====== MelonLand Tour Guide ======

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Hello there, welcome to the MelonLand tourist guide! This is a basic guide intended to help orient you and explain the main features of the site! We have a lot to cover I'll try to keep things clear and brief :)

**Monday Alert:** Keep in mind some parts of the site, including the Forum and Chat are closed on Mondays!

===== Zones and Words =====

An outline of site zones and common words you'll encounter.

  * **MelonLand** - the catch all name for this site and projects connect to it
  * **Everyone Site** - a collectively coded website all members can edit, its used widely across MelonLand
  * **Forum** - A central discussion board for members.
  * **Surf Club** - a directory/list of member's personal websites you can visit.
  * **Art Hub** - a art sharing site based on Deviant Art for uploading 2D and 3D artworks.
  * **Liquid Crystal Cafe / Chat** - A real time chat where you can talk to other members
  * **Guilds** - member created groups on the forum, focused on specific subjects
  * **Artifacts** - collectable member made web toys that can be around around the site
  * **File Sneeze / FTP** - image/file upload service (members see the outbox icon in the nav)
  * **Main Street** - a multiplayer mini MMO embedded on most MelonLand pages
  * **Avatar Builder** - a tool for creating your own avatar out of Artifacts
  * **Profile** - your profile on the forum that can be edited with CSS
  * **Your Room** - your dedicated page on the Everyone Site that functions like a tiny homepage
  * **Wiki** - (this page) contains help documents and guides related to MelonLand
  * **Post Office / Newsletters** - a micro service for sending and subscribing to member newsletters
  * **Guides / Books** - community created link/webpage collections gathering info related to a subject
  * **Passport Sites** - non-MelonLand websites that you can login to using a MelonLand account

===== Getting Started =====

Its never easy to get started in a new space, but there are always lots of rewards for pushing through and exploring a bit, here are some recommended steps, almost all pages on MelonLand feature the standard Nav bar, so you should be able to find your way back!

==== As a visitor ====
You dont need an account here to explore the site and find cool stuff, and its actually recommended you lurk for a while before deciding to make an account, here are some activities to try:

  - Take 5 minutes to click (surf) around the [[https://everyone.melonland.net/|Everyone Site]], you can find it via the flower in the nav.
  - If you like art, checkout the [[https://art.melonland.net/?sa=museum|Art Hub]] next, its main gallery mode gives you a random selection of member art!
  - There are lots of good discussions on the [[https://forum.melonland.net/|Forum]], and you can read all of them without an account. You'll find categories and boards for subjects that might interest you.
  - Finally before heading off, if you'd like to keep up with news, have a look at the [[https://letters.melonland.net/public-lists.php|Newsletters]] on offer. [[https://letters.melonland.net/join.php?list=1|Melon's Newsletter]] is somewhat rare, but covers official site updates!

At this point you may be inspired to create your own site, and if so the Web Craft Guide is a good place to start, if you want to make a forum account, check the [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?action=embedpage;topic=1911.0;showreplies=0;shownav=1|Thinking of joining?]] info topic!

==== As a new member ====

If you have just made an account (and been approved by a moderator), there are some good first steps you might want to try!

=== Housekeeping: ===

  - Firstly make sure you have read the forum [[https://wiki.melonland.net/guidelines|Rules/Guidelines here]].
  - If you are planning to post on the Forum, check the [[https://wiki.melonland.net/proper_posting_guide|etiquette guide here]].

=== First things to do: ===

  - Make a greeting post on the [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=3315.0|greetings thread]].
  - Update [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?action=profile|your profile]]!
  - [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?action=mguild|Explore for some guilds]] you might like to join.
  - Collect your [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?action=artifact|swap credit welfare]] (and possibly adopt an artifact)
  - Post some art in the [[https://art.melonland.net/|Art Hub]]
  - Join [[https://forum.melonland.net/|forum discussions]], there are lots of these and they will depend on what you are into, but find an easy one and leave a reply!
  - Make an everyone site edit, the everyone site is there and it waiting for you! An easy place to start is [[forum.melonland.net/myroom.php|your personal room]], you can add whatever you want there and no one will get upset c:

===== Finding More Info =====

There is lots more info linked on the wiki main page, plus you can always ask on the forum, or contact a moderator directly if needed.