User configurable Slash Commands:
Players can alter the Slash Commands used by the game.  No longer are they subject to the developer dictates of what command initiates group chat.  If they are used to /p being the command to chat with their party  they can add that in or change the existing Slash Commands which invoke group chat.  All Slash command functions can have multiple commands which invoke them, and ChatBlade allows for the user to customize these commands as they wish.
ChatBlade provides sample code which loads an XML file of the Slash Commands configuration.  Alternatively the Developer can create an in-game GUI dialog to allow the players to alter the Slash Commands.

Player Created Slash Commands:
Using the /alias command Players can make their own Slash Commands.
For Example:
/alias /backflip, /emote Backflips   (Creates a new / Command called /backflip that performs /emote Backflips)
/alias /mike, /tell Illorian Orcwhip,  (Creates a new / Command called /mike that expands to /tell Illorian Orcwhip,)

Player Created Nicknames for use in Tells:
Using the /nickname command Players can create short, easy to remember local Nicknames for other players.  They can then use these Nicknames when sending /tells.
For Example:
/nickname Pal, Palladia Delfin    (Creates a Nickname of Pal which expands to Palladia Delfin.  Allows the User to type "/tell Pal, Howdy" which would send the message to Palladia Delfin)
/nickname Xor, Xoriculous Rediculossie

Unicode Support for International Languages:
Players can chat in Mandarin, Korean, Hebrew, Swedish, English, or any other current Languages simultaneously.
ChatBlade was designed from the ground up to support Unicode.
Games developed with ChatBlade are ready for World-Wide distribution.
Unicode support is obtained by Defining UNICODE and _UNICODE prior to compilation.  If Undefined, then ChatBlade shall default to English and Western European Character Sets (SBCS).

Multiple Chat Windows and Tabs:
Each in-game Chat Window or Chat Tab has an associated ChatBlade instance which keeps track of the messages in that Chat Window, and which Chat Channels the Window is Monitoring
More than one Window may Monitor the same channel.  Each Window is able to have its own list of which Chat Channels to receive messages from.

Chat History to repeat past Chat Commands:
Players can repeat lines that they have entered in previously using the up and down arrows (or shift+up, shift+down) as the developer dictates.
Each in-game Chat Edit Field has an associated ChatBlade instance which keeps track of text that the player has previously entered into that Edit Field.  ChatBlade can then return this text when the user wants to repeat past Chat Commands.
The associated ChatBlade instance also keeps track of the Default Slash Command for that Edit Field.

Default Slash Commands for each Edit Field:
Each in-game Edit Field can have its own Default Slash Command which gets invoked if the user does not supply a Slash Command
So one Edit Field may be set to send to the group with /g while another could default to sending a /tell Irridia
If the user supplies a Slash Command this would override the Default for that message.

Fantasy Language Support:
ChatBlade includes support for in-game Fantasy Languages such as Elvish, Klingon, or Orcish.
Chat Messages spoken in Languages the Character does not fully understand are displayed in the in-game Language.
The amount of words which are converted to the Fantasy Language is dependant on the Characters Knowledge of that Language.
Developers can easily add a new Language to the game by specifying a list of words in that Language.  ChatBlade comes with a sample Elvish XML file.

Mood Support:
ChatBlade includes support for Character Moods.  Players can set their current Mood with the /mood command.
Spoken type messages display this mood.
For Example:
Irridia Happily says, "Ding!"
[group] Tired, Xodar-> I am OOM

Chat Filtering:
ChatBlade includes a Chat Filter.  Bad words are replaced with #$&! type text when the Chat filter is enabled.
Players can toggle on and off the Chat Filter with the /filter Slash Command.
ChatBlade ships with an extensive list of American English bad words in XML format.

Player modifiable Chat Filter:
Players can add their own words to the Chat Filter with the /filterword command.
Players can remove words from the Chat Filter with the /unfilterword command
For Example:
/filterword Hooters
/unfilterword butt

Drunken Speech Support:
For games which allow Drinking, ChatBlade can slur the chat of Drunk Characters based on their level of drunkenness.

Single word or Multiple word Character Names:
ChatBlade supports games which use Single word Character Names or Multiple word names.
Changing a #define alters the Character Name delimiter from a space to a comma.
In addition, for games which use Single word names a Comma or a Space is an acceptable delimiter so no error is given if the Player adds a comma at the end.

