WELCOME OWL

If you're new to the site, you've certainly come to the right place - and, of course, this is the page you're redirected to after you make your account, which means that everyone automatically starts off in the right place! Isn't that convenient? And works out well too, since we're going to tell you everything you need to know to get started. We will make it as quick and as painless as possible, because this is supposed to be fun after all, and we want you guys to get started and roleplaying without much fuss. 

So, without further ado, here's how we can get you started on the site. The first thing you should do is venture on over here, and read the rules. These are important! They just tell you the do's and don't of the site, and there is a question on your character application about if you read the rules so at least pretend to skim them, so that you don't actually break any without realizing it!

Next stop for you would be to go on over to the site plot and timeline, so you can see what's going on on the site. We are canon up until the end of the seventh book, but not including the epilogue and obviously not including Cursed Child, so this is how you find out what happened after the war and what's happening now! 

Once you've done that, feel free to check out any of the additional information here. A lot of it will help you out in the long run, so go ahead and read to your heart's content. Then you can create your character. You go here for that, and you just click 'Create a New Thread.' That will pull up our template, and then you can get started.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM any staff member, or check out our Frequently Asked Questions!

And once again, welcome to Insurrection!

GUIDE TO ROLEPLAYING

What is Roleplaying?

Roleplay is assuming the role of a character and writing, acting, or playing as that character would. There are many forms of roleplaying: gaming console, live action roleplay, tabletop roleplay, text-based roleplay, forum roleplay, and on and on.

What is Forum Roleplaying?

Forum roleplaying happens when a group of people using a forum to create a story. The story can be loosely related, as in a large forum roleplaying game where many characters inhabit a huge world. The story can also be closely related, as in a small boarding school roleplaying game where all characters know each other.

The actual roleplaying happens through text. Roleplayers write responses to one another through posts. Each post describes the character’s actions, speech, and thoughts. Forum roleplay is often called play-by-post roleplay.

Note that play-by-post roleplay does not always take place on a forum. With the rise of social media, Tumblr has become a large roleplaying hub. Livejournal has always hosted roleplaying communities, too. Forums are still a popular way of organizing roleplaying games, however.

How Does Forum Roleplay Work?

When you roleplay, you assume the role of a character. A character is a made-up entity created for roleplaying. You create a character (a person, animal, demon, alien, or whatever is appropriate for your RPG setting) and write from their perspective/role. Your character isn’t you, and you aren’t your character — you’re separate entities. You can think of it like an actor in a movie — the actor is not the character. Johnny Depp is not Captain Jack Sparrow, Mort Rainey, or John Dillinger.

An Example of Forum Roleplay

Alice (a roleplayer, as Baphomet): The hours nearest dawn were the worst for Baphomet. He hated the thought of going underground, he hated where he slept, and he hated the many dreary hours between the closing of the coffin and the rising of the moon. Gray dawn was creeping ever nearer. Even its palest beginnings of light stung his eyes. He scowled.

You (as Azazel): New as she was to the vampire clan, Azazel was already comfortable with her fellow vampires. It was always like that for her — she just melded, wherever she went. Adaptability all but ensured her long survival. There was one exception, though. That exception stood directly in Azazel’s path to sweet darkness. The slim vampire shifted her weight from one pale leg to the other, unsure what she might say to placate the dark-tempered elder. Too late, she realized he would hear even that minute movement.

IC Action Equals IC Consequence

One essential of forum roleplaying is remembering you are writing a story with many other players. Though your character is important to you, others’ characters are equally important to them. Though there is great freedom in online forum roleplaying, it’s not absolute.

It is important to remember that for your character’s actions, there are often consequences. Though it was a fun plot when your character suddenly snapped, your RPG group leader may not approve. This plot could end up with your roleplay character being kicked out (in a Limited Consent game) or killed (in a Non-Consent game).

Don’t expect to be able to do whatever you want at all times. If you roleplay, there are other people playing, too. If your character does something, other characters will react. Some roleplaying games have courtesy policies requiring at least cursory discussion of certain plots. If you do not extend this courtesy to others before plotting something out of the ordinary, you may end up with some unintended or unwanted consequences.

*Quoted from Basic Forum Roleplay