Frequently Asked Questions

What is IRC? /I-R-C/ n. [Internet Relay Chat] A worldwide "party line" network that allows one to converse with others in real time. IRC is structured as a network of Internet servers, each of which accepts connections from client programs, one per user. The IRC community and the Usenet and MUD communities overlap to some extent, including both hackers and regular folks who have discovered the wonders of computer networks. Some Usenet jargon has been adopted on IRC, as have some conventions such as emoticons. (definition from info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/i.html ). One can also find more information through Google by using this link http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:IRC

Where can I find more resourses on IRC? Most people in SHID are not IRC experts, though there are a few users and members who are very knowledgeable about IRC. But, we are more about the genre of superheroines in distress. IRC is primarily a tool with which we engage with others in our communty about our favored subject. That said, here is a link to a pretty comprehensive HELP page on and about IRC. (http://www.irchelp.org/ ) For information on client software visit http://www.mirc.com or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IRC_clients. For information on servers and IRC visit http://www.dal.net and http://www.efnet.org.

What kind of entertainment can I expect here? Discussion of and role-plays based on the superheroines-in-distress/peril/bondage genre. The channel also acts as a meeting place for those that want to engage in private role-plays within the genre. We have discussions about comics and artists, movies and actresses (ie who would be best to play Wonder Woman if/when a WW movie is made?), costumes and perils. There are often members role-playing out confrontations between the forces of good and evil, where the heroines are most often defeated by the villain/esses, and then "taken advantage". The type of entertainment within the channel at a particular time really depends on who the patrons in the channel are at that time, since being individuals, we have individual tastes.

What exactly IS an "adult"? An adult is a person who is at least 18 years in age. If you are not of legal age, you will be asked to leave SHID.

Does it HAVE to be superheroines? Why not super HEROES? In-channel role-plays involving peril/distress must involve heroines. Heroes are part of the channel, but provide supporting roles. Other channels are available involve heroes in peril.

What is meant by "semi-formal"? We have channel rules and channel operators to enforce those rules, all every effort is made to not allow either to become overbearing. A list of current channel operators can be found here. Our channel rules and policies are found here.

What is discussed in channel? The focus of channel discussion is superheroines, especially the adult genre related to superheroines in distress/peril/genre, but may also involve events in the superhero(oines) comics, television, and movie industry. Naturally, during quiet times, discussion may move to other areas of life (even sports), but channel operators may ask that conversation returns to the channel topic.

What exactly IS role-play? Role-play is the interraction between two (or more) people. Dialogue is exchanged through the use of created personalities, or characters. These characters express what an individual player (the person -behind- the character) wants to do in an imaginary environment. The back-and forth between characters is called a role-playing scene.

Can anyone role-play? Yes, but in-channel role-play must stay within the channel topic, superheroines in distress/peril/bondage. However, not everyone is good at role-playing without gaining an understanding of what to or not to do. Information on 'godmoding' and 'autohitting' (things to avoid) can be found here (godmoding.html) and here (autohitting.html).

What exactly is meant by "consent"? Isn't this channel based on "non-consentual" issues? The person you wish to role-play with must give consent to be part of the role-play, and must give consent to the subject matter of (activities acted out in) the role-play. The activities acted out in the role-play must be non-consentual if the role-play is occurring in-channel.

What is the difference between a heroine in peril and a heroine in distress and a heroine in bondage?? I thought they were all the same thing. SHiP (Superheroines in Peril) and SHiD (Superheroines in Distress) are basically the same where heroines try to stop crime, curtail evil or save the world. Perilous things can happen to heroines when they intervene in the name of good, especially when a heroine is captured. SHiD is a sexual peril channel that continues on where most comics and movies dare not to tread. Various sexual situations can occur which is why our channel is restricted to people 18 years of age and older. SHiB (Superheroines in Bondage) is just as the words state: a heroine who is captured and INVOLUNTARILY (non-consensual) bound in any number of ways. Bondage scenes are normally discussed and approved beforehand between (or amongst) the players involved in the scene (consensual).

Terms and Abreviations

AFK - Away From the Keyboard

BRB - Be Right Back

FFRP - Free Form Role Playing. This basically means you choose your own terms of how you want to carry out a scene. Free form generally allows the players to conduct their characters in an unrestricted manner where the only limits are those of your imagination. This differs from more structured kinds of RP like D&D where a DM or GM controls the basic flow of roleplay.

GM - Game Master

GMing - Godmoding - this is a form of roleplaying that is unacceptable in most circles. Godmoding is when a player directs his/her character to do the impossible on a regular basis, like lift entire city blocks with a wiggle of his/her finger, cause tornadoes or earthquakes miles away or disintegrate YOUR character with the snap of a finger! Godmoders can't be touched by anything anyone does but EVERYTHING they do is successful. Godmoders may one day rule the world but that's only because everyone else has already left the planet!

IC - In Character: the dialogue and actions a character speaks/does when engaging in roleplay.

IRC - Internet Relay Chat - See the excellent help file at http://www.mirc.com/ircintro.html.

LOL - Laughing Out Loud

Nick - Nickname. Usually the name of a character that a player creates or the name of an NPC.

NPC - Non-Player-Character. Iimaginary character(s) created to enhance a scene. "50 soldiers moved in on the heroine, surrounding her on all sides." The 50 soldiers are Non-Player-Characters (NPCs).

OOC - Out Of Character: dialoge and actions conducted by the player. Usually these incidents occur during roleplaying when a player wants to explain or clarify something that happened while engaging in roleplay. Many players conduct their roleplaying sessions in chat windows and use (perentheses) to differentiate between IC and OOC. Others use a separate channel to roleplay in. This allows the use of the chat window for out-of-character chatter, leaving the channel window free for all in-character dialogue.

OP - Operators exist on 3 levels: Network and Server Ops, also known as IRCOps, and Channel Ops. IRCOps safeguard the many servers that make up a network (such as Dalnet). Usually when there's a problem with nicks, such as ghosts or nick duplication, it's handled on a server/network level. Situations that occur within a channel are handled by Channel Ops, who are normally distinguished by the "@!" in front of their nick. Unless a Channel Op requests assistance, IRCOps don't interfere with the affairs within a channel.

PGing - Powergaming. Similar to but distuingishable from Godmoding. A player is considered to be powergaming when the actions of their character have no regard for the abilities of those they are involved with. Here is a sample of powergaming: "Gilgamesh charges Mytor, grabbing him around the waist, lifting and slamming him back first onto the sturdy wooden table then bashes his face with a huge fist that breaks Mytor's nose and rendering him unconscious." Mytor never had a chance to block, counter, evade or otherwise defend himself. "Gilgamesh flew across the room attempting to grab Mytor around the waist. Mytor sees the brute and leaps to the side hoping to avoid Gil's frontal attack while simultaneously swinging his leg in a half arc aimed at the charging man's head." In the 2nd scenario Mytor had an opportunity to respond to Gil's attacks. Powergaming isn't always intentional. Many players don't realize they're doing it until it is pointed out to them.

RL - Real Life. Talking about or discussing one's life away from IRC. Some people mistake RP for RL and visa versa. It's considered bad ettiquete to involve real life in one's roleplaying environment.

RP - Roleplaying.

SHiD - SuperHeroines In Distress.