xxxx X xxxxChecking Family Profiles: Before We Beginxxxx X xxxx
Here lies an in-depth guide all new crew members (crewbies) should read on the process of checking family profiles. As a crewbie, you are now a floater, which means you will be charged with floating around the guild and doing whatever work is asked of you by a Vice Captain, or whatever you can see that needs to be done (and isn't above your paygrade). This includes checking profiles! So, please read through the guide to familiarize yourself with the process.
xxxX Knowing what you are and are not allowed to checkxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
First off, you can never check your own profile. You cannot check your own families, either. If you own the family, you cannot check any of the profiles in the thread. However, you are allowed to check families even if you have a character in them! You just are not allowed to check specific profiles within that family. xxx- Profile checkers are not allowed to check the profiles of characters who are either the parent, sibling, spouse, or offspring of their own. xxx- Profile checkers are allowed to check the profiles of characters who fall under the 'extended family' category, such as uncles/aunts, cousins, in-laws, or grandparents. xxx- The restrictions on direct relations applies even if the profiles are posted in separate threads! For example, Roleplayer Rosie plays the parents of Profile Checker Cat's character. Cat's character gets married, and moves to a different thread. Cat cannot check Rosie's characters because even though they are in a different thread, they are still her character's parents.
If you have any questions about whether or not you are allowed to check a profile, just ask!
xxxX Etiquette - How to interact with membersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As a profile checker, there is a high probability that you are one of, if not the, first crew member that a person deal with when joining the guild. Therefore, it is important that you act professionally and leave the new member with a good first impression. Always be polite and courteous to people when making edit requests, and use proper English. This both serves to make a new member feel welcome, and remove fault on your part should an issue arise.
xxxX Knowing when to check a profilexxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Is the member eligible to have their profile looked over? - Check and be sure that the person is actually a member of the guild. Current guild settings should prevent this from being a problem, but it never hurts to make sure. - Make sure that the person has signed the rules. If they have not, do not look at the profile. Simply leave an edit request and change the title to indicate that they must do so before their profile can be looked at.
Is the profile complete and ready to be looked at? - Firstly, check the title of a new thread. If it says 'UC' anywhere, it is Under Construction, and not ready to be checked as per the roleplayer's request. If it says 'NCR' anywhere, that means it is ready to be looked over. If it says nothing, check the thread. xxx- Note: If the title of a thread is anything but 'NAME family' or something to that effect, but seems to indicate completion, such as being a single character's name, this needs to be addressed in the edit request. - Next, look at the thread itself. If the profile is only partially filled out, it is probably incomplete. If it is only missing one or two things, feel free to check the profile and note that these need to be included, just in case. But, if it is missing a large chunk of information, chances are that the person is still working on it, and just didn't think to say so. Leave it alone for a couple of days, then look at it again. If it is now finished, you may check it. If it sits for a long time without being completed, alert a Vice Captain to look at it and handle the situation.
If the person is both a member and has signed the rules, and the profile is complete (or mostly so), you may check it!
** Note: Sometimes people write their profiles in an accent. If you find a profile written in an accent, don't check it. Simply leave an edit request stating that they must write it in plain English. Profiles must be easily understood by all members, and thus cannot be written in a way that may confuse anyone.
xxxx X xxxxChecking Family Profiles: The Processxxxx X xxxx
The full process we expect crew members to use when checking profiles is detailed below. Please follow it to the letter! We don't want anything getting missed. If you realize you've made a mistake, please inform a Vice Captain to have the situation handled, do not attempt to handle it yourself.
xxxX New Member Profilesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Recently, restrictions have been placed on how many families/characters new members (members who have been in the guild for less than three months) are allowed to have. xxx- New members are allowed no more than eight total characters. This is not eight per family, it is a hard limit. xxx- New members are not allowed to be more than two families, with up to four members each. xxx- If a new member posts a new family profile, check all the profile subforums to make sure you are counting every profile they have. Magical Creatures are included in the eight character limit, so if they have already made one family of four, and a magical creature, their last family can only have three members in it.
We also now have restrictions on the types of characters new members are allowed to play. Be on the lookout for any of the following: xxx- Characters who are coded as apparent future/secret Dark Lords (aka the 'I'm Going To Be The Next Voldemort' character) xxx- Characters who are coded as apparent future/secret Heroes (aka the 'Move Over Harry, There's A New Chosen One In Town' character) xxx- Characters with exceptionally tragic/uncomfortable backstories (aka the 'Everything Bad That Could Ever Happen Has Happened To Me' character) xxx- Characters whose personality can be summed up with the phrase "I'm not like other people" (aka the 'Luna Lovegood Ain't Got Nothin' On Me' character) xxx- Characters who are strongly based on another character existing in fiction (aka the 'I just really wanted to play Frodo Baggins but as a Hogwarts student' character)
If you see any of these profiles, approach them with caution. If they seem too over the top, alert a Vice Captain about them.
xxxX New Member Profiles Part 2 - Defining 'Active'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Just because a new member has been around for three months does not mean that the restrictions have been lifted. If you look at the various places where these restrictions are detailed, you'll note that they all state members must be active for the three months since they've joined in order to become eligible. So, how do we know if they have been active? xxx- Do you recognize them? Have they been in the chatroom, have you noticed them posting? If not, chances are they have not met the requirement of 'active' and are still subject to the restrictions. xxx- Check their post count in the Guild Members list. Then check how many profiles they have, and subtract that from the total. An active member should probably have at least one roleplay scene for each month they've been a member, with hopefully a few posts in the scene. If their post count is less than 15, they've probably not been active. xxxxxxRemember, activity doesn't only mean roleplay posts, though we'd prefer for the majority of their posts to be in roleplay scenes and not places like the Chatterbox or Help subforums. xxx- Snoop around a bit and ask other members if they've seen them posting or posted a scene with them. Their post count might be lower because the people they attempted to roleplay with didn't post much, which isn't their fault. If an attempt has been made to be active, then they qualify for the restrictions to be lifted.
If you find that the member does not qualify as active enough to have the restrictions lifted, inform them of such in an edit request. xxx- If their new profiles break the restriction on number of characters, change the thread title to read 'Not Eligible' and inform them that they must increase their activity before the family can be checked. xxx- If their new profiles have MTA's listed, inform them that they can either remove the MTA, or put the profile on hold until they have increased activity enough to be eligible. xxx- If their new profiles break any of the other rules, just leave an edit request. Most of the additional rules are ones that we are critical of with any profile anyway, so there's no need to point out that they haven't been around long enough for us to trust them with the character.
xxxX The First Postxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As you should know, the first post of every family thread should list the family members, who plays each of them, and acceptance dates. - If the family was made by one member, and no one else is in it, it does not need to list who plays the characters or when they were accepted. - If a new family has two members, please ask them to specify who owns the family, or if it is joint-owned.
It is also preferable for the thread to have some area indicating recent updates made. This is not necessary, but it is helpful.
The last thing the first post needs is the Signature Form:
If any of this information is missing, it needs to be added in before the family can be checked.
xxxX The Basicsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Start with the name! - Check the Restricted Names and Wizard Families lists to make sure that the name is available for use. If it is not, it must be changed. xxx- If the name is on the Wizard Families list, you are free to suggest to them that they contact whoever owns the family in question to see about joining the family. However, be sure to let them know that the request may be denied, and to be prepared to choose another name. - Is the name realistic? While the guild has allowed some odd names, there are limits. Names like Roonil Wazlib and Spravstev Dingledroob are not permitted. When in doubt, look it up and see if the name comes from another language, or is an alteration of one that does. If it reads like utter nonsense and you can't find a source, ask them to change it.
