Have a question? Check here first to see if it's already been answered!
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Database is set up in sections.
Click on the section to see if you can find the answer to your question.
It's also a good idea just to read through here, as answers to many
commonly asked questions can be found here.
This would fall under "Special Abilities." All special abilities
must be approved before playing them out. Please read the rules (after
you are sorted) in the Improper
Use of Magic Office.
I want my character to have a medical
condition. What are the rules for that?
We discourage playing out a character with any mental, physical, or
emotional medical conditions. If you feel it is essential to your character,
please PM an administrator. However, a majority of the time we will
not approve it.
You cannot change your username. A staff member would need to do this
for you. Name changes are only made when you do not register your character
name appropriately, though many times we ask you to simply re-register.
I just registered for the board,
but I can't see any forums except for the out of character areas! What
gives?
Only certain boards are available to you before you have been sorted.
Please be patient and feel free to jump in and join any conversations
going on in the OOC areas!
Will I get into the house I requested?
If not - why?
We try to keep an even number of students in each house. In the Sorting
Hat forum there is generally a post that states whether or not any
houses are closed. You have the option to wait for a spot in that house
to open up, but if after a week or so it does not, you will be sorted
into another house.
Do we have House Points? How do we earn
them and lose them?
Yup! Teachers and Head Students may award house points. These points
are then posted in the House Points forum, as well as in the News
Box at the top of the main page of the forum. You can earn points
with good behavior, participation in class, and other ways as determined
by the staff. You can lose points generally through bad behavior.
At the end of the year, whichever house has the house points wins
the House Cup! You know, just like in the books!
To advance in years, you must meet certain criteria and apply for advancement.
All the information can be found in the Department of Magical Transportation forum after you are sorted.
Your graduated character may return for Quidditch Matches played at
the school and post in the Quidditch Stands forum, cheering for their
old house team, visiting with students they knew and meeting newer students.
All forum rules apply.
Come to Hogsmeade for Hogsmeade Trips
Your graduated character may return for Hogsmeade trips and post in
any Hogsmeade forums. All forum rules apply. They may not,
however, bring an NPC. The NPC/Hogsmeade rules is for current students
only.
Apply for certain teaching-type positions at Hogwarts
Graduated students may also apply to come back and serve other functions
at the school if the administration finds it acceptable and something
that would fit into the Harry Potter world. In order to be considered
you must:
*Wait 30 real-time days post graduation to apply
*Have played your character through their 7 years at Hogwarts in such
a way that the position they request would fit into the character you
developed.
*PM Sue for an application with desired job description
*Fill out and submit the application
For example, if you are interested in serving as an assistant to the
Grounds Keeper, you would need to continually show that your character
has an interest in plants, animals, etc and consistently develop this
aspect of your character throughout their career at Hogwarts (or a good
portion of it). Then, 30 days after you have graduated your character,
you may apply for the position with the appropriate application.
We feel this will allow our graduated students to remain in contact
with friends who are still in school and also allow you to further develop
your characters beyond what can be played out here at HPRPG.NET.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM Sue!
Note: This is ONLY for characters who have graduated.
It does not include students who have left the school for other reasons
There's no forum for dorms, but I want
to play them! What do I do?
If you want to play that your character is in their dorm, start a
post in the common room specifying that the post is
taking place in the girls/boys dorm and, if needed, include the year.
This will keep you from getting any unwanted visitors.
Yes it is. But usually if you are being that bad you get banned as
well. If you are intent on 'getting rid' of your character in this fashion,
you may submit a plot on the Plot
Board, though it will need administrative approval.
Of course! But remember that your character should follow age appropriate
conduct. You can find out more about that here: Relationship
Guidelines. These guidelines were researched and approved by the
administration of the board and are in place for many reasons.
Do I need special items (like an invisibility
cloak) approved like I would a special ability?
Yes. Items are deemed "special" for a reason, and if everyone
had one then it wouldn't be special, would it? For this reason, we
do monitor special items carefully. You can apply for one just as
you would a special ability in the Improper
Use of Magic Office after you have been sorted.
What types of pets can I have? Can my character
have more than one pet?
The official Hogwarts letters specifies one pet per student: an owl,
cat, rat, or a toad. Students fifth year and above may choose to bring
a Pygmy Puff in place of an owl, cat, rat, or toad.
As stated on the main page of the site, there is no specific time-line,
we simply set the role-play in the world of Harry Potter, using
as much canon-based information as we currently have available.
Can you use the same email address for
more than one character?
