Harry Potter RP (Interest check)

[Green Ranger]

Kind of ran out of mojo to do stuff with the story, so I figured I'd try a Diverse, and I've had a lot of fun in the past with Harry Potter RPs, so I figured I'd take a stab at putting together one of my own for once.

Now, I've seen in the past there's been a few problems that have generally caused people to lose interest over time - characters are a bit silly, or don't have enough people to interact with, or are OP or generally something similar, so I was looking at narrowing the scope a little and introducing a few rules to keep things interesting and focused, so i'll outline the general outline I was thinking of below, then we'll see if anyone's interested and go from there.

1) I'm thinking going the old WW2/Grindelwald's revolution schtick, with maybe some nazi occultist stuff later on. I've got a rough outline of ideas in my head so far, but I'll happily take ideas from you guys as well - I may not necessarily take all of them, but I'm happy to hash it out with you guys, so I'm thinking maybe a skype chat for discussions will happen too.

2) I'll probably limit student characters to be within one or two year levels at Hogwarts so they can interact with each other tons. Which year levels? Well, we can figure that out together and base it off a combination of popular vote and what feasibly fits the story, since there'll be adventures outside of the Hogwarts environment too. This is more about writing a story than making ideas, so I might introduce a character limit as well based on how many people end up joining.

3) Also, regarding character creation, they'll have to be reviewed first, and generally there'll be a toning down on Suedom and stuff like metamorphmagi and the like unless there's some really good writing or cause to back it up. It'll sort of be like...sure, your character can have a weird inborn bloodline trait, but they'll need to take penalties elsewhere in their character sheet to compensate for the fact that a bloodline trait is essentially what makes them special (so as an example they'd have to take a hit in their academic performance to 'balance' their character.).

4) Teachers and adults in general will generally be shared property NPCs - so noone has ownership over them, and are generally background characters to the events of the story in order to keep the focus on the student PCs, so anyone can write them at a given moment. If someone posts something grossly out of character then they'll be asked to edit.

5) I don't think we'll need it, but in case of a major dispute where neither side will budge, then I maintain the right to make a ruling. I don't want to have to, and most of the time I expect stuff to be hashed out in discussions and groupthink, but if we truly get stuck then I'll act as arbiter if I have to just so we don't get stuck or anything.

The key to this, I think, is ensuring that whatever we write, or however many people show interest, it's crucial to maintain momentum more than anything, so if this takes off that's the driving force behind some of the restrictions and limitations - ensuring the story is focused, moves along with pace, and maintains a sense of momentum in order to progress in a meaningful way so we can write some really cool story content.

Anyway, just post below if you've got any ideas or want to express your interest. Thanks!

 

[Richie B.]

@Boli count me interested

 

[Vosrik]

@Shalken and I might want to take another stab at this!

 

[Swan]

I'm up for it, should be fun.

 

[Aberforth]

Yo.

 

[Aberforth]

I realized my previous comment was not particularly helpful. I would be thrilled to do a HP RP. That's what got me into RPing in the first place.

1- 1940s Britain is a fantastic setting for any story, but is especially interesting in the HP universe. There are so many moral dilemmas to exploit (wizard involvement in muggle conflicts, global wizard war participation, Grindelwald's ideology, conscription (?)). I would personally prefer a school year prior to Voldemort opening the Chamber of Secrets (1942-1943), so we can focus on the events of the global wizarding war and WW2 and avoid a retelling of the second book from different points of view, but that is ultimately just a personal preference.

2- I am glad you are limiting the characters to students only. As for what year level(s), I would prefer seventh (and/or sixth) year. First, second and third year students wouldn't be actively involve in the global wizarding war or WW2. Fifth year is OWLs year and the fifth book is already so extensive that it would be too restrictive. Seventh year is the most interesting imo: our characters would all be of age and it would only be natural for them to get involved in some way, even if they wouldn't be qualified witches and wizards.

