Post by Lucius Malfoy on Jun 11, 2011 13:32:28 GMT
Sometimes you might run into a dreaded writers block and not know what to do with your characters on the site.
Admin and other players can help you come up with plots, so don't be afraid to contact anyone to brainstorm.
In the meantime though, there are plenty of things that you can read to learn more about the Harry Potter World that might spark an idea for you.
Canon Information
We have guidelines for the canon we use on site. Check with our Oracle or a staff member if you aren't sure about something.
>The Books
From the hand of J.K. Rowling herself, these are the ultimate source of what goes.
>The Harry Potter Lexicon
An unofficial online encyclopedia that only includes facts that are definitely canon. Nothing is assumed or taken on suggestion, so you can be sure that all information found here is accurate.
>The Films
Less reliable than the Books and full of inaccuracies. Characters are missing, the story is set eight or so years later than it should be, events are changed and so on. But in some cases they do fill in gaps of information that the books miss. Most useful, especially for knowing exactly what characters look like.
>The Games
Even less accurate portrayals of the story. Games add and change things to make them more playable in an action driven environment. A lot of things included contradict what appears in books. But again, the games can provide some useful tidbits. As long as something in a game does not contradict what is in the books or Lexicon it should be ok, but best to err on the side of caution with this.
>Harry Potter Wiki
Pieced together with information from all of the above, the Wiki can be both a reliable and unreliable source. Not least because it can be edited by anybody.
Fortunately it is run by a team of good moderators who do their best to keep on top of it and make sure it is as accurate as possible. Use it for information, but maybe double check it against the Lexicon if you aren't sure. Check the 'Talk' pages to see how they came to conclusions on some information.
>Rules of The Wizarding World
Some of our own collected information.
Semi/Non-Canon Information
Even with all of these canon sources, there are still plenty of gaps, so in the interest of making things clear, we have our own non-canon information. Remember, most of this stuff is only relevant to MM, so if you mention it anywhere else it won't make much sense.
History
>Plots
>MM RP Timeline
This is a log of the important things that have happened over the course of the MM story. Use it to catch up on news you might have missed.
>MM Time Turner
A board in which you can play out events from a characters past, that may have had an influence on their life. You may have an idea of something that happened to them in mind, but it becomes much clearer when actually put onto parchment.
Magic and Objects
>Our Own Non-Canon Compendium
This is where our own members have created their own additions to the Wizarding World. It includes spells, potions and clarifications of canon things that have limited information available.
>Wands
All about wands, to help you choose what would suit your character.
>Methods of Travel
>Wizard Money Converter
>About Dementors
>The Silver Serpent
>Wychwood Brewery
People
>Wizards and Witches Directory
Also known as the A-Z Profiles, these are our players biographies of their canon and non-canon characters. In the case of canon characters, often information has to be created by players to fill in gaps, such as what their wand is made of and the names of their family and so on.
>Unplayed Characters
A watered down version of the A-Z Profiles for characters who are either not played at all, or only suitable for cameo roles.
If you have a character in the A-Z it may help your imagination to take advantage of this page and create a mini bio for your characters relatives.
>Famous Witches and Wizards
>Record of Hogwarts Students
Find out who your character was at school with, could have been friends with or even shared a dorm with. It could be a good way to build relationships on site and in RP.
This is unfortunately incomplete because of the lack of information available to do so.
>Hogwarts Staff Records
Similar to the above, but here you can find out which teachers your character would have studied under.
Occupations and Lifestyle
>Occupations in the Wizarding World
>W.O.L.V.E.S.
>About Death Eaters
>Where can your character live?
Options of Wizarding Communities. There are more than what is listed here, but it is a start.
Role Play Help
>House Style RP
>Forum Etiquette
>Character Diamond
>Draco's Spicing Up RP
>Character Support
Other Suggestions
>The Daily Prophet can always use ideas for headlines or stories. PM the Prophet or an admin if you think of anything that can be included. This could be a funny story, or something relating to RP.
