The Sixth Annual Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy Marathon takes place on Saturday, May 1, beginning at 9 a.m. EDT.
This year in-between The Two Towers and Return of the King we will be holding a discussion about Hobbit rumours, gossip and speculation hosted by a pantheon of TORn’s original Staff! Chat is set to begin around 5:30 p.m. EDT in #thehalloffire.
SO. What’s it all about?
Questions! You have questions. And we have answers.
On Saturday morning people from around the world will sit down at their computers with one common goal: to virtually gather with other fans to watch all three Lord of the Ring extended editions straight through. Geeky? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.
You will find answers to all of your questions about the whats, hows and when here on our Marathon FAQ.
QUESTIONS
1: CHATROOM BASICS
1a: I’ve never chatted before. How does it work?
1b: How do I join the chatroom?
1c: That @ and & person keeps telling me to read the guidelines. What are the guidelines?
1d: There is a lot of lingo. What is a “channel” or an “op?”
1e: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?
2: THE MARATHON
2a: How do I watch the movies?
2b: I don’t have the extended editions, can I still take part?
2c: I just joined the marathon chat — how can I tell what part of the movie you’re watching?
2d: How long does the marathon last?
2e: What time will you be watching [insert movie name]?
2f: I don’t live in Eastern Time Zone. What time is the marathon in my time zone?
2g: Do you take breaks during the movies? Do you have a schedule for when you’ll be stopping?
2h: There are a lot of people in the room, how can I tell when an announcement is made?
2i: Have you done this before?
3: PROBLEMS
3a: I try to connect to the chat, but my connection is refused or I get an error message.
3b: Everyone seems to be at a different place than I am. What am I doing wrong?
3c: I joined the chat room, but nothing I type is posted to the room. Is it broken?
3d: How can I get a nickname? I want to call myself Frodo, but the chat won’t let me.
3e: Why can’t I swear/shout/be rude?
3f: Someone keeps messaging me and saying rude things. What should I do?
3g: I wasn’t doing anythng wrong, but I got kicked out. Can I come back, please?
3h: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?
3i: HELP, I’m hopelessly confused.
4: FUN STUFF
4a: People keep ordering drinks and barbecued Orc wings. How do I do that?
ANSWERS
1: CHATROOM BASICS
1a: I’ve never chatted before. How does it work?
If you’ve never chatted before, the premise is simple. Think of the chat as a giant group instant message. Anyone is able to join the discussion and use the text entry box to post their comments to the “channel.” You read them and respond, if you choose. Or just post your own thoughts.
To take part in the chat, you need to sign on to an IRC client. You have your choice between two web-based services or you can download an IRC client, such as mIRC. See the answer to question 1b.
Your best option is to test joining the chatroom before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works. For the answers to any IRC question you can think of, visit our IRC FAQ.
1b: How do I join the chatroom?
To take part in the chat, you need to sign on to an IRC program. You have your choice between two web-based services or you can download an IRC client, such as mIRC. Here are your options:
JAVA CHAT:
Simple, basic chat service
– Visit http://www.theonering.net/torwp/java-chat/ and click “Run” to accept the applet. (does not install software or damage your computer)
– Replace “Guest” with a nick name of your choice
– Select “Movie Chat” from the channel drop-down list
– Click “Connect Now”
– You will now be in the chat room.
MIBBIT CHAT:
Recommended for its better interface
– Visit http://www.mibbit.com/chat/
– To the right of “IRC: Mibbit [webirc] there is a link “server”
– In the “server address” box type “irc.theonering.net” (without quotation marks)
– In the nick box, replace the text with a nick name of your choice
– In the Channel box, type “#moviechat” (again, without quotation marks)
– Click “Go”
– You will now be in the chat room.
mIRC:
If you’re looking for the optimum chatting experience, an IRC client is the way to go
– Dowload and install the mIRC program. (Windows only)
– Launch mIRC.
– Close the greeting screen, if one appears
– Go to the Tools menu, open it and select the Options menu.
