So... You've found us and decided that we are a fabulous RPG worth joining! (Or so we hope.) However, you've also noticed that Bold And Made Free is a rather large site and you have no idea where to start, how to sign up and what to do. Well, never worry, never fear, the Newbie Guide is just right here.
Follow these steps in the correct order, and provided you've read ALL the given instructions (both on this page as well as the on the linked pages in this post), you are likely to be on the right path to a smooth transition into full membership and participation. It will also ensure that you are unlikely to get on the Admins' nerves and we will be better equipped to give you a bright, warm welcome.
(You might like to note that our pet peeves are creative theft, a lack of imagination, bad spelling and grammar, and poor punctuation.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1. Know your friendly neighbourhood administration. Click
HERE to find out who does what, who your Admins and are, and who to go to specifically for your questions.
2. Click
HERE to read the
RULES! This is not optional if you plan to join the site, and when you apply, we will be able to tell whether or not you read them.
3. Click
HERE to read the plot setting.
4. Now that you know what the RPG is about, you might like to pick a character. We encourage you to pick from the
CANON CHARACTER LIST (for more information about the main characters and crossover characters, refer to the
MAIN & CROSSOVER CHARACTERS GUIDE). If you'd like to find out if a particular character has already been made a Prefect or Quidditch Team member, check the
HEADS & PREFECTS LIST and the
QUIDDITCH TEAMS LIST.
If you are uncomfortable playing canons, we have plenty of canons who are practically original characters (children of characters from the Harry Potter books whose personalities are entirely up to their roleplayers). We have named them but if you strongly wish to change their name, just contact an Admin. In most cases, this is not an issue. Original characters are also permitted on the RPG at this time.
5. Sign up for an account. Due to spammers, all accounts on the board require Admin activation but the Admins will usually approve your account within a day. Meanwhile, as you wait for your account to be activated, do continue to peruse the website and use the Cbox. If you jumped the gun before reading the rules and wound up with an account name like JeSSica8402_luvz_HARRY, then please PM an Admin with the name of the character you plan to apply for, and we will modify your username accordingly.
6. Do not post anywhere on the site until your application has been accepted. You may, however, use the Cbox on the sidebar of the site to ask questions if there are other members online. Alternatively, you may PM an Admin for any help you require. To apply, go to
THE SORTING HAT FORUM.
7. Once you have been accepted, post your character profile in the
DRAMATIS PERSONAE forum.
8. If your character is a Hogwarts student, head to the
SONORUS FORUM, and sign up for clubs and sports in the
CLUBS & SPORTS thread, and for school subjects in the
SCHOOL SUBJECTS thread.
9. Post your face claims in the
CAST & ROLEPLAYERS thread. Do so even if your crossover/canon face claim has already been listed, as we use this thread to keep track of who plays who. After this, post in the
MEMBER CONTACT LIST located in our Members Only forum (hidden from guest viewing for privacy).
10. Read up on how to date and format your roleplay threads
HERE. Reading this thread is ESSENTIAL if you don't want to annoy the Admins and other roleplayers in all your threads and posts. In fact, it is advisable that you read everything in the
SONORUS FORUM.
11. You may, at this point, wish to make a signature and avatar for your character. If you are unable to make your own graphics, go to the
ART GALLERY and post in the
SIGNATURE REQUEST THREAD. But before you do, it is essential that you read the
SIGNATURE AND AVATAR RULES to avoid breaking any graphic guidelines. If your sig & av do not meet the board requirements, they will be removed by an Admin. Also, when casting for your character, please try to keep your casting choice realistic. For example, someone as old as Johnny Depp should NOT be casted as a Hogwarts student. A fourteen-year-old must not be played by Kate Winslet or Heath Ledger. And if a character is fat in canon, they should not be played by a skinny supermodel, just as a character who was described as thin in the books shouldn't be played by a chubby actor.
12. Next, go to the
CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS forum and find out what that's about. You should start a thread for your character, then make it a point to post in everyone else's threads. Developing histories with other characters will enable you to post better and more easily without too much confusion.
13. Done? To find out about some of the plots going on, head down to the
CHAMBER OF SECRETS forum and read the threads there. Perhaps there might be something for you to jump in on. If you still find that you have nowhere to post, go back to the Admin list, seek out the appropriate Admin and PM them about getting involved. You are also encouraged to PM the roleplayers of characters you are interested in roleplaying with to see if you can work out something.
14. Finally, go to the
CHATTERBOX FORUM and sign up for a Cbox name in the
CBOX NAME LIST. Elixia will register your name for you and PM you the password so that no one else may impersonate you on the forum's Cbox. Also, do post in the
INTRODUCTION THREAD, which is always a good place for every new member to start and get to know everyone else (and them, you).
You're all set!
Post away!