Make sure the numbers add up! - If the character has provided a year of birth, make sure it matches up with the current listed age and the current guild year. If not, they need to change it. - Likewise, if they are an adult who has graduated from Hogwarts, their graduating year needs to match up as well. To make sure it does, check their birth month. If they were born between January and August, take their birth year and add 18. If they were born between September and December, add 19. - This is also a great time to check the face-claim! The FC should be reasonably appropriate for the age of the character. Do a quick google to see how old the FC is currently, and compare that to the character. If the FC is a lot younger than the current age, it needs to be changed. - If they have provided a singular image, it should look appropriate for the character's current age. If they have linked to a gallery or a google search, you should be able to find images appropriate for the current age and up. If you cannot find images that are appropriate for the current age, request that they either find some, or select a younger FC. - Don't forget to check the FC list! Even if you don't think you've seen someone using the face in guild, it might've just slipped past your radar, or it might be claimed as an older FC for a character too young to currently use it. Don't approve a profile with a claimed FC!
Profile fluff! - This includes things like gender, sexuality, blood status, etc - Gender should match up to the FC provided. If it does not, the profile needs to have a good reason as to why (such as listing a transgender character's preferred gender, even though they are currently in the closest and still present as their assigned gender). - Sexuality isn't something you need to really worry about, but sometimes people write trollish responses in this section. For the most part, we don't want to risk offending anyone with an odd sexuality. But, if it's more than a little odd, ask them about it. Just make sure to do so politely. - Blood status should match up with the information in the backstory. If they are muggleborn, their parents shouldn't be references as having magic (unless this is the case of a muggleborn with two muggleborn parents/one muggle one muggleborn parent). - Likewise, house should match up with the backstory, and reasonably well with the personality, unless the character has aged significantly since graduating and gone through major life changes that would cause an abrupt personality change.
xxxX The Meatxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Personality! - Make sure that this section is filled out to guild standards. - If it is a new member's profile, make sure it follows the restrictions placed on new member profiles. - If they are using the older, more simple profile skeleton, they need to have a reasonably well-sized paragraph for their personality. xxx- Read the personality carefully! Even if it's long, that doesn't mean it is up to standards. - Make sure that it describes a well-rounded character, and is not just one or two traits harped on for several sentences. - Make sure that the personality isn't contradictory! A character who is very brave wouldn't also be listed as cowardly, a character who is socially awkward would not be charismatic. The only exception is if a character suffers from some sort of split personality, in which case you should contact a Vice Captain to go over the profile anyway, unless it's an established character whose condition has already been accepted/played out. - If they are using the more complex skeleton, with the six personality trait headers, make sure that the traits are well-rounded and make sense. xxx- Watch out for duplicate traits listed as separate ones! Things like 'headstrong' and 'stubborn' or 'timid' and 'demure' need to be worded in a very specific way, otherwise it's just the same trait used twice. - Make sure none of the traits are contradictory! A character who is very brave wouldn't also be listed as cowardly, a character who is socially awkward would not be charismatic. The only exception is if a character suffers from some sort of split personality, in which case you should contact a Vice Captain to go over the profile anyway, unless it's an established character whose condition has already been accepted/played out.
Backstory! - This is probably the most important part of a profile, and where we run into the most problems. So, be very thorough when checking through it. - The backstory should be a reasonably detailed account of the person's life from birth until their current age. - If they are using the basic skeleton, one decent-length paragraph per stage of life (childhood/school years/adulthood) is still preferred. - If they describe their life as uneventful or something to that effect, they still need some details about what did happen to them. They didn't come into the world and literally sit and do nothing for however many years, so we need some idea of what sort of life they lived. - Overly vague backstories open the door for a member to make things up on the fly as it suits them, which is fine when it comes to memories of vacations. Not so much when the member is suddenly making up complicated drama that would've warranted consideration before approval, like a suspicious death in the family.
Details, details, details! - The guild requires at least five likes and dislikes. Make sure they have at least that many of each. - Make sure none of the likes/dislikes contradict one another. - Strengths and Weaknesses have a limit of two. Make sure they don't have more than that of each. - Make sure none of the strengths/weaknesses contradict one another. - All characters are required to have at least one fear. - Make sure the fear makes sense and does not contradict anything in the rest of the profile.
xxxX Other Key Detailsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Careers and Exams - Make sure that the person's current job is one allowed within the guild. If you're not sure, ask about it. - If there is no (pending) note in the person's job section, be sure to inform them that, once their profile is Pended, they will have to apply for the job, and have their profile rechecked once it is accepted. xxx- This only applies to new characters. Accepted characters who have recently graduated Hogwarts or are changing careers do not need to be pended, as they are allowed to post their job application and get it approved with their current profile. xxx- If the job the list is not available due to limited positions (such as wanting to own a shop that already has an owner, or being in a high-ranking ministry position), inform them and tell them they must change it. xxx- If they want to work for a shop that is not NPC-owned, inform them to check with the owner to be sure that they will be allowed to have the job. xxx- If they want to own a shop somewhere, but there is already a similar shop in that area, let them know that they will have to choose another location or another type of shop. - If the character's job is one that has exam requirements, make sure they meet the requirements before you pend the profile! Nothing is as horrible as applying for a job, only to discover you flubbed something and aren't eligible. xxx- The guild generally does not allow profile edits to go back and correct these mistakes, since it can open the door for a lot of abuse. So, it is incredibly important that any mistakes in this area get caught before the profile is approved! - When looking at exam scores, make sure they're reasonable! Few characters should have all O's, and if a character does, their personality and backstory should reflect that this was an attainable goal for them. - If a profile's exam grades seem on the high side for the character, please direct them to the information on OWLs and NEWTs in Hogwarts, as this outlines the grades compared to their numeric value, and make suggestions regarding what might be more realistic.
What's Left? - Dream job is not something you need to worry about for the most part! But, if it says something like 'Dark Lord' or 'Ruler of the Magical World', please check over the rest of the profile to see if this is something we should be concerned about. This is especially true if the profile was written by a new member. As per the New Member Restrictions, no new members should be making characters like this anyway, but technically listing it as a dream job isn't a 100% indication that they intend to follow that path. Still, we want to be informed. - Wands should be between 9 and 15 inches, as per canon information. Please make sure that the wood and core are both on the approved list. If either of them are in the rare category, be sure to inform the person that they need to send a request, and be prepared to change it if the request is denied. - Pets must be on the approved pets list. If the pet is not, but it's not too unreasonable, suggest that they request it be added. Reminder that first year Hogwarts students are only allowed to take 'Common' pets to school. If a character is to be a first year in the coming school year and they list a pet that is Moderate or above, they need to state that it is staying home for the year. If the pet is rare, be sure to inform the person that they need to send a request, and be prepared to change it if the request is denied.
Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 2:21 pm
xxxx X xxxxChecking Family Profiles: Edit Requests and Profile Approvalxxxx X xxxx
So, you've read the profiles to determine if they pass muster, now it's time to do something about it. Below is the process for approving or requesting edits on a profile. Like always, please follow it to the letter so there are no mistakes make.
xxxX Accepting Profilesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So, the profile's all good! Nothing funky that needs to be expanded, no missed lines or confusing contradictions. That's great! Now you just need to make sure the right information goes in the right spot on the Signature Form and you're good to go.
