Welcome to the Hogwarts University homepage! Here you will find information about the realm, as well as guidelines and rules of engagement. All questions should be directed to the HP Question cork @ #r-hpqcork.
Guidelines for Hogwarts University Adult Roleplay
Contents:
General Guidelines:
RPG Guidelines:
General Guidelines
If you don't know who or what Harry Potter is, you must be living under a rock! If you've only seen the movie, you'll have fun in this RPG, but to really know what's going on, you'll want to have read all 5 books by J.K. Rowling, as some roleplay will endoubtedly refer to events that have happened in any and all of the books. If you really can't be bothered reading the books OR seeing the movie but think this looks like fun anyway, go to the OOC Forum and ask some basic questions so you don't look like a complete duffer barging in with no clue of what's going on.
2. Age rules & general information
All characters MUST BE OVER 18 - SOI rules forbid any ageplay and we comply wholeheartedly with this restriction. This Roleplaying environment is set in time approximately 10 to 12 years in the future of the current Harry Potter series, so character players that currently exist in the books may be used, as they will all be over 18. This environment uses all the devices of JK Rowlings' books and more may be invented as players see fit. It is set primarily at the (non-JK Rowling) Hogwarts University of Witchcraft & Wizardry located in some obscure corner of the English countryside, on the opposite end of the Forbidden FOrest. All students are over the age of 18. Houses are still kept with the same names, similar to College Fraternities. In fact, alot of the staff have moved on from teaching at Hogwarts to teaching here too.
3. Character guidelines - how to choose a name & character profile.
Please use character names which are believable. Anything English, magical and quirky is recommended. Character names should be both first and last name, or Professor or Madam in the case of teachers. Exchange students or Professors from other places in the world are acceptable, of course - just make sure you develop an appropriate history that fits the character too. Take some time, in any case, to think of a background for your character and its' current state - age, year at University if a student, any brothers/sisters, are they pureblood or Muggle born, or mixed, what is their personality. Your character may have known other characters that are currently in play, may have some mysterious secrets - and don't forget that all good characters have flaws. It seems there tend to have been a gravitation of "good" characters to Gryffindor, and "bad" characters to Slytherin, just as in the books,with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff somewhere in neutral territory. Of course there have been exceptions to this and always will be. But consider, if you're going to play a good character, and one who is either submissive or not so interested in BDSM, it would probably not behove you to choose Slytherin as your house. Slytherin, generally, as would make sense, has become the home of the Dominants of the game.
4. Canon Characters: responsibilites and guidelines
Characters from the books ("canon" characters) are allowed and encouraged - but there has been some issue now the game has been in play for a while about who should really take up these central and important roles. If you do choose a canon character, particularly an important one, please do not do so lightly, and please be aware that other players will probably want to engage you in more roleplay than purely sexual roleplay. An ideal way to enter into a Canon role is to post your intention in the OOC Forum. This is polite especially in the case of Canon characters - other characters feel free to just join in. Canon characters should only be chosen if considerable time and effort is intended to be given to the playing of that role - and preferably some experience and skill in roleplaying to bring the character to life. Choosing a Canon character means you would be under much more scrutiny from fellow players and may suffer some criticism, if the play level is not of a high standard, or if you do not play often. I repeat - please only undertake a Canon character after some consideration, previously roleplaying experience & with an intention of commitment. Relatives of canon characters are an excellent choice for original characters -however there are any number of characters that can be (and have been) created with no direct relational ties to Canon... plus magical beasts, house elves, ghosts - lots of options. If you see a canon character posted which you have not seen in play for some time, it's fair to post a query to see if they are likely to be playing in future, if you have an interest in taking on that character, and if no response is made within a reasonable time frame (say a few weeks or so) then it may be feasible to take on that role.
5. Character creation process - or "How to get into the game the right way"
When you have created your character/s and profiles, please make a post on the Character Forum to let people know who you are. Sexual preferences may also be posted if you are interested in playing that way, detailing the following as a guide (more or less if you wish) :
Orientation - Het, Bi or Gay
((Please note that sex play/BDSM/violence play is NOT required in this game. You do NOT have to partake in it if it does not intrest you. However, it is welcomed and does make the game much more interesting!))
Any questions you want to ask first, check out the OOC Forum.
6. Sex play
Sexual play is preferrably of a disciplinary (D/s) nature but is not limited to that, and may be between any genders. Roleplaying need not concentrate on sexual play either - please respect other character's desires/wishes in this regard - try follow existing dialogue & over your own personal desires if they do seem to clash. If you have come to this realm SOLELY for sex-play & you have no desire to roleplay storylines or deeper plots, then please DO NOT take a Canon character.
