First you need Jajc, a small 2 MegaBytes file, download it from jajc.jrudevels.org . Jajc is a Free Jabber Instant Messenger, that not only supports Jabber, but also ICQ/AIM, MSN, IRC, YAHOO, GADU & Napster via Server Transports. An all in one Client for Windows based Computers. Jajc is probaly the best Jabber Client ever made, it only lacks one feature, it doesnt support multiple protocols without Server-Side Gateways, but who knows maybe it will be added some day as it is an ongoing project that is being further developed daily, and 'nightly builds' can be downloaded almost everyday.

Installing Jajc is very simple, just execute (double click) on the jajc_setup.exe file you just downloaded. It takes a few seconds to install Jajc, when it is done, run Jajc from your Startmenu.

Setting up a Tides of War account is very easy, when you start Jajc for the first time it will ask you if you have an existing account, click 'NO' to that if you dont have an account on Tides of War or elsewhere, this will open a new window.

If you have an existing Jabber account, skip this step.

Fill in here the server name as 'tidesofwar.net', don't use http:// or www. prefixes, then fill in your preferred nickname (screenname), your JabberID will be nickname@tidesofwar.net. Then type your password, and then retype it in the confirmation box, and click on 'Next'. The options in the next window you can normally skip, but if youre using a Proxy server or You have to allow Jajc to access via a SOCKs Firewall, you have to configure your settings there. Click on 'Next' again and you should see a window that says 'Congratulations! Your Account successfully created at tidesofwar.net'. In the next window you can choose to start Jajc now and/or if it should start with Windows, tick your preferred preference.

Jajc is now connecting to Tides of War, you will be notified that your vCard is unfilled, and you get an option to fill it now, but just click 'NO' to that, you can fill it later, then close the welcome window.

Restore Jajc from your SysTray, click on the lightbulb (it's the icon marked with a red square), then click on 'Register Service' and then 'User Directory', fill in the info it needs, then click 'Next' twice. If you have an existing AIM, ICQ, MSN or Yahoo account you can register those aswell, these are the only four transports that Tides of War currently supports.

Click on the lightbulb again, then click on 'Tools' then on 'Account' then on 'Setup'.

Click on the 'Connection' tab, tick 'Use SSL' (optional but recommended), the port number should change from 5552 to 5223. Close the window and restart Jajc, when Jajc starts again, it will ask you what to do with the SSL certificate, you have to accept and save it.

Your Rooster will be empty, if you didnt add any other IM Protocols, but fear not we will fill your Rooster soon :) However the first thing you should do is go through the Preferences and get Jajc setup so it suits you. There isnt going to be any photos of the Prefs, as they vary from individual to individual, but the options are pretty much selfexplanatory. The Preferences are opened from the Lightbulb icon, then 'Tools' and then 'Preferences'. Also at this time it's a good idea to fill in your vCard, it is located at: the Lightbulb icon, then 'Tools' and then 'Personal vCard', this makes it easier for your buddies to find you.

Now to add some Contacts and Chat Rooms. The easiest way to create new groups in Jajc is by creating them as you add buddies. Click on the 'Lightbulb' then click on 'Add Contact' then on 'By JiD'. Some users requires that they allow you to be added to their Rooster, but others just auto accepts new Contacts, so it the time before you are allowed to join their rooster will vary from Contact to Contact. Start out by adding me, that is always a good start, but dont forget to check out our User Directory

In the 'Add Contact' window fill in your buddys Jabber ID (JiD), remember that all members of Tides of War ends on @tidesofwar.net, then fill in the nickname you want have him displayed as in your Rooster, and then the name of the group to have him in. You can also search the User Directory, where you can search for one or more of the following nodes, Name, First, Last, Nick, Email. (The same as you filled in your own vCard). If you type a groupname that doesnt exist, it will be automatically created, if you allready have a group created it can be selected from the pulldown menu.

Adding the chatrooms can be done in several ways, first you should register the chat and club rooms, this is very simple, just click on the Lighbulb, then on 'Register Service', then on 'Public Chatrooms' you will be asked to fill in a nickname, it is easiset to use your existing JiD without @tidesofwar.net. Repeat the process for Club Chatrooms. Now click on the 'Jabber Browser' icon (it's the third icon from the left in the menu where the lightbulb is).

In the window double click on either 'chat.tidesofwar.net' or 'clubs.tidesof.war.net' (chat for public and clubs for private).

In this example I clicked on 'chat.tidesofwar.net' and is taken to a list of existing chatrooms, and I want to join a conference in the Enigma Chatroom on Tides of War. Right click on the 'enigma@chat.tidesofwar.net' chatroom and you will get a menu popup.

From the menu select 'Join a conference' and you will be taken to the chatroom, from there you can add the chatroom directly to your Rooster, by clicking on 'Groupchat' in the menubar and then on 'Add to Bookmarks', then you will be asked what type of bookmark you want, make sure you select 'Rooster Item'. Note that you can not add chatrooms directly from the menu on the picture above. Repeat this step to add all the chatrooms you like to have in your Rooster, some rooms are password protected, and you should contact the admin of the specific room you want to join to get the password if required (Tides of War does not hand out passwords to the private rooms).
 
If you like to have your own room, contact Buxton, his JiD is in the User Directory.