“Tell us who you are, and we will find you a seat”

After you send the form, a moderator replies by email within a few days. The message names a squad, a night, and a mentor who will be in the voice channel when you first log on. You do not have to speak that night, and plenty of people don't.

Your first three matches count as practice. No ladder moves, no one keeps score against you, and a mentor stays beside you so that the rules and the quirks of our server make sense. After that you are simply a member, with a vote and a nickname on the roster.

The first Saturday meetup is optional. Come when you like, bring nothing but a headset if you have one, and expect a volunteer to introduce you around. If you would rather arrive with a friend from the crew, say so in your message.

A word on what we ask for. We need your name, an email address and a rough idea of the games you enjoy, and nothing more is compulsory. You can add a nickname and a few words about your setup, which helps the mentor choose a squad where you will feel at home. We never ask about your job, your income or where you live beyond the suburb you are travelling from.

If you cannot make a Saturday, nobody will hold it against you. Plenty of members have never been to the club room, and the online nights are the heart of the crew. You can always visit later, when the rest of life allows it. Some members live an hour away, others work weekends, and one has never missed a Thursday in her life.