What should we do about Hogwarts

House points are supposed to be a motivator? I honestly have always thought of them as in character consequences for in character actions. The same way as a detention is, or being cursed is if I irritate a Death Eater.

What are they supposed to be motivating us to do?

I have to agree with Aaron that more open threads would go a long way in fixing the inactivity problem at Hogwarts. With both Saoirse and Mathias, I have browsed through the forums, looking for an open thread to make a random appearance in and kind of throw a wrench into the works. Problem was...there were no recent open threads, so I made one, which has yet to be posted in, lol.

I don't think closed threads should be banned, but just maybe impress on members more that this is a school, and they will not always have complete and utter privacy. If your two lovey dovey characters are together in a common room, for example, is it really likely that they will be left completely alone to kiss and fondle and do whatever those hormone-driven teens will do. I, for one, would have teased a friend mercilessly had I caught them in the act of 'snogging' in public.

Another reason for inactivity comes to mind as I type this...the fact that so many people seem only to be interested in romance between themselves and one other character. I've tried to squeeze Saoirse into a few roleplays, but unfortunately, no one is interested in an 11-year-old girl who is too young to be romantically involved. I have to roll my eyes sometimes at the abundance of these romantic, sweep you off your feet threads. Hogwarts has turned more into a love shack than a school in my humble opinion. We need some more conflict....and mass threads.

Saoirse O'Connell wrote:I have to agree with Aaron that more open threads would go a long way in fixing the inactivity problem at Hogwarts. With both Saoirse and Mathias, I have browsed through the forums, looking for an open thread to make a random appearance in and kind of throw a wrench into the works. Problem was...there were no recent open threads, so I made one, which has yet to be posted in, lol.

I don't think closed threads should be banned, but just maybe impress on members more that this is a school, and they will not always have complete and utter privacy. If your two lovey dovey characters are together in a common room, for example, is it really likely that they will be left completely alone to kiss and fondle and do whatever those hormone-driven teens will do. I, for one, would have teased a friend mercilessly had I caught them in the act of 'snogging' in public.

Another reason for inactivity comes to mind as I type this...the fact that so many people seem only to be interested in romance between themselves and one other character. I've tried to squeeze Saoirse into a few roleplays, but unfortunately, no one is interested in an 11-year-old girl who is too young to be romantically involved. I have to roll my eyes sometimes at the abundance of these romantic, sweep you off your feet threads. Hogwarts has turned more into a love shack than a school in my humble opinion. We need some more conflict....and mass threads.

You have a first year.

This has me so excited where do you want to RP name it I'll be there.

Well, I've been wanting to do a plot where her pet hippogriff appears on Hogwarts grounds out of nowhere...possibly getting her into trouble with a professor, and gaining the unwanted attention of the student populace. If you'd be interested in that, I'll shoot you a pm when I get the thread started; and in honor of trying to keep open threads, the thread with be open. lol

Here's an open thread for the hippogriff plot:

https://www.pottersarmy.net/t15376-a-pet-s-dedication#349494

Idea time: Could we possibly have a board where we advertise our open plots, so that others can easily find them? Sometimes an open thread doesn't get posted on, merely because it is not seen.

I too, love walls of text. It's what I ask for when i ask for thoughts, opnions and suggestions.
I might make a PM to everyone suggesting that closed threads be limited severely, at least in hogwarts, and hopefully in all public places.

You're all right, banning doesn't work, because sometimes closed threads are necessary. After all, do we not have moments of privacy in RL? Why would it not be the same for RP I suppose.

But thanks so much for all the suggestions going on here guys, and the feedback coming through. I value it all immensely.

There's a thread for advertising open threads at the top of the RP Request forum.

I see the open threads. I mostly don't post in them because of my 10(+) characters, none of them would have any reason to interact in the situation. And this is from someone whose characters don't care about age or house. I know I sound mean but sometimes, the reason nobody replies to a thread is because it's just a bad opener. When it happens to me, I go back, delete the post and re-write it to be more interesting so people will want to reply.

And honestly the easiest way to make people make more open threads is to figure out why they don't. Is it because they prefer to play only with their friends? Is it because they prefer the security of a pre-plotted thread? Is it because they've been on sites that were full of bullies before and they're used to using closed threads to avoid them? I'm sure there are lots more reasons I'm not thinking of.

Ummmmm. Have I suggested RP challenges before? If not what is wrong with me?
Example:
November Challenge: The Gunpowder Plot.
Each Head of House has a packet of wet start fireworks hidden somewhere in their office. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to sneak into the professor's office, steal their fireworks and set up your house's bonfire on the lawns after making it out of the castle alive.
Award Categories:
Sneakiest House
Most Hilarious Post
Pyromaniacs Anonymous
etc...

Open Thread Advertisement

I've been thinking of some sort of challenge for awhile now, but it never sticks with me long. I like the idea of it. It's proper motivation.

Oh I like those. How would it be run though? Heads play GM and use their discretion for when it gets out? Certain number of posts = win?
That is a fantastic idea though.

Personally, however, I don't like the idea of an open thread advertiser, I think it adds work for the thread creator, and is unnecessary, when people could just keep their eyes on the latest posts widget, the recent posts or just on the forums themselves.

Of course, i wont discourage it, but personally I wont use it.

They don't need to update it. I mean, people can just scroll through the posts, can't they?

How else do you find open threads? I've tried going through each subforum... that sucks. XD