– You should now see a page called “mIRC Options” with a menu list on the left side.
– Open the Connect menu, and you will see a page to input your name and nickname. It’s recommended that you do not use your real name when visiting all chat rooms, and although we set a high standard at Barliman’s, it is not an exception to this rule.”
– Open the Servers menu and click on the Add button and you will get a window called “Add Server.”
– Fill in the description as you wish, then type in irc.TheOneRing.net as the server and 6667 as the port. Leave the other fields blank. Then click Add again. This will close the small window.
– Return to the Connect menu and click Connect.
– You should now be connected to the chat room and in a window titled “Status: [your nickname]” In that window you type the command to join the chatroom. To join the marathon, type /join #moviechat and Enter. You will now be in the channel.
If mIRC seems too complicated, you should stick to the the Mibbit or Java chat options. Your best option is to test joining the chatroom before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works.
1c: That @ and & keeps telling me to read the guidelines. What are the guidelines?
The guidelines are pretty simple:
Be courteous. Boorish behavior will not be tolerated!
Use appropriate language. No swearing, cursing, harassment or other such foolishness.
To repeat: NO CURSING or sexual innuendo. If you can’t say it on Sesame Street, you can’t say it here. This is a family-friendly event and we find that civil discourse keeps everyone happy.
Think before you “speak”. Use common sense – this is a world-wide chat, between many cultures and age levels.
Respect others and their ideas. Be friendly and patient with each other. After all, we are just having fun!
No image banners or advertisements for other sites are permitted.
No bots… No spamming… No flooding!
The op is always right! If your behavior or language is deemed inappropriate by an op, you will be removed from the room. Frequent violations can result in banning.
1d: There is a lot of lingo. What’s a “channel” or an “op?”
Channel is another word for a chatroom or a “room.” The words are interchangeable. An “op” is someone who runs the chatroom.
TORn’s IRC server has a number of channels for users to congregate in. Movie Marathons take place in #moviechat. The main channel/room is #TheOneRing.net, affectionately know as Barliman’s. This is where general day-to-day conversation takes place and is usually the busiest.
Other available rooms are:
#Rivendell — test your Tolkien trivia knowledge with Elrond!
#Green_Dragon — general knowledge quizzes with The Gaffer!
#TheHallofFire, Home of moderated Tolkien and LoTR chats;
#lotr.nl, home of our Dutch language chat;
“Ops” are the moderators. You can tell them apart from regular chatters by the @ or & sign in front of their nickname. They help run the various registered channels (those listed above) – making sure people abide by TORn’s chatting guidelines. They will also help you with any problems you have running your IRC client and try and answer questions that aren’t answered here.
You can find the answer to anything else you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.
1e: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?
We’re glad you’re curious! You can find the answer to anything you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.
2: THE MARATHON
2a: How do I watch the movies?
First of all, you need to HAVE the movies. We will not be watching a television or cable broadcast of the films.
Have your first disc in the player before 9 a.m.. The channel will be silenced around 9 a.m. so the ops can announce the start of the movie. No one will be able to speak while this happens, so no one misses the announcement! The ops will count down the time and when they write START! everyone presses Play. It’s pretty simple.
If you think you’re lagging or not in the same spot as the others, do not fear. We pause periodically to allow everyone to get back on track. Sometimes the confusion is part of the fun. Check the movie schedule for a general idea of when pauses and breaks will take place (to be posted by start of marathon).
Do you feel as if you just can’t keep up with the others or as if your DVD is running too fast? If you live outside of the U.S., see the answer to question 3b.
2b: I don’t have the extended editions, can I still take part?
We will be watching the extended editions of the films, but it will be possible to use the regular editions if you use the “pauses” to adjust to which chapter we’re on. If you don’t have the films at all, you can still participate in the chat — after all, we’re sure you’ve seen them before!
2c: I just joined — how can I tell what part of the movie you’re watching?
