The standard phpBB3 FAQ page was copied here and updated. We would like to make this article as useful and idiot proof as possible, if you have a question not listed below or any suggestions for improvement please post it in the Tech Support forum.

Note: To contact OGF Site Staff you can: post in the Tech Support forum (preferred method) -or- email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -or- use the contact us form on the homepage -or- check-in on FreeNode IRC #opengameforge -or- PM a staff member via the forums.

Why cant I login?

There are several reasons why this could occur. First, check for any notices or news about site maintenance. Second, ensure your username and password are correct. If they are, try logging into the OGF homepage, if you can login there but not the forums then it is likely you did not change your password after being emailed a new random password - just change (or reenter) your password in your profile on the homepage, then try logging into the forums again. If you still cannot login please report the problem to site staff.

Why do I need to register at all?

These forums are communications infrastructure for the OpenGameForge.org community, while anyone can read the forums, only members of this community can post. Registration is required to join the community.

Why do I get logged off automatically?

If you do not check the "Log me in automatically" box when you login, the board will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login. Please do NOT use this feature if you access these forums from a shared computer, such as a public library, internet cafe, university computer lab, etc.

How do I prevent my username appearing in the online user listings?

Within your User Control Panel, under "Board preferences", you will find the option Hide your online status. Enable this option with Yes and you will only appear to the administrators, moderators and yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.

I lost my password!

Don't panic! While your password cannot be retrieved, you can request a new randomly generated password be emailed to you. Just use the "forgot login" feature on the OGF homepage, select lost password, and check your email, then login on the homepage, change your password, and you should be able to login on the forums again.

I registered but cannot login!

First, make sure you logged in on the homepage and changed your password - the randomly generated passwords emailed to new members only work on the homepage, not the sub-sites. If you can login on the homepage -and- you have changed your password, but you still cannot login on the forums then please contact site staff for assistance.

I registered in the past but cannot login any more?!

Attempt to locate the e-mail sent to you when you first registered, check your username and password and try again. It is possible your account was lost, OGF has suffered a couple catastrophic hosting failures with significant loss of site data including some user accounts. To check this use the "forgot login" feature on the OGF homepage, select "lost username", enter your email address, then if it says there is no account associated with that address then your account was lost - please register again. If your account still exists try resetting the password via that same page, then change it in your profile, and try logging in again - if you still cannot login please contact site staff.

What is COPPA?

COPPA, or the Child Online Privacy and Protection Act of 1998, is a law in the United States requiring websites which can potentially collect information from minors under the age of 13 to have written parental consent or some other method of legal guardian acknowledgment, allowing the collection of personally identifiable information from a minor under the age of 13. OpenGameForge.org does not provide COPPA support, this site is inappropriate for children.

Why cant I register?

Please register via the OGF homepage, the phpBB internal user registration is disabled.

What does the "Delete all board cookies" do?

"Delete all board cookies" deletes the cookies created by phpBB which keep you authenticated and logged into the board. It also provides functions such as read tracking if they have been enabled by the board owner. If you are having login or logout problems, deleting board cookies may help.

How do I change my settings?

If you are a registered user, all your settings are stored in the board database. To alter them, visit your User Control Panel; a link can usually be found at the top of board pages. This system will allow you to change all your settings and preferences. Note your username and email address cannot be changed, and your password can only be changed via the OGF homepage.

The times are not correct!

It is possible the time displayed is from a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, visit your User Control Panel and change your timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. If you are not registered, this is a good time to do so.

I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!

If you are sure you have set the timezone and Summer Time/DST correctly and the time is still incorrect, then the time stored on the server clock is incorrect. Please notify site staff to correct the problem.

How do I show an image below my username?

There are two images that may appear below a username when viewing posts. Depending on the used style, the first may be an image associated with your rank, generally in the form of stars, blocks or dots, indicating how many posts you have made or your status on the board. The second, usually a larger image, is known as an avatar and is generally unique or personal to each user. You can change your avatar via the forum user control panel.

What is my rank and how do I change it?

Ranks, which appear below your username, indicate the number of posts you have made or identify certain users, e.g. moderators and administrators. In general, you cannot directly change the wording of any board ranks as they are set by the board administrator. Please do not abuse the board by posting unnecessarily just to increase your rank. Most boards will not tolerate this and the moderator or administrator will simply lower your post count.

