If you don't already know, Ventrilo is a voice communication program that runs quite unassumingly behind your other Windows (or Mac!) programs, letting you use it to talk with others while you do whatever the hell else you want to do. Here's how to connect to the server, in intelligence-insulting easy steps:
--Download Ventrilo at http://www.ventrilo.com/download.php . Both Windows and Mac users should download the latest beta client available for their operating system (as of 1/3/06, a very few Windows users achieve better performance with the current official version of the client, but nearly all of us get the best performance with the current beta client, so start with that).
--Once you have Ventrilo installed (shouldn't take long at all), run it for the first time, and choose a username (preferably your forum account name so we know who you are--keep in mind that people probably won't recognize your voice at first). Do this by clicking the little -> next to the User Name field, then clicking "New". Don't worry about adding any info other than the username.
--You'll have to pick a server next, but since you don't have any server info entered yet, click the -> next to Server. Click "New" and enter "Penny Arcade Forums" for the server name (or whatever you want to call it, I guess). For the "Hostname or IP" field, enter "[the listed ip]", and for the "Port number" field, enter "[the listed port]". Make SURE you change the port number field--this server doesn't use the default Ventrilo port number.
--Once all that is done, just click "Connect" and you should be logged on. Note the Terms of Service in the Ventrilo MOTD--they're mostly meant to mirror the forum rules that apply most directly to the voice chat medium, but they aren't there to scare anyone off.
Communicating with Ventrilo
Headsets:
By far the best hardware to use with any voice chat program is a headset, because there's zero chance the sound you hear will reverb through your microphone, even if your mic is constantly transmitting.
If you're going shopping for a headset to use with Ventrilo, just keep in mind that you generally get what you pay for--a $10 bargain headset is most likely going to give you some pretty poor transmission quality. Other forumers have experienced good results with headsets by Plantronics and Logitech, though almost any recognizable brand is probably safe to go with nowadays. One thing you may particularly want to look for in your new headset is an in-line volume control function, which is quite useful.
Microphones:
The best way to use a standalone microphone is in conjunction with headphones. If you don't have a headset and wish to use a standalone mic, use headphones while speaking on Ventrilo if at all possible.
If you use a mic/speaker combination, you will have to be sensitive of reverb issues--if other people are speaking while your mic is activated, your speakers will play what they say and your mic will send it back to them. Even one person reverberating back to the Ventrilo channel can be harsh on the ears; more than one at a time is downright painful.
Do your best to keep the microphone away from the speakers, and never try to "talk over" other chatters--the ensuing reverb will cause mass chaos. Also, be sure to use Ventrilo's "Push-to-talk hotkey" function (see below!) so that your mic isn't constantly transmitting.
One important thing to remember about reverb--in an ironic twist of aural fiendishness, the person whose mic/speaker setup is causing the reverb doesn't get to hear it. So, if others are telling you you're raping their ears, take their word for it and change something!
Software settings:
Your first move (after introducing yourself, of course) should be to adjust your outgoing volume. Generally, the goal is for everyone in the channel to be outputting at a similar volume so that nobody dominates the conversation just by being louder than everyone else. Click the "Setup" button in Ventrilo, then adjust the "Outbound" slider up or down to make yourself louder or softer until others in the channel agree that you're at a good volume. If you can't achieve a desirable outbound volume setting by using the Ventrilo slider, you may need to adjust some hardware settings or possibly activate/deactivate Mic Boost (be CAREFUL with this).
Note: if your outgoing volume is painfully loud when you first log in (you may not know this until it's too late) be prepared for screams of pain from other chatters!
We ask that you use Ventrilo's "Push-to-talk hotkey" function to activate your mic when you want to speak--this is accomplished via the "Setup" menu in Ventrilo. You will have to choose a hotkey on your keyboard, mouse, or joystick (if you've got one) to activate transmitting. What key you use is up to you.
That damn robot voice:
You can deactivate the text-to-speech notification in the "Setup" menu--click the "Events" tab and check out all those event notification fields. If you don't want to hear anything for a particular event, just change its field to "Nothing". Easy enough, right?
How to "compress" peoples' voices so no one can ever be too loud.
This will tweak ventrilo to balance out the quiet people and the loud people. Enjoy!
In vent, press setup. In the first tab, make sure 'Use DirectSound' is checked. Press the SFX button. Select 'Compressor' in the right box, then press the '<- Add' button. Select 'Compressor in the left box and press the 'Properties' button.
Set the knobs to:
Gain -7 (make this higher if people are too quiet)
Attack .01
Release 500ish
Threshold -31
Ratio 100.0
Pre Delay 4.0
Voice overlay? See who's talking while in full screen? Bwah?
Some people were asking in Vent about voice overlay, a program that shows who is talking in Vent while you are in game. Here it is. Make sure you put in your name exactly in the "Name" box, no comment. If you must have a comment or put a comment up, you have to change it in VO to match. Click the red button to enable. It won't show up in windows, start your game to see it. Don't install VO with HG:L alt-tabbed. That should do it. Good luck!
This server is for the use of any member of any of the PA forums. Don't even think about trying to exclude someone from using the Ventrilo server because they post in a different forum than you do.