3- That's alright. Something that would also be nice to avoid would be a multitude of Hermione-type characters - NEWT levels (if we go with sixth or seventh year students) are extremely difficult. Most students take only 4-5 subjects.

4- Seems fair. What are you thoughts on "canon" characters, such as Armando Dippet, Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle? How should they be treated?

5- Again, seems fair.

@Boli

 

[Richie B.]

Yea I agree 7th year is probably the best to do, or Six either one.

As per one concern, maybe limit how involved our character are in the activities like think it would be best we aren't a captain in the sports and a perfect. But that's just my idea.

 

[Vosrik]

I would also agree that we should have seventh years! Hopefully this HP will be a lot more interesting and keep us occupied for a greater length of time xD

Not sure if you have any particular plans for a plot, but I think we might want to skip the whole train part this time...

 

[Richie B.]

I would also agree that we should have seventh years! Hopefully this HP will be a lot more interesting and keep us occupied for a greater length of time xD

Not sure if you have any particular plans for a plot, but I think we might want to skip the whole train part this time...

Nonsense the train part was the best part!!!!

 

[Vosrik]

Nonsense the train part was the best part!!!!

Having done it twice now though....eehh we'll see xD

 

[Wit]

Might be interested depending on the setting.

 

[Shalken]

Like Vos said, I'm interested as well. I have a character already made in my workshop but she might be a little 'OP' in a couple spots, which I can easily remove.

 

[Green Ranger]

WOAH this blew up. Awesome! Okay, I'll go through and reply to the discussion points raised.

I realized my previous comment was not particularly helpful. I would be thrilled to do a HP RP. That's what got me into RPing in the first place.

1- 1940s Britain is a fantastic setting for any story, but is especially interesting in the HP universe. There are so many moral dilemmas to exploit (wizard involvement in muggle conflicts, global wizard war participation, Grindelwald's ideology, conscription (?)). I would personally prefer a school year prior to Voldemort opening the Chamber of Secrets (1942-1943), so we can focus on the events of the global wizarding war and WW2 and avoid a retelling of the second book from different points of view, but that is ultimately just a personal preference.

My favoured year is the school year starting in September 1940, so that works. I like that school year in particular since it coincides with major real-world events in France and Norway, which coincides well with other events in the wizarding world to set up a fairly dark school year at Hogwarts. So if people want to play displaced students from Durmstrang or Beauxbaxtons, we might be able to accomodate for that as well, which might be interesting.

2- I am glad you are limiting the characters to students only. As for what year level(s), I would prefer seventh (and/or sixth) year. First, second and third year students wouldn't be actively involve in the global wizarding war or WW2. Fifth year is OWLs year and the fifth book is already so extensive that it would be too restrictive. Seventh year is the most interesting imo: our characters would all be of age and it would only be natural for them to get involved in some way, even if they wouldn't be qualified witches and wizards.

Yeah, I was thinking the same myself. The younger years don't really work as well in the setting IMHO.

3- That's alright. Something that would also be nice to avoid would be a multitude of Hermione-type characters - NEWT levels (if we go with sixth or seventh year students) are extremely difficult. Most students take only 4-5 subjects.

Overachievers are boring anyway. Honestly I want to see players writing their characters stuffing up. It's much more interesting.

4- Seems fair. What are you thoughts on "canon" characters, such as Armando Dippet, Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle? How should they be treated?

Faculty is fairly easy - they're there, but they don't play a major part. They're just teachers, but they've got their own shit going on. The story is primarily student driven, so the professors are only going to be involved in the capacity of, y'know, teaching and enforcing school rules and the like.

As for students - particularly Tom Riddle - I'd highly suggest just avoiding mentioning them entirely. It's a big school and your character isn't going to know everyone, so the less we go there, the less messy things are for everyone. We want our characters to focus on their story, not be secondary roles in Voldemort: The Early Years.

5- Again, seems fair.

floop

Yea I agree 7th year is probably the best to do, or Six either one.

As per one concern, maybe limit how involved our character are in the activities like think it would be best we aren't a captain in the sports and a perfect. But that's just my idea.

