Playing Netrunner on IRC is really easy and a lot of fun. IRC is an internet application that allows users to gather in rooms, or "channels", and have a community chat. IRC is a client/server set up, similar to the world wide web. The difference is that the server just relays the information from client to client, hence Internet Relay Chat.

To play Netrunner on IRC, first thing you need to do is get on IRC. To do this, you need a computer, an internet hookup (both of which I assume you have, since you're reading this), and an IRC client. I use mIRC. It has a nice inteface, and is easy to use. On top of that, mIRC is shareware. You can download mIRC for free from the mIRC homepage.

Once you get set up, you just connect to IRC. If you've never done this, there's a great site here that has info on using IRC. Once you get on, hook up to an Undernet server (any server that ends in undernet.org) and join the Netrunner channel. To join the channel just type in the command /join #netrunner. #netrunner is the name of the channel, and players can be found on this channel on any server. The undernet channel usually has someone hanging around looking for a game, and is also the server we have the channel registered on.

On #netrunner, feel free to challenge someone to a match. If there are people on the channel, you can usually get a game going. To find out how to play a game online, check out this page. If there are not many poeple on the channel, then you can play your game right there on #netrunner. If there are a lot of people there, or someone else is playing a game there, you may need to take your game to DCC chat. DCC chat is a private live between you and whomever you're chatting with. To establish a DCC chat, you either send a chat request to someone (with mIRC, you click on the DCC chat button, type in the person's nickname, and click OK), or accept a request from someone (with mIRC just click on the minimized window that pops up). You can be on several channels at once, including DCC connections.

Once you've started a game, or if you're watching someone else play, it's important to be courteous. On IRC it's easy for things to get chaotic, especially if there are several people on the channel. The #netrunner channel is mostly used for discussion and to set up games. I would recommend joining a separate channel or DCC to play a game, unless #netrunner is relatively empty, or the people on the channel would like to watch your game. You can also show courtesy by not engaging in off-topic discussions while others are playing a game. If the channel starts to fill up, or you want to discuss a Netrunner-related topic, you can suggest that the players take their game to DCC. I'm sure they would rather you do that than interrupt the game.

Now, you should have the basic knowledge to start up a game on IRC. The best way to learn, though, is to just jump in and try. You'll learn a lot more by trying than by reading anything I could tell you. The people on #netrunner are usually very helpful, and some of the veterans are very knowledgable of IRC. Don't be afraid to ask questions, everyone has to learn sometime. If you have questions and there is no one on #netrunner, or if they can't help you, try joining #IRChelp. There are always people there who can help you.

Okay. Now you can do it. You have no more excuses! I'll see you in netspace!