Latest Site Notices

Cassirin · 08-02-2005, 10:00 PM

Welcome to Diagon Alley! Please read through this boring yet necessary FAQ before you RP in this forum.

What's the point?
Diagon Alley has been set up for three major reasons. First, we wanted to give students a place to spend their time between terms. We know you get bored waiting for us, so this is an alternative. Second, we hope that new students will fine-tune their RP skills and start to develop their characters in this forum by RPing with advanced players. This forum is a taste of the school RP. Third, we wanted to give the Ministry RPers a place outside of the Ministry walls to spend some time interacting with each other in a non-work environment.

Wait! Ministry RPers are here too?
This is our most recent change to Diagon Alley. Diagon Alley will be open to student characters much the same way it has been in the past - in between terms ONLY, while Ministry employees will be allowed to post their Ministry characters here year-round. All members will be allowed to post both their student and Ministry characters during the appropriate times (breaks between terms).

How will I know when I'm not allowed to post my student character anymore?
As soon as the Hogwarts Express threads are posted in the School RPG forum, posting your student characters in Diagon Alley should cease; however, you will still be allowed to post your Ministry character in Diagon Alley after this point and your student character in the School RPG forum. Likewise, when the Hogwarts Express threads close at the end of term, feel free to begin posting your student characters once more in Diagon Alley!

What do I do here?
Chat with your friends, buy your school supplies for your student characters, purchase household goods for your Ministry character, RP to your heart's content. As always, SS forum rules apply. Don't spam, swear, post inappropriate content, or harass your peers. You CAN be banned from this forum.

Some member is telling me what to do! Should I bother listening?
All the school staff are spending their time getting the school ready and Ministry Department Heads are engulfed in overseeing their departments, so we picked our shopkeepers from those who are most experienced in the school and Ministry RP and have proven themselves reliable. These people are equivalent to Ministry Department and Division heads and their word is law, so follow their directions and advice or face lemondrop13's and my adminny wrath. If in doubt, all keepers have their title below their name.

In addition, you may want to listen to other members simply because they're knowledgable and often are just trying to make your RP experience more enjoyable and realistic.

I want to be a shopkeeper! Can I make up my own position?
While we appreciate your enthusiasm, we have all the staff and shops we need at this time. Your suggestions are always welcome, however, and you can PM lemondrop13 and/or me directly with them.

Can I RP as someone other than my school character?
You are free to RP as anyone you want (other than a shopkeeper). We recommend you RP your school character and/or your Ministry character simply for the sake of clarity and continuity. Please note: you may ONLY RP as your own character(s). Don't RP as yourself and then someone else's character. It isn't proper RP protocol and is considered very rude.

Why exactly aren't we RPing our student characters in the school right now?
The school closes between terms to get ready for the next term. Soon enough, the Diagon Alley will close to student characters and you'll be headed off on the Hogwarts Express.

Is there a list of supplies I need to get for the School RPG? What if I don't get everything?
At this time, there IS a supply list in the thread just below this one. Your staff has listed all the books and supplies you will need. Never fear... even if you are playing a first year, you may buy supplies for any class. You don't have to 'purchase' anything to attend the school. Just play it like you have the supplies you need.

There is also a lot of information about the School RP, in general, in the Hogwarts School FAQ that you might want to take a look at.

If you have any other questions, please ask. Of course, if you ask when the sorting starts/ends, when the Express starts, when the term starts, or anything I just answered above, I'm free to thwip you. All important dates are posted on the front page of the site.

Disneymaniac · 03-17-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moony

I have a few questions, and I sincerely apologise if they have already been answered and if they sound obvious. I've just never thought to ask:

1. My Ministry character hasn't been accepted yet - can I still RP as them in Diagon Alley in the meantime?

2. If you are RPing as a child when the time comes at the end of term, are you allowed to RP their guardians, if only briefly mentioning them?

3. If your Hogwarts character hasn't yet started school and is due to commence next term, are you allowed to RP them in Diagon Alley or does that just confuse things?

Sorry if these questions don't make sense, I thought it would be better to know than to make a mistake!
Thanks

Right lets do these in order...

1. You can RP them...I think. It would be best to wait til you are accepted. Which shouldn't be long.

2. You can RP their guardians, but not too much, otherwise it gets a bit confusing.

3. You aren't allowed to RP a character from the school during the school term. You are only allowed to play them in the school. DA is just for MoM characters at this time.

Moony · 03-18-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenster

Right lets do these in order...

1. You can RP them...I think. It would be best to wait til you are accepted. Which shouldn't be long.

2. You can RP their guardians, but not too much, otherwise it gets a bit confusing.

3. You aren't allowed to RP a character from the school during the school term. You are only allowed to play them in the school. DA is just for MoM characters at this time.