I hadn't considered this: it's not a bad idea tbh. NPC prefects and captains might be the way to go..but at the same time I don't want to overly limit characters types if people really want to write those roles. What does everyone else think?

I would also agree that we should have seventh years! Hopefully this HP will be a lot more interesting and keep us occupied for a greater length of time xD

Not sure if you have any particular plans for a plot, but I think we might want to skip the whole train part this time...

Whaaaaat? Train's awesome. My general idea is that if shit starts to drag, I'll just post a 'stuff happens; roll for initiative' kind of post to jar everyone out of their funk, or just make a fast forward post. So if people are sort of milling around making smalltalk, then they can hash it out together in private and post the whole conversation as a single post to prevent things getting bogged down while events move forward for everyone else who wants to get to the next chapter.

Like Vos said, I'm interested as well. I have a character already made in my workshop but she might be a little 'OP' in a couple spots, which I can easily remove.

No worries! I'll probably be re-using my usual guy, but I probably have to nerf him as well and make him less...Australian. >.> I think most of us will have to make some adjustments at some point or another. I don't mind students being talented, it's more the sort of sueish 'good at everything, everything they touch turns to gold' sort of thing. So the general rule of thumb for character creation is they need to have meaningful flaws.

 

[Green Ranger]

Also, if anyone can come up with a good name for a dark wizard, let me know. I need a sort of lieutanant for Grindelwald in order to write a summary of the plotline, and I'm coming up empty because I suck at Rowling's proclivity for alliteration in wizard names.

 

[Richie B.]

Weaselian? Flapperbird? Strangebritishsthings? Any of that helpeful @Boli

 

[Vosrik]

Also, if anyone can come up with a good name for a dark wizard, let me know. I need a sort of lieutanant for Grindelwald in order to write a summary of the plotline, and I'm coming up empty because I suck at Rowling's proclivity for alliteration in wizard names.

How about Boli Reen Granger Weiss? (<--totally being serious this isn't too bad lol)

What'd be cool is if he was of German origin, clearly due to the War and whatnot. A few names I pulled outta the Internet...Hadebrand, Wendelgard, Sieger, Gangolf, something like that. Hell, a cool twist is that it's a Dark Witch instead of a Wizard!

 

[Aberforth]

Faculty is fairly easy - they're there, but they don't play a major part. They're just teachers, but they've got their own shit going on. The story is primarily student driven, so the professors are only going to be involved in the capacity of, y'know, teaching and enforcing school rules and the like.

As for students - particularly Tom Riddle - I'd highly suggest just avoiding mentioning them entirely. It's a big school and your character isn't going to know everyone, so the less we go there, the less messy things are for everyone. We want our characters to focus on their story, not be secondary roles in Voldemort: The Early Years.

Great! We have Armando Dippet as Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore as Deputy Headmaster, Transfiguration Professor and Head of Gryffindor House (?), Horace Slughorn as Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House (?), Silvanus Kettleburn as Professor of Care of Magical Creatures and Head of Hufflepuff House (?) (that would be awesome imo) and Cuthbert Binns (alive) as Professor of History of Magic.

The other teachers (if needed) will be NPCs?

I hadn't considered this: it's not a bad idea tbh. NPC prefects and captains might be the way to go..but at the same time I don't want to overly limit characters types if people really want to write those roles. What does everyone else think?

I don't think there is anything wrong with a character being captain, prefect or even head boy/girl as long as they don't cumulate too many titles (e.i.: a character shouldn't be captain of his Quidditch team, head boy, president of the Gobstone club, etc.). Again, it needs to be plausible: you don't have time to do everything at NEWT level, unless your schoolwork is abysmal. Characters should have to prioritize.

Whaaaaat? Train's awesome. My general idea is that if shit starts to drag, I'll just post a 'stuff happens; roll for initiative' kind of post to jar everyone out of their funk, or just make a fast forward post. So if people are sort of milling around making smalltalk, then they can hash it out together in private and post the whole conversation as a single post to prevent things getting bogged down while events move forward for everyone else who wants to get to the next chapter.

