azurite | It's time to D-D-Duel!

I've known for some time that if you have the Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos: Joey the Passion game, you can play online with other duelists without worrying about LAN restrictions or paying for a Duel Pass through Yu-Gi-Oh! Online. Well, I finally got the instructions on how to de-LAN myself, and I did it... So here's the deal:

(1) You need YGO:PoC - JTP, of course.

(2) If you have Windows XP or 2000, download Hamachi. It's a very simple, graphical-interface program that allows you to connect to other people directly. Before you connect to the OnlineDuel1 or OnlineDuel2 networks, you need to disable Windows Printer and File Sharing. You can do this after you install Hamachi, go to Start Menu/Control Panel/Network Connections and right click on Hamachi's Properties. Deselect the check box that says "Windows Printer and File Sharing." It should be about the 3rd one down.

(3) You should also connect to mIRC (irc.webchat.org) channel #yugioh-OD. IRC is free if you use the multi-instant-messaging program Trillian. The basic version works just as well as the Pro version, but both work great if you have aliases on AIM, YIM, MSNM, IRC, and ICQ!

(4) Once you've downloaded and set up everything, go through the Hamachi quick-guide. It'll make your life loads easier. You won't be able to join the OnlineDuel1 or OnlineDuel2 networks unless you get the password from the #yugioh-OD channel, so make sure you're also logged into your instant messenger. Ask someone for a duel! Choose who will be the Guest and who will be the Host.

(5) Start up JTP, and go into Duel Mode/2 Player Duel. Type your alias in the upper left. Then "flip the switch" on the lower left, and choose Guest or Host. After a few moments, your opponent should appear-- it's time to duel!

Notes:
* There is no time limit in these duels-- so no more losing because you had to answer the door, go to the bathroom, or pull your cat out of a tree!

* You can download customized decks and the ENTIRE Power of Chaos card collection (751 cards) by going to the dead MSN Group (Passport or MSN/Hotmail login required). The group now has a phpBB that you can register for, but registration is NOT immediate, and you do NOT need to register for the phpBB to join the IRC channel or get duels. It's just recommended if you want to keep updated on decks, tourneys, etc.

* I also recommend going to SonicSmart's page for more information on alternative connection programs, instructions for set-up, the full deck edit for JTP, and learn about the secret chat function in JTP!

* If you're going to Host, you should be on a high-speed Internet connection. The best experience will come for both Guests and Hosts on high-speed Internet. (High speed refers to DSL, Broadband, or Cable internet.)

* If you have Windows XP, you will NOT be able to install Hamachi unless you have Administrator privileges.

^^ Hope this interests/helps some people who wanted to get into Online Dueling and couldn't before.

rhapsody_dragon, I'm looking at you! (Install it on your school's computer! Tee hee!) It's true that you don't have as many cards available as Yu-Gi-Oh! Online, but you can also create decks of your own volition, instead of trying to earn each and every card and build a deck from there. Another weakness of YGO:OL is that it spawns immature behavior; their chat rooms are to be avoided at all costs, no matter what you see printed in Shonen Jump! Finally, YGO:OL has regular tourneys with good cards as prizes, but there is often no restriction between who duels who; Level 2 duelists will often be unfairly paired against Level 8 duelists. The only way to really move up in the ranks is to duel in the Beginner's's Lobby... over and over again. -_-;