No. All users must have different email addresses. If you have been
approved for a second character, you may be allowed to have your accounts
share an email address. PM Sue to arrange this...
Can my character have a sibling? How
can they interact with them?
Without a plot approved NPC, your character may not actively interact
with a sibling at Hogwarts unless the sibling is played by another
person. You can state things that have occurred between yourself and
your sibling in your journal or if you are discussing a situation
with another person in a thread, but you may not interact with your
sibling unless you have a plot approved NPC or someone else is playing
your character's sibling.
You may use the first post of your journal thread to discuss your sorting
ceremony, how you felt about it, etc, but you may not play this out
on the board. In all other threads, you should role-play as though you
have been attending Hogwarts since the start of term.
The Shop, or "Diagon Alley",
is used to sell Wizard Trading Cards. These cards were made by various
staff members and can be collected throughout your 'years' here at
Hogwarts. We hope to eventually add more shops, but at this time it
is not possible with the software available to us.
The bank on HPRPG.NET works just like a 'real world' bank. Money put
in the bank will earn interest, allowing you to save faster
for the items we sell in Diagon Alley.
As stated in various locations, we strive to remain 'As Canon As Possible'
(ACAP). The canon teachers that we have at the moment reflect current canon information.
I can't post in any of the classes.
Is there something that I am doing wrong, or do you need to give me
permission or something?
You must wait until you are sorted before you can post in the classrooms.
You also need to make sure that classes are open, as there are times
when we lock classrooms for various board events.
What are the core and non-core
classes offered at Hogwarts and will more be available?
The Core Classes at HPRPG.NET include: Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against
the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration.
Non-Core Classes (open to all students third year and above) include
Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, and
Muggle Studies as well as two advanced courses in Healing and Flying
During Hogsmeade Week, Healing and Flying lessons are offered to 1st
and 2nd years and can be used as 'wild cards' for advancement.
We are also working on offering Apparation classes and testing. Be
on the lookout for an announcement about this!
Classes are not required, unless you plan to advance. Your character
does not have to be in all their classes, either. You can pick and
choose or go to all. The choice is yours. If a lesson is locked, that
means that lesson is over. You do not need to go back and complete
that lesson. When a new one opens, just jump in and start RPing!
No, you never have to do the assignments. However, it does add to
the Role playing experience. Join in when you can, but when you can’t,
don’t worry about it. If you don’t have time to actually
do the assignment, hop into the classroom forum and just play along!
Each teacher decides how exams are handled individually. We do RP out
end of term exams and end of year exams. The teacher may or may
not grade you for the exams and for the year. The grading scale is as
follows:
The OWL and NEWT exams are open for our fifth and seventh years. To
sign up to take the exams, you MUST be a 5th or 7th year. Go to the
sign up forums that are listed under Special Events: Exams, and sign
up. Someone will then add you to the user group, and you will be able
to take the exams you need for advancement. The forums will be open
all the time from now on, so there's no need for you to rush or worry
about when they will be opening again
How to take Exams:
-You may choose which exams you wish to take, but you will need a minimum
of 5 to advance.
-Read the instructions given by each teacher at the top of the exam
class boards.
-Start a new thread with your character's name
-Follow the instructions given by the teacher to RP each step of the
exam, all in one thread, a reply for each step.
-Don't worry about replying to yourself, as you will be the only one
posting in your thread.
-When you have finished, you may use the links to your exam threads
in your advancement post.
For example:
Thread Subject: Norville Readmnweep - Transfiguration OWL
Reply 1: Role play step one
Reply 2: Role play step two
Reply 3: Role plat step three
You can do more if you really want to, but that's all that's required
for advancement, as long as the posts are quality posts.
If you enter a thread after various other people have posted, still
play as though you have been there the entire time. The teachers make
a habit of locking the doors once class begins to fend off any late-comers.
You may RP in other RP areas that your character missed a class due
to this, but you may not RP coming into class late.
Are our posts deleted after time, or can
we go back and reread them?
All the posts are saved to help with character development and history,
but the threads are locked so that they cannot be altered. Some special
events posts are moved
to the Archive
section, but they aren't deleted. Posts are only deleted if you
have double posted, or if a rule has been broken, specifically in
the OOC areas. A post in an RP area may be locked and moved to a
non-viewable forum if it has broken a rule, or if it is deemed a
pointless post.
I've been posting a lot, but my post
count never seems to go up. What's up with that?
Your post count only goes up when you reply in the IC (In Character)
areas of the board. Anything posted in the OOC (Out Of Character) areas
are not registered.