If you have some buds you want to bring on the server with you, but you're worried that they aren't PA forumers, it's okay--just keep in mind that they will be held accountable to all forum and server rules, even if they are ignorant of them. Also remember that if they behave badly and get themselves banned from the server, it will look bad for you, too. And anyway, if they don't post on the PA forum, why not get them to sign up?
While the server is first and foremost a general-use server for all PA forumers, we currently host DotA. Lots and lots of DotA. There's also some WoW groups that hang out in the game-on channels. Hopefully, they remember to use comments while playing.
Server Rules and Conventions
First off, I'll cut and paste the Terms of Service, which you see when you login to the server:
PLEASE NOTE that by logging in to this server, you are agreeing to the following terms:
1. You certify that you are over the age of 18 or have your parent or guardian's consent to view/hear mature content, including (but not limited to) foul language, crude humor, animated violence or sexual themes.
2. You will not use the Ventrilo server as a springboard for the harassment of any individual or organization, including (but not limited to) prank calls, threats of any kind, or organized "raids" in any form.
3. You will not use the Ventrilo server to facilitate software, movie or music piracy. Discussion of game console emulation is strictly forbidden.
4. You understand that the Ventrilo server mods reserve the right to enact disciplinary action against users who violate the rules on the forums, and that forum mods reserve the right to enact disciplinary action against users who violate rules on the Ventrilo server.
5. You agree that access to the Penny Arcade Forums Ventrilo Server is a privilege that may be revoked at any time for any reason, including (but not limited to) rudeness or persistently annoying other users.
Other server rules:
--If you are in a Game On channel for a specific game, you must be playing that game with the other people in that channel.
--If you are in a generic Game On channel, you must have the name of the game you are playing in your comment. (this may seem like a nitpicky rule, but it saves countless headaches for all users and prevents any confusion)
--If you are playing a game with other Ventrilo users, don't use a Chat channel to communicate with each other; that's what Game On channels are for! Go use one of them instead.
A general rule of thumb: if it doesn't fly on the forums, it doesn't fly on the Ventrilo server.
Harassment
We take this issue very seriously. Nobody deserves to feel uncomfortable on our server, especially not because someone is giving them a hard time about their gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic background or anything like that. If you feel like you or someone else is being harassed on the server, please contact a server mod immediately. The backhand of justice will strike swiftly and without mercy.
This is a mod-discretion offense. Sometimes conversations will cover topics like sexual orientation or religion, sometimes crass jokes will be told. The key is to keep things in moderation: if what you are saying is making somebody else uncomfortable, you should stop saying it. For example, calling someone a Nazi because they are a German citizen just isn't appropriate. It's not even clever.
No Online Poker in Game On Channels
Because every online poker service has strict rules against "collusion", which is a cool term for two or more players at the same poker table working together in a manner unbeknownst to the other players at the table, we don't allow Ventrilo users to play online poker together in Game On channels. Collusion is unfair to the other players in your online poker game--you shouldn't do it, and if nothing else, you're not going to use the PA Forums Ventrilo server to do it.
Rules Violations
The server mods have the ability to globally mute, kick, or ban users from the server for violating rules or harassing/annoying other users. If you make it a point to violate rules on the server, don't be surprised if any of these happen to you.
If someone is violating rules or bothering other users, don't hesitate to contact me or any of the other server mods.
If you have questions or concerns about being muted, kicked or banned from the server, PM a server mod (not a forum mod, aside from myself). This thread is not the place to discuss Ventrilo server punishments.
Keep in mind that the Ventrilo software offers us no equivalent to a jailing, so "sorta bad" rules violations must be met with server tempbans. I'd give anything for a persistent mute feature, but as we don't have one, we use the tools that we do have. A server tempban may seem like a harsh punishment, but it's all we've got. Just don't break rules or be a dick and you won't have to worry about it.
I just joined the server and it seems like nobody can hear me talking!
If you're in the very root channel, or "lobby", that's why nobody can hear you. We have the lobby set to be permanently muted because most hostile Ventrilo bots (yep, they exist... pathetic, huh?) tend to just login to the lobby channel, spam really loud noises, and then log off. Try jumping into a chat channel to introduce yourself.
Why do the Chat channels have a ten person limit each?
In the past, we've found that "incidents" connected with the Ventrilo server all seemed to have one thing in common: they all seemed to happen when a Chat channel was overflowing with users. Having 20-ish people all hanging out and joking around can sometimes lead to a mob mentality, and we've found that limiting Chat channels to a maximum of ten users apiece has basically eliminated these types of problems.
Anyway, after almost a year of Ventrilo, we've discovered that even ten people actively chatting in one channel is almost too many, so this limit also helps us avoid having overfull channels with everyone stepping on everyone else.
What's The Idle Channel?
If you don't move your mouse or touch your keyboard for 20 minutes, you get automatically moved to The Idle Channel. This just helps stem any confusion from people trying to talk to you when you're not actually at your computer.
What's the Pipe Your Music Here channel?
This is a channel where you can play DJ, and others can come listen to your awesome music. There's no real regulations on this channel, but politeness dictates that you don't talk over someone who is piping music, and if you are the one piping it is customary to put some indication of what music you're playing in your Ventrilo comment (such as artist name and album name).
As for the question of "who gets to pipe?" it's basically first come first serve, but there's no regulations here either. If you really want to pipe something, but someone else is piping, you can always ask them if they wouldn't mind letting you pipe instead (through your comment, through the Ventrilo text chat window, or on the forum).
