I like the cooperation idea.

I also like the idea of a hidden event, but I don't know if the kiddos would catch on to it (like dropping hints to students about something being in the lake/dungeons/tree and whoever finds it gets.....I dunno. Treats for their house or something....150 points.....i dunno)

Yes, I'm thinking as I type.

Ugh... I hate when I think of something I wanted to say after posting. I was also thinking that it might be nice to have a different focus on each task. The RPed task went over well last time, and that could be the "physical" task maybe. But we could also have a logic centered task, or a knowledge centered one... a courage/strength/determination/etc. sort of task. I don't know.

Why not something similar to SS? Harry had to fly the broom and catch the key, Hermione helped with the potions, and Ron sacrificed himself on the chess board.....they don't have to be exact (and probably shouldn't) but something like?

Obstacles provided by different professors for different aspects of magical knowledge, maybe? We could do it in degrees, if you dont make it past say Potions, you cant go on to the DADA challenge.

Perhaps the first task could be a co-operative thing, and then the house/team chooses who goes on to be the champion(s?) for the individual tasks later.

I think it should be mainly focused on roleplay. Things like hunts and trivia are fun, but too OOC. That is all I have... if I come up with ideas on tasks i'll be sure to pass it on.

I agree, Lee... although I think you could make a hunt IC the way we did the riddle hunt two terms ago. Or last term? I forget.

Nabs... so maybe instead of a "tri-wizard three task" tournament, we're talking about something more spread out. Like... six to eight "tasks" that are specific to six to eight subject areas, and your team must complete the subject area to proceed? I'm changing what you said a little, but we could think outside of teh box on this if we wanted. And since it isn't tri-wizard, I don't see why we should stick to the three-task thing anyway.

I like Nabs' idea of the professors creating their own trials for the students to try to pass. If they don't pass one, they can't proceed to the next one. It will take creative thinking but hey we're supposed to be creative people

Welllllll I was researching... I know! Merlin help us!

There is 13 subjects in the school. MMMMHHHhhmmm. Now if we were to go with Nabzy's idea I was thinking: have students from each house sign up in their Common Rooms.

Now we have an uneven number to four so we need to get rid of one of the subjects. I was thinking Quidditch. When I say get rid I dont actually mean discount it, what I mean is because Quidditch is a four house game we could use that as a decider to cut down all the signed up students to four or five of each house.

After that is over we have 12 subjects left. That leaves 3 subjects for each house (how you could assign them can be decided later). So each Professor makes some sort of task which would be tackled by the house their subject was assigned to. Once all are done, hopefully we will have penalized even more of the competitors so we are left with a few at the end (hopefully one for each house). Anywayz, we could have a final task which is all combined subjects or a hunt or something? that the finalists do and the winner is decided from there.

Does that make any sense whatsoever? no? I didnt think so XD

The only problem with allowing some Houses in this subject, and other houses is other subjects is fairness.

I do like the idea of each department giving a piece of exam. I would caution though that these tasks by the professors be done and in their own forum well before the time their due. (no offense - but experience tells me some will slack)

Also, I really like the way of RP instead of a hunt. However... how do you judge who is the better RP'er? We can't roll on grammar obviously or it wouldn't be fair. We'll need ... eh... a guide sheet, if you will. How to judge creativity and not base our scores on who we like and dislike. Chyeah, stuff that Ern already knows but Touz is bored at school so she is typing.

Maybe instead of 12, we could give 2 at a time, cutting it down to 6. Inter-twine them. DADA and CoMC. Potions and Charms. Runes and HoM. You have to pass both to move on... or one... Errrr. Just a thought. That would probably be pretty hard. If we could put our feelings aside, maybe let them choose between the two given subjects. Your House can do either... Potions or Charms.. sort of thing. Hmmm...

I know Erin is pulling her hair out at the roots as she reads. Terry has come up with another of her complicated plots. Well, you did ask for suggestions, and I can't resist creating complicated creations. Here goes nothing:

My first year as a student the DADA professor created an obstacle course for us as our final exam. Each part was pmed to the individual students, and we sent our responses to her. My memory isn't what it used to be, but I do remember two parts of the test. I believe it started with the student walking out on the grounds. You come across a tower. The student climbs it and is confronted by an armed wizard. He attacks you. You had to devise a way to defind yourself and defeat the wizard. If you were successful, you then walked down the tower and headed toward the lake. I think I lost my wand during the duel and had to retrieve it before I proceeded to the lake. The next task started with the student getting into a row boat and rowing out to the middle of the lake. Magically the boat overturns and you are on your own in the middle of the cold lake. While in the lake the student was attacked by a group of grindylows. Again it is up to the student to work out a way of escaping the grindylows and manage to get back to the shore.

