Topics we have covered on this thread - if you've just joined us.
1)
All Powerful Newbies I answered a question about this the other day. Someone IMed me and asked 'What if your character comes from a family that has grown up with loads of magic and knows how to use it already?' For this, I used the example of Ron Weasley in the book
'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' {or Sorceror's if you're American}. But Harry was worried about being way behind in his magic, and I quote the Queen of Harry Potter herself -
'Harry was very relieved to find out he wasn't miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come from Muggle families, and like him, hadn't had any idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people like Ron didn't have much of a head start.' See? No all-powerful newbies. Just stuck up gits like Malfoy, but no newbies who have an expansive knowledge of the spells that you don't learn until the fourth year.
2)
The Forbidden Forest Note the name. It's FORBIDDEN. Therefore, you aren't allowed to go in there unless you have a death wish by all the creatures who prowl in the Forest. And they can't be sedated by a quick
'Stupefy!' Charm, because unless you are in fifth year, you aren't going to know it, are you? And the creatures have more reflexes than you give them credit for. Indeed, they can't kill your character without your permission, but they can do grevious bodily harm. I was told that people have been requesting a Forest they can actually walk through - what fun is there in that? And note in the books as well, there is an element of fear that surrounds the Forbidden Forest. Why do I point this out you ask? Because this is what the site revolves around. The Harry Potter Books. And just another thing - you can't class yourself as a Harry Potter fan if you can't spell the names of the house. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. OKee?
3)
OOC attacks They are just not nice. And they also increase the amount of OOC posts we are trying to cut back on. Are they really necessary?
4)
Insane Pointless Heroics They would not work in the Harry Potter books, so don't do them all the time on the site. It just doesn't make sense if you suddenley appear in a thread with no explaination why you are there, other than that you read the thread and wanted to join. If the person leaves a trail for you to follow - e.g. They leave a note in their dorm, they tell you they are going for a walk and should be back by such and such time and they aren't, then look for them for awhile. Then, when you find them, you can't kill whatever has kidnapped them in two seconds. Let the thread roll for awhile. It could get good and you could make MH History. But be the reluctant hero. Not someone who comes in and kills the beast within two seconds of entering the thread.
5)
One liner posts Use description. When you talk to people, what do you do? Observe yourself, or even the person you are talking to, in real life. Do you run your fingers through your hair, does the sun fall into your eyes, is it windy? Create a picture for people to be able to imagine as they read the thread.
6)
Past tense Use third person past tense posts. Example -
Bob walked into a bar and said "Ouch!" Also write it as though it's come out of a book. And don't forget the descriptions. That's what makes a good Role-Player.
See Point 21 for more information7)
IMing Newbies This was briefly discussed, and it was pointed out that you usually get abusive messages back. We are trying to help you people!
8)
Punctuation and Basic Grammar This is always useful. It helps to make the post easier to read. Look around at some of the other posts by some of the older newbies and gradually change your sytle to match. You will develop your own style, but I can name people who have improved out of sight with their role-playing by just observing what everyone else was doing and taking a lead from them.
9)
Invite Only Threads If you post in the Vampire Caves, the Lycan Tunnels, The Valkeries Hideaway or the Fobidden Forest with an invite-only thread, prepare to have your thread crashed. It is
their space, not yours. You are the tresspassers. Expect to be prosecuted.
10)
Newbie Buddies This seems like a good idea. Hows this for a plan of attack? Every week the Prefects, Head Boy and Girl...and Headmistresses if they'd like...meet up and pair up with a newbie to nudge in the right direction. Give them the low-down of the site and just point out the rules we've got here. Then the next week we keep tabs on how it went and we assign new newbies to each Prefect/Head. Yay or nay?
11)
Siring Requests Stop them. It ain't going to happen. So just stop now.
12)
Make a plot Let's make a major plot. We can make MH history! Come on people...then Talon can actually have something to write about as he is the Historian.
13)
What's another word for Bad? er...Bad RPG Newbies influencing new Newbies Hopefully Newbie Buddies can stamp that out.
14)
Get all the Newbies to go through a Security-like Airport thing If they haven't got role-playing skills, they have to go find some - *snorts*
15)
Buy six thousand boxes of Latex Gloves ;D
16)
God-Rpg God-Rpg is frowned upon. This is when you write down another person's reaction in your post.
Example
'Bob adjusted his glasses and sat down opposite his friend Wilson, spilling his Butterbeer onto Wilson's lap.
"Hey!" Wilson yelped, leaping up and trying to brush it off angrily. "This is my new cloak,"
Bob shrugged. "Sorry," He said, throwing over a napkin, not bothered by the whole incident.'Wilson's reaction should've been in Wilson's post, not Bob's.
17)
Scary monsters are SCARY This includes Vampires, Lycans, Valkeries, Creatures of the Forest, the wrath of Wilting Rose...heh *loosens collar* SO DON'T PROVOKE THEM!
18)
Set up a 'Help-a-Newbie' Hotline 1-800-555-HELP. Comes complete with it's own Disclaimer. See Page 5 for details.
19)
Role-Playing Classes Once again for the Prefects and HG/HB to run. Classes to improve the role-playing skills so it doesn't make me cry when I see a whole bout of role-playing that looks like OOC posts. The only thing with this is where? The Classroom board is IC...and Wilting Rose doesn't particularly want to make another board for anywhere...and we'd IM students? Maybe leave that up to HG/HB, anyone who sees RPG that could use a step up could IM us.
20)
Swords are FREAKING. AWESOME. *cough*
21)
Description Describe your characters thoughts, actions, what they are wearing. Do they fiddle with jewelry, does the wind ruffle their cloak, do they play with their hair? What are they doing whilst they talk? DO they use hand movements. Every description gives insight to your character.
22)
From the mouth of the Great One herself - Wilting Rose 'A little effort goes a long way, especially in this place.'So there you are. That's what we've talked about. There are some ideas that still need to be discussed a little...I just brought them all to one point so we can remember what the point of this thread is.