This thread is, simply put, for talking about our Ventrilo server--plans to meet up on Ventrilo, suggestions for how we can run the server better, and simple tech support questions are all appropriate discussion topics. You'll also see me come in here monthly to badger everybody to donate to the server, and to give props to those who donate.
What This Thread Is NOT For
This thread is not a chat channel. If you want to have off-topic conversation, do so in the chat thread, or in a Chat channel on the server itself.
This thread is also not the place to discuss server punishments. If you have a question about a server ban, PM a server mod (not a forum mod). I'll say that one again:
This thread is not the place to discuss server punishments.
Don't start drama in this thread. This thread exists as a helpful gateway between the server and the forums, not a place for server-side arguments or disputes to spill over. The Ventrilo server should be a boon to the forums, not a pain in their collective ass.
By popular demand, here's a quick and dirty guide to piping music on the Ventrilo server.
Go into Ventrilo setup and uncheck "Use push-to-talk hotkey". This puts you in Sensitivity mode. Then change the Sensitivity value to 0, which will make your client constantly transmit.
Check that your "input device" and "output device" are both set to "Default DirectSound device", and make sure that the "use DirectSound" option is checked for both of these.
Under "Mixer" you should have your sound card or onboard sound device selected. It probably already is, but just make sure. If you don't know what it is, just pick something that looks like the name of a sound card or onboard sound device, because that's probably right. (you shouldn't ever have to change this)
Under "Mux" you should have "recording control" selected. (you shouldn't ever have to change this either)
Under "Line", you most likely have "Microphone" selected if you've been using Ventrilo normally. To have others hear every noise that your computer makes, search for a setting like "Stereo Mix", "Wave Out", "Wave Out Mix", or something along those lines--it will differ depending on what sound card or sound device your computer uses. When you select the right setting, Ventrilo will now transmit everything your computer outputs to others in the same channel as you.
Close the Ventrilo setup window and click "Mute Sound" in the bottom left of the main Ventrilo window--this means you won't be able to hear anything anyone says in the same channel as you, but you don't want to. Remember, your Ventrilo client is piping everything your sound device plays to the other people in the channel, so if your sound device starts playing someone's Ventrilo transmission, it will get piped back to everyone in the channel with you. i.e. annoying reverb.
Once you have the correct setup, hop in the Pipe Your Music Channel and fire up your sound program. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust your volume settings (your Ventrilo outbound setting, or your music player volume, or your operating system volume mixer, or some combination of all three) so that people get the best listening experience. Remember that changing the volume settings on your speakers won't change anything for the other people in the channel--in fact, this actually means you can pipe music without listening to it yourself, if you are so inclined. In any case, if you've never piped before, you should expect others to want you to adjust your volume settings, so keep an eye on other people's comments and/or consider opening the text chat window.
When you're done piping, do the following:
--uncheck "Mute Sound" in the main window
--open the Setup window, check "Use push-to-talk hotkey", and change your Line setting back to "Microphone" (you can safely leave your Sensitivity value at 0 as long as you only use Sensitivity mode when you pipe music)
Keep in mind that when you have the Setup window open, Ventrilo will not transmit, so if you open it to adjust settings while piping the other folks in the channel will hear only silence while it's open.
Piping music through vent on a Mac is entirely different than it is on a PC, as most have noticed by now. There is no built in option to pipe within the Mac prototype. HOWEVER, there is hope. There is a program/plugin out there called SoundFlower (http://www.cycling74.com/downloads/soundflower) that tricks Ventrilo into thinking that the plugin is a dedicated input device, much like it would register your built in mic or in-line mic. What soundflower does is then takes whatever is playing on your computer, and reroutes it from the speakers in to Ventrilo.
To pipe music on a Mac...:
1) Download SoundFlower
2) Install SoundFlower
3) Go to System Preferences
4) Go to Sound
5) Select Soundflower(2ch) as your output device
6) Open Ventrilo, and under 'setup', select SoundFlower(2ch) as the input device
7) Unselect 'Use Push-To-Talk Hotkey'
8) Change silence time to 0.5 seconds
9) Change sensitivity to 1
10) Enter the Pipe Channel and flip on the tunes
That's basically it, HOWEVER, you will not be able to hear what is being piped. To hear what you're piping, you need another program, SoundFlowerBed (http://www.cycling74.com/downloads/soundflower). This is an actual program, and needs to be opened. Once all settings are set and selected for Soundflower, you need to open Soundflowerbed. After opening Soundflowerbed, you should notice a flower shaped Epaulet (those little icons next to your system clock, i.e. volume meter or battery meter) appears. Click it. Scroll down under 'Soundflower (2ch)' and select 'Built-in Audio' (or whatever device you wish to route your music to on YOUR end) as your output.
There you go, if you or the vent community isn't hearing what's coming through, feel free to send me a PM or try to catch me on AIM.
Recommended volume settings (based on iTunes)
1) Set iTunes volume (not system volume) at 50%
2) Set output amplify within Ventrilo @ 2 (however, if it becomes too loud or distorted, move the amplification slider back to 0)
3) Adjust system volume to put volume on your end to your liking.
(Note: When done piping, be sure to exit Soundflowerbed and to reset all of your system settings. Go back to System Preferences and reselect your output device as 'built-in audio'.)