I'm taking this trip down memory lane because it might be interesting to incorporate such a role playing obstacle course into the Triwizard tournament. Like the real one in the Goblet of Fire we could create a situation where the champion must use their knowledge of spells etc to beat the obstacle course or obtain a prize such as the golden egg. The prize might even give a clue as to what the next part of the tournament is. Using the first task as an example, we could create a situation like Harry having to get the golden egg from the nursing dragon. You supply the student with what the task is: you have a dragon who is guarding her eggs. One of the eggs is a golden egg. You task is getting the golden egg from the dragon without injuring the dragon or hopefully getting yourself killed. Before the task begins we should set up some ground rules. For one thing you must role play withing the parameters of JK Rowling's Harry Potter World. In other words, you only have the knowledge and powers of a student at Hogwarts. No student animagus who can turn into animals at will. That is a rare talent that few average Hogwarts students possess. No use of Forbidden Curses, and no incredible or made up spells. For example a spell that will shrink a dragon to the size of a ***** cat or spells that will turn a dragon into a mouse. The students are limited to spells that have appeared in the Harry Potter books. Students aren't allowed to turn into werewolves or vampires unless it has been established before the tournament they are such creatures. We would also need a staff member to role play the dragon. This would be a cause and effect role playing. The dragon makes a move and the student reacts to it. There would also need to be guildline written up as to how to judge each task. Points should be given for exceptional role playing, but points would be taken away when students violate the rules. Judges should also reflect all of the houses. I suggest having the head of each house plus two more staff members. The decisions of the judges should be final, but I'm sure someone will say one house is being favored over another. I don't have a solution to that problem.

Now to the problem we will have to work out. When the DADA teacher gave the exam, it was pmed to each student in parts. I would assume we would want the task to take place in an arena like in the Goblet of Fire. To do this, we would have to post each part of the task in a thread, and the champions post their responses also in the same thread. This will enable all the champions to read how their competitors handle the task. A solution to this problem may be to include creativity and originalty in the scoring system. If a champion dublicate a previous champions posts, that champion will be scored down. Another problem that will need to be ironed out is how to schedule the task. Should we do like Quidditch and set up specific times the champion will perform the task? Right now I don't have any answers to this problem. I do think we should post the Background information on the task a few days to a week before the task begins. This will give the champion time to devise a strategy. It should be okay for students to get help from other students like they did in the Goblet of Fire, but only the champions will be able to post in the task thread. They must tackle the task on their own.

Well that's my idea. Let me know what you think. Erin, your welcome to borrow my wig if you need it.

I love the idea Terry, but on behalf of the RP department (since im the only mod in there that can read this), we are beginning a new project thing. A tournament. Rhea thought up the idea and it is very much like the obstacle roleplaying idea and I think it would just be overusing the concept if the RP department were using it and then it was later to come into the school RP's tournament. Just my thoughts

Can't we do a lotto? Or have each house team pick one subject, then after 4 are picked, each house team can pick then next one, etc. It's sort of like a choose your own fate thing. If the house happens to pick a bunch of subjects that were simplier tasks, or harder to RP... that's just the luck of the draw isn't it? With each house having 3 subjects, and not allowing each house to pick the 3 all at once, I think it would spread out pretty well. Just my thoughts, because I really like the idea of each house having 3 tasks, but having them all be different. They could have a max point score in each task, 3 judges per task... maybe I'm making it too complicated, but I really think it would work.

ARgh... too much to respond to!

First, each house HAS to have exactly the same tasks. I know you might think that's boring or may limit us a bit, but we aren't going to deal with anyone saying something is unfair again. I hated that people put so much work into the last tournament and then got burned for it. We're going to make this as fair and unbiased as possible.

