Post by Merlin! on Aug 9, 2007 21:47:51 GMT -5
The rules are going to be simple, because a lot of them are what we like to call "retarded" rules, as in, you'd have to be completely retarded not to know them.
Here's a quick list of what we consider "retarded" rules.
Rules pertaining to characters and writing.
1. Third person past tense when writing, unless you are writing in a diary or letter.
2. Posting minimum is 10 sentences. You are definitely welcome to post more than that.
3. Please keep all out of character comments in the OOC boards or the CBox and out of the IC boards. (Anything out of character in an IC post should be noted with brackets, a different color, or something special, and should not take up the majority of the post.)
4. One character per account, unless there are special circumstances (twins, for example).
5. Character challenges are acceptable. If you think you can make a better application than the current handler of the character, and pending staff approval (which means you should PM a staff member first!), any and all canon characters can be challenged. The winner will be determined by a re-application process. Defendees have a chance to prove they are the worthy handlers.
6. If you've been inactive for more than two months without notification to the board or staff your application will be moved to the archives. You are more than welcome to become active again, however, and a simple PM request to Ron or Libby will put your app back to the sorting hat, where you may need to find a new year or house. Canons will be opened and OC spots cleared, but only canon characters may challenge for the role again. OC's will have to find another year if their previous is filled.
7. Blurring of fandoms is not allowed - this is a Harry Potter role play, please, let's try and keep it as such. Trying to bring in canon characters from other stories, movies, or what have you and trying to pass them off as original characters in a Harry Potter universe, or using elements from anything other Harry Potter (such as Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lost, etc) will be respectfully declined. The staff will judge each case at their own discretion, as some uses of other canons might be less severe than others, but those events allowed will be rare and must be done well. All others will be notified.
Special Character Rules
1. Magical creatures (veela, werewolves, vampires, giants, etc), half breeds of magical creatures (cross breeds of any of the above in any form), Animagus, Metamorphmagus, Arithmancer, Legilimens, Occlumens, Parselmouth, Seers, twins, and what not will be limited and only with staff permission, unless it is canon. Please pm a staff member asking before putting it into your application.
2. No character is perfect or has anything mastered perfectly. Even the best are always getting better, so it's only natural to assume that everyone else isn't perfect. Also - all the boys/girls do not love you. If you can make a compelling character that later attracts all the boys or girls while posting here, good for you, you hot thing, but not in your application. Your smile, your hair, your swagger, your eyes... just describe them as they are, not as babe-magnets.
3. No more transfer students, or student who lived in another country for most of their life. You have attended Hogwarts from year one, and you have lived in the UK for the majority of your childhood. Remember, Hogwarts is a private school, and they just don't accept everyone, even if they have magical blood.
4. Purebloods. Yeah, everyone wants to be a Pureblood, but part of the struggle of Harry Potter is the fact that the 'Pureblood race' is dying out. Unless your character is related to a canon Pureblood, or unless your application rocks and you have a great history behind your character, Pureblood applications will be closely watched, and more than likely asked to be changed.
Suggestions pertaining to characters and writing.
Character development happens along the way, as long as you have an idea what you want to do. Meaning, you may not have a clear sense of direction now of where you want to take your character, but it will happen as you post.
The more details you can make about the past history, looks, and personality, the more likely you are to get accepted. Also, pictures really help to have before hand so you know what you are writing toward, unless you can find someone who matches your descriptions.
This is Harry Potter, not "My Teenage Life: Full Blown Angst" so leave the wrist cutting/gothic/emo/flamboyant gay characters at home. No, it's not that we are against those kinds of characters, it's just that this is not the role play for them. Keep in mind that JK Rowling had her own way of making the characters seem dark and troubled, without the stereotypical niches!
Modified by Ron on 6th October to expand definition of Special Character Rule #1.
Modified by Libby on 15th September to include Quidditch and Prefect positions in the 'don't badger staff' section.
Modified by Ron on 28th September to clarify who can be challenged.
Modified by Ron 27th October to clarify perfection rule and 'no anime' signature claim explanation.
Modified by Ron 14th November to add inactive OC rule to character rules.
Modified by Ron 6th February to add Fandom rule to character rules.
Modified by Ron 5th March to add original writing rule to common sense rules.
Modified by Ron 6th June to add character limit.
Here's a quick list of what we consider "retarded" rules.
- No God-Moding
- No Mary-Sues
- No neon coloring - some of us have bad eyes you know.
- No 'poor' grammar, spelling. Write like the educated human you are.
- No spamming, through the cbox, pm's, or otherwise.
- No posting anywhere in character before being accepted. OOC is ok.
- No anime signature claims... there are movies of the books, and canon's have real faces. It's only fair that everyone have a real face.
- Don't badger the staff to accept you, or look at your application. This includes Quidditch and Prefect positions.