When I click the e-mail link for a user it asks me to login?

Only registered users can send e-mail to other users via the built-in e-mail form, and only if the user has opted to accept email from other users. This is to prevent malicious use of the e-mail system by anonymous users.

How do I post a topic in a forum?

To post a new topic in a forum, click the relevant button on either the forum or topic screens. You must be registered and logged in before you can post a message. A list of your permissions in each forum is available at the bottom of the forum and topic screens. Example: You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc.

How do I edit or delete a post?

Unless you are a board administrator or moderator, you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post by clicking the edit button for the relevant post, sometimes for only a limited time after the post was made. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic which lists the number of times you edited it along with the date and time. This will only appear if someone has made a reply; it will not appear if a moderator or administrator edited the post, though they may leave a note as to why they’ve edited the post at their own digression. Please note that normal users cannot delete a post once someone has replied.

How do I add a signature to my post?

To add a signature to a post you must first create one via your User Control Panel. Once created, you can check the Attach a signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can also add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio button in your profile. If you do so, you can still prevent a signature being added to individual posts by un-checking the add signature box within the posting form.

How do I create a poll?

When posting a new topic or editing the first post of a topic, click the "Poll creation" tab below the main posting form; if you cannot see this, you do not have appropriate permissions to create polls. Enter a title and at least two options in the appropriate fields, making sure each option is on a separate line in the text area. You can also set the number of options users may select during voting under "Options per user", a time limit in days for the poll (0 for infinite duration) and lastly the option to allow users to amend their votes.

Why can’t I add more poll options?

The limit for poll options is set by the board administrator. If you feel you need to add more options to your poll then the allowed amount, contact the board administrator.

How do I edit or delete a poll?

As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator or an administrator. To edit a poll, click to edit the first post in the topic; this always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote, users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if members have already placed votes, only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it. This prevents the poll’s options from being changed mid-way through a poll.

Why can’t I add attachments?

Attachment permissions are granted on a per forum, per group, or per user basis. The board administrator may not have allowed attachments to be added for the specific forum you are posting in, or perhaps only certain groups can post attachments. Contact the board administrator if you are unsure about why you are unable to add attachments.

Why did I receive a warning?

Check your private messages, any warnings issued by site staff will include a clear explanation. If you feel there was some misunderstanding you may appeal the warning, first to the staff member who issued it, then to an administrator, and finally to the community as a whole via posting in the OGF Management forum. Note, choose your words wisely, if the warning originated from a heated debate showing any hostility or disrespect in appealing the warning may only end up making the situation worse. Its often better to sleep on it then reassess the situation with a level head.

How can I report posts to a moderator?

You should see a button for reporting posts next to the post you wish to report. Clicking this will walk you through the steps necessary to report the post.

What is the "Save" button for in topic posting?

This allows you to save passages to be completed and submitted at a later date. To reload a saved passage, visit the User Control Panel.

Why does my post need to be approved?

If you repeatedly posted blatant spam, hardcore porn, or something illegal then your posting privileges may have been suspended, if this is the case check your private messages for an explanation. Suspended posting privileges means you can still post but your posts are reviewed by site staff prior to being published. This is done as a courtesy for established members when they post something which otherwise would have gotten them banned. You can appeal this to the staff member who suspended your posting privileges, then to an administrator, and finally to the community as a whole. Warning, if you attempt to bypass this by registering a new account you will probably be permanently banned.

How do I bump my topic?

By clicking the "Bump topic" link when you are viewing it, you can "bump" the topic to the top of the forum on the first page. If you do not this then either the topic is too new to be bumped or the time allowance between bumps has not yet been reached. It is also possible to bump the topic simply by replying to it, however, you should contribute something new or meaningful to the discussion - do not simply post "bump", it will probably be ignored.

What is BBCode?

BBCode is a set of simple text markup tags, offering basic formatting control on particular objects in a post. The use of BBCode is granted by the administrator, but it can also be disabled on a per post basis from the posting form. The BBCode tags are similar in style to HTML, but are enclosed in square brackets [ and ] rather than < and >. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.

Can I use HTML?