Shortcuts: Add. Click Function > Unassigned : Select "Push-to-Talk". Click [blank space] under Shortcut : Press what key you want to be your push to talk key.
-go to PAX, get this button:
-Moved server AGAIN, check it.
-Moved server IP, go check it out.
Not the newest news:
-TheGerbil's back. Two years spent learning how to house. Living in Mormon land. Wait a sec. That means Dawn of War is over two years old now. Daaaaaaaaammmn.
Yeah, they didn't let me keep it. They had to take it to pathology to do all sorts of fun tests to determine if it was about to go all malignant or anything.
But I am fine, no facial paralysis or anything.
There is a gaping wound in the side of my head though. And apparently I'm hardcore and didn't need any pain meds after I woke up. Eventually they gave me some morphine just because, and it didn't even make me drowsy. And it was a LOT of morphine.
Thanks for all the wellwishes guys.
-SniperGuy has cancer. Who knew? Anyways, he's having an operation today (the 12th of Dec) to take it out. We lovingly named it Jenkins. There are chances for complications, so we're all hoping for the best. "Best" having multiple meanings to different people. Well I'm hoping he's okay, but "best" would be pictures of Jenkins in the glass jar he brought with him to the hospital.
-Get Ventrilo 3.0. Be sure to uninstall 2.3 first.
Some people were asking in Vent about voice overlay, a program that shows who is talking in Vent while you are in game. Here it is. Make sure you put in your name exactly in the "Name" box, no comment. If you must have a comment or put a comment up, you have to change it in VO to match. Click the red button to enable. It won't show up in windows, start your game to see it. Don't install VO with HG:L alt-tabbed. That should do it. Good luck!
-The Gerbil returns soon from his 2 year house building training. His foundation level is over 9000.
-Donations pl0x. $5 limit, paypal to pikapuff@hotmail.com
-NRG Servers makes a bunch of mistakes, Flagship (owner of Ventrilo) cuts NRG's license. We (along with a couple dozen other ventrilo groups) are homeless.
-PikaPuff sees this as his chance to make a coup.
-PikaPuff buys a month at www.nationvoice.com. Takes over.
[strike] GIVE ME MONEY
I think I spent around $240 for 09 and 10. Paypal $5.50 to pikapuff@hotmail.com.
Donations:[LIST=4]
[*]Meiz - $22
[*]Tarranon - $5.50
[*]Cheater At Golf - $20
[*]Karnius - $22
[*]Kainy - $5.50
[*]Anonymous Robot - $20
[/LIST]
I might have missed one or two guys. Sorry.
36 Donations for 08
[This is 08's donation list. So I guess I ended up paying for a bit of it. Oh well.] Paypal $5.50 to [don't donate to pikapuff]. 36 donations of $5.50 will pay for a year and the one month before.
[LIST=4]
[*]Captain K
[*]thegloaming
[*]Mr_Grinch
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Odd Bang
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Odd Bang
[*]Odd Bang
[*]Odd Bang
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Ray Chou
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]PikaPuff
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]PikaPuff
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]PikaPuff
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[/LIST]
[/strike]
The Penny Arcade Forum Ventrilo Server Thread
Server Admins that can Restart the server
PikaPuff
Captain K
Mai-Kero
Mordrack
Archonwarp
Server Admins that can Admin
PikaPuff
Captain K
Mai-Kero
Mordrack
Archonwarp
Dictator
BloodyRoarxx
TheKoolEagle
Fodder
Jaef
SniperGuy
Cango
MightyWhitey
Paradox
If you have any problems, ask any of these fine folks for help. If you're in doubt whether or not something is an appropriate discussion topic for this thread, err on the safe side and PM a server mod rather than posting about it here.
Remember, the forum mods are not interested in dealing with Ventrilo server issues. Don't come to them with your problems, come to a Ventrilo server mod.
Server info:
(if you have no idea what Ventrilo is, skip down a section) server:69.12.36.171
port two three seven seven password (if needed): wang
Server Funding
We rent our server from www.nationvoice.com and we've found them to be an excellent server provider. The server costs us $16 US to rent per month for 100 seats, which is a fantastic deal.
So, who pays for the server? The answer is pretty simple: we all do. Each month we raise $16 in paypal donations, with a limit of $5 on each individual's donation (or more accurately $5.50, because paypal skims off the top).
Some people have a hard time understanding why I won't let anyone donate more than $5 each month. It's really just to make sure that this remains a "community server"--it's not "PikaPuff's Ventrilo server", it belongs to everyone. There's a few individuals who would probably pay the entire server fee each month if I'd let them (ahem, SniperGuy), but it wouldn't be healthy for the sense of mutual ownership.
K's been busy with 2 jobs and being adored by millions of women. So I saw this as a good chance to help out by being a total bitch and taking over the server.
But to be fair,
Cango?
PikaPuff on
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
K's been busy with 2 jobs and being adored by millions of women. So I saw this as a good chance to help out by being a total bitch and taking over the server.
There's a few individuals who would probably pay the entire server fee each month if I'd let them (ahem, SniperGuy), but it wouldn't be healthy for the sense of mutual ownership.
I find it humorous that the previous topic had PikaPuff's name replace SniperGuy's. Could this mean that the reign of Sniper is not far off? (Of course he would just be a puppet ruler for Vent's true overlord... JENKINS!)