This is not something we want people to make a habit out of, but if
something comes up and you feel it would be better for the flow of
the thread if your character exited and re-entered at a later time,
then yes - you may.
I was in a thread for
a while, but now I can't seem to post. Is it locked?
Any post in the in character areas that have not been replied to in
7 days are locked. Any post in the out of character areas that have
not been replied to in 14 days are locked. This is to keep
our forum active and encourage our role-players to contribute to threads
in a timely fashion. If you feel your thread was locked in error, please
contact your prefect.
Can we use our character journals
for other things such as creative writing purposes and poetry from our
character's point of view?
If it is not done in excess and on a consistent basis and would be
considered 'in character' for your character to do this, then it is
ok. However, if we feel it is not appropriate or is occurring too
frequently, we will let you know.
What would I do if
I wanted to get out of a thread if people aren't replying or I just
wanted to get out of the thread and move to another one?
If you were the last person to reply, edit your post
and post (out) at the bottom of your thread. If you were not the last
to reply, reply and RP leaving the situation, posting (out) as you
go. You could also encourage the people in the thread with you to continue
posting by PMing them.
You have to try out, just like in the books! Look for a post on your
House Bulletin Board. Usually your team will have tryouts 2 times a
year, once before the beginning of the school year and another after
Christmas Holidays. Just keep an eye out for a post about it in your
common room or PM your Head Student.
We try to create a 'starting line-up' and a 'second string' or alternate
line-up. In order to qualify for either line up you must be
actively role-playing. (Posts in OOC areas do not count) A
player must have posted in the last 2-3 weeks prior to a Quidditch
match to be considered a STARTING player. Any Quidditch player not
having posted will be moved to the ALTERNATE squad. It is preferred
that players have 75 posts before they are placed as a STARTING player,
though exceptions can be made. Continued inactivity will lead to removal
from the Quidditch Team.
I can’t find the quidditch rules!
can someone point me in the right direction?
Only characters that have made the Quidditch Team can see the rules.
Our Quidditch system is something very unique to our board, so the
rules are only accessible to those who have put the time and effort
forth to tryout and make each house team.
We usually have 1-2 Quidditch Matches a term. There will be an announcement
1-2 weeks before the match so we can all get our House Spirit ready
to cheer on our favorite team! You can go through the Calendar to
see when our current Quidditch Matches are scheduled for this school
year. Remember, though, that it is all subject to change!
In the OOC areas, it is ok to post pictures within a post
if it is appropriate for the thread. Fan Art, for example, is a forum
where posting pictures in your thread is the point. In Character areas
are not appropriate places to post pictures. This includes Journals.
If you would like to share a picture, please use a text link.
How do I post an Avatar? You know, that
cool picture under people’s names?
Once you have been sorted, click on the profile button. Then choose
"Forum Profile Information" from the menu on the left. This
will bring you to a page that will either allow you to choose an image
from our gallery, or upload your own image. We do not allow avatars
that are linked from another source for various reasons.
So where do I get an avatar? I've
seem some really cool ones here! How do I get one of them?
The first thing to do is look around online for some images that appeal
to you. Another good resource is a this
thread, which lists sites you can look at and people willing to
make avatars.
Avatars in the context of this RPG are mainly for use as a reflection
of your character, not yourself. Any avatars being
used to depict your character should reflect their current
age and fall under the 'family friendly' rating
of our board. If you choose not to use an image that is a reflection
of your character (though it is discouraged), please make sure it
is ‘family friendly’!
If any of these are out of date, not working, or not accepting memberships
any longer, please PM Sue and let her know, as we like to keep this
up to date!
Once you are sorted, upload the image you want to use to an image
host (see list above). Then you copy the url from the image and go
to your profile by clicking on the link in the main navigation bar.
Once in your profile area, click on the Forum Profile Information link
to the left. In there, you'll find a place to edit your signature.
You type in [img]image URL here[/img] and then submit!
I love to draw! Can I offer to make
things for people here?
As this is a Role Playing Board, we prefer the focus to be role-playing.
If you'd like to post things you have done that are in relation to Harry
Potter or the RPG, you are more than welcome to do that. However, we
do not generally allow threads where people can make requests. It clogs
up the forum and takes away from the focus of what the board is about.
Please see the rules
for posting in our Fan Art section.
I don't make my own graphics. Are there
some images on the site that anyone can use for an avatar?
