1. In an RP environment time doesn't really matter. You can be posting in one thread in which it's your first week at hogwarts, and another thread where you're two months into your first year already.

2. When making a new thread, post a subject that might describe what you want to achieve in that rp.
For example, if you wanted to RP a class, like Potions, your subject might be Potions. If you intend to do something specific in potions class, like maybe a specific potion you might do Potions - Aging Potion. If you were in the common room and wanted to do something specific like homework you might put for a subject Homework-Slytherin CR

3. Always end the thread subject with ATTN: in a lot of cases it will simply be ATTN: Anyone. In certain cases however you might want only certain people to participate so you might put something like ATTN: Silyra or ATTN: Silyra and Nala. A complete subject line would look something like

Occlumency ATTN: Nala and Jola.

Posting ATTN: is not necessary on the OOC board.

4. When posting a thought, use italics, this makes it easier to distinguish what your character is doing or saying versus what they are thinking. To post something in italics you can click the i button on your post form, type the thought and then click the i again to close the tag. Or you can put the thought between [i] thought [/i] which is what that i button will do anyway.

For example: Crysthia walked down a long dark corridor. This place sure is dark. She thought as she took her wand out. "Lumos." The wand tip began to glow as a muggle flashlight might.

5. DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT control other peoples characters. It is ok to put in something small like you waved to them and they waved back, or that you smiled and they smiled back, but nothing really more complicated than that and do not put words in thier mouths. If you want someone to say something specific either discuss it with them before making the post, or use an NPC

6. Keep in mind things your character has done in past threads. Those things are now part of your character history and can be called upon in later RP's, whether it be in your characters thoughts, or other characters thoughts.

7. Make sure you keep things within the scope of the Hogwarts in the books. If it wasn't mentioned in one of the books then it probably doesn't exist. A good refrence for all things HP is the hp-lexicon. Although it's ok to get a little creative sometimes, like with a potion, or ingredients for a potion, or a spell, just don't go overboard, or create anything that's overly powerful or anything like that.

8. Threads usually have an end. Once you get to a point in a thread where your character really can't move forward with it, such as the end of the day, or they are leaving the "room" where the thread takes place (for example a classroom board) then you are done with that thread. If it's something you plan to continue just start a new thread (if it's a new day you might stay in the same board, just start a new thread, if you're in a classroom and want to continue with that subject on another day, start a new thread with that subject's name in the title plus whatever you want if you plan to do something specific)

9. Don't RP using I, use your characters name, these RPs are like writing a story in third person past tense, although it's sometimes ok to use present tense, just make sure the post makes sense. :-)

10. Take your time with your posts, they should have substance as if your character is really there, doing the things you describe. Posts should not be one or two sentences or all dialogue, try to strive for at least 100 words per post, more would be even better. It is understandable some posts just have to be short, and that's ok, but give it your best shot.

Please check the FAQ page for a list of some basic terminology that you might not know if you are new.