That being said, Ty is right about it being hard to grade role playing, but we've done it before. I should have done it before, but let me run through the best of the events (in my biased opinion) from the last tournament. Some of you may remember, but most of you probably don't. The middle task was intended to be similar to what Terry was talking about, and definitely in the spirit of what we've been chatting about so far. We started by PMing the four players in each house with a scenario. They RPed out the scenario and PMed it back to that person who then graded each entry. As long as one person from each house sent back SOMETHING, that house got to continue on. The next day or so, the next professor PMed the scenario to the remaining houses, and received back the RPed scenes. This continued for four professors total, and we somehow tallied and totalled the scores using the highest score(s) from each house and giving bonus points to the house that finished first. I know that scoring was done using points for grammar and spelling, HP knowledge, and creativity with a total of 10 (meaning that the task total was worth 40 points).

That's oversimplified in the most complicated way possible, so if it doesn't make sense I'm not surprised. That being said, I think we could figure out a scoring system. The question is whether we would want them to RP out a bunch of scenes or just have that be a PART of the whole game.

As for your concern, Lee... I hear what you're saying but the RPing has been the intention of this endeavor since the start. We actually invented the idea, so to speak. I think the school and the RP forum have different audiences and are different enough parts of the site that it won't be an issue. There's no way to run a game in an RPG without it being an RP. I'm sorry.

When I grade RPing, I try not to grade on spelling and grammar specifically because we have English as a second, third, etc language. I go by content. All the steps, do they describe an effect? Do they skip over? Do they shortcut it? etc.

How many events do we want? 3? 4?

My impression, I guess, is that no one really wants to do the tournament. That's really frustrating, because we've set the plot up for next term. I won't do this by myself... and I'm not going to plan this for us all. I'm more than willing to help... even to do a lot of work, but I really need help. Starting with input... and including actively participating in the plot.

I don't want to pull the guilt trip on you guys, but this isn't the first time I've asked for input and received the barest of responses. This isn't a 'do minimal work job'. If you all can't handle being involved in the plot, in being a part of the running of the school rather than just doing enough to stay on board, there are people who can and will. I expect everyone to be involved in running the tournament next term. Period.

I want proposals on events ASAP. I'd really like us to be able to have three distinct events, but if they all end up being RPed in some way, so be it. You can edit into this post to show me that you've read it and you're actually checking into this forum. I hate that I have to be all mean, but I can't do it by myself.


EDIT: If the reason you aren't participating is becuase you don't plan to return next term, please TELL me that.

Touz read. ANd then posted her TP Themed Week ideas. Go me!
Vondella read.
Ozzy: Read.
Kay: Read
I have some ideas for a obstacle course to be run On the grounds. I have to admit I haven't done any serious work on it. I will retify that matter asap. It's going to take me a few days to post a preliminary plan. I also promise to refrain from surfing the web looking for Harry Potter Collector's Cards until I have the deed done. Terry

How about combining three subjects for a task, that way we'd have the same number of tasks as we do houses, then setting up the tasks like a treasure hunt only you have to get/defeat something to get the clue. Maybe like two terms ago (Riddle term) they'd have to find clues by clicking on certain pictures or something to get the clue. We could have the houses each do a different task on a certain day, example: Gryffindor has challenge #1 while Ravenclaw is doing #2, Slytherin #3 and Hufflepuff #4.

As for the subjects, maybe COMC, DADA and Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology and Charms, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and HoM.

I havent thought this all the way through, but it was just an idea.

Edit: And I am perfectly willing to help as much as you need me Erin

I'm really, really, really not opposed to having it all RP'd out. I mean, we could incorporate some things like.... Ummmm... Well, every computer has paint and everyone can use image shack. So, we come up with some sort of task where they have draw something (no talent necessary), and submit it. That's mixing things up a bit.


And, ERn, I know you got that PM about the DAFC -- that logic potion thing from Sorceror's Stone. We're so not below doing something like that ourselves.


We could even do our own maze. We PM/Post the maze, we insert SEVERAL, SEVERAL obstacles on the maze (someone with like PS and some talent that is), they send it back to us with 1. The correct way through 2. How they got through. (yes, a lot like what KA is doing currently -- less interactions from us,maybe).


I did a thing where the students had to retrieve a stone from the Squid's throat as a RP obstacle. I can remember something being a Quidditch Hoop once... We could do something similar. Get from the Astonomy Tower to the Grounds - without using the stairs. (can't apparate, obviously, and no brooms allowed, thanks).