Yes, we have a graphics gallery with AVs anyone can use. Once you
are sorted, head over to the profile page. In the left hand menu,
click on the Forum Profile Information link. On the top of the page
you will see "Personalized Picture" and a list to the side.
Click on the options (Boys, Girls, House Crests) and you will see
what images we have available for use as your AV. Do not, under
any circumstances, take these images and personalize them. They have been
made specifically for this board and should only be used at HPRPG.NET.
How do I resize images or change them
from bmps to gifs?
You need to have your own graphics program to do these sorts of things,
as well as adding any text or decorations to pictures you find online.
We can't do that for you. ;) One program that allows you to do these
type of things is GIMP.
It is a fully functioning and free graphics program!
Are we allowed to post dolls that
we make from doll makers in sigs if we show credits?
Yes! Credit is always appreciated, so please provide it on any image
you have in your avatar/sig that is not made by you.
What do I do if someone is using the same
image/model as me?
If you find that the image you have chosen to represent your character
is being used by someone else, please work it out between yourselves.
It is not a staff issue and we will not intervene.Be
mature about it, but work it out.
Do we have a Hogsmeade? If we do, why
can't I see/post in it?
Yes, we have a Hogsmeade! It is open to members third year and above
that have a parent or guardian. No orphans are allowed in Hogsmeade.
The forum is only open at specific times.
Hogsmeade trips are scheduled at different points during each term.
There will be an announcement 1-2 weeks before we open Hogsmeade to
let you know so you can prepare for the trip. You can also check
the Calendar for dates we currently have planned for Hogsmeade
trips.
When is Hogsmeade done so classes will
start again?
Hogsmeade trips generally last 2 weeks. The only classes that run during
Hogsmeade are Flying and Healing lessons for the 1st and 2nd years and
non-core classes for 3rd years and above. You are allowed to role-play
in the classrooms AND be in Hogsmeade at the same time.
When Hogsmeade opens up for the students, the following rules apply:
Hogsmeade will be open for two weeks
Only students 3rd year and above may visit
Only non-core classes will be opened during this time.
The four thread
rule still applies, as always!
If you are playing your character as an orphan, they will not be allowed
in Hogsmeade! If there's no one to sign the permission form, they can't
go.
All third year and above students will be allowed ONE NPC for use
in Hogsmeade and Hogsmeade only. You do not need to apply for thus NPC,
but they are only allowed to be used in the Hogsmeade forums. Please
keep all forum rules in mind, since they apply no matter where you are
RPing.
The Dice Feature is mainly used for Quidditch. We prefer that it not
be used in the average thread unless it serves an obvious function.
The way to roll the dice in a thread is to type: :dice 1d6:,
where 1 is the amount of dice rolled and 6 is the amount of sides on
each dice. In this case, one dice is rolled and it is a 6 sided dice
(much like the normal dice you would use in a basic board game). Make
sure you put a space after the word dice!
If you choose to use another language aside from English in your posts,
you must provide a translation within the post. If
said translation does not fall into the family friendly rating of the
board, remove it.
We have had problems in the past when editing was allowed in all forums
and it is really something we don't want to have to deal with again. Use the preview button - Preview is your friend.
Some forums are only used for special events, therefore they will be
locked when events aren't taking place. Other forums are in the process
of being created, and will stay locked until they are ready to be used.
All threads in Roleplay Areas that have not been replied to in 7 days
are locked. All threads in OOC areas that have not been replied to
in 14 days are locked. This keeps forums clean and tidy and encourages
our members to be active in the threads they are a part of!
Every so often (2-3 months) we do a membership cleanout. Your account
will be deleted if:
You have not activated your account within one week
You have been inactive for a minimum of 2 weeks
You have posted in the Vacation Thread but have not returned within
the amount of time you said you would.
You have posted in the Vacation Thread, did not specify a return date, and did not return within one month of posting.
Your account may have been deactivated as well. This generally occurs
if you have a high amount of posts (300+), have contacted a staff member
AND posted in the vacation thread, and have been a member for a fair
amount of time. When you are deactivated, an email is generally sent
stating why with an explanation of how to reactivate your account.
Account deletion does happen on occasion. You are always more than
welcome to reapply for membership. If you have questions/concerns
about your account being deleted/suspended, please email
us!
If you have a question, you should first PM your Prefect and/or Head
Student. If they can't help you, they will instruct you to PM an administrator.
You should always PM your Prefect first, though.
Yes. This is a privately owned and operated board, which means it
is a privilege not a right to play here. If the administration feels
you are not playing in accordance with the rules, they do have the
right to remove you from the board.