As someone who takes the train on a weekly basis, trains are awesome. Also, the Hogwarts Express and Platform 9 3/4 are the bridge between the Muggle world and the wizarding world, so it would be ideal to set up the story. Having a Skype chat for small talks would be great, to avoid pointless back-and-forth.

Also, if anyone can come up with a good name for a dark wizard, let me know. I need a sort of lieutanant for Grindelwald in order to write a summary of the plotline, and I'm coming up empty because I suck at Rowling's proclivity for alliteration in wizard names.

Do you have any details about that lieutenant? Where is he/she from? What is their blood status?

 

[Vosrik]

I don't think there is anything wrong with a character being captain, prefect or even head boy/girl as long as they don't cumulate too many titles (e.i.: a character shouldn't be captain of his Quidditch team, head boy, president of the Gobstone club, etc.). Again, it needs to be plausible: you don't have time to do everything at NEWT level, unless your schoolwork is abysmal. Characters should have to prioritize.

You mean I can't be head boy, team captain, president of two clubs, gotten straight O's, taking six NEWTs and be a member of a prestigious pureblood family with powerful ancient artifacts?

 

[Richie B.]

Yea think limiting characters to one role such as head boy/girl (cant be sexist now) or captain would be fine just rather not go overboard.

 

[Green Ranger]

Great! We have Armando Dippet as Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore as Deputy Headmaster, Transfiguration Professor and Head of Gryffindor House (?), Horace Slughorn as Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House (?), Silvanus Kettleburn as Professor of Care of Magical Creatures and Head of Hufflepuff House (?) (that would be awesome imo) and Cuthbert Binns (alive) as Professor of History of Magic.

The other teachers (if needed) will be NPCs?

Yeah, I'll come up with a list and descriptions to fill out the rest of the staff once we're closer to starting as a shared resource for players. Of course, if someone wants to come up with a list of all the positions that need to be filled, that'd be helpful too :P

I don't think there is anything wrong with a character being captain, prefect or even head boy/girl as long as they don't cumulate too many titles (e.i.: a character shouldn't be captain of his Quidditch team, head boy, president of the Gobstone club, etc.). Again, it needs to be plausible: you don't have time to do everything at NEWT level, unless your schoolwork is abysmal. Characters should have to prioritize.

Yeah, I'm sort of leaning towards this, but the point about prioritization is a good one. We can swing that if people prefer.

Also for stuff like prefects you can't just go around being an asshole, sticking your characters nose into peoples business and lording your authority over other pupils. I know it should go without saying but...well, I'm saying it anyway just to make it clear :P

As someone who takes the train on a weekly basis, trains are awesome. Also, the Hogwarts Express and Platform 9 3/4 are the bridge between the Muggle world and the wizarding world, so it would be ideal to set up the story. Having a Skype chat for small talks would be great, to avoid pointless back-and-forth.

It's also a handy icebreaker, I find. Like, yeah it can be a bit dull sometimes, but we we spend a couple of short rounds socializing first before we head on to Hogwarts proper, then I think it helps establish characters and get everyone in the zone.

Do you have any details about that lieutenant? Where is he/she from? What is their blood status?

Generally I see him (and I do see him as male for some reason) as a manipulative sort, trying to curry the favour of muggles like Heinrich Himmler who have a interest in magic in order to twist the war in the favour of Grindelwald, and also heading special investigations on behalf of Grindelwald into finding an artifact I've tentatively dubbed the Word of Merlin (more on that later). So he's more or less your typical Indiana Jones style villain, but he'll also be involved in coming to Hogwarts and bringing the war with him and generally being seen as someone who needs to be stopped for the good of the school and the wizarding world.

You mean I can't be head boy, team captain, president of two clubs, gotten straight O's, taking six NEWTs and be a member of a prestigious pureblood family with powerful ancient artifacts?

I hate you.