As stated, all profiles should have the following form on their first post in some capacity or another:
Each line serves a different purpose, outlined below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Accepted by: xxx- This is for the first time a profile is checked. If you are the first person to look over a family profile, this is where you put your signature, as well as the date of acceptance. After the initial mass reacceptance, this should never be touched again.
Updates Accepted by: xxx- This is for all subsequent profile checks. If you are checking a previously-accepted family thread, this is where you put your signature, as well as the date. xxx- Unlike in the past, you will not simply add your signature to the profile below the old signatures. Instead, you will completely erase the previous signature in this line, and add your own, like when you update the weather. xxx- Once you check a profile, anything the person who checked it before may have missed becomes your responsibility. Technically, there's no way of knowing for sure that it's not been added in since the last check. Regardless, when you check the profile, if you miss it, it's on you, whether it was missed previously or not.
Accepted Characters: xxx- This is a list of all characters currently accepted in the family. xxx- When you accept a new character, you should add their name to this list, with the date. xxx- The name should be listed with your signature color, to denote that you were the one who initially accepted them. xxx- If a character has a pending job, include - Pending next to their name. When you check the profile again after the job is accepted, remove this tag.
An example:
Accepted by:~ ♥ Cara ɱк [2/14/2017] Updates Accepted by:- Essy [6/12/2017] Accepted Characters:Carol [2/14/2017] Alex [2/14/2017]Robert - Pending [6/2/2017]
Above, you see the signature form for a family initially accepted by myself on February 14, 2017. My signature is listed on the 'Accepted by' line with that date, which corresponds to the dates of acceptance for characters Carol and Alex in the Accepted Characters list. Presumably, Essy checked an addition to this family after I accepted it, on June 12, 2017. Her signature is seen on the 'Updates Accepted by' line, and the character Robert is on the Accepted Characters list, marked pending to indicate that he is awaiting a job acceptance.
Assuming that Dia is the one to check the profiles after his job is accepted, instead of Essy, the updated signature form would look like this:
Accepted by:~ ♥ Cara ɱк [2/14/2017] Updates Accepted by:~ Dia [6/15/2017] Accepted Characters:Carol [2/14/2017] Alex [2/14/2017]Robert [6/2/2017]
Notice that Dia's signature is now in the 'Updates Accepted by' line, but Robert's name remains in Essy's color, with the date she checked him. This is because even though Dia accepted the profile with its job attached, Essy was the one to initially look it over and deem it acceptable.
The absolute last thing you should do once you've filled out the form is to update the thread title. If there are any notations left by the member, such as 'NCR' or 'New Members Added', remove them. Then, add the note '~ Accepted' to the end of the line. Submit the post, and you're done!
xxxX Leaving an Edit Request - What To Sayxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Unfortunately, not every profile is perfect the first go around. As you were looking through the profile before, you may have noticed something wrong. Maybe their year of birth isn't correct for the current guild year, or their FC is already taken. Maybe their personality is too weak, or their backstory is contradictory. It's important to get these things fixed as quickly as possible, so that the member can roleplay their character. So, when leaving an edit request, you need to be as clear as possible. xxx- Remember, edit requests go on the top of the first post of the thread. This way, it's the first thing the member sees when they check their thread. xxx- If they need to sign the rules, do not look over their profiles otherwise or leave an edit request. Simply state in a request that they need to sign the rules, link them to the thread, and leave 'Needs to Sign Rules' in the title of the thread. xxx- Open the request with a pleasantry. This makes us come across as more friendly and can save us the trouble of dealing with a member who is put off by a jarring request. It's much nicer to check your thread and see "Hello, welcome to the guild!" or even a simple "Hi there!" first thing rather than an abrupt "You need to make the following changes." If we are polite and open with them, they are less likely to feel attacked. xxx- Organize your information efficiently. Start from the top and work your way down. If there's a problem with their name, date of birth, and backstory, list them in that order. If a request is more than three items long, it can be useful to list them with bullets, rather than in a large paragraph form. xxx- Don't backtrack and talk about a problem you've already addressed once you've moved onto the next point, unless the two happen to be related and you have no choice (such as strengths not making sense based on personality). xxx- Try to avoid sounding rude or impatient. This can be difficult with profiles that are excessive, but it's important not to come across poorly when requesting changes. It can make the member act defiantly in the face of our authority. xxx- Be clear with what you are asking them to do, and if necessary, why. Sometimes members will argue a point if they think they're being treated unfairly or that what they're asking isn't unreasonable. Unless it's something they legitimately might be able to get away with, you need to make sure they understand why they are being told to change something. xxx- If there is a problem with something requiring a request, such as a taken Face-Claim or an unapproved pet, please link them to both the official list for that item, and the form to make a request. xxx- Once you've listed everything they need to change, sign off the request with something like 'Please make these changes and change your thread title to 'Edited' so that we can look over your profile again. Then leave your signature (preferably with a 'Thank you!') at the end of the request.
Occasionally, we have members who don't quite Get It when they're making their edits. They'll miss something, or their changes won't quite fulfill the requests made of them. So, here's a few things to keep in mind: xxx- We prefer to have the same person deal with the same profiles, so that there's no confusion or missing information. The only exception is if the person who initially checked the profile is unavailable for an excessive period of time, or a Vice Captain has to take over the process due to a problem. Once you check a profile the first time, you own it. Keep it in mind and check back periodically to make sure you check it again as soon as possible. xxx- Make sure that the member didn't remove your previous request. If they did, they have to get a warning. Remember that three warnings on a single profile will result in the profile being denied, and will count as a full warning against them in the guild. Please inform them of this fact when you leave the warning. xxx- Did the member say anything in response to the request? Sometimes members, especially new ones, will leave a small note under the edit request in response. It can range from 'I'm sorry, I fixed it!' (which we love seeing) to a long-winded argument about why they shouldn't have to make the changes (which we hate). If the comment left is particularly combative, pass the profile along to a Vice Captain for review. xxx- Assuming there's no cause for you to pass the profiles along to someone else, check them again normally. Pay special attention to the areas you requested they change, but try to look over everything again, since you never know what they might have changed in addition to your requests. xxx- You shouldn't have to look over the same profiles more than a couple of times. If you feel like you're getting no where with them, pass them along to a Vice Captain.
xxxX Receiving Messages from Membersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sometimes, you'll log in and find a message in your inbox from a member whose profile you've checked. This can be anything from "I've made the edits you requested" to an angry rant about how unfair you're being. Just like with the notes on the profile itself, if the message is particularly aggressive, forward it to a Vice Captain and they will handle the situation from there. Otherwise, reply to let them know you got the message. If they have questions, answer them to the best of your ability. Also be sure to make note of the date! If they did not wait three days before messaging you, please be sure to gently remind them that there is a grace period for Crew Members to get to things like profiles, and ask that in the future they not contact anyone for at least three days.
xxxx X xxxxChecking Student Profiles: Before We Beginxxxx X xxxx
Here lies an in-depth guide all new crew members (crewbies) should read on the process of checking student profiles. As a crewbie, you are now a floater, which means you will be charged with floating around the guild and doing whatever work is asked of you by a Vice Captain, or whatever you can see that needs to be done (and isn't above your paygrade). This includes checking profiles! So, please read through the guide to familiarize yourself with the process.
xxxX Knowing what you are and are not allowed to checkxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You can't check your own characters. That's pretty much it. Other than that, if it's a first year profile that needs to be looked over, have at it.
xxxX Etiquette - How to interact with membersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As a profile checker, there is a high probability that you are one of, if not the, first crew member that a person deal with when joining the guild. Therefore, it is important that you act professionally and leave the new member with a good first impression. Always be polite and courteous to people when making edit requests, and use proper English. This both serves to make a new member feel welcome, and remove fault on your part should an issue arise.
xxxX Knowing when to check a profilexxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Is the member eligible to have their profile looked over? - Check and be sure that the person is actually a member of the guild. Current guild settings should prevent this from being a problem, but it never hurts to make sure. - Make sure that the person has signed the rules. If they have not, do not look at the profile. Simply leave an edit request and change the title to indicate that they must do so before their profile can be looked at.
