Someone

alias set_players { }

alias start_hangman {
  if (%hangman.chan == $null) { 
    set %hangman.chan $input(Enter the name of the channel hangman will play in:,egoq)
    begin
  }
  else { begin | set %hangman.status on }
}

alias begin { msg %hangman.chan Hangman is now started. To participate, please do !join, remember up to 5 people at a time please. }

on *:text:*:%hangman.chan: {
  if ($1 == !join) { 
    if (%hangman.status == off) || (%hangman.status == $null) {      
      msg %hangman.chan Hangman is not currently running, we will not be accepting players at this time, sorry. | halt
    }  
    else {    
      var -s %players = 1
      :next
      msg %hangman.chan Ladies and Gentlemen, $nick has joined the game! We now have %players Players ready to play. 
      inc %players
      if (%players < 6) goto next
    } 
    else { halt } 
  }
}