Hey, Oli.
Not being a part of the FC myself, I cannot speak for it's importance with chat. However, the Grindstone does have a linkshell with all regular members on it. I believe this is both IC and OOC as a channel and is used regularly for communication. The upside of it being a linkshell is that you can stay in your FC whilst "getting all the latest"! Feel free to contact an officer of Grindstone (which I think are listed here. If not, just say and I'll give you some useful names!) and express your interest, if you'd like to join the Linkshell.
As for events outside of the weekly Grindstones, I can happily say that there are many. Many of these are posted on these forums, but some are exclusive to chat on the Linkshell for some reason or another (ie. Not wanting to make a thread). There is also a lot of RP among members and non-members alike outside of formal events, in the form of casual roleplay (RP between events, not the casual type of RP .The type can vary greatly). With this, as you mentioned earlier that you'd rather find spars and tutelage outside of the main Grindstone event, this would be your best bet to find a roleplayer willing.
Hope I answered your questions to a satisfactory level!
 Any further information needed? Just ask.
Not being a part of the FC myself, I cannot speak for it's importance with chat. However, the Grindstone does have a linkshell with all regular members on it. I believe this is both IC and OOC as a channel and is used regularly for communication. The upside of it being a linkshell is that you can stay in your FC whilst "getting all the latest"! Feel free to contact an officer of Grindstone (which I think are listed here. If not, just say and I'll give you some useful names!) and express your interest, if you'd like to join the Linkshell.
As for events outside of the weekly Grindstones, I can happily say that there are many. Many of these are posted on these forums, but some are exclusive to chat on the Linkshell for some reason or another (ie. Not wanting to make a thread). There is also a lot of RP among members and non-members alike outside of formal events, in the form of casual roleplay (RP between events, not the casual type of RP .The type can vary greatly). With this, as you mentioned earlier that you'd rather find spars and tutelage outside of the main Grindstone event, this would be your best bet to find a roleplayer willing.
Hope I answered your questions to a satisfactory level!
 Any further information needed? Just ask.
"There's nothing in this life a little charm and a solid fist can't get yer, lad."