Thanks very much for your help - it's appreciated!

luna freak10 · 04-28-2009, 09:00 PM

thz for posting this it was really helpful and i wish u the best

Alihandreu · 05-08-2009, 04:46 PM

I have RPed in other forums before and they always had people make a bio post for their charrie, which I found made it easier to stay in character and to not accidentally make the character omnipotent (such as giving them parsletongue (sp?) and having them be an animagus and having them be a metamorphmagus). I was wondering if there was anything like that here.

Disneymaniac · 05-08-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alihandreu

I have RPed in other forums before and they always had people make a bio post for their charrie, which I found made it easier to stay in character and to not accidentally make the character omnipotent (such as giving them parsletongue (sp?) and having them be an animagus and having them be a metamorphmagus). I was wondering if there was anything like that here.

There are places for this in the Common Rooms. And also one in the School RPG Fan club, if you are a member. So if you wait a few weeks, you can post one.

Alihandreu · 05-09-2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenster

There are places for this in the Common Rooms. And also one in the School RPG Fan club, if you are a member. So if you wait a few weeks, you can post one.

Ok thanks a bunch. I just find it easier to RP when I have some basic rules for my character (:

iloveluna · 08-25-2009, 12:31 AM

sometimes i see hogwarts rpg and then a name underneath people's siggy. how do i get this?

D.A Forever · 08-25-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iloveluna

sometimes i see hogwarts rpg and then a name underneath people's siggy. how do i get this?

Do you mean under your avatar in your profile post bit, where some members have 'Hogwarts RPG Name'? If so, go up toward the top of the page where you'll see User CP. Click that. From there, go to Edit Profile and you'll see a section where you can put in your school and/or ministry character information.

If you did mean underneath member's signatures, I'm not quite sure I understand since I've not seen a member with that myself. However, if you go to the Submit Your Signature Here thread found in Scribbulus Everchanging Inks; you can, as it says, submit your signature - perhaps this was the text you were referring to have seen?

Hope that helps answer your question, have fun in Diagon Alley!

Aris · 08-25-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iloveluna

sometimes i see hogwarts rpg and then a name underneath people's siggy. how do i get this?

Breakdown:
This took me a while to understand! But basically when you're Role Playing (RP) in Hogwarts, that designated area is to create your character's name. You can add/ access that area by clicking "Quick Links: which is located on a blue that is at the top of the website. Then you'll click "Edit Profile". It'll open up a page that allows you to edit information on your Profile and if you scroll down you'll see a space titled: "Hogwarts Name". In that space, you may type your Characters Name and once your done scroll down and click "Save Changes". It'll be in your profile immediately once you've updated your Profile.

Quick Run Through:
1) Click: Quick Links @ the Blue Bar near the top of the page.
2) Click Edit Profile
3)Scroll Down and Under Category "Hogwarts Name" enter your characters name.
4) Scroll to the bottom on the page and click "Save Changes".

Easy and Goodluck!

Adelaide_Rane_Parker · 08-25-2009, 05:22 PM

i have a silly question I'm new to the whole rpg thing and new to this board is there anywhere on this site that can give a description on how to participate?
i Have never joined ANY online boards so my computer savy is limited.

Thanks in advance!

Dracosgirl · 08-26-2009, 02:29 AM

doesn't the term start on september 16th?

D.A Forever · 08-26-2009, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dracosgirl

doesn't the term start on september 16th?

Close but not quite.

Term begins on September 14th. However, Hogwarts Express comes on September 11th (at which point Diagon Alley will close to the students).

EDIT: To the question before this one, I am so sorry for not replying to that; it wasn't on the page (set to 35 per page rather than default). Thank you MJ for catching that!

emjay · 08-26-2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adelaide_Rane_Parker

i have a silly question I'm new to the whole rpg thing and new to this board is there anywhere on this site that can give a description on how to participate?
i Have never joined ANY online boards so my computer savy is limited.

Thanks in advance!

Here is a fabulous thread full of many RPing tips:
Omg I Need to Learn to Roleplay!!!

Also, another simple thing you can do is to look through the RPG threads in Diagon Alley just to get a feel of how people post their characters and how they respond to each other.

Have fun!!

Windsfreak · 08-29-2009, 06:24 PM

As a first year, Do i have to get the books on my list? For example, if i wanted to take Arithmancy, and there isnt' a book for it on the list, am i not premitted to take the class? Or can i just go to F&B and get the book for Arithmancy and attend the class?

D.A Forever · 08-29-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsfreak

As a first year, Do i have to get the books on my list? For example, if i wanted to take Arithmancy, and there isnt' a book for it on the list, am i not premitted to take the class? Or can i just go to F&B and get the book for Arithmancy and attend the class?