Is the profile complete and ready to be looked at? - Firstly, check the title of a new thread. If it says 'UC' anywhere, it is Under Construction, and not ready to be checked as per the roleplayer's request. If it says 'NCR' anywhere, that means it is ready to be looked over. If it says nothing, check the thread. xxx- Note: If the title of a thread is anything but 'NAME family' or something to that effect, but seems to indicate completion, such as being a single character's name, this needs to be addressed in the edit request. - Next, look at the thread itself. If the profile is only partially filled out, it is probably incomplete. If it is only missing one or two things, feel free to check the profile and note that these need to be included, just in case. But, if it is missing a large chunk of information, chances are that the person is still working on it, and just didn't think to say so. Leave it alone for a couple of days, then look at it again. If it is now finished, you may check it. If it sits for a long time without being completed, alert a Vice Captain to look at it and handle the situation.
If the person is both a member and has signed the rules, and the profile is complete (or mostly so), you may check it!
** Note: Sometimes people write their profiles in an accent. If you find a profile written in an accent, don't check it. Simply leave an edit request stating that they must write it in plain English. Profiles must be easily understood by all members, and thus cannot be written in a way that may confuse anyone.
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:29 pm
xxxx X xxxxChecking Student Profiles: The Processxxxx X xxxx
The full process we expect crew members to use when checking profiles is detailed below. Please follow it to the letter! We don't want anything getting missed. If you realize you've made a mistake, please inform a Vice Captain to have the situation handled, do not attempt to handle it yourself.
xxxX New Member Profilesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Recently, restrictions have been placed on how many characters new members (members who have been in the guild for less than three months) are allowed to have. xxx- New members are allowed no more than four total characters. xxx- Their characters may be students, Hogsmeade employees, or magical creatures. New members are not permitted to make a professor. If you see a professor profile made by a newb, contact Essy ze Ninja about it. xxx- They may have no more than two of each different type of character. Two students, one Hogsmeade employee, and one magical creature, for example.
We also now have restrictions on the types of characters new members are allowed to play. Be on the lookout for any of the following: xxx- Characters who are coded as apparent future/secret Dark Lords (aka the 'I'm Going To Be The Next Voldemort' character) xxx- Characters who are coded as apparent future/secret Heroes (aka the 'Move Over Harry, There's A New Chosen One In Town' character) xxx- Characters with exceptionally tragic/uncomfortable backstories (aka the 'Everything Bad That Could Ever Happen Has Happened To Me' character) xxx- Characters whose personality can be summed up with the phrase "I'm not like other people" (aka the 'Luna Lovegood Ain't Got Nothin' On Me' character) xxx- Characters who are strongly based on another character existing in fiction (aka the 'I just really wanted to play Frodo Baggins but as a Hogwarts student' character)
If you see any of these profiles, approach them with caution. If they seem too over the top, alert a Vice Captain about them.
xxxX New Member Profiles Part 2 - Defining 'Active'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Just because a new member has been around for three months does not mean that the restrictions have been lifted. If you look at the various places where these restrictions are detailed, you'll note that they all state members must be active for the three months since they've joined in order to become eligible. So, how do we know if they have been active? xxx- Do you recognize them? Have they been in the chatroom, have you noticed them posting? If not, chances are they have not met the requirement of 'active' and are still subject to the restrictions. xxx- Check their post count in the Guild Members list. Then check how many profiles they have, and subtract that from the total. An active member should probably have at least one roleplay scene for each month they've been a member, with hopefully a few posts in the scene. If their post count is less than 15, they've probably not been active. xxxxxxRemember, activity doesn't only mean roleplay posts, though we'd prefer for the majority of their posts to be in roleplay scenes and not places like the Chatterbox or Help subforums. xxx- Snoop around a bit and ask other members if they've seen them posting or posted a scene with them. Their post count might be lower because the people they attempted to roleplay with didn't post much, which isn't their fault. If an attempt has been made to be active, then they qualify for the restrictions to be lifted.
If you find that the member does not qualify as active enough to have the restrictions lifted, inform them of such in an edit request. xxx- If their new profiles break the restriction on number of characters, change the thread title to read 'Not Eligible' and inform them that they must increase their activity before the character can be checked. xxx- If their new profiles have MTA's listed, inform them that they can either remove the MTA, or put the profile on hold until they have increased activity enough to be eligible. xxx- If their new profiles break any of the other rules, just leave an edit request. Most of the additional rules are ones that we are critical of with any profile anyway, so there's no need to point out that they haven't been around long enough for us to trust them with the character.
xxxX The Basicsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Start with the name! - Check the Restricted Names and Wizard Families lists to make sure that the name is available for use. If it is not, it must be changed. xxx- If the name is on the Wizard Families list, you are free to suggest to them that they contact whoever owns the family in question to see about joining the family. However, be sure to let them know that the request may be denied, and to be prepared to choose another name. - Is the name realistic? While the guild has allowed some odd names, there are limits. Names like Roonil Wazlib and Spravstev Dingledroob are not permitted. When in doubt, look it up and see if the name comes from another language, or is an alteration of one that does. If it reads like utter nonsense and you can't find a source, ask them to change it.
Make sure the numbers add up! - If the character has provided a year of birth, make sure it matches up with the current listed age and the current guild year. If not, they need to change it. - Likewise, if they are an adult who has graduated from Hogwarts, their graduating year needs to match up as well. To make sure it does, check their birth month. If they were born between January and August, take their birth year and add 18. If they were born between September and December, add 19. - This is also a great time to check the face-claim! The FC should be reasonably appropriate for the age of the character. Do a quick google to see how old the FC is currently, and compare that to the character. If the FC is a lot younger than the current age, it needs to be changed. - If they have provided a singular image, it should look appropriate for the character's current age. If they have linked to a gallery or a google search, you should be able to find images appropriate for the current age and up. If you cannot find images that are appropriate for the current age, request that they either find some, or select a younger FC. - Don't forget to check the FC list! Even if you don't think you've seen someone using the face in guild, it might've just slipped past your radar, or it might be claimed as an older FC for a character too young to currently use it. Don't approve a profile with a claimed FC!