[/ramble, ramble]

I love that idea, but also allows for cheating. They will use OOC knowledge for this, we know that.

I like the combining idea, but I think we should see which professors are volunteering as well. (I haven't seen Dainsie, Francis, etc post, so they may or may not be interested..)


That's something I haven't even thought of....drawing


I want to see someone do this. I do.


I'm confused on the second part, would they, like, RP that, or....am I just focused on role play idea?

I know this is an example (one I like, actually *not biased*), but would we allow something like what Harry did in GoF? Accio broom! And all that?

I'm trying to think of an Astronomy-themed idea that we could execute, cos I've the ideas, but the particulars are in my way...

Of course, we don't need an Astronomy themed thing, if we're doing the Riddle term idea, Hazelle could be keeper of a clue, or something.

I am willing to help, just....lack of usable ideas currently.

I'm willing to help, I just have lack of ideas like Yvonne at the moment. Anyway I"m trying to think of an Ancient Runes-y task which it would probably involve interpreting something or whatever. If we do the riddle idea, De Luca would be more than willing to be a clue holder. This is me rambling. [/end]

Hmmm’kay, this might sound really stupid and whatever cause I’m writing this as I’m practically falling asleep and not feeling up to par, but here it goes...

I really like Nabber’s idea about having tasks that pertain to subject areas, but I also like Touzies idea of like, having them try to get to certain places without touching stairs etc. cause that sounds really fun and challenging haha. So, I think if we divided up one or a few of the subject related tasks and included some extra stuff in (a) (the) challenge(s) (or whatever we’re going to call it) we could make this work in accordance to other stuff in the challenge(s).

I have an idea on grading/marking the kiddos. Instead of doing the 0 – 10 type thing, I think it might be good to use points and percentages to get a grade total (which instead of a, b, c, d, and f, could be the wizard O.W.Ls type grading scheme or anything else) so for an example... lets say there’s a possible 100 points in each challenge total, and someone gets 85 points. To get the percentage and mark, we’d just divide those points from the possible points to get the mark of their percentage total.

So, 100-90% could be the range of the highest mark, 80-89% could be the range of the second to highest mark, 70-79 could be the range of the third to highest mark, 60–69% could be the range of the fourth to highest mark, and 59% or lower could be the range of the fifth to highest mark, or something similar like that, the points could be split up any which way. And instead of grading on ooc type stuff we could go off of performance and how well they use their magic abilities, creativity/imagination, and stuff like that to get through the tasks in the challenges IC. But also have a set point limit on things. So lets say hypothetically that there are three subject related tasks within a challenge, we could make each of these tasks worth 25 points a piece, and have the rest of the 25 points be (split up, remain the same amount, whatever) put to other things, like the extra stuff.

As for how to pick the “contestants”, I like the idea of the houses voting for them. Keeps it fair and simple, and that way no one will really be able to complain that we were picking favorites or whatever...

Anywho, I’m a bit stretched for fresh ideas at the moment, I just wanted to say that I do like everyone’s ideas and that I think they could work nicely together, or even parts of said ideas, to make this interesting and fun tee hee.

I think you guys have some great suggestions. Would it be fair to have two or three people starting working on different tasks?

I'm game . . . anything that would involve Quidditch or Flying can be incorporated into one of the tasks (combined with one of the other subjects kinda like the keys in SS).

*is rambling like Touz*

Okay I was rambling ideas to Ern and she told me to come share it all with you insane mental patients. So here we go (as our dear mario would squeel, like the wee sissy red capped girl he is):

OKAY. So like. I was thinking that something that would be easy to maintain with a couple of staffers over looking it would be having the competitors look after a magical creature. What we would do is make a vague passage which would give a general description (which should hint toward things that would help keep the creature happy) and then vague hints towards what the creature likes and dislikes. From our own passage we pick out things that will kill the creature or make the creature happy - the marking scheme MUST relate to the passage somehow through our hints. We cannot let it occur through 'chance', that would be unfair

Hope thats explained right. PM or edit in any question or even POST - that would be smart.

OKAY. I was rambling to Ern AND sinesss this time and I came up with: instead of lessons each teacher does three tasks, short simpleish tasks related to their subject. Every student is assessed by a global marking scheme and given points for each task. At the end of the term we add all the points up and whoever has the most points is our winner. woohoo!