Admin and other players can help you come up with plots, so don't be afraid to contact anyone to brainstorm.
In the meantime though, there are plenty of things that you can read to learn more about the Harry Potter World that might spark an idea for you.
Canon Information
We have guidelines for the canon we use on site. Check with our Oracle or a staff member if you aren't sure about something.
>The Books
From the hand of J.K. Rowling herself, these are the ultimate source of what goes.
>The Harry Potter Lexicon
An unofficial online encyclopedia that only includes facts that are definitely canon. Nothing is assumed or taken on suggestion, so you can be sure that all information found here is accurate.
>The Films
Less reliable than the Books and full of inaccuracies. Characters are missing, the story is set eight or so years later than it should be, events are changed and so on. But in some cases they do fill in gaps of information that the books miss. Most useful, especially for knowing exactly what characters look like.
>The Games
Even less accurate portrayals of the story. Games add and change things to make them more playable in an action driven environment. A lot of things included contradict what appears in books. But again, the games can provide some useful tidbits. As long as something in a game does not contradict what is in the books or Lexicon it should be ok, but best to err on the side of caution with this.
>Harry Potter Wiki
Pieced together with information from all of the above, the Wiki can be both a reliable and unreliable source. Not least because it can be edited by anybody.
Fortunately it is run by a team of good moderators who do their best to keep on top of it and make sure it is as accurate as possible. Use it for information, but maybe double check it against the Lexicon if you aren't sure. Check the 'Talk' pages to see how they came to conclusions on some information.
>Rules of The Wizarding World
Some of our own collected information.
Semi/Non-Canon Information
Even with all of these canon sources, there are still plenty of gaps, so in the interest of making things clear, we have our own non-canon information. Remember, most of this stuff is only relevant to MM, so if you mention it anywhere else it won't make much sense.
History
>Plots
>MM RP Timeline
This is a log of the important things that have happened over the course of the MM story. Use it to catch up on news you might have missed.
>MM Time Turner
A board in which you can play out events from a characters past, that may have had an influence on their life. You may have an idea of something that happened to them in mind, but it becomes much clearer when actually put onto parchment.
Magic and Objects
>Our Own Non-Canon Compendium
This is where our own members have created their own additions to the Wizarding World. It includes spells, potions and clarifications of canon things that have limited information available.
>Wands
All about wands, to help you choose what would suit your character.
>Methods of Travel
>Wizard Money Converter
>About Dementors
>The Silver Serpent
>Wychwood Brewery
People
>Wizards and Witches Directory
Also known as the A-Z Profiles, these are our players biographies of their canon and non-canon characters. In the case of canon characters, often information has to be created by players to fill in gaps, such as what their wand is made of and the names of their family and so on.
>Unplayed Characters
A watered down version of the A-Z Profiles for characters who are either not played at all, or only suitable for cameo roles.
If you have a character in the A-Z it may help your imagination to take advantage of this page and create a mini bio for your characters relatives.
>Famous Witches and Wizards
>Record of Hogwarts Students
Find out who your character was at school with, could have been friends with or even shared a dorm with. It could be a good way to build relationships on site and in RP.
This is unfortunately incomplete because of the lack of information available to do so.
>Hogwarts Staff Records
Similar to the above, but here you can find out which teachers your character would have studied under.
Occupations and Lifestyle
>Occupations in the Wizarding World
>W.O.L.V.E.S.
>About Death Eaters
>Where can your character live?
Options of Wizarding Communities. There are more than what is listed here, but it is a start.
Role Play Help
>House Style RP
>Forum Etiquette
>Character Diamond
>Draco's Spicing Up RP
>Character Support
Other Suggestions
>The Daily Prophet can always use ideas for headlines or stories. PM the Prophet or an admin if you think of anything that can be included. This could be a funny story, or something relating to RP.