This question pops up a lot. A LOT. The ops will periodically announce what scene we’re at or what chapter we’re on. The clocked time is often announced, but the run speed on DVDs varies from region to region. The best and easiest way to catch up is to watch what others are commenting on and try to fast-forward to the right scene. There will be pauses throughout the film for people to meet up at the same chapter. If you have the booklet that came with your DVD, that will be very handy.
Of course, if you’re really confused, just ask. Someone will be happy to answer 🙂
2d: How long does the marathon last?
In years past the marathon has lasted a total of 12-13 hours, sometimes a bit more. We allow four hours for each movie, not including breaks. You’re welcome to come and go at any time, of course, as often as you like. For more information, see answer 2e.
2e: What time will you be watching [insert movie name]?
All times are approximate. We hope to stay on schedule, but “things” often happen!
Below are the run-times for each film, our projected starting time, and links to determine the time in your own time zone. By the start of the marathon we will have added a “pause schedule” that we hope to stick to. Pauses last little more than 30 seconds, and serve as pick-up points for people experiencing DVD burps. We will take a 30 minute break between “Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Two Towers.” There will be an 1.5 hour break before “Return of the King,” during which there will be a special chat on the future Hobbit film.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Total run time: 208 minutes
Start time 9 a.m. EDT [When is that in my time zone?]
The Two Towers
Total run time: 223 minutes
Start time 1:30 p.m. EDT [When is that in my time zone?]
The Return of the King
Total run time: 251 minutes
APPROXIMATE Start time 7 p.m. EDT [When is that in my time zone?]
2f: I don’t live in Eastern Time Zone. What time is the marathon in my time zone?
The marathon begins at 9 a.m. EDT. Visit http://timeanddate.com to check the time for your location or click here.
2g: Do you take breaks during the movies?
Yes. Lots. Keeping everyone at the same place in the movie is an impossible task. So we pause the movie periodically to let everyone catch up. We also take 15 minute breaks between discs and 1/2 hour breaks between movies. 12 hours is a long time to not eat/drink/whatever. 🙂
2h: There are a lot of people in the room, how can I tell when an announcement is made?
When an important announcement needs to be made — the start of a movie, a break, or some other problem — the ops will silence the room. When this happens no one other than ops will be able to “speak” or post a comment to the room. This is so what they have to say won’t get lost in the wind. Be patient, the silence will be lifted as soon as they’re done. 🙂
2i: Have you done this before?
Yes! We’ve been holding movie marathons since the “Fellowship of the Ring” DVD was first released. Following the ROTK DVD we began our traditional Trilogy marathon. In 2006 our marathon was attended by well over 100 people. A great time was had by all! You can read all about it here.
3: PROBLEMS
3a: I try to connect to the chat, but my connection is refused or I get an error message.
It’s possible, though unlikely, that the server will reach full capacity. If that happens, you will not be able to sign on. If you are using Mibbit, try connecting through the Java Chat option. We have a limit of how many Mibbit users can be online at any given time. This is for technical reasons we don’t need to explain 🙂
If you continue to have a problem, it’s possible that you are behind a firewall that will not allow IRC port connections. If you are at work, school or a public hot spot, this is most likely the problem. Try the Mibbit Chat option, which frequently works even from behind firewalls.
If neither of these options resolve the problem, you can e-mail barlimans@theonering.net, but please be patient, as ops will be busy running the marathon. Your best option is to test joining the chatroom before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works.
3b: Everyone seems to be at a different place than I am. What am I doing wrong?
DVDs often vary in speed from region to region. If you’re joining us from outside of North America it is possible that your DVD is running slightly ahead or behind. This is one of the reasons we “pause” the movie periodically, to allow everyone to catch up. You can read more about pauses in a number of other answers on this FAQ.
But, to allay your fears, you’re most likely not doing anything wrong. If the pauses don’t seem to help you, ask an op for help. They’re the persons with the @ or & in front of their name. If you double-click on their nickname, you can message them with your problem.