To the moron who banned me, I bumped my PTT key at most 3 times. Yay for you not jut saying "ubergeek I think you might be piping" and instead of going straight for the ban. How awesome you must feel.
To Morons that still talk about their bans in the vent thread.
STOP IT
Well I don't know who did it, so I don't know who I was supposed to PM. I obviously can't get back on Vent to ask what is goign on.
Since ownership changed hands I alone have been kicked out of the server just for fun 3 times and heard other people getting kicked and those with mod powers think it's funny. In fact today is number 4 and I came back on and asked Why I got kicked and who were they talking about earlier because no one addressed me directly. I was met with dead silence, and then I got kicked and couldn't get back in.
To Morons that still talk about their bans in the vent thread.
STOP IT
Well I don't know who did it, so I don't know who I was supposed to PM. I obviously can't get back on Vent to ask what is goign on.
Since ownership changed hands I alone have been kicked out of the server just for fun 3 times and heard other people getting kicked and those with mod powers think it's funny. In fact today is number 4 and I came back on and asked Why I got kicked and who were they talking about earlier because no one addressed me directly. I was met with dead silence, and then I got kicked and couldn't get back in.
In any event, I'm happy that people are amused.
To be honest, I was in the room at the time and we said "Ubergeek, what are you doing man?" like 10 times, and I even made a rather long joke about how you were watching porn in FireFox and ever time you closed a tab with middle click we could hear your panting breath.
Nope, I use Crtl for my key at the moment, not middle mouse click, and I was finishing up Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich at the time. Now I know that I accidentally hit said button on 3 separate occasions by mistake, and I didn't have any of the mutes on. Outside of that, if I was making breathing noises I don't see how anyone missed me asking what was going on. I heard people talking about "he" alot but didn't hear the mention of my name, I didn't get a response for a minute or so and then I alt tabbed back into the game.
If only there were a seperate list of mods you could PM that could check logs and tell you who banned you. Anyhoo.
20071024 18:09:01 CHANNEL: ID 181, Dictator kicked user ubergeek from the channel.
20071024 18:09:01 NET: ID 176, Disconnect, 104.
20071024 18:09:01 MSG_DISC: ID 176, From=383031, To=4835857, Sec=3214, Name=ubergeek
20071024 18:09:15 LOGON: ID 192, IPxxx, ubergeek
20071024 18:10:28 ADMIN: Banning ubergeek, IPxxx, Admin Jaef, Because 'STOP BREATHING FUCKER'.
20071024 18:17:22 ADMIN: Unbanning ubergeek, IPxxx, Admin Jaef.
20071024 20:16:45 ADMIN: ID 197, User 'TheKoolEagle' was kicked by 'Jaef' because 'Kicked for ubergeek'.
And before that...
20071013 18:31:54 ADMIN: ID 23, User 'ubergeek' was kicked by 'PikaPuff' because 'i said iw as going to kick you so now I did.'.
20071016 17:25:48 ADMIN: ID 216, User 'ubergeek' was kicked by 'SniperGuy' because 'Game on Rule Violation'.
Personally, I would have kicked you, or moved you to another channel. A five minute ban doesn't seem so bad. I can see why you're upset, but I hope you understand while the rest of the channel was upset as well, and ended up doing what they did. Good job keeping count on number of kicks. Although only one, possibly two, were "for fun."
I wouldn't mind doing it still. My schedule clears up like whoa in about a week when marching band season is over.
But PikaPuff took some initiative setting up a replacement server and everybody says he's doing a fine job. I don't really care either way, so why mess with what's working now?
Voltron? I'd imagine a combination of K and Pika would be more like a fat Punisher who has gotten too lazy to fight crime and now sits on a park bench staring at children on the playground.
Posts
--Download Ventrilo at http://www.ventrilo.com/download.php . Both Windows and Mac users should download the latest beta client available for their operating system (as of 1/3/06, a very few Windows users achieve better performance with the current official version of the client, but nearly all of us get the best performance with the current beta client, so start with that).
--Once you have Ventrilo installed (shouldn't take long at all), run it for the first time, and choose a username (preferably your forum account name so we know who you are--keep in mind that people probably won't recognize your voice at first). Do this by clicking the little -> next to the User Name field, then clicking "New". Don't worry about adding any info other than the username.
--You'll have to pick a server next, but since you don't have any server info entered yet, click the -> next to Server. Click "New" and enter "Penny Arcade Forums" for the server name (or whatever you want to call it, I guess). For the "Hostname or IP" field, enter "[the listed ip]", and for the "Port number" field, enter "[the listed port]". Make SURE you change the port number field--this server doesn't use the default Ventrilo port number.
--Once all that is done, just click "Connect" and you should be logged on. Note the Terms of Service in the Ventrilo MOTD--they're mostly meant to mirror the forum rules that apply most directly to the voice chat medium, but they aren't there to scare anyone off.
Communicating with Ventrilo
By far the best hardware to use with any voice chat program is a headset, because there's zero chance the sound you hear will reverb through your microphone, even if your mic is constantly transmitting.
If you're going shopping for a headset to use with Ventrilo, just keep in mind that you generally get what you pay for--a $10 bargain headset is most likely going to give you some pretty poor transmission quality. Other forumers have experienced good results with headsets by Plantronics and Logitech, though almost any recognizable brand is probably safe to go with nowadays. One thing you may particularly want to look for in your new headset is an in-line volume control function, which is quite useful.