No. It is not possible to post HTML on this board and have it rendered as HTML. Most formatting which can be carried out using HTML can be applied using BBCode instead.

What are Smilies?

Smilies, also called Emoticons, are small images which can be used to express a feeling using a short code, e.g. :) denotes happy, while :( denotes sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen in the posting form. Try not to overuse smilies, however, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and earn you a reputation as emotionally unstable. Note there is a profile setting in the User Control Panel to have smilies disabled by default, this is useful if you do not regularly use smilies and find it annoying when they accidentally show up in your posts, they can also be re-enabled on a per post basis via a check-box on the posting form.

Can I post images?

Yes, images can be shown in your posts. You can either upload the image to the board as a file attachment -or- link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.example.com/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor images stored behind authentication mechanisms, e.g. hotmail or yahoo mailboxes, password protected sites, etc. To display the image use the BBCode [img] tag.

What are global announcements?

Global announcements contain important information and you should read them whenever possible. They will appear at the top of every forum and within your User Control Panel. Global announcements can only be posted by site staff.

What are announcements?

Announcements often contain important information for the forum you are currently reading and you should read them whenever possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. Announcements can only be posted by site staff and forum moderators.

What are sticky topics?

Sticky topics within the forum appear below announcements and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them whenever possible. Sticky topics can only be posted by site staff and forum moderators.

What are locked topics?

Locked topics are topics where users can no longer reply and any poll it contained was automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons and were set this way by either the forum moderator or board administrator. You may also be able to lock your own topics depending on the permissions you are granted by the board administrator.

What are topic icons?

Topic icons are author chosen images associated with posts to indicate their content, such as a question mark icon for topics which ask a question or request help with something.

What are Administrators?

Administrators senior site staff members, they are responsible for keeping the site running. They have the highest level of control over the entire board, including control all facets of board operation, setting permissions, banning users, creating user-groups or moderators, etc. They also have full moderator capabilities in all forums. Most disciplinary actions taken by an administrator against a member can be appealed to the community as a whole.

What are Moderators?

There are two types of moderators, global moderators are site staff who look after the forums from day to day -and- forum moderators who manage a single forum, for example a project leader who maintains their project forum. They have the authority to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum they moderate. Generally, moderators are present to prevent users from going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material. Sometimes moderators also maintain a specific work flow, such as toggling a topic for an unresolved problem as sticky, then switching it back to a normal topic when the issue is resolved. Most disciplinary actions taken by a moderator against a member can be appealed to an administrator and then to the community as a whole.

What are user-groups?

User-groups are groups of users that divide the community into manageable sections board administrators can work with. Each user can belong to several groups and each group can be assigned individual permissions, a group tag, group avatar, and other attributes.

Where are the user-groups and how do I join one?

You can view all user-groups via the "User-groups" link within your User Control Panel. If you would like to join one, proceed by clicking the appropriate button. Not all groups have open access, however. Some may require approval to join, some may be closed and some may even have hidden memberships. If the group is open, you can join it by clicking the appropriate button. If a group requires approval to join you may request to join by clicking the appropriate button. The user group leader will need to approve your request and may ask why you want to join the group. Please do not harass a group leader if they reject your request; they will have their reasons and in most cases it cannot be appealed.

How do I become a user-group leader?

A group leader is usually assigned when groups are initially created by a board administrator. If you are interested in creating a group, your first point of contact should be an administrator; try sending a private message.

Why do some user-groups appear in a different color?

It is possible for the board administrator to assign a color to the members of a user-group to make it easy to identify the members of this group.

What is a "Default user-group"?

If you are a member of more than one user-group, your default is used to determine which group color and group rank should be shown for you by default. The board administrator may grant you permission to change your default user-group via your User Control Panel.

What is "The team" link?

This page provides you with a list of board staff, including board administrators and moderators and other details such as the forums they moderate.

I cannot send private messages!

There are two reasons for this: you are not logged in -or- your private messaging privileges were suspended for harassing other members. Contact a board administrator for more information.

I keep getting unwanted private messages!

You can block a user from sending you private messages by using message rules within your User Control Panel. If you are receiving abusive private messages from a particular user, inform a board administrator; they have the power to prevent a user from sending private messages.

I have received a spamming or abusive e-mail from someone on this board!

