"Help! I don't know where to start!"
No worries! Check out the IC News in our left sidebar to see what's up, and look around in the Creating Your Character section to see examples of what is needed or what may not be accepted. This should help you aim in the right direction. Maybe you'll find some muse in there! If not, there's also the Canon List, which is in a subforum, here:
https://www.pottersarmy.net/f104-canon-charactersRemember, though: You'll need to get in touch with the current members of that family before posting the application. There is an explanation for that in the Canon claiming thread.
"Okay! So I've checked those areas and I have an idea of who I want to make. Do I need to do anything else before posting my application?"
Not really! Sometimes applications will need to be tweaked once posted, but the Admins are here to make sure that everything makes sense and that characters aren't too powerful, or to help you create some plotting before you start by checking to see if the character fits our site's plot or general character/creature basics.
As long as you've read the Rules and understand our guidelines for maturity level on the site, you should probably be fine. The rules can be found here:
https://www.pottersarmy.net/t17473-potter-s-army-site-rulesOther helpful links will be at your top left, colored with a sort of teal-green, on our sidebar.
"Yay! So can I put up my claims right now? I really want to make sure I get my playby (Face claim)."
Technically, if you haven't put up your app yet, you'll need to Reserve the character's playby. This can be done in the face claims list under the Character Building forum. Or, if you're going to go ahead and post it, as soon as the character is approved you can run over and claim the playby. Just know, if you think it's going to take you a while, you'd be better off reserving them. If someone else claims them first, they win (so to speak).
Your other claims will also be available as soon as your app is approved by one of the Admins! Be sure to post your app in the Creating Your Character subforum, otherwise we might miss it and you'll be stuck waiting on us to find it. That's no fun at all.
"Right. So I've started my app, but I'm getting stuck in some parts. I can't think of anything to write!"
Need some prompts for parts? Here are some ideas you can pick and choose from for your applications. You definitely do not need to use all of these. Or even any of these if