HyperLinked items:
ChatBlade includes support for allowing Players to drag things into Chat to Hyperlink the stats of an item in the Chat Message.
Hyperlinked portions of a Chat Message are not Filtered, Fantasy Language converted, or subject to intoxication.
While most of the work to enable Hyperlinking needs to be done in the GUI by the Developer, ChatBlade includes the underlying support for Hyperlinking in messages.

Ignore List:
ChatBlade supports the /ignore command to add an obnoxious Character to the Players Ignore list.
Chat Messages coming from Characters on the Ignore list are not displayed.

Priority Chat Channels:
ChatBlade includes many innovative Channels including Group, Guild, Raid, and Alliance Priority Chat Channels.
Messages sent on the Raid Priority channel go to all Raid members, just as a normal Raid chat message would.  But it is on a separate channel so it can be color-coded differently, or delivered to an alternate Chat Window.
Primarily for use in Raids when everyone is speaking at once.  Group Leaders in the Raid could use the Raid Priority Channel to report when their group was ready, and for other more important Chat.

Stubs for common Chat Commands:
ChatBlade includes over 150 function stubs for common Chat Commands such as /follow, /exit, and /loc.
ChatBlade handles the routing and commands that invoke these stubs.  Game Developers need to implement the ones which make sense for their game.
Additional Slash Commands can be easily added.

Quick Command Support:

ChatBlade allows Players to perform common Chat Commands quickly using single starting characters.

: and ; expand into /emote.

! expands into /say.

@ expands into /guild.

# expands into /group.

$ expands into /auction.

^ expands into /raid.

For Example:  A Player can tell his group he is  Ready quickly by typing "#  Ready".

Developers can change these defaults to suit Game design.

%Macro Support:
ChatBlade supports Developers adding in various % Macros such as %T or %L.
Typically %T would expand to be the name of the Players current Target, for example.
ChatBlade invokes a Stub function which allows Developers to add in whichever % Macros fit their Game Design.

Verbose and Concise Chat Formatting:
ChatBlade supports both Verbose and Concise Chat Formatting via the /verbose Slash Command.
ChatBlade formats Chat in 2 different ways.  Players can change the format by using the /verbose High or /Verbose Low Slash Commands (by default).
Concise Example:
[Group] Vanadia: Lets get that Chest.
Verbose Example:
Vanadia Tells the Group:  Lets get that Chest.

Interrogative and Exclamatory Chat Formatting:
ChatBlade changes the verb from "Say" and "Tells" to "Ask" and "Exclaims to" when a Chat Message ends in a ? or a !
When in Verbose mode, ChatBlade determines if the Chat Message is a question or an exclamation and formats appropriately.
Examples:
You Say, "I am Ready"
You Ask the Group: Is everyone full mana?
Vanadia Bravely Exclaims to the Group: Lets Roll!
Thanks Richard Bartle.

Chat Statements:
ChatBlade allows Players to use a variety of Chat Statements when Chatting with Characters in their vicinity.
ChatBlade ships with around 70 Statements, and Players can add in their own as they see fit.
Chat Statements allow Players a more interesting way to state things.  They can /ask, or /disagree, or /insist, or /growl out their Chat Messages.
Examples:
You Insist, "We need to wait for a healer"
Palladia concurs, "I agree"
Vanadia Bravely states, "I have excellent Group Regen, lets head out!"
Irridia avows, "Her healing is amazing"
Statements are a bit different from freeform Emotes and are conducive to roleplaying and immersion.

Group and Guild Emotes:
In addition to allowing Emotes to go to those near the current Character, ChatBlade also allows freeform Emotes to be sent to ones Group or Guild members.
Players can now send Emotes to their Group or Guild members regardless of their location.
Examples:
/gem blows on her dice.
/guildemote enters in with triumphant music.
/groupemote points to the cleric.

Spam Filter:
ChatBlade includes a Player-configurable Spam Filter.
Any Chat Messages containing strings which have been added to the Spam Filter are blocked by ChatBlade.
Some third party companies have taken to advertising in MMORPGs via their Chat Channels.  ChatBlades Spam Filter provides an additional way to block their Spam.
Players can add strings to the Spam Filter as they desire.
Examples:
/blockword wow4s
/blockword  http
/blockword power-levelling
/enablespamfilter