Profile fluff! - This includes things like gender, sexuality, blood status, etc - Gender should match up to the FC provided. If it does not, the profile needs to have a good reason as to why (such as listing a transgender character's preferred gender, even though they are currently in the closest and still present as their assigned gender). - Sexuality isn't something you need to really worry about, but sometimes people write trollish responses in this section. For the most part, we don't want to risk offending anyone with an odd sexuality. But, if it's more than a little odd, ask them about it. Just make sure to do so politely. - Blood status should match up with the information in the backstory. If they are muggleborn, their parents shouldn't be referenced as having magic (unless this is the case of a muggleborn with two muggleborn parents/one muggle one muggleborn parent). - Likewise, house should match up with the backstory, and reasonably well with the personality, unless the character has aged significantly since graduating and/or gone through major life changes that would cause an abrupt personality change.
xxxX The Meatxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Personality! - Make sure that this section is filled out to guild standards. - If it is a new member's profile, make sure it follows the restrictions placed on new member profiles. - If they are using the older, more simple profile skeleton, they need to have a reasonably well-sized paragraph for their personality. xxx- Read the personality carefully! Even if it's long, that doesn't mean it is up to standards. - Make sure that it describes a well-rounded character, and is not just one or two traits harped on for several sentences. - Make sure that the personality isn't contradictory! A character who is very brave wouldn't also be listed as cowardly, a character who is socially awkward would not be charismatic. The only exception is if a character suffers from some sort of split personality, in which case you should contact a Vice Captain to go over the profile anyway, unless it's an established character whose condition has already been accepted/played out. - If they are using the more complex skeleton, with the six personality trait headers, make sure that the traits are well-rounded and make sense. xxx- Watch out for duplicate traits listed as separate ones! Things like 'headstrong' and 'stubborn' or 'timid' and 'demure' need to be worded in a very specific way, otherwise it's just the same trait used twice. - Make sure none of the traits are contradictory! A character who is very brave wouldn't also be listed as cowardly, a character who is socially awkward would not be charismatic. The only exception is if a character suffers from some sort of split personality, in which case you should contact a Vice Captain to go over the profile anyway, unless it's an established character whose condition has already been accepted/played out.
Backstory! - This is probably the most important part of a profile, and where we run into the most problems. So, be very thorough when checking through it. - The backstory should be a reasonably detailed account of the person's life from birth until their current age. - If they are using the basic skeleton, one decent-length paragraph per stage of life (childhood/school years/adulthood) is still preferred. - If they describe their life as uneventful or something to that effect, they still need some details about what did happen to them. They didn't come into the world and literally sit and do nothing for however many years, so we need some idea of what sort of life they lived. - Overly vague backstories open the door for a member to make things up on the fly as it suits them, which is fine when it comes to memories of vacations. Not so much when the member is suddenly making up complicated drama that would've warranted consideration before approval, like a suspicious death in the family.
Details, details, details! - The guild requires at least five likes and dislikes. Make sure they have at least that many of each. - Make sure none of the likes/dislikes contradict one another. - Strengths and Weaknesses have a limit of two. Make sure they don't have more than that of each. - Make sure none of the strengths/weaknesses contradict one another. - All characters are required to have at least one fear. - Make sure the fear makes sense and does not contradict anything in the rest of the profile.
xxxX Other Key Detailsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What's Left? - Dream job is not something you need to worry about for the most part! But, if it says something like 'Dark Lord' or 'Ruler of the Magical World', please check over the rest of the profile to see if this is something we should be concerned about. This is especially true if the profile was written by a new member. As per the New Member Restrictions, no new members should be making characters like this anyway, but technically listing it as a dream job isn't a 100% indication that they intend to follow that path. Still, we want to be informed. - Wands should be between 9 and 15 inches, as per canon information. Please make sure that the wood and core are both on the approved list. If either of them are in the rare category, be sure to inform the person that they need to send a request, and be prepared to change it if the request is denied. - Pets must be on the approved pets list. If the pet is not, but it's not too unreasonable, suggest that they request it be added. Reminder that first year Hogwarts students are only allowed to take 'Common' pets to school. If a character is to be a first year in the coming school year and they list a pet that is Moderate or above, they need to state that it is staying home for the year. If the pet is rare, be sure to inform the person that they need to send a request, and be prepared to change it if the request is denied.
xxxx X xxxxChecking Student Profiles: Edit Requests and Profile Pendingxxxx X xxxx
So, you've read the profiles to determine if they pass muster, now it's time to do something about it. Below is the process for approving or requesting edits on a profile. Like always, please follow it to the letter so there are no mistakes make.
xxxX Pending Profilesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So, the profile's all good! Nothing funky that needs to be expanded, no missed lines or confusing contradictions. That's great! Now you just need to make sure the right information goes in the right spot on the Signature Form and you're good to go.
As stated, all profiles should have the following form on their first post in some capacity or another:
Each line serves a different purpose, outlined below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The only one you really need to be worried about, however, is the first one:
Pended by: xxx- This is where your signature will be going nine times out of ten. Student Profile Checkers, for the most part, only look over first year profiles, and you do not accept them. Rather, you look them over and pend them if they are acceptable. Pended profiles do not become approved until the year starts and the person has added their house.
The absolute last thing you should do once you've filled out the form is to update the thread title. If there are any notations left by the member, such as 'NCR' or 'New Members Added', remove them. Then, add the note '~ Pending' to the end of the line. Submit the post, and you're done!
The other two lines, for the most part, will not be your concern:
Accepted by: xxx- Once a student is sorted, they have to be looked over again before they can be fully accepted. For the most part, you will not be doing this. The Student Profiles Manager goes through and accepts all Pending profiles once their houses have been added. However, sometimes the Student Profiles Manager has profiles of their own, which they cannot check. Typically, the Captain checks those, but you might be asked to do so in a pinch.
Updates Accepted by: xxx- This is for all subsequent profile checks, to make sure that a student's year and age have been updated as each school year passes. For the most part, you will not be asked to check these profiles, as that is the job of the Student Profiles Manager. However, just like with Accepting, if the Student Profiles Manager has a profile that needs to be checked, adn the guild captain is unavailable, you might be asked to do so.
An example of a properly filled out signature form will look like this:
Pended by:- Weasley 01/15/2016 Accepted by:~ ♥ Cara ɱк [2/10/2016] Updates Accepted by:~ ♥ Cara ɱк [5/25/2016]
Above, you see the signature form for a hypothetical student whose profile was initially pended by The Forgotten Weasley on January 15, 2016. Presumably, this character was sorted come the start of the school year in February, and added their house to the profile. Then, Cara MiaKitty checked over the profile and accepted it on February 10. Finally, the student was checked over again on May 25, which would be the start of the following school year.
xxxX Leaving an Edit Request - What To Sayxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Unfortunately, not every profile is perfect the first go around. As you were looking through the profile before, you may have noticed something wrong. Maybe their year of birth isn't correct for the current guild year, or their FC is already taken. Maybe their personality is too weak, or their backstory is contradictory. It's important to get these things fixed as quickly as possible, so that the member can roleplay their character. So, when leaving an edit request, you need to be as clear as possible. xxx- Remember, edit requests go on the top of the thread. This way, it's the first thing the member sees when they check their thread. xxx- If they need to sign the rules, do not look over their profiles otherwise or leave an edit request. Simply state in a request that they need to sign the rules, link them to the thread, and leave 'Needs to Sign Rules' in the title of the thread. xxx- Open the request with a pleasantry. This makes us come across as more friendly and can save us the trouble of dealing with a member who is put off by a jarring request. It's much nicer to check your thread and see "Hello, welcome to the guild!" or even a simple "Hi there!" first thing rather than an abrupt "You need to make the following changes." If we are polite and open with them, they are less likely to feel attacked. xxx- Organize your information efficiently. Start from the top and work your way down. If there's a problem with their name, date of birth, and backstory, list them in that order. If a request is more than three items long, it can be useful to list them with bullets, rather than in a large paragraph form. xxx- Don't backtrack and talk about a problem you've already addressed once you've moved onto the next point, unless the two happen to be related and you have no choice (such as strengths not making sense based on personality). xxx- Try to avoid sounding rude or impatient. This can be difficult with profiles that are excessive, but it's important not to come across poorly when requesting changes. It can make the member act defiantly in the face of our authority. xxx- Be clear with what you are asking them to do, and if necessary, why. Sometimes members will argue a point if they think they're being treated unfairly or that what they're asking isn't unreasonable. Unless it's something they legitimately might be able to get away with, you need to make sure they understand why they are being told to change something. xxx- If there is a problem with something requiring a request, such as a taken Face-Claim or an unapproved pet, please link them to both the official list for that item, and the form to make a request. xxx- Once you've listed everything they need to change, sign off the request with something like 'Please make these changes and change your thread title to 'Edited' so that we can look over your profile again. Then leave your signature (preferably with a 'Thank you!') at the end of the request.
