The Newbie Guide & Walkthrough
So! You want to be an RP'er, eh? Or maybe you've already played at other games, and are looking for a little more in-depth information on this game. You've come to the right place!
First of all, you'll need to at least read through the RULES, and make sure you understand everything. If you have a question, check the FAQ -- if you don't see it already answered, then by all means, ask! Chances are that someone else will have wondered the same thing at some point; you'd be doing everyone a favor by being forward and asking.
Now, once you think you've got a good idea of the way things work (and are still interested in creating a character to play!), you'll obviously need to get to work on an application! Our current application post is located HERE -- we make new posts every now and then when they get cluttered, so that we aren't forced to delete submissions. They come in handy when pointing out exactly what the character's original application said. This isn't required, but we'd suggest using a text-editing program; something simple like Notepad or Wordpad will work just fine! Simply copy whichever application you'll be using and paste it into your text editor. If you're applying for a student, you'll need to use the first application; any other character (professors, Aurors, Death Eaters, etc) will need the second application.
The Application
-- Here's the hardest part -- filling out the application! You'll need to check on a few things as you go through with it, to make sure that you aren't going to be denied because of a taken Body Model or the lack of empty year/House slots! Since we allow canon-limits on years/Houses (five boys and five girls per year, per House), you'll need to check HERE to see what's available. Also located there are available Professor positions! If it's another adult character you're after, you can see which jobs are already occupied HERE.
-- Naming the Character
Remember, a name such as 'John Smith' is entirely too common and you could easily end up with another character named the same! Try for more unique names, but don't go overboard. Ridiculous names without explanation are grounds for rejection.
-- Character Journals
It isn't absolutely necessary for you to have a journal created before you're accepted, but you're more than welcome to do so. Those that list LJs in their application will have that information immediately archived upon approval, and those that do not will need to let us know so that it may be added later.
-- Age/Year coorelation -- the easiest way to remember this is simply the year itself:
1st Years are commonly 11
2nd Years are commonly 12
4th Years are commonly 14
...and so on!
-- Jobs
Remember, not everyone is going to be a Healer/Auror/Unspeakable! We won't approve too many characters with the same jobs, especially for smaller shops like those found in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.
-- House
Please remember that your character does need to exhibit qualities that make him/her suitable for their House! It isn't necessary to put every single trait or stereotype on their head, but if we fail to see what makes them fit the given House, we will ask for elaboration.
-- Bloodline
We are also placing a cap on bloodlines -- we don't want a game with nothing but Purebloods running around, do we? Of course not! Try to fit your character in with a bloodline that is sorely lacking in numbers; the current standings can be found HERE for students, Hogwarts-Aurors, and professors, and HERE for UK adults.
-- History, Personality, Physical Description
Be thorough! If your application is short, and these areas are scant, then we'll ask you to give us more information to go on. Especially if your character is older! Adults will have had more life to live, and thus more lengthy personal histories. 'What if my character has led a normal life?' you ask? Then elaborate! What about their lives has been normal? Did they have a big family with lots of gatherings? Or maybe they grew up with a very small family? Tell us about them!
-- Body Model, or PB (Played-By)
Your PB must be suitable for your character. The actress/actor/model/musician that you choose to adopt can be any age, as long as they have plenty of images that will represent your character's age accurately. For example, current-day Johnny Depp would work well for a character who is in his late-twenties / early-thirties, and his earlier photos could work for any age right down to eighteen or so.
-- The Sample RP
Try to give us your best! Show us why we want you in our game, prove that you have amazing skills with bringing your character to life! Remember, all posts should be kept in third person.
-- Hobbies and Talents / Weaknesses
Don't try to overdo it with the Hobbies and Talents; that'll scream 'SUE'. Also, please be sure to give strong enough weaknesses to counter the positive attributes!
-- Best subjects / Areas of Magical Expertise - Worst subjects / Areas of Magical Weakness
Keep in mind that loads of our characters have decided that they are fantastic at Potions. While this is more than fine, we don't want a school full of Potions whiz-kids! Try having them excel in something where they may truly stand out, like Astronomy or History!
-- Broom / Wand
Check with the LEXICON to see various broom and wand types!
-- Classes
You need not list the characters past years' classes or their OWL scores, etc -- if you wish to do so, that's more than fine but not mandatory. Try to remember that 6th and 7th Years students may only take classes that they pass!
