First, a small note: Formatting text—for example making it bold or italic—and creating links on these forums is done by using so-called HTML, the type of code that determines what a website looks like. While HTML can be complex, the aspects of it that I will describe in this tutorial are relatively easy to learn and memorize.

Italic Text
Italic text is created by typing like this:

An elegant font, for a more civilized age.

Which will look like this:

An elegant font, for a more civilized age.

Bold Text
Bold text is created by typing like this:

Darth Vader! Only you could be so bold.

Which will look like this:

Darth Vader! Only you could be so bold.

Links
Links are created by typing like this:

Now she is my only link to finding their secret base.

Which will look like this:

Now she is my only link to finding their secret base.

Different Text Color
Text with different color than the standard red hue is created by typing like this:

Green Group, stick close to holding sector MV-7.

Which will look like this:

Green Group, stick close to holding sector MV-7.

Available colors include most common ones such as "red," "green," "blue," and "yellow," and more uncommon ones such as "cyan" and "magenta." If you are looking for a very specific color, you will have to write down a so-called "hex code." To find this code, do a web search for "HTML color picker" or something similar, and you should find an application for doing that.

A hex code looks something like this: #ff7f00. (This particular hex code is that of a type of orange.)

Different Font
Fonts that are available on many computers include Times New Roman—the default font—Arial, Georgia, Trebuchet MS and Courier New. Text with a different font than Times New Roman is created by typing like this:

Beep! Whirr! Whistle! My name is R2-D2!

Which will look like this:

Beep! Whirr! Whistle! My name is R2-D2!

Block Quotes
Block quotes are indents on both sides of the text. They are created by typing like this:

Prisoner transfer from
cellblock 1138.

Which will look like this:

Prisoner transfer from cellblock 1138.

Numbered Lists
Numbered lists are created by typing like this:

1. The Phantom Menace

1. Attack of the Clones

1. Revenge of the Sith

1. A New Hope

1. The Empire Strikes Back

1. Return of the Jedi

Which will look like this:

1. The Phantom Menace
2. Attack of the Clones
3. Revenge of the Sith
4. A New Hope
5. The Empire Strikes Back
6. Return of the Jedi

Bulleted Lists
Bulleted lists are created by typing like this:

• Luke Skywalker

• Obi-Wan Kenobi

• Yoda

Which will look like this:

• Luke Skywalker
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Yoda

Those are the most commonly used formatting options for message boards, but there are of course many more. If you want to learn more, check out W3Schools or do a web search for HTML tutorials.

With that, my tutorial is finished. Or, as a famous man in a black suit and with a well-known voice once put it: "The circle is now complete!" I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and the many Star Wars references in it!

Have fun posting on the Red Dragon Inn forums!