Microphones:
The best way to use a standalone microphone is in conjunction with headphones. If you don't have a headset and wish to use a standalone mic, use headphones while speaking on Ventrilo if at all possible.
If you use a mic/speaker combination, you will have to be sensitive of reverb issues--if other people are speaking while your mic is activated, your speakers will play what they say and your mic will send it back to them. Even one person reverberating back to the Ventrilo channel can be harsh on the ears; more than one at a time is downright painful.
Do your best to keep the microphone away from the speakers, and never try to "talk over" other chatters--the ensuing reverb will cause mass chaos. Also, be sure to use Ventrilo's "Push-to-talk hotkey" function (see below!) so that your mic isn't constantly transmitting.
One important thing to remember about reverb--in an ironic twist of aural fiendishness, the person whose mic/speaker setup is causing the reverb doesn't get to hear it. So, if others are telling you you're raping their ears, take their word for it and change something!
Software settings:
Your first move (after introducing yourself, of course) should be to adjust your outgoing volume. Generally, the goal is for everyone in the channel to be outputting at a similar volume so that nobody dominates the conversation just by being louder than everyone else. Click the "Setup" button in Ventrilo, then adjust the "Outbound" slider up or down to make yourself louder or softer until others in the channel agree that you're at a good volume. If you can't achieve a desirable outbound volume setting by using the Ventrilo slider, you may need to adjust some hardware settings or possibly activate/deactivate Mic Boost (be CAREFUL with this).
Note: if your outgoing volume is painfully loud when you first log in (you may not know this until it's too late) be prepared for screams of pain from other chatters!
We ask that you use Ventrilo's "Push-to-talk hotkey" function to activate your mic when you want to speak--this is accomplished via the "Setup" menu in Ventrilo. You will have to choose a hotkey on your keyboard, mouse, or joystick (if you've got one) to activate transmitting. What key you use is up to you.
That damn robot voice:
You can deactivate the text-to-speech notification in the "Setup" menu--click the "Events" tab and check out all those event notification fields. If you don't want to hear anything for a particular event, just change its field to "Nothing". Easy enough, right?
How to "compress" peoples' voices so no one can ever be too loud.
Voice overlay? See who's talking while in full screen? Bwah?
Click Here for the previous Ventrilo thread.
Who is the server for?
If you have some buds you want to bring on the server with you, but you're worried that they aren't PA forumers, it's okay--just keep in mind that they will be held accountable to all forum and server rules, even if they are ignorant of them. Also remember that if they behave badly and get themselves banned from the server, it will look bad for you, too. And anyway, if they don't post on the PA forum, why not get them to sign up?
While the server is first and foremost a general-use server for all PA forumers, we currently host DotA. Lots and lots of DotA. There's also some WoW groups that hang out in the game-on channels. Hopefully, they remember to use comments while playing.
Server Rules and Conventions
Other server rules:
--If you are in a Game On channel for a specific game, you must be playing that game with the other people in that channel.
--If you are in a generic Game On channel, you must have the name of the game you are playing in your comment. (this may seem like a nitpicky rule, but it saves countless headaches for all users and prevents any confusion)
--If you are playing a game with other Ventrilo users, don't use a Chat channel to communicate with each other; that's what Game On channels are for! Go use one of them instead.
A general rule of thumb: if it doesn't fly on the forums, it doesn't fly on the Ventrilo server.
Harassment
We take this issue very seriously. Nobody deserves to feel uncomfortable on our server, especially not because someone is giving them a hard time about their gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic background or anything like that. If you feel like you or someone else is being harassed on the server, please contact a server mod immediately. The backhand of justice will strike swiftly and without mercy.
This is a mod-discretion offense. Sometimes conversations will cover topics like sexual orientation or religion, sometimes crass jokes will be told. The key is to keep things in moderation: if what you are saying is making somebody else uncomfortable, you should stop saying it. For example, calling someone a Nazi because they are a German citizen just isn't appropriate. It's not even clever.
No Online Poker in Game On Channels
Because every online poker service has strict rules against "collusion", which is a cool term for two or more players at the same poker table working together in a manner unbeknownst to the other players at the table, we don't allow Ventrilo users to play online poker together in Game On channels. Collusion is unfair to the other players in your online poker game--you shouldn't do it, and if nothing else, you're not going to use the PA Forums Ventrilo server to do it.
Rules Violations
The server mods have the ability to globally mute, kick, or ban users from the server for violating rules or harassing/annoying other users. If you make it a point to violate rules on the server, don't be surprised if any of these happen to you.
If someone is violating rules or bothering other users, don't hesitate to contact me or any of the other server mods.
If you have questions or concerns about being muted, kicked or banned from the server, PM a server mod (not a forum mod, aside from myself). This thread is not the place to discuss Ventrilo server punishments.
Keep in mind that the Ventrilo software offers us no equivalent to a jailing, so "sorta bad" rules violations must be met with server tempbans. I'd give anything for a persistent mute feature, but as we don't have one, we use the tools that we do have. A server tempban may seem like a harsh punishment, but it's all we've got. Just don't break rules or be a dick and you won't have to worry about it.
I just joined the server and it seems like nobody can hear me talking!
