished?
    Even more than the site itself, the world we want to create is an adventure in progress. What we have of the history and culture of Alravré, the continent Alder Hill is on, is continually being explored and added to. Discussions about this can be found in our Town Board, and what information we have can be read in the Library, which is continually growing.

  • What's with this "Adventure in Progress"?
    The idea behind Alder Hill is not only that we create our own fantasy world, but that everyone who is a member of Alder Hill can help create the world. This means that if you have an idea for any part of the site or the world, you can put that idea into reality. Want to write a story? Create more avatars or other graphics? Have a great idea for a RPG or an event in the chat? Whatever it may be, you can do it. All we'd ask of you is that you stay within the realms of our world, and that you let us know. The Town Board would be an ideal starting place for this.


    Registration

  • Do I have to register?
    Yes and no. You don't have to register to be able to visit the chat, read the town board, or peruse the library. However, after registering with the site, you have more options available in the chat, receive information through our regular newsletter, and after registering with the Town Board, you are able to reply to posts and start your own threads.

  • Do I have to pay for the registration?
    No. Registration with alderhill.net is absolutely free of charge, and will always remain so.

  • Do I really have to register both with the chat and the town board?
    We are as yet unable to have one registration be for both the chatsite and the town board. So if you want to enjoy the benefits of both, you should register with both the chat and the town board.
    When doing this, please make sure you use the same email address and the same handle. You can always change your handle at a later date. Also, you only need to register with the site and the town board once; multiple registrations will be deleted.

  • What do you do with the registration information?
    Your registration information gives us a picture of who we're creating this site for. We can see how many members we have, their age and which country they are from - which by the way is all that we ask - so that we can build a site that's interesting to you. Also, your email adresses can be used to send you our newsletter, unless you tell us not to.
    We do not sell or otherwise misuse your email addresses or other information, and we will never do so.

  • I've registered. What can I do now?
    You can now use all parts of the site where registration is needed for added benefits, such as the chat or the town board. Registration with the chat will give you some more things to play with (see below). Registration with the town board will enable you to post replies to existing threads or open your own, plus things like choosing your forum avatar and signature.


    The Alder Hill Inn

  • What is this?
    The Alder Hill Inn is the chatroom of alderhill.net. It is used for sims and PRGs, for trivia and other events, or simply to hang out and chat with your fellow members of Alder Hill.
    As the name says, it is an Inn which is located in the town of Alder Hill, and food and drink is free to all citizens. However, the troll bouncers are always on the lookout for troublemakers.

  • Logging in: Too many choices!
    No need to choose anything yet, you can always enter the chat with the default setting. You do, however, need a handle so the people in the chat know who you are.
    You will receive a command code once you register with the chat. This will give you access to the Bar and the Armoury (see below).
    With "race", you can choose whether you want to be a human, elf, fae, troll, dwarf or ifrin. The professions will change accordingly; not all races can work in the same profession. You can now choose what kind of profession you would like, and choose an avatar. You can also choose a handle colour, size and font.
    If you've settled on one look for yourself, you can save these by clicking on "save" on the top of the login screen. This will save a cookie with the relevant information on your computer, which you can then call upon by clicking "load".
    Finally, enter the chat by clicking on "enter". It's as simple as that.

  • I'm in the chat and nothing happens
    The Alder Hill chat does not automatically refresh.
    If you want to say something, type it into the big box and click on "speak". Click on "listen" to refresh the chat.
    If there is no-one in the chat at the moment, don't despair, wait a while, and someone should drop in. Meanwhile, you can order something from the Bar.

  • The Bar
    When you click on "bar", you will see a new page where you'll be able to specify your order of food or drink. After clicking on "order" and returning to the chat with "listen", the barkeeper Radelia will bring you your order. Enjoy!

  • The Armoury
    The Armoury is used twofold. You can use it for "body functions" - hugging, poking, or even bewitching people. Or you can warn a troublemaker. The higher armoury settings are used to remove troublemakers from the chat: The troll bouncers will escort them to the dungeon.

  • Simming in the chat
    We encourage simming in the chat. Create your own Alder Hill character, act the part, and get others to join you. There are a few simple simming rules to ensure that things don't get out of hand and that everyone can enjoy the sim.


    The Alder Hill Town Board

  • What is this?
    The Town Board is alderhill.net's forum. Here, we discuss new additions to the site and to the world, throw ideas around, play games, or voice our opinion on everything that strikes our fancy. After you register with the Town Board, you can do the same.

  • What do I do first?
    You can either read through the existing posts, or you can register and can answer to posts or open your own threads, choose your own avatar and sig line. After that, you should have a look at the forum structure, so that your post will be in the right place.

  • I can't post. Is there a mistake?
    You can not post if you have not registered with the Town Board. If you have registered with the Town Board and still cannot post, feel free to contact us.

  • I can post, but there is something that doesn't work.
    In this case, you can either use the "Help" topic of the forum to ask your question, or you can send us a mail, and we will look into it.


    The Library

  • What is this?
    The Library is the place where you can read about the history of Arlavré, its peoples and its places. There is material here ranging from maps and tales of explorers in far lands, to songs and stories, music and artwork.

  • What can I do with it?
    First of all, you can read it. The writings in the Library will give you a pretty good picture of what the world of Arlavré is like, and what to expect here.
    Every member of Alder Hill can add to the Library. The only proviso is that the creation has to fit into or belong to the Alder Hill world.

  • I have this brilliant idea for a story / graphic/ piece of music. What do I do with it?
    You do? Great! This is why we are doing this, after all: to have a place where people use their creativity, and hopefully to inspire with our own creation.
    If you have a question about what to create or how to publish your own creations in the Library, contact the Town Scribe, or one of the Loremasters. The specific Loremasters can be found on our Contact page.







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