Occasionally, we have members who don't quite Get It when they're making their edits. They'll miss something, or their changes won't quite fulfill the requests made of them. So, here's a few things to keep in mind: xxx- We prefer to have the same person deal with the same profiles, so that there's no confusion or missing information. The only exception is if the person who initially checked the profile is unavailable for an excessive period of time, or a Vice Captain has to take over the process due to a problem. Once you check a profile the first time, you own it. Keep it in mind and check back periodically to make sure you check it again as soon as possible. xxx- Make sure that the member didn't remove your previous request. If they did, they have to get a warning. Remember that three warnings on a single profile will result in the profile being denied, and will count as a full warning against them in the guild. Please inform them of this fact when you leave the warning. xxx- Did the member say anything in response to the request? Sometimes members, especially new ones, will leave a small note under the edit request in response, or even reply in the thread with a new post. It can range from 'I'm sorry, I fixed it!' (which we love seeing) to a long-winded argument about why they shouldn't have to make the changes (which we hate). If the comment left is particularly combative, pass the profile along to a Vice Captain for review. xxx- Assuming there's no cause for you to pass the profiles along to someone else, check them again normally. Pay special attention to the areas you requested they change, but try to look over everything again, since you never know what they might have changed in addition to your requests. xxx- You shouldn't have to look over the same profiles more than a couple of times. If you feel like you're getting no where with them, pass them along to a Vice Captain.
xxxX Receiving Messages from Membersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sometimes, you'll log in and find a message in your inbox from a member whose profile you've checked. This can be anything from "I've made the edits you requested" to an angry rant about how unfair you're being. Just like with the notes on the profile itself, if the message is particularly aggressive, forward it to a Vice Captain and they will handle the situation from there. Otherwise, reply to let them know you got the message. If they have questions, answer them to the best of your ability. Also be sure to make note of the date! If they did not wait three days before messaging you, please be sure to gently remind them that there is a grace period for Crew Members to get to things like profiles, and ask that in the future they not contact anyone for at least three days.
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:52 pm
xxxx X xxxxChecking Hogsmeade Profiles: Before We Beginxxxx X xxxx
Here lies an in-depth guide all new crew members (crewbies) should read on the process of checking Hogsmeade profiles. As a crewbie, you are now a floater, which means you will be charged with floating around the guild and doing whatever work is asked of you by a Vice Captain, or whatever you can see that needs to be done (and isn't above your paygrade). This includes checking profiles! So, please read through the guide to familiarize yourself with the process. It should be noted that the process for Hogsmeade Profiles is slightly different than other profiles! Be sure to pay extra attention to the process when reading this guide!
xxxX Knowing what you are and are not allowed to checkxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You can't check your own characters. That's pretty much it. Other than that, if it's a first year profile that needs to be looked over, have at it.
If you have any questions about whether or not you are allowed to check a profile, just ask!
xxxX Etiquette - How to interact with membersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As a profile checker, there is a high probability that you are one of, if not the, first crew member that a person deal with when joining the guild. Therefore, it is important that you act professionally and leave the new member with a good first impression. Always be polite and courteous to people when making edit requests, and use proper English. This both serves to make a new member feel welcome, and remove fault on your part should an issue arise.
xxxX Navigating the NCR threadxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hogsmeade is a unique cross section between job applications and profiles. Because of this, it functions slightly differently than both of those areas. In the NCR thread, you can expect to see the following types of posts: - Requests for a new Shop Owner profile to be checked. In this case, you may check the profile. - Requests for a new Shop Assistant profile to be checked. There are a couple of things that can happen here: -- If they are applying to work at an NPC-owned shop, you may check the profile. -- If they are applying to work at a user-owned shop, the shop owner must first approve their application by quoting the post. If you see an application for a user-run shop, make sure that the shop owner has been quoted/is aware of it so that they can voice their approval or denial as soon as possible. - Shop Owners indicating approval of Shop Assistant profiles. In this case, you may check the profile. - Shop Owners indicating denial of Shop Assistant profiles. In this case, it is up to the users to discuss the issues with the profile or their application. Do nothing. If there is a problem, contact the Hogsmeade Manager about it. - Requests for new non-canon shops. Members must apply for their shops before they can post a profile, since we as crew must post the thread for their shop. In this case, you may look over the request and, so long as the shop is not a duplicate of one already existing, approve it. Quote the post and indicate that it has been approved. Then, post a new profile thread for the shop, using the skeleton below. -- Once the thread is posted, it is up to the user to get their profile up in a timely manner. If it has not been posted in a week, contact the user and request that they post it. If it still has not been posted in another week, delete the thread. -- There may or may not be a profile to link in the shop application, depending on if the person is a member of Ministry of Magic or has played this character in Hogwarts before. If there is not, be aware that the profile may require edits even after the shop itself is approved.
[align=center][size=16][u][color=white]xxx[/color]::[color=white]xxx[/color]SHOP NAME Employee Profiles[color=white]xxx[/color]::[color=white]xxx[/color][/u][/size]
[size=13][u][color=white]xxx[/color]Employees[color=white]xxx[/color][/size][/u] [size=11]NAME[/size] [size=10](( Position ))[/size] [size=11]NAME[/size] [size=10](( Position ))[/size] [size=11]NAME[/size] [size=10](( Position ))[/size][/align]
xxxx X xxxxChecking Hogsmeade Profiles: The Processxxxx X xxxx
The full process we expect crew members to use when checking profiles is detailed below. Please follow it to the letter! We don't want anything getting missed. If you realize you've made a mistake, please inform a Vice Captain to have the situation handled, do not attempt to handle it yourself.
xxxX New Member Profilesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Recently, restrictions have been placed on how many characters new members (members who have been in the guild for less than three months) are allowed to have. xxx- New members are allowed no more than four total characters. xxx- Their characters may be students, Hogsmeade employees, or magical creatures. New members are not permitted to make a professor. If you see a professor profile made by a newb, contact Essy ze Ninja about it. xxx- They may have no more than two of each different type of character. Two students, one Hogsmeade employee, and one magical creature, for example.