-- Alignment
Keep in mind that your alignment must make sense for your character. If they're unsure, list them as such (or even neutral!); only Purebloods would be vehemently Pro-Voldemort, and a handful of Halfbloods who have their stories just right. Muggleborns? They shouldn't even be neutral, in all honesty. Order Members are not allowed to be approved on an application -- a character must be played and prove that they are strictly Dumbledore-supporting!
------------
Now! You've finished the application, so you naturally want to post it! Simply break it down into multiple comments if it's too long for LJ to handle, and then... you WAIT.
Really, it doesn't take terribly long to be approved. We generally try to clean out pending applications once a week, so that we can sweep out a few at a time. The entire approval / archival process is lengthy, but easier to perform if we have more than one waiting.
Once we read over your application, we'll let you know if you're approved or rejected!
Rejected notices will outline what we found unsatisfactory with your application, encouraging you to address these things and apply once more! If the requested change is something small (like a year/House change), we'll simply ask you to give approval as a comment there, and we'll change it for you during approval/archiving.
Approval notices will notify you of the character's acceptance, as well as give you a quick list of important and helpful links! Then? You're ready to play!
------------
Now, after you've joined the communities with your character, the most logical next-step is to post the character's application -- now their 'bio' -- in their LJ! Then, simply link to their bio in a post to the OOC community, requesting other players to come take a look at the newest character, and offer up any possible backstory! This way, you'll get a good vibe for how characters will interact, and you can plot out threads more easily!
Once you've accumulated an ample amount of character relationships and interactions -- or even not, it's up to you! -- try your hand at either jumping in an open thread, or making your own! Remember, students/professors/Hogwarts-Aurors will be posting in hih_thegame, and all other adult characters will post in hih_thegameuk! Exceptions allowed for Hogwarts adults to mingle with UK characters in Hogsmeade alone. Mark the thread as open, or even make it for a specific character if you've talked it out, and wait for your first reply!
You can be in as many threads as you like, so long as your character isn't in multiple places at the same time! For instance, you could play thread A which takes place on September 4th at 8 a.m., while simultaneously playing in thread B which takes place on September 6th at 9 p.m.!
Any threads that take place in hih_thegameplot or hih_thegameuk must be tallied and turned in by the players; those in hih_thegame are done by our lovely tally mod!
Once the week is over and the tallies are posted, you can see how well you did! If you've earned over one hundred points, you're eligible for another character (up to twelve)! Repeat the process!
Hopefully this was helpful; if you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask!
♥
The Mods
First of all, you'll need to at least read through the RULES, and make sure you understand everything. If you have a question, check the FAQ -- if you don't see it already answered, then by all means, ask! Chances are that someone else will have wondered the same thing at some point; you'd be doing everyone a favor by being forward and asking.
Now, once you think you've got a good idea of the way things work (and are still interested in creating a character to play!), you'll obviously need to get to work on an application! Our current application post is located HERE -- we make new posts every now and then when they get cluttered, so that we aren't forced to delete submissions. They come in handy when pointing out exactly what the character's original application said. This isn't required, but we'd suggest using a text-editing program; something simple like Notepad or Wordpad will work just fine! Simply copy whichever application you'll be using and paste it into your text editor. If you're applying for a student, you'll need to use the first application; any other character (professors, Aurors, Death Eaters, etc) will need the second application.
The Application
-- Here's the hardest part -- filling out the application! You'll need to check on a few things as you go through with it, to make sure that you aren't going to be denied because of a taken Body Model or the lack of empty year/House slots! Since we allow canon-limits on years/Houses (five boys and five girls per year, per House), you'll need to check HERE to see what's available. Also located there are available Professor positions! If it's another adult character you're after, you can see which jobs are already occupied HERE.
-- Naming the Character
Remember, a name such as 'John Smith' is entirely too common and you could easily end up with another character named the same! Try for more unique names, but don't go overboard. Ridiculous names without explanation are grounds for rejection.
-- Character Journals
It isn't absolutely necessary for you to have a journal created before you're accepted, but you're more than welcome to do so. Those that list LJs in their application will have that information immediately archived upon approval, and those that do not will need to let us know so that it may be added later.
-- Age/Year coorelation -- the easiest way to remember this is simply the year itself:
1st Years are commonly 11
2nd Years are commonly 12
4th Years are commonly 14
...and so on!
-- Jobs
Remember, not everyone is going to be a Healer/Auror/Unspeakable! We won't approve too many characters with the same jobs, especially for smaller shops like those found in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.
-- House
Please remember that your character does need to exhibit qualities that make him/her suitable for their House! It isn't necessary to put every single trait or stereotype on their head, but if we fail to see what makes them fit the given House, we will ask for elaboration.