If you're in the very root channel, or "lobby", that's why nobody can hear you. We have the lobby set to be permanently muted because most hostile Ventrilo bots (yep, they exist... pathetic, huh?) tend to just login to the lobby channel, spam really loud noises, and then log off. Try jumping into a chat channel to introduce yourself.
Why do the Chat channels have a ten person limit each?
In the past, we've found that "incidents" connected with the Ventrilo server all seemed to have one thing in common: they all seemed to happen when a Chat channel was overflowing with users. Having 20-ish people all hanging out and joking around can sometimes lead to a mob mentality, and we've found that limiting Chat channels to a maximum of ten users apiece has basically eliminated these types of problems.
Anyway, after almost a year of Ventrilo, we've discovered that even ten people actively chatting in one channel is almost too many, so this limit also helps us avoid having overfull channels with everyone stepping on everyone else.
What's The Idle Channel?
If you don't move your mouse or touch your keyboard for 20 minutes, you get automatically moved to The Idle Channel. This just helps stem any confusion from people trying to talk to you when you're not actually at your computer.
What's the Pipe Your Music Here channel?
This is a channel where you can play DJ, and others can come listen to your awesome music. There's no real regulations on this channel, but politeness dictates that you don't talk over someone who is piping music, and if you are the one piping it is customary to put some indication of what music you're playing in your Ventrilo comment (such as artist name and album name).
As for the question of "who gets to pipe?" it's basically first come first serve, but there's no regulations here either. If you really want to pipe something, but someone else is piping, you can always ask them if they wouldn't mind letting you pipe instead (through your comment, through the Ventrilo text chat window, or on the forum).
What This Thread Is NOT For
This thread is also not the place to discuss server punishments. If you have a question about a server ban, PM a server mod (not a forum mod). I'll say that one again:
This thread is not the place to discuss server punishments.
Don't start drama in this thread. This thread exists as a helpful gateway between the server and the forums, not a place for server-side arguments or disputes to spill over. The Ventrilo server should be a boon to the forums, not a pain in their collective ass.
Go into Ventrilo setup and uncheck "Use push-to-talk hotkey". This puts you in Sensitivity mode. Then change the Sensitivity value to 0, which will make your client constantly transmit.
Check that your "input device" and "output device" are both set to "Default DirectSound device", and make sure that the "use DirectSound" option is checked for both of these.
Under "Mixer" you should have your sound card or onboard sound device selected. It probably already is, but just make sure. If you don't know what it is, just pick something that looks like the name of a sound card or onboard sound device, because that's probably right. (you shouldn't ever have to change this)
Under "Mux" you should have "recording control" selected. (you shouldn't ever have to change this either)
Under "Line", you most likely have "Microphone" selected if you've been using Ventrilo normally. To have others hear every noise that your computer makes, search for a setting like "Stereo Mix", "Wave Out", "Wave Out Mix", or something along those lines--it will differ depending on what sound card or sound device your computer uses. When you select the right setting, Ventrilo will now transmit everything your computer outputs to others in the same channel as you.
Close the Ventrilo setup window and click "Mute Sound" in the bottom left of the main Ventrilo window--this means you won't be able to hear anything anyone says in the same channel as you, but you don't want to. Remember, your Ventrilo client is piping everything your sound device plays to the other people in the channel, so if your sound device starts playing someone's Ventrilo transmission, it will get piped back to everyone in the channel with you. i.e. annoying reverb.
Once you have the correct setup, hop in the Pipe Your Music Channel and fire up your sound program. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust your volume settings (your Ventrilo outbound setting, or your music player volume, or your operating system volume mixer, or some combination of all three) so that people get the best listening experience. Remember that changing the volume settings on your speakers won't change anything for the other people in the channel--in fact, this actually means you can pipe music without listening to it yourself, if you are so inclined. In any case, if you've never piped before, you should expect others to want you to adjust your volume settings, so keep an eye on other people's comments and/or consider opening the text chat window.
When you're done piping, do the following:
--uncheck "Mute Sound" in the main window
--open the Setup window, check "Use push-to-talk hotkey", and change your Line setting back to "Microphone" (you can safely leave your Sensitivity value at 0 as long as you only use Sensitivity mode when you pipe music)
Keep in mind that when you have the Setup window open, Ventrilo will not transmit, so if you open it to adjust settings while piping the other folks in the channel will hear only silence while it's open.
How to pipe music on a Mac
edit- everything else is old news
69.12.36.171
port two three seven seven
voice chat called mumble is also available until march2012
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mumble/files/latest/download
Mumble server:
[strike]server: mbl7.gameservers.com
port: 10047[/strike]
Configure > Settings > Audio Input > Transmission > Transmit : Select "Push to talk"
Shortcuts: Add. Click Function > Unassigned : Select "Push-to-Talk". Click [blank space] under Shortcut : Press what key you want to be your push to talk key.
[strike]server: V53.DARKSTARLLC.COM
port: 11065[/strike]
Newest News:
-go to PAX, get this button: -Moved server AGAIN, check it.
-Moved server IP, go check it out.
Not the newest news:
-TheGerbil's back. Two years spent learning how to house. Living in Mormon land. Wait a sec. That means Dawn of War is over two years old now. Daaaaaaaaammmn.
-
-SniperGuy has cancer. Who knew? Anyways, he's having an operation today (the 12th of Dec) to take it out. We lovingly named it Jenkins. There are chances for complications, so we're all hoping for the best. "Best" having multiple meanings to different people. Well I'm hoping he's okay, but "best" would be pictures of Jenkins in the glass jar he brought with him to the hospital.
