It has coem to my attention that new members may become a little confused as to the order of things at HPsPF. I have decided to post this to help our newmembers and hopefully clear up the confusion. If, by any chance, a member (new or old) is confused by anything here, please PM me and I will gladly help the member out. If there is anything you think I should add, post it and it will be done!

Forum Visibility
The first and most important thing is this: everyone may see most of the board (except for Hogwarts) while a guest, but cannot post or PM anyone on the site. I have had aery bad experience with this forum when it first opened because a few punks spammed up the entire board under Guest. It took nearly two hours to ind all the posts and delete them. You must be a member to view HOgwarts and to PM anyone on the forum.

Register
I would prefer to have people register under their role playing character names. This, however, is not enforced. I have decided not to enforce this because there may be a time when a person has more than one character and one may be confused when posting. I have one request, though: do not sign up using a canon character's name (Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, etc.). There is a reason for this; in a RP I may wish to use that character name, and it would be a great hindrance to have a member already using it, especially if that member does not role play that character his or herself. Another reason is this: in HPsPF storyline, Voldemort has already been defeated by Harry Potter and Harry Potter and his friends have already graduated. Other than that, a member may use any name he or she wishes.

Sorting Hat
Ater registering, I would kindly ask that all members fill out the form found in the Sorting thread found in the Great Hall forum. You must PM the answers to me (the Headmistress and Administrator) and I will sort you. When you hae been Sorted, I will send you a PM telling the member which House he/she has been Sorted into and any additional information.

Character Profile
After the member has been Sorted, fill out a Student Character Profile form, which can be found in the RPG forum. Post it in the Character Application forum. I will read it, and if accepted, I will move the topic into the Accepted Character forum. If your profile has not been accepted, I will leave a comment about what needs to be changed. Only after your profile has been accepted may you Role Play.

Gringotts/Gold
As soon as a member registers, I will create a post in Gringotts Wizarding Bank forum, which can be found in Diagon Alley, containing your information about money. Each student starts off with a set amount of money. Anything bought will be recorded and deducted into your total amount in the post. Also, any money won or earned would also be recorded. You also get 5 Galleons for each post in an RP section (Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, etc.). To make money, get a job, own a shop, or win the lottery.

Non-RP Sections
I mentioned before that a member may not post in any role playing area without an approved character profile. You may post in the Wizarding World and Muggle Town. If you are still being validated, which means you have just registered and you hae not yet been sorted, you may also post in those areas as well as teh Announcement sections.

Classes
Yes, there are classes. Attending classes is mandatory to advance to the next year. You must have a 75% in a class to pass it, and you must pass all teh classes you take to advance to the next year. Lets say you just joined and there is only one lesson left before Hogwarts closes for summer vacation. I will not hold that against you. If the member passes whatever class s/he took, then the member will advance to the next year. How many classes are there? A lot! I need help with the classes; sign up and get 10 Galleons a lesson for being a Professor. In order to become a Professor, you must submit a Proessor Character Profile form in the RPG section. How many lessons a quarter? That depends on how active the forum is. Typically, a lesson will last one full week, but if we happen to be slow, or many people are on vacation and cannot post, it will be extended. Are there any required classes? As of now, no. However, if you plan to become an Auror after you graduate, I suggest you take Charms and DADA. If you plan to be a Healer, I suggest you take Herbology, Potions, DADA, and Charms. Taking the appropriate classes will male your resume look better.

Graduation
Students can graduate. After graduation, you must pick a field of career - being a full time Professor at Hogwarts, work for the Ministry, work at the Hospital, become a full-time journalist, a stay-at-home-mother/father, or an Entrepreneur (owning/running your own shop). You must also purchase a home - as a Professor, you have a home for the majority of the year, and as an Entrepreneur you have an apartment above your shop. You must PM the Headmistress if your character wants to "inherit" a home from a dead relative.

Life As An Adult
After graduation you may marry and start a family. You and a fellow member may move in together as boyfriend/girlfriend. You may also split an apartment with anyone who is also a graduate or become a caretaker of a minor - for example, perhaps a younger sibling that attends Hogwarts. Adoption is also available. Or, you may pursue a career in a variety of fields. the possibilities are endless.

Death
A member may tire of their character. I understand this. DO NOT stop posting! Instead, kill your character off! Have a friend or enemy do it for you, or PM the Headmistress (me) and a RP can be worked out concerning an accidental, tragic, or dramatic death. Suicide is also available. After your character's death is played out in a thread, post another character profile. This profile could be o anyone the member desires and may be of any age, but must have attended the same House as you were Sorted into. Start life over as an 11 year old, 17 year old, 25 year old, etc. It's up to you.

Shopping
Currently, there are only shops in Europe. Click on Europe in the a Beyond Hogwarts section. Numerous places will be listed, such as Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, Hogsmeade, etc. Click on these and you will find a detailed listing of all shops found in that vicinity. Everything bought will be recorded in the member's Gringotts Vault found in Diagon Alley.

Housing Communities
If you are a minor, fill out the short form for a house. A category with RP sections will be available. When teh student graduates, however, they must get a new home. Currently, Housing Communities can be found only in Europe. Click on Housing Communities and it will list homes already made or created for certain characters who applied. You may RP anything you desire there and invite friends as you please, as well as throw parties. Use your imagination.

Recruiting Members
Every member that recruits another member will win their House 10 House points per member. The recruited member must post in the Introduction who had referred them to HPsPF in order for the person to recieve credit, or PM the Headmistress (me).

Lottery
I have installed the Lottery Generator. Eery week a prize - money, a house, an expensive or rare object, etc. - will be put up. The winner, or multiple winners, will all recieve what was advertised. Anything not won will be added to the next week as well. Simply click the Lottery Generator and PM the numbers to the Headmistress. Do not PM more than once a day.

The Daily Prophet
A monthly newsletter will be sent to members soon - but I need help! I need people to help me by signing up as a reporter or editor. Reporters will write a column or article and editors will edit. Currently, I am doing all the work, but come August, I just won't have the time. Reporers and Editors also get paid or their services.

Affiliates
Want to be affiliated with HPsPF? PM the Headmistress (me) with your website/forum. You must advertise HPsPF on your site/forum as well.