3c: I joined the chat room, but nothing I type is posted to the room. Is it broken?
Nope! See the answer to question 2h.
3d: How can I get a nickname? I want to call myself Frodo, but the chat won’t let me.
To prevent confusion, only one person on the entire server can have a nickname. So, if another Frodo beat you out to the chat, you will have to find another nickname. Some nicknames are registered by regular chatters. If you try to use one of these the server will change your nick to Guest+random numbers. But, you’re free to try! Just have a backup nick in mind. For more information visit our IRC FAQ.
3e: Why can’t I swear?
Because it’s rude. We’ve worked very hard to keep TORn’s chatrooms pleasant for people of all ages and nationalities. We also like to think it’s a place Professor Tolkien might like to hang out, if he were alive and well today. And interested in modern technology. And not as cranky as he’s rumoured to have been.
If you persist in swearing, shouting or breaking the guidelines, an op will warn you. If you persist, you will get kicked. If you continue to persist, you will be banned. But we’re sure that won’t happen. We’re all here for the same thing: to enjoy the movies and talking to other fans.
Several words will result in an automatic ban by the bot. There is no contesting this. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Read more about our philosophy at the “Why Can’t I?” section of our IRC FAQ.
3f: Someone keeps messaging me and saying rude things. What should I do?
Tell an op immediately. Either say something in the main chatroom, or double click on one of the names with the @ or & in front of it, and tell them what’s been going on. If you’re able to copy/paste what they’ve been saying, even better. We are ADAMANTLY against such behavior and we will deal with it swiftly.
3g: I wasn’t doing anythng wrong, but I got kicked out. Can I come back, please?
Our top guideline is “The Op is always right.” If you’ve been kicked out, you are permitted to return but should consider it a warning. During an event as busy as a movie marathon, it’s possible that something you did was misconstrued or was done by someone else. Keep your sense of humor, come back to the room and all should be well.
Barliman will warn you two times for swearing. The third time you get kicked out. The next time you will be automatically banned. At that point, you won’t be allowed back. Sorry.
3h: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?
We’re glad you’re curious! You can find the answer to anything you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.
31: HELP, I’m hopelessly confused.
Ouch. That’s not fun. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, you can ask an op for help. If you are already in the chat room, double-click on any nickname preceded by an @ or & and write out your question. They’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you are unable to sign in to the chat room, send an e-mail to barlimans@theonering.net. Please be patient, as ops will be busy running the marathon.
4. FUN STUFF
4a: People keep ordering drinks and barbecued Orc wings. How do I do that?
Barliman has many offerings and tasty items on his menu. Here are a few:
Replace <nick> with the name of the person you’re ordering for
!beer <nick>
!1420 <nick>
!lembas <nick>
!taters <nick>
!toby <nick>
!cd <nick>
!mead <nick>
!orc <nick>
!creb <nick>
!ent <nick>
!dp <nick>
!coffee <nick>
!md <nick>
!cbw <nick>
!Pepsi <nick>
Coke <nick>
!Guinness <nick>
!honey <nick>
!scones <nick>
!milk <nick>
!Egtea <nick>
!aspirin <nick>
!ha <nick>
!cs <nick>
!hc <nick>
!hcm <nick>
!shrimp <nick>
!gbar <nick>
!ack <nick>
!hcb <nick>
!hcbm <nick>
!veg <nick>
!molson <nick>
!blankie <nick>
!spoon <nick>
!pizza <nick>
!pggb <nick>
!smore <nick>
!timtam <nick>
!gt <nick>
!toast <nick>
!lost <nick>
!bc <nick>
!oc <nick>
!pillowtop <nick>
!pillows <nick>
!liit <nick>
!cc <nick>
!bbq <nick>
!pillow <nick>
!pie <nick>
!burn <nick>
The Following commands do not need a nickname
!round
!mushrooms
!balrog
!jarjar
!winyards
!song
!music
!hd
!tab
!cookies
!chocolate
!faq
!rl
!rose