if ($1 == !join) { 
    if (%hangman.status == Online) {
      if ($hget(Players,$+($nick,.joined)) = $true) { 
        msg %hangman.chan Sorry but you already have registered, let other people play. 
        halt
      } 
      elseif (%players > 3) { msg %hangman.chan We have all 3 players registered and ready to play. Game will begin. | start } 
      else {
        hadd Players $+($nick,.joined) $true
        inc %players | set %players.left $calc(%players - 3)
        msg %hangman.chan $nick has joined the game! We have %players out of 3 to possibly join.   
      }
    } 

    if (%hangman.status == Offline) { 
      msg %hangman.chan Bot is not currently running, we will not be accepting players at this time, sorry. | halt
    } 

    if (%hangman.status == Running) { 
      msg %hangman.chan Hangman is currently running, please wait until the game is over to sign up. | halt
    }
  }