We are sorry to hear that. The e-mail form feature of this board includes safeguards to try and track users who send such posts, so e-mail the board administrator with a full copy of the e-mail you received. It is very important that this includes the headers that contain the details of the user that sent the e-mail. The board administrator can then take action.

What are my Friends and Foes lists?

You can use these lists to organize other members of the board. Members added to your friends list will be listed within your User Control Panel for quick access to see their online status and to send them private messages. Subject to template support, posts from these users may also be highlighted. If you add a user to your foes list, any posts they make will be hidden by default.

How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?

You can add users to your list in two ways. Within each user’s profile, there is a link to add them to either your Friend or Foe list. Alternatively, from your User Control Panel, you can directly add users by entering their member name. You may also remove users from your list using the same page.

How can I search a forum or forums?

Enter a search term in the search box located on the index, forum or topic pages. Advanced search can be accessed by clicking the "Advance Search" link which is available on all pages on the forum. How to access the search may depend on the style used.

Why does my search return no results?

Your search was probably too vague and included many common terms which are not indexed by phpBB3. Be more specific and use the options available within Advanced search.

Why does my search return a blank page!?

Your search returned too many results for the web server to handle. Use "Advanced search" and be more specific in the terms used and forums that are to be searched.

How do I search for members?

Visit to the "Members" page and click the "Find a member" link.

How can I find my own posts and topics?

Your own posts can be retrieved either by clicking the "Search user’s posts" within the User Control Panel or via your own profile page. To search for your topics, use the Advanced search page and fill in the various options appropriately.

What is the difference between bookmarking and subscribing?

Bookmarking in phpBB3 is much like bookmarking in your web browser. You are not alerted about topic updates, but you can come back to the topic later. Subscribing, however, will notify you when there is an update to the topic or forum on the board via your preferred method or methods.

How do I subscribe to specific forums or topics?

To subscribe to a specific forum, click the "Subscribe forum" link upon entering the forum. To subscribe to a topic, reply to the topic with the subscribe check-box checked or click the "Subscribe topic" link within the topic itself.

How do I remove my subscriptions?

To remove your subscriptions, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to your subscriptions.

What attachments are allowed on this board?

Archives: 7z, ace, bz2, gtar, gz, rar, tar, tgz, torrent, zip.

Images: gif, jpeg, jpg, png, tga, tif, tiff.

Documents: ai, doc, docm, docx, dot, dotm, dotx, odg, odp, ods, odt, pdf, ppt, pptm, pptx, ps, rtf, xls, xlsb, xlsm, xlsx.

Plain text: c, cpp, csv, diz, h, hpp, ini, js, log, txt, xml.

Audio: mp3, mpeg, mpg, ogg, ogm.

If the file type you need is not allowed just place it in an archive. Large plain text and document files should also be archived, excessively large files may be archived by site staff (which deletes your original attachment and breaks any direct links posted elsewhere). Only post password protected files with the password. If you post anything which could accidentally trip an antivirus scan please post an explanation and wrap it in a password protected archive. Also note these forums are not intended for use as a downloads repository, if attachments are abused your attachment privileges may be suspended. Do not post copyrighted material without the owners permission, this is especially true of MP3s, blatant copyright violation is a fast way to get yourself banned.

How do I find all my attachments?

To find your list of attachments that you have uploaded, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to the attachments section.

Who wrote this bulletin board?

This software (in its unmodified form) is produced, released and is copyright phpBB Group. It is made available under the GNU General Public License and may be freely distributed.

Why isn't X feature available?

Usually its due to a lack of popular demand and/or a lack of volunteers to implement it. If you would like to see something added to the forums, or any other OGF sub-site, just ask, see what people have to say about it and see if anyone is willing to work on it. Also be sure to check for available mods in the mod database on phpbb.com, note OGF only uses stable release mods, and ideally ones which are verified.

Who do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?

Contact OpenGameForge.org site staff via the contact points listed at the beginning of this article. Do NOT contact the phpBB Group, their copyright notice and links are displayed on this forum because it is required by the forum software license and we wish to give them full credit for it. If you do e-mail phpBB Group about any third-party use of this software then you should expect a terse response or no response at all.

Where can I ask questions not covered here?

Please ask in the Tech Support forum.