- Don't ask anyone about becoming staff. We'll let you know if we're looking.
- Keep swearing/sex/drugs to a minimum - this site is rated PG-13.
- Stay as active as you can, and if not, let us know why.
- Keep signatures reasonable. Staff'll let you know if they're too long. (The forum width is set at 650; try and keep it around 500)
- Respect the staff and other members, even if they make you mad.
- Your writing should be your own! For example, your application shouldn't contain text previously written anywhere else, unless you wrote it for that character for another application.
Rules pertaining to characters and writing.
1. Third person past tense when writing, unless you are writing in a diary or letter.
2. Posting minimum is 10 sentences. You are definitely welcome to post more than that.
3. Please keep all out of character comments in the OOC boards or the CBox and out of the IC boards. (Anything out of character in an IC post should be noted with brackets, a different color, or something special, and should not take up the majority of the post.)
4. One character per account, unless there are special circumstances (twins, for example).
4-1. Character Maximums. New members to the site are allowed two (2) characters maximum to roleplay. After members have been here a time, a third character is allowed to be taken up. Veteran members are allowed four (4) characters at most. If you would like another character after your maximum has been met, a current character must be dropped. No exceptions.
5. Character challenges are acceptable. If you think you can make a better application than the current handler of the character, and pending staff approval (which means you should PM a staff member first!), any and all canon characters can be challenged. The winner will be determined by a re-application process. Defendees have a chance to prove they are the worthy handlers.
6. If you've been inactive for more than two months without notification to the board or staff your application will be moved to the archives. You are more than welcome to become active again, however, and a simple PM request to Ron or Libby will put your app back to the sorting hat, where you may need to find a new year or house. Canons will be opened and OC spots cleared, but only canon characters may challenge for the role again. OC's will have to find another year if their previous is filled.
7. Blurring of fandoms is not allowed - this is a Harry Potter role play, please, let's try and keep it as such. Trying to bring in canon characters from other stories, movies, or what have you and trying to pass them off as original characters in a Harry Potter universe, or using elements from anything other Harry Potter (such as Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lost, etc) will be respectfully declined. The staff will judge each case at their own discretion, as some uses of other canons might be less severe than others, but those events allowed will be rare and must be done well. All others will be notified.
Special Character Rules
1. Magical creatures (veela, werewolves, vampires, giants, etc), half breeds of magical creatures (cross breeds of any of the above in any form), Animagus, Metamorphmagus, Arithmancer, Legilimens, Occlumens, Parselmouth, Seers, twins, and what not will be limited and only with staff permission, unless it is canon. Please pm a staff member asking before putting it into your application.
2. No character is perfect or has anything mastered perfectly. Even the best are always getting better, so it's only natural to assume that everyone else isn't perfect. Also - all the boys/girls do not love you. If you can make a compelling character that later attracts all the boys or girls while posting here, good for you, you hot thing, but not in your application. Your smile, your hair, your swagger, your eyes... just describe them as they are, not as babe-magnets.
3. No more transfer students, or student who lived in another country for most of their life. You have attended Hogwarts from year one, and you have lived in the UK for the majority of your childhood. Remember, Hogwarts is a private school, and they just don't accept everyone, even if they have magical blood.
4. Purebloods. Yeah, everyone wants to be a Pureblood, but part of the struggle of Harry Potter is the fact that the 'Pureblood race' is dying out. Unless your character is related to a canon Pureblood, or unless your application rocks and you have a great history behind your character, Pureblood applications will be closely watched, and more than likely asked to be changed.
Suggestions pertaining to characters and writing.
Character development happens along the way, as long as you have an idea what you want to do. Meaning, you may not have a clear sense of direction now of where you want to take your character, but it will happen as you post.
The more details you can make about the past history, looks, and personality, the more likely you are to get accepted. Also, pictures really help to have before hand so you know what you are writing toward, unless you can find someone who matches your descriptions.
This is Harry Potter, not "My Teenage Life: Full Blown Angst" so leave the wrist cutting/gothic/emo/flamboyant gay characters at home. No, it's not that we are against those kinds of characters, it's just that this is not the role play for them. Keep in mind that JK Rowling had her own way of making the characters seem dark and troubled, without the stereotypical niches!
Modified by Ron on 6th October to expand definition of Special Character Rule #1.
Modified by Libby on 15th September to include Quidditch and Prefect positions in the 'don't badger staff' section.
Modified by Ron on 28th September to clarify who can be challenged.
Modified by Ron 27th October to clarify perfection rule and 'no anime' signature claim explanation.
Modified by Ron 14th November to add inactive OC rule to character rules.
Modified by Ron 6th February to add Fandom rule to character rules.
Modified by Ron 5th March to add original writing rule to common sense rules.
Modified by Ron 6th June to add character limit.
