1.0 Introduction
1.1 What is Call To Arms?
Call To Arms (CTA) is an add-on (mod) for World of Warcraft
that helps players create a group. CTA has several features
that allow players to search for open groups, advertise group
needs, and control which players are allowed to join the
group and more. Call To Arms was created by Sacha Beharry
in June, 2005.
1.2 How does CTA work?
CTA lets group leaders create a profile of their group.
This profile includes a short description, the maximum size
wanted, the minimum level of the players in the group and
even a password to join. Group leaders can even set the class
distribution of the group members.
Players can also use CTA to search for these groups using
various search criteria. When a suitable group is found,
players can try to join the group. CTA will automatically
check whether the player has the correct level and class
needed by the group. Only a player that meets the requirements
will be sent an invitation to join the group. If a player
is on the group leader's ignore list, that player cannot
see the leader's raid nor join it using CTA. Group leaders
can also make the group private so other players cannot see
the group on CTA.
1.3 Where can I get it?
Call To Arms can be downloaded from any of these sites:
2.0 Installation
Copy Interface folder and its contents to your World of
Warcraft installation folder so
that, after extraction of the contents, CallToArms should be
in this folder:
'<World of Warcraft installation path>\Interface\AddOns\CallToArms\'
eg. if you installed World of Warcraft to this folder:
'C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft'
then CallToArms should be here after you have installed
it:
'C:\Program Files\World of warcraft\Interface\AddOns\CallToArms\'
Once you do that just (re)start World of Warcraft to use CTA.
3.0 Using Call To Arms
3.1 Requirements
You must have one free channel for CTA to use. This channel
allows CTA to send and receive search queries to and from
other players. Currently this channel is named 'CTAChannel'
and you can join it manually if CTA does not automatically
join this channel for any reason.
3.2 Using Call To Arms for the first time
The first time you use CTA, a window will be presented
showing the settings for the CTA minimap icon. You can
use the settings panel to adjust the position of the minimap
icon and its text. If you accidentally close the settings
window and you are unable to click the minimap icon type
'/cta toggle' in your chat frame to open the settings window
again.
3.2 Accessing CTA's features
Most of CTA's features are accessed by clicking on the
red CTA button on your minimap. This button will appear
when you start World of Warcraft after you have installed
CTA.
There are also a few slash commands available for CTA. Use
'/cta' for a list of available commands and '/cta help' for
details on each command. (See 3.3)
The main frame of CTA has five tabs that provide access to
the main features of CTA. The five tabs are: 'Find a group',
'Host a group', 'Blacklisted Players', 'Log' and 'Settings'
(See 3.4).
3.3 Slash commands
'/cta' : Show a list of all available CTA commands
'/cta help' : Show details of each CTA command
'/cta toggle' : Show/hide the CTA Main Frame
'/cta announce <channel>' : Sends an automatically
generated 'LFM' message to the channel.
'/cta dissolve group': Totally dissolve the group by uninviting
every member.
3.4 Features
3.4.1 Find a group
This feature presents a list of all the groups currently
hosted by other players using CTA. There are several
filters whish may be applied to the list so that only
groups that satisfy these filters will be shown. Each
group shown will have a description of the group including
information such as a comment by the leader, the minimum
level required to join the group, the current and maximum
size of the group and more. Players wishing to join the
group can select it in the results list and press the
'Join Group' button.
3.4.2 Host a group
The leader of a group, or any player that is not in
a group, can start to host a group in CTA. This seems
strange at first, but think of it this way: If you are
not in a group, then hosting a group is similar to indicating
that you are looking for a group with the description
that you specified. I like to think that we are all groups
with just one member, until we start joining each other's
groups.
Anyways..:P
When you start hosting a group you can control which players
join your group based on the size of the group, player
level and by class (See 3.4.3).
3.4.3 ACID - Advanced Class Integration and Distribution
ACID is used to set which classes you want in your group.
There are eight available 'Acid rules' that can be used.
You can configure each rule exactly the way you want,
nothing is pre-defined. The best way to explain ACID
is to use examples:
Problem 1:
We want 4 more players (LF4M), 2 healers, 1 Warrior, 1
any class
ACID Solution:
Acid Rule 1: Size=2, Classes=Priest,Paladin(,Druid)
Acid Rule 2: Size=1, Classes=Warrior
Problem 2:
We want 1 more player (LF1M), anything but a Paladin
ACID Solution:
Acid Rule 1: Size=1, Classes=Priest,Mage,Warlock,Warrior,Hunter,Druid,Rogue
3.4.4 Blacklisted players
The blacklist is a list of all players you do not want
to join your group. Sometimes, CTA will automatically
add certain players to the list if they spam the CTA
channel. The blacklist entries can be edited and removed,
but any players on your ignore list will be automatically
added to the blacklist every time CTA is started. Chat
messages from blacklisted players are also ignored.
3.4.5 Log and chat monitoring
The CTA System Log contains entries made by CTA during
operation. These entries are used when debugging or keeping
track of CTA's activities.
The log can also be used by CTA's chat monitoring feature
to log any chat messages that CTA suspects to be related
to group activity. The chat monitor feature is still being
developed.
You can (left/right/shift) click on the player names directly
in the log just as you can in the normal chat window -
so if you see a similar group forming its a little easier
to send an invite/tell to the player.
4.0 Release Notes
4.1 CallToArms is compliant with the 1.6 patch
CTA was tested with the new 1600 UI and appears to work
fine. The TOC file has been updated to indicate this.
4.2 The communication channel (CTAChannel)
CTA communicates using a channel named 'CTAChannel'. CTA
will try to join this channel automatically when started.
CTA will wait until a channel message is received before
doing this, to avoid replacing channel 1 with 'CTAChannel'
as was the problem some players had in R5.
If CTA cannot join for any reason, please ensure that you have at least one
free channel, as you can only join a maximum of 10 channels at any time in
World of Warcraft.
5.0 Other notes
5.1 Invitations
If you are hosting a raid, players who do not have CTA
can still join your raids automatically by sending a
whisper to you with the message 'inviteme' or 'inviteme
raidpassword'
if you raid is password protected, replacing 'raidpassword'
with your password.
5.2 Bug reporting and feedback
Please feel free to submit any bugs or or any other feedback
regarding CTA.
Before you report a bug disable all other add-ons and restart
CTA. If the problem
stops then indicate the addons that were enabled when the
problem started. Please
include your language (eg English/German/French) and the
version of CTA you are using
(eg R1/R2/R3 etc) when reporting a bug.
You may report bugs at the website from which you
downloaded CTA or you can post them
at http://cta.wowguru.com
6.0 Credits
6.1 Development
- UI design and testing
- Adrianshiva
- German Localization - Markus Lanz and
Thrillseeker
- French Localization - Sasmira
6.2 Thanks to:
- Every mod site that hosts CTA.
- Every player who helped promote CTA.
- Everyone who left suggestions, reported bugs and other
feedback on the forums.
- Every player who downloaded and used CTA and supported
CTA in any other way.
6.3 Special thanks to:
- You, for using CTA - your support will help this mod mature
and become more useful to all players.
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