We also now have restrictions on the types of characters new members are allowed to play. Be on the lookout for any of the following: xxx- Characters who are coded as apparent future/secret Dark Lords (aka the 'I'm Going To Be The Next Voldemort' character) xxx- Characters who are coded as apparent future/secret Heroes (aka the 'Move Over Harry, There's A New Chosen One In Town' character) xxx- Characters with exceptionally tragic/uncomfortable backstories (aka the 'Everything Bad That Could Ever Happen Has Happened To Me' character) xxx- Characters whose personality can be summed up with the phrase "I'm not like other people" (aka the 'Luna Lovegood Ain't Got Nothin' On Me' character) xxx- Characters who are strongly based on another character existing in fiction (aka the 'I just really wanted to play Frodo Baggins but as a Hogwarts student' character)
If you see any of these profiles, approach them with caution. If they seem too over the top, alert a Vice Captain about them.
xxxX New Member Profiles Part 2 - Defining 'Active'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Just because a new member has been around for three months does not mean that the restrictions have been lifted. If you look at the various places where these restrictions are detailed, you'll note that they all state members must be active for the three months since they've joined in order to become eligible. So, how do we know if they have been active? xxx- Do you recognize them? Have they been in the chatroom, have you noticed them posting? If not, chances are they have not met the requirement of 'active' and are still subject to the restrictions. xxx- Check their post count in the Guild Members list. Then check how many profiles they have, and subtract that from the total. An active member should probably have at least one roleplay scene for each month they've been a member, with hopefully a few posts in the scene. If their post count is less than 15, they've probably not been active. xxxxxxRemember, activity doesn't only mean roleplay posts, though we'd prefer for the majority of their posts to be in roleplay scenes and not places like the Chatterbox or Help subforums. xxx- Snoop around a bit and ask other members if they've seen them posting or posted a scene with them. Their post count might be lower because the people they attempted to roleplay with didn't post much, which isn't their fault. If an attempt has been made to be active, then they qualify for the restrictions to be lifted.
If you find that the member does not qualify as active enough to have the restrictions lifted, inform them of such in an edit request. xxx- If their new profiles break the restriction on number of characters, change the thread title to read 'Not Eligible' and inform them that they must increase their activity before the character can be checked. xxx- If their new profiles have MTA's listed, inform them that they can either remove the MTA, or put the profile on hold until they have increased activity enough to be eligible. xxx- If their new profiles break any of the other rules, just leave an edit request. Most of the additional rules are ones that we are critical of with any profile anyway, so there's no need to point out that they haven't been around long enough for us to trust them with the character.
xxxX The Basicsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Start with the name! - Check the Restricted Names and Wizard Families lists to make sure that the name is available for use. If it is not, it must be changed. xxx- If the name is on the Wizard Families list, you are free to suggest to them that they contact whoever owns the family in question to see about joining the family. However, be sure to let them know that the request may be denied, and to be prepared to choose another name. - Is the name realistic? While the guild has allowed some odd names, there are limits. Names like Roonil Wazlib and Spravstev Dingledroob are not permitted. When in doubt, look it up and see if the name comes from another language, or is an alteration of one that does. If it reads like utter nonsense and you can't find a source, ask them to change it.
Make sure the numbers add up! - If the character has provided a year of birth, make sure it matches up with the current listed age and the current guild year. If not, they need to change it. - Likewise, if they are an adult who has graduated from Hogwarts, their graduating year needs to match up as well. To make sure it does, check their birth month. If they were born between January and August, take their birth year and add 18. If they were born between September and December, add 19. - This is also a great time to check the face-claim! The FC should be reasonably appropriate for the age of the character. Do a quick google to see how old the FC is currently, and compare that to the character. If the FC is a lot younger than the current age, it needs to be changed. - If they have provided a singular image, it should look appropriate for the character's current age. If they have linked to a gallery or a google search, you should be able to find images appropriate for the current age and up. If you cannot find images that are appropriate for the current age, request that they either find some, or select a younger FC. - Don't forget to check the FC list! Even if you don't think you've seen someone using the face in guild, it might've just slipped past your radar, or it might be claimed as an older FC for a character too young to currently use it. Don't approve a profile with a claimed FC!
Profile fluff! - This includes things like gender, sexuality, blood status, etc - Gender should match up to the FC provided. If it does not, the profile needs to have a good reason as to why (such as listing a transgender character's preferred gender, even though they are currently in the closest and still present as their assigned gender). - Sexuality isn't something you need to really worry about, but sometimes people write trollish responses in this section. For the most part, we don't want to risk offending anyone with an odd sexuality. But, if it's more than a little odd, ask them about it. Just make sure to do so politely. - Blood status should match up with the information in the backstory. If they are muggleborn, their parents shouldn't be referenced as having magic (unless this is the case of a muggleborn with two muggleborn parents/one muggle one muggleborn parent). - Likewise, house should match up with the backstory, and reasonably well with the personality, unless the character has aged significantly since graduating and/or gone through major life changes that would cause an abrupt personality change.
xxxX The Meatxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Personality! - Make sure that this section is filled out to guild standards. - If it is a new member's profile, make sure it follows the restrictions placed on new member profiles. - If they are using the older, more simple profile skeleton, they need to have a reasonably well-sized paragraph for their personality. xxx- Read the personality carefully! Even if it's long, that doesn't mean it is up to standards. - Make sure that it describes a well-rounded character, and is not just one or two traits harped on for several sentences. - Make sure that the personality isn't contradictory! A character who is very brave wouldn't also be listed as cowardly, a character who is socially awkward would not be charismatic. The only exception is if a character suffers from some sort of split personality, in which case you should contact a Vice Captain to go over the profile anyway, unless it's an established character whose condition has already been accepted/played out. - If they are using the more complex skeleton, with the six personality trait headers, make sure that the traits are well-rounded and make sense. xxx- Watch out for duplicate traits listed as separate ones! Things like 'headstrong' and 'stubborn' or 'timid' and 'demure' need to be worded in a very specific way, otherwise it's just the same trait used twice. - Make sure none of the traits are contradictory! A character who is very brave wouldn't also be listed as cowardly, a character who is socially awkward would not be charismatic. The only exception is if a character suffers from some sort of split personality, in which case you should contact a Vice Captain to go over the profile anyway, unless it's an established character whose condition has already been accepted/played out. - Please note that mental disorders do not count as personality traits! A person is not defined by their mental disorders, and while these disorders may contribute to the traits they possess, they are not traits in and of themselves. If you see someone using a mental disorder as a header for a trait, try to suggest alternative traits that are tied to that disorder.
Backstory! - This is probably the most important part of a profile, and where we run into the most problems. So, be very thorough when checking through it. - The backstory should be a reasonably detailed account of the person's life from birth until their current age. - If they are using the basic skeleton, one decent-length paragraph per stage of life (childhood/school years/adulthood) is still preferred. - If they describe their life as uneventful or something to that effect, they still need some details about what did happen to them. They didn't come into the world and literally sit and do nothing for however many years, so we need some idea of what sort of life they lived. - Overly vague backstories open the door for a member to make things up on the fly as it suits them, which is fine when it comes to memories of vacations. Not so much when the member is suddenly making up complicated drama that would've warranted consideration before approval, like a suspicious death in the family.