You are more than welcome to role-play getting both your character's books and other school supplies in Diagon Alley, however you are not forced to. It's entirely up to you!

Nope, you do not have to RP getting your character's books in order to attend classes; just pretend your character did go and buy those books and has his or her supplies. Same goes with much else, you do not have to role-play on Hogwarts Express in order to be in Hogwarts once term starts.

We all know everyone has lives of their own and can't be on all the time, so just jump in whenever you can or want and go with whatevers going on at that moment (especially in class!)

Welcome to SS, congrats on being sorted, and happy RPing!

Windsfreak · 08-29-2009, 07:13 PM

So i can hop into any class?

Anna Banana · 08-29-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsfreak

So i can hop into any class?

Hey there, and welcome to SS!

Right now, the school is closed, as it's considered "summer break" for all the Hogwarts students. We're currently here, in Diagon Alley, shopping and meeting friends. Feel free to just jump right into the roleplay in any of the shops!

In a few weeks, the Hogwarts Express thread will open up, and the students will be on their way to the castle! The threads will be titled something like "Back of the Train," "Middle of the Train," etc. Once the students get there, the Start-of-Term Feast will open. Here, you'll notice threads pop up that say "Ravenclaw House Table," "Staff Table," etc. Once the feast ends, the entire school will open, and you'll be able to go to your Common Room, attend the classes, and participate in roleplays all over the school.

Here's a calendar from the front page:

Sorting has begun! 08/24
Sorting ends 09/7
Hogwarts Express begins: 09/11
Next term: 09/14

D.A Forever · 08-29-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsfreak

So i can hop into any class?

Yes. Once term starts you can attend any class as long as it's not for a certain Year that you're character is not in.

For example the Arithmancy Professor (lemondrop13) has divided the students by year in the past few terms: 1st, 2nd and 3rd years are in the beginner's class, while 4th and 5th years will be working on a more difficult level of Arithmancy, preparing for their OWLs. 6th and 7th years are much the same, the level at which they'll be learning is more advance than the previous two in preparation for their NEWTs.

Also, there is a First Years ONLY class for Flying in the beginning of term.

Not many Professor's do this, for the most part all students are together in each class. But no worries, you'll know whether or not it's for a specific year of students; it should be either stated in the thread title, or in the first post of the classroom.

Hope that helps answer your question!

Windsfreak · 08-29-2009, 08:56 PM

It does. Thanks greatly! This is going to be an awesome experience!

kellymw83 · 08-31-2009, 10:06 PM

ok im lost and confused!!! Just been sorted into hufflepuff and it said to go get my school supplies how exactly do i do that

StarShine · 08-31-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellymw83

ok im lost and confused!!! Just been sorted into hufflepuff and it said to go get my school supplies how exactly do i do that

You role-play buying your supplies by going to Diagon Alley. There are all shops you'll need for the supplies.

Just get in one and ask for what you want politely, and do not ever roleplay the shop keeper&assistant.

omnomnomRAWR · 09-03-2009, 02:26 AM

Okay, I've seen all the stores on Diagon Alley. I was wondering if you could make up your own shop and put it on the forum and have you and someone else be the staff.

D.A Forever · 09-03-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dracosgurl

Okay, I've seen all the stores on Diagon Alley. I was wondering if you could make up your own shop and put it on the forum and have you and someone else be the staff.

Afraid not, m'dear. To quote from the first post above ^^

Quote:

I want to be a shopkeeper! Can I make up my own position?
While we appreciate your enthusiasm, we have all the staff and shops we need at this time. Your suggestions are always welcome, however, and you can PM lemondrop13 directly with them.

Congrats on being sorted, and have fun RPing!

MeaCulpa · 09-03-2009, 04:58 PM

A question that may not make sense (poke me if it doesn't, and I'll re-word).

I took Olivander's quiz. I then posted in the Olivander's RP thread as my character looking for her wand. Are the two correlated at all? As in, will the quiz I took have any baring on what wand the shopkeeper pops out for me?

Thankies loves. Have a nice day.

D.A Forever · 09-03-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeaCulpa

A question that may not make sense (poke me if it doesn't, and I'll re-word).

I took Olivander's quiz. I then posted in the Olivander's RP thread as my character looking for her wand. Are the two correlated at all? As in, will the quiz I took have any baring on what wand the shopkeeper pops out for me?

Thankies loves. Have a nice day.

Mm, yes. The shopkeeper's create a wand based on the answers you provide in the quiz, but rather than me explain something that's already been posted by the wonderful shopkeepers themselves in the store, I'll include the quote:

Quote:

Please keep in mind that your wand is created based upon the answers you give in the quiz and that the wand quiz results do not give you concrete results. Your wand is designed by moderators specially for you and are completely optional.

I hope that helps answer your question.

Congrats on being sorted, and happy RPing!