This guide may be a bit long, but it tells you everything about getting started at Potters Army. Hopefully it will help you fit in at Potters Army!

Starting off

You need to understand the basics of roleplaying first of course. So check out our Roleplaying Guide And if you don't know much about Harry Potter, don't worry, we have a collection of threads that will help you right here



Plot and Must Reads

If you haven't done so already, let me remind you that it is essential that you read the Rules and the Potters ArmyPlot. We also have a section of must read threads that you should read before you start to roleplay. The Other Information threads are optional to look at, but are important too. We suggest you have a look there as well.

Introducing Yourself

All new members should start by introducing themselves to the rest of the PA members! Make a topic atComings and Goings and introduce yourself to other members!


Creating your character

Next is too create your character. You can do this at the subforum Character Creation
After, you should make your character application at the subforum Character Creation using the Potters Army Character Creation Template. You should read the guide of how to create a good character before you start. Also, you need to decide whether your character will be a Graduate or a Student. Remember that this will make a big difference in your roleplaying. I'll explain that later in the guide. Soon, one of the Admins will accept it and they will sort you into your house if you are a student.

Graduate or student?

We recommend that you start your first character as a student, then make a graduate if you wish, however, its your choice. The pros of making a graduate character are:

- No need to attend classes, if you don't like them, then this is good for you.
- Can RP freely outside of Hogwarts.
- Allows to have families, marriages, children (NPC or not)
- Can have jobs at the ministry. Auror, Wizengamot etc.
- Can open their own shops
- Can take part in the fueding forces of the Death Eaters and Order.

But there are cons as well.

- Cannot post at Hogwarts, unless they are teachers.
- Cannot take part in classes. If you like classes, being a graduate isn't good for you.
- Have less places to roleplay.
- The majority of the members are students.
- Cannot participate in Quidditch, the house cup etc.

To be honest with you, the majority of our most active members are students, so you would probably enjoy being a student more.


Roleplaying

There are certain role playing forums you can't enter, but you can immediately delve into role playing if you understand the basics. You NEED to read the role playing guide though, because in addition to advice, the guide sets some rules which you should not break . Potters Army is accepting of ALL levels of roleplaying, besides one liners, because really - no one likes one liners. You should post at least 3 sentences with good grammer and punctuation. Also remember that your posts should be in Third Person and in past tense. Read the Roleplaying Guide here

Don't know where to start roleplaying? Post a request in the Roleplay Request Center, that's where everyone looks for new threads to join and new people to roleplay with.


Character Development

At the character building section, you can find things such as member journals, character plots, face claims. etc. The character plot section helps you understand your characters relationship with other characters better, while the journal helps you keep track with whats happening with your character. The jobs section contains jobs for graduates and students alike, whereas the fueding forces enlistment lets you join a faction. At the claim section, you can claim your play-by, and your magical abilties and any objects/ possessions your character has.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUIDE FOR STUDENTS

This is a guide for students, skip if you want your character is a graduate

Where to Roleplay?

As a Hogwarts student, it makes sense for the majority of your posts to be at Hogwarts. However, PA allows you to post outside of Hogwarts such as Diagon Alley and other places. We recommend that you start at your house's common room mass thread, where all your other house members interact.


Classes

It doesn't matter whether you find them fun or not, as a student, you must take at least one class and attend it regularly. If you don't attend your classes, you don't move up a year. If you refuse to sign up for classes, you have the permission of posting at Hogwarts away. If your character is in Year 1-5, he or she will take basic classes, but if your character is in Year 6 or 7, they will take NEWT classes. There are 6 classes in total right now, sign up for your classes at the Class sign up

The role-playing guide explains how you should roleplay during classes, so you should read that part as well :).


Quidditch

You can sign up for your quidditch team at the common room sign up. Though teams are probably full, substitutes are always needed that will replace inactive members during the matches. Matches are done every so often between houses, and practices are all done at the quidditch stadiun. If your house wins a match, you get house points for your house. You can find the rules here.


Your House

You have to serve your house by taking part in classes, which helps earn your house points. For more information about the Inter-house competition, look here

Prefects and the Squad

If you are doing well as a member, you might be promoted to a prefect. Currently, the prefects have all been replaced by the Imperium Squad. If you would like to join this squad, PM Vincent Majere.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


GUIDE FOR GRADUATES




Where to Roleplay?

As a graduate, you cannot roleplay at Hogwarts. The leaky cauldron is a good place to start off roleplaying.

Job

As a graduate, you need a job. Well, its not really necessary, but you should have one. The amount of jobs have been decreased of late, but you can check some at the Job Enlistment

Factions

As a graduate, your main concern will be the three factions, the Order, the Death Eaters, and the Ministry. Your character can join and participate in one of these factions, and we recommend you too. You can meet other people in your faction, and participate in battles, espionage, and other awesome stuff.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OOC discussion

Other than the chatbox, PA members post Out of Character stuff at the OOC section. Over there you can discuss the HP books, controversial topics, play games and request signatures!

Help Desk

Still confused? No worries, post a topic at the help desk and a staff member or senior member will immediately come and help!