Details, details, details! - The guild requires at least five likes and dislikes. Make sure they have at least that many of each. - Make sure none of the likes/dislikes contradict one another. - Strengths and Weaknesses have a limit of two. Make sure they don't have more than that of each. - Make sure none of the strengths/weaknesses contradict one another. - All characters are required to have at least one fear. - Make sure the fear makes sense and does not contradict anything in the rest of the profile.
xxxX Other Key Detailsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What's Left? - Dream job is not something you need to worry about for the most part! But, if it says something like 'Dark Lord' or 'Ruler of the Magical World', please check over the rest of the profile to see if this is something we should be concerned about. This is especially true if the profile was written by a new member. As per the New Member Restrictions, no new members should be making characters like this anyway, but technically listing it as a dream job isn't a 100% indication that they intend to follow that path. Still, we want to be informed. - Wands should be between 9 and 15 inches, as per canon information. Please make sure that the wood and core are both on the approved list. If either of them are in the rare category, be sure to inform the person that they need to send a request, and be prepared to change it if the request is denied. - Pets must be on the approved pets list. If the pet is not, but it's not too unreasonable, suggest that they request it be added. If the pet is rare, be sure to inform the person that they need to send a request, and be prepared to change it if the request is denied.
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:55 pm
xxxx X xxxxChecking Hogsmeade Profiles: Edit Requests and Profile Pendingxxxx X xxxx
So, you've read the profiles to determine if they pass muster, now it's time to do something about it. Below is the process for approving or requesting edits on a profile. Like always, please follow it to the letter so there are no mistakes make.
xxxX Accepting Profilesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So, the profile's all good! Nothing funky that needs to be expanded, no missed lines or confusing contradictions. That's great! Now you just need to make sure the right information goes in the right spot on the Signature Form and you're good to go.
As stated, all profiles should have the following form at the bottom of the profile in some capacity or another:
You'll notice the lack of a 'pending' line for these types of profiles. That is because there are no circumstances under which these profiles should be pending, since they do not require sorting and accepting the profile inherently accepts their job.
Each line serves a different purpose, outlined below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Accepted by: xxx- This is for the first time a profile is checked. If you are the first person to look over a family profile, this is where you put your signature, as well as the date of acceptance. After the initial mass reacceptance, this should never be touched again.
Updates Accepted by: xxx- This is for all subsequent profile checks. If you are checking a previously-accepted family thread, this is where you put your signature, as well as the date. xxx- Unlike in the past, you will not simply add your signature to the profile below the old signatures. Instead, you will completely erase the previous signature in this line, and add your own, like when you update the weather. xxx- Once you check a profile, anything the person who checked it before may have missed becomes your responsibility. Technically, there's no way of knowing for sure that it's not been added in since the last check. Regardless, when you check the profile, if you miss it, it's on you, whether it was missed previously or not.
An example of a properly filled out signature form will look like this:
Accepted by:Dia [01/15/2017]] Updates Accepted by:~ ♥ Cara ɱк [5/25/2017]
Above, you see the signature form for a hypothetical character whose profile was initially checked by Dia on January 1, 2017. Then, somewhere along the line, the profile was updated and rechecked by myself on March 25, 2017. Please always remember to include the date on the signature line.
Now, unlike other areas of the guild, the process does not end with your signature. You must also go into the first post of the thread and add the person's name to the employee list. This serves a similar purpose to the family member lists on family profiles in Ministry of Magic, except it must be updated by crew. If they are an employee and a specific job (such as cashier, waitress, etc) is listed, include that information. If not, simply put 'shop assistant' in the correct area.
xxxX Leaving an Edit Request - What To Sayxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Unfortunately, not every profile is perfect the first go around. As you were looking through the profile before, you may have noticed something wrong. Maybe their year of birth isn't correct for the current guild year, or their FC is already taken. Maybe their personality is too weak, or their backstory is contradictory. It's important to get these things fixed as quickly as possible, so that the member can roleplay their character. So, when leaving an edit request, you need to be as clear as possible. xxx- Remember, edit requests go on the top of the thread. This way, it's the first thing the member sees when they check their thread. xxx- If they need to sign the rules, do not look over their profiles otherwise or leave an edit request. Simply state in a request that they need to sign the rules, link them to the thread, and leave 'Needs to Sign Rules' in the title of the thread. xxx- Open the request with a pleasantry. This makes us come across as more friendly and can save us the trouble of dealing with a member who is put off by a jarring request. It's much nicer to check your thread and see "Hello, welcome to the guild!" or even a simple "Hi there!" first thing rather than an abrupt "You need to make the following changes." If we are polite and open with them, they are less likely to feel attacked. xxx- Organize your information efficiently. Start from the top and work your way down. If there's a problem with their name, date of birth, and backstory, list them in that order. If a request is more than three items long, it can be useful to list them with bullets, rather than in a large paragraph form. xxx- Don't backtrack and talk about a problem you've already addressed once you've moved onto the next point, unless the two happen to be related and you have no choice (such as strengths not making sense based on personality). xxx- Try to avoid sounding rude or impatient. This can be difficult with profiles that are excessive, but it's important not to come across poorly when requesting changes. It can make the member act defiantly in the face of our authority. xxx- Be clear with what you are asking them to do, and if necessary, why. Sometimes members will argue a point if they think they're being treated unfairly or that what they're asking isn't unreasonable. Unless it's something they legitimately might be able to get away with, you need to make sure they understand why they are being told to change something. xxx- If there is a problem with something requiring a request, such as a taken Face-Claim or an unapproved pet, please link them to both the official list for that item, and the form to make a request. xxx- Once you've listed everything they need to change, sign off the request with something like 'Please make these changes and post in the NCR to let us know they're been made.' Then leave your signature (preferably with a 'Thank you!') at the end of the request. - Lastly, you'll need to quote their post in the NCR thread to inform them that the profile requires edits to ensure that they're aware of its status.
Occasionally, we have members who don't quite Get It when they're making their edits. They'll miss something, or their changes won't quite fulfill the requests made of them. So, here's a few things to keep in mind: xxx- We prefer to have the same person deal with the same profiles, so that there's no confusion or missing information. The only exception is if the person who initially checked the profile is unavailable for an excessive period of time, or a Vice Captain has to take over the process due to a problem. Once you check a profile the first time, you own it. Keep it in mind and check back periodically to make sure you check it again as soon as possible. xxx- Make sure that the member didn't remove your previous request. If they did, they have to get a warning. Remember that three warnings on a single profile will result in the profile being denied, and will count as a full warning against them in the guild. Please inform them of this fact when you leave the warning. xxx- Did the member say anything in response to the request? Sometimes members, especially new ones, will leave a small note under the edit request in response, or even reply in the thread with a new post. It can range from 'I'm sorry, I fixed it!' (which we love seeing) to a long-winded argument about why they shouldn't have to make the changes (which we hate). If the comment left is particularly combative, pass the profile along to a Vice Captain for review. xxx- Assuming there's no cause for you to pass the profiles along to someone else, check them again normally. Pay special attention to the areas you requested they change, but try to look over everything again, since you never know what they might have changed in addition to your requests. xxx- You shouldn't have to look over the same profiles more than a couple of times. If you feel like you're getting no where with them, pass them along to a Vice Captain.
xxxX Receiving Messages from Membersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sometimes, you'll log in and find a message in your inbox from a member whose profile you've checked. This can be anything from "I've made the edits you requested" to an angry rant about how unfair you're being. Just like with the notes on the profile itself, if the message is particularly aggressive, forward it to a Vice Captain and they will handle the situation from there. Otherwise, reply to let them know you got the message. If they have questions, answer them to the best of your ability. Also be sure to make note of the date! If they did not wait three days before messaging you, please be sure to gently remind them that there is a grace period for Crew Members to get to things like profiles, and ask that in the future they not contact anyone for at least three days.
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