7. Room Creation and deletion
One of the perks of this realm is that many players have room space in order to create places to play in. If there's a room you'd like to see created, you can post about it on the room cork #r-hprcork
8. Copyright - does JK Rowling endorse this?
One thing that may have crossed your mind is how this game fits in with copyright law, using the characters & word from one writers' Intellectual Property. Please see the disclaimer below, and note that JK Rowling has in public interviews stated that she has no problem with fan-fiction on the 'net. As roleplay, this is pretty much interactive fan-fiction, and we have no intention of making any money from this. If anything, we'd like to hope that some people may be introduced to Harry Potter through this game and actually discover Rowling's fabulous writing for themselves.
8. Have fun!
Please remember it can take some time and effort to really become involved in an RPG such as this one, and you may find yourself posting alone in rooms at times before being joined by a player who wants to interact with you. Likewise, be thoughful about how & when you interject yourself in a scene which is in play between two or more chracters. Be creative, have fun, and may you find what you seek.
1. General Guidelines - How do I roleplay effectively?
General Roleplaying guildelines similar to the other RPG areas of SOI should be kept in mind. Try to keep OOC posts to a minimum, and keep your actions believable! The Harry Potter universe is fairly limitless in its' possibilities, so imagination and inventiveness are excellent qualities to bring to this RPG. Try to post in the third person, ie. "He walks to the other side of the room" instead of "I walk to the other side of the room" - it flows better and reads more like a book, and that's what we are creating here - interactive fiction. Describe as fully as possible what you are doing, make good use of literary devices such as similes and descriptive adjectives. Posts should be well thought out and more than a paragraph in length. The best posts are the ones that have much depth and detail to them, and may carry on a good length!
2. Spells - general
JK Rowling has created a world where magic is real but does follow some guidelines, though they are loose and there is always room for new ways of doing things. Basically, most spells are done with the aid of a wand, which focuses the power of the witch or wizard. Some spells are intrinsic in a magical item, and potions are brewed in a cauldron and then drunk, usually without any formal ceremony once the brewing is done. When casting spells with wands, which is most common, it is not fundamental but can add considerably to the roleplaying reality if a Latin incantation is made. This is basically how JK Rowling has come up with all her incantations. Not all spells require them, but in making up new spells, you may find the English to Latin Online Dictionary quite helpful, listed in the dropdown on the main page of the board.
4. Apparating and Disapparating - YES you can do it here!
Another question that has come up regularly is "If this is Hogwarts, how can you Apparate and Disapparate? That's not possible in the books!" The answer is: This is not Hogwarts School, this is Hogwarts University of Advanced Wizarding Studies. And Students now of age and much more experienced in magic are much more able to look after themselves, and will need less protection. Remember to Apparate you need to be of age and have passed your Apparating License (and no, we don't have an in-play method for doing this, we just assume it). Apparating makes life alot easier for play and gives options which would otherwise be tedious to roleplay. However, electronic devices still do not work at Hogwarts, due to the anti-locater charm on the grounds.
5. Fighting
It is recommended that players fight post - to - post and allow the other party to react to an attack. Attacks are specified: the reaction of the other player must be allowed to be given by the attacked player, who may be wounded or deflect that specific attack. Remember the whole point of this is not to be *invincible* but to play the game as realistically as possible. You don't win by never getting wounded: you win by making your opponent feel he or she is really there. The University Hospital Wing is available for treatment and recuperation from injuries sustained.
6. Be realistic & remember we're all real people...
The last point of that last section should be reiterated, because the whole meaning of roleplaying is to bring a sense of reality to the game - to make you feel like you and your fellow gamers are really there. Remember there are real human beings on the other end. It is easy for pettiness to spill into the game and it can be hard to communicate at times, but try to consider other peoples' feelings. Everyone is here to enjoy the play, and if someone genuinely expresses a desire not to be involved in play with you, please respect that and leave them alone. Many people are very dedicated to behaving in-character at all times. Take hints when they are given. The point is for all to enjoy. There is much magic to be found in this realm and may you find it in your hearts and minds. Outline and concept for guideline borrowed from Severus Snape of SOI
1. Introduction - What is this Harry Potter thing anyway?
2. Age rules & general information
3. Character guidelines - how to choose a name & character profile.
4. Canon Characters: responsibilites and guidelines
5. Character creation process - or "How to get into the game the right way"
6. Sex play
7. Room creation & deletion
8. Copyright - does JK Rowling endorse this?
9. Have fun!
General Guidelines - How do I roleplay effectively?
Spells - general
Apparating and Disapparating - YES you can do it here!
Fighting
Be realistic & remember we're all real people...
1. Introduction - What is this Harry Potter thing anyway?
BDSM & D/s - yes or no, if yes:
Dom, sub or Sswitch and/or masochist/Sadist...
Non-consensual activity - yes or no
Public play - yes or no
Multiple partners - yes or no
Activity with animals/non-humans - yes or no (there are Animagus characters, animal characters and non-human characters)
RPG Guidelines
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters from the 5 books and 3 movies are copyright by JK Rowling & Warner Bros. This RPG area is non-profit, for entertainment purposes only and no copyright infringement is intended.