-Get Ventrilo 3.0. Be sure to uninstall 2.3 first. -Signed up for a year. Server's currently in Virginia.
-Moved to china for a while.
-Voice overlay? See who's talking while in full screen? bwah?
-Donations pl0x. $5 limit, paypal to pikapuff@hotmail.com
-NRG Servers makes a bunch of mistakes, Flagship (owner of Ventrilo) cuts NRG's license. We (along with a couple dozen other ventrilo groups) are homeless.
-PikaPuff sees this as his chance to make a coup.
-PikaPuff buys a month at www.nationvoice.com. Takes over.
GIVE ME MONEY
Donations:[LIST=4]
[*]Meiz - $22
[*]Tarranon - $5.50
[*]Cheater At Golf - $20
[*]Karnius - $22
[*]Kainy - $5.50
[*]Anonymous Robot - $20
[/LIST]
I might have missed one or two guys. Sorry.
36 Donations for 08
[LIST=4]
[*]Captain K
[*]thegloaming
[*]Mr_Grinch
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Archonwarp
[*]Odd Bang
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Odd Bang
[*]Odd Bang
[*]Odd Bang
[*]PikaPuff
[*]Ray Chou
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]PikaPuff
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]PikaPuff
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]PikaPuff
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[*]<PikaPuff>
[/LIST]
The Penny Arcade Forum Ventrilo Server Thread
Server Admins that can Restart the server
Server Admins that can Admin
If you have any problems, ask any of these fine folks for help. If you're in doubt whether or not something is an appropriate discussion topic for this thread, err on the safe side and PM a server mod rather than posting about it here.
Remember, the forum mods are not interested in dealing with Ventrilo server issues. Don't come to them with your problems, come to a Ventrilo server mod.
Server info:
server:69.12.36.171
port two three seven seven
password (if needed): wang
Server Funding
So, who pays for the server? The answer is pretty simple: we all do. Each month we raise $16 in paypal donations, with a limit of $5 on each individual's donation (or more accurately $5.50, because paypal skims off the top).
Some people have a hard time understanding why I won't let anyone donate more than $5 each month. It's really just to make sure that this remains a "community server"--it's not "PikaPuff's Ventrilo server", it belongs to everyone. There's a few individuals who would probably pay the entire server fee each month if I'd let them (ahem, SniperGuy), but it wouldn't be healthy for the sense of mutual ownership.
Make sure to bother PikaPuff if you're getting connection problems. We're still in trial as far as his wallet is concerned.
I for one welcome our new PikaPuff Overlord.
Pika should make me a mod.
But to be fair,
I heard he's good at CS:S. <.<
I find it humorous that the previous topic had PikaPuff's name replace SniperGuy's. Could this mean that the reign of Sniper is not far off? (Of course he would just be a puppet ruler for Vent's true overlord... JENKINS!)
Don't you mean, "The buck no longer doesn't stop here," or something?
I'll admit it. I have no idea what that was supposed to mean.
I did?
Huh.
And nice picture. You're all banned.
Now I feel all guilty... Oh well.
Pika, thanks for taking on the current responsibilities.
STOP IT
rubbing yourself with butter all over your naked body? That's a bit too much.
Well I don't know who did it, so I don't know who I was supposed to PM. I obviously can't get back on Vent to ask what is goign on.
Since ownership changed hands I alone have been kicked out of the server just for fun 3 times and heard other people getting kicked and those with mod powers think it's funny. In fact today is number 4 and I came back on and asked Why I got kicked and who were they talking about earlier because no one addressed me directly. I was met with dead silence, and then I got kicked and couldn't get back in.
In any event, I'm happy that people are amused.
How retarded are you that you can't read 2 pages of posts to check for a solution?
20071024 18:09:01 NET: ID 176, Disconnect, 104.
20071024 18:09:01 MSG_DISC: ID 176, From=383031, To=4835857, Sec=3214, Name=ubergeek
20071024 18:09:15 LOGON: ID 192, IPxxx, ubergeek
20071024 18:10:28 ADMIN: Banning ubergeek, IPxxx, Admin Jaef, Because 'STOP BREATHING FUCKER'.
20071024 18:17:22 ADMIN: Unbanning ubergeek, IPxxx, Admin Jaef.
20071024 20:16:45 ADMIN: ID 197, User 'TheKoolEagle' was kicked by 'Jaef' because 'Kicked for ubergeek'.
And before that...
20071013 18:31:54 ADMIN: ID 23, User 'ubergeek' was kicked by 'PikaPuff' because 'i said iw as going to kick you so now I did.'.
20071016 17:25:48 ADMIN: ID 216, User 'ubergeek' was kicked by 'SniperGuy' because 'Game on Rule Violation'.
Personally, I would have kicked you, or moved you to another channel. A five minute ban doesn't seem so bad. I can see why you're upset, but I hope you understand while the rest of the channel was upset as well, and ended up doing what they did. Good job keeping count on number of kicks. Although only one, possibly two, were "for fun."
you are awesome. in general.
(especially for keeping up the vent for two years)
But PikaPuff took some initiative setting up a replacement server and everybody says he's doing a fine job. I don't really care either way, so why mess with what's working now?