-- Bloodline
We are also placing a cap on bloodlines -- we don't want a game with nothing but Purebloods running around, do we? Of course not! Try to fit your character in with a bloodline that is sorely lacking in numbers; the current standings can be found HERE for students, Hogwarts-Aurors, and professors, and HERE for UK adults.
-- History, Personality, Physical Description
Be thorough! If your application is short, and these areas are scant, then we'll ask you to give us more information to go on. Especially if your character is older! Adults will have had more life to live, and thus more lengthy personal histories. 'What if my character has led a normal life?' you ask? Then elaborate! What about their lives has been normal? Did they have a big family with lots of gatherings? Or maybe they grew up with a very small family? Tell us about them!
-- Body Model, or PB (Played-By)
Your PB must be suitable for your character. The actress/actor/model/musician that you choose to adopt can be any age, as long as they have plenty of images that will represent your character's age accurately. For example, current-day Johnny Depp would work well for a character who is in his late-twenties / early-thirties, and his earlier photos could work for any age right down to eighteen or so.
-- The Sample RP
Try to give us your best! Show us why we want you in our game, prove that you have amazing skills with bringing your character to life! Remember, all posts should be kept in third person.
-- Hobbies and Talents / Weaknesses
Don't try to overdo it with the Hobbies and Talents; that'll scream 'SUE'. Also, please be sure to give strong enough weaknesses to counter the positive attributes!
-- Best subjects / Areas of Magical Expertise - Worst subjects / Areas of Magical Weakness
Keep in mind that loads of our characters have decided that they are fantastic at Potions. While this is more than fine, we don't want a school full of Potions whiz-kids! Try having them excel in something where they may truly stand out, like Astronomy or History!
-- Broom / Wand
Check with the LEXICON to see various broom and wand types!
-- Classes
You need not list the characters past years' classes or their OWL scores, etc -- if you wish to do so, that's more than fine but not mandatory. Try to remember that 6th and 7th Years students may only take classes that they pass!
-- Alignment
Keep in mind that your alignment must make sense for your character. If they're unsure, list them as such (or even neutral!); only Purebloods would be vehemently Pro-Voldemort, and a handful of Halfbloods who have their stories just right. Muggleborns? They shouldn't even be neutral, in all honesty. Order Members are not allowed to be approved on an application -- a character must be played and prove that they are strictly Dumbledore-supporting!
------------
Now! You've finished the application, so you naturally want to post it! Simply break it down into multiple comments if it's too long for LJ to handle, and then... you WAIT.
Really, it doesn't take terribly long to be approved. We generally try to clean out pending applications once a week, so that we can sweep out a few at a time. The entire approval / archival process is lengthy, but easier to perform if we have more than one waiting.
Once we read over your application, we'll let you know if you're approved or rejected!
Rejected notices will outline what we found unsatisfactory with your application, encouraging you to address these things and apply once more! If the requested change is something small (like a year/House change), we'll simply ask you to give approval as a comment there, and we'll change it for you during approval/archiving.
Approval notices will notify you of the character's acceptance, as well as give you a quick list of important and helpful links! Then? You're ready to play!
------------
Now, after you've joined the communities with your character, the most logical next-step is to post the character's application -- now their 'bio' -- in their LJ! Then, simply link to their bio in a post to the OOC community, requesting other players to come take a look at the newest character, and offer up any possible backstory! This way, you'll get a good vibe for how characters will interact, and you can plot out threads more easily!
Once you've accumulated an ample amount of character relationships and interactions -- or even not, it's up to you! -- try your hand at either jumping in an open thread, or making your own! Remember, students/professors/Hogwarts-Aurors will be posting in hih_thegame, and all other adult characters will post in hih_thegameuk! Exceptions allowed for Hogwarts adults to mingle with UK characters in Hogsmeade alone. Mark the thread as open, or even make it for a specific character if you've talked it out, and wait for your first reply!
You can be in as many threads as you like, so long as your character isn't in multiple places at the same time! For instance, you could play thread A which takes place on September 4th at 8 a.m., while simultaneously playing in thread B which takes place on September 6th at 9 p.m.!
Any threads that take place in hih_thegameplot or hih_thegameuk must be tallied and turned in by the players; those in hih_thegame are done by our lovely tally mod!
Once the week is over and the tallies are posted, you can see how well you did! If you've earned over one hundred points, you're eligible for another character (up to twelve)! Repeat the process!
Hopefully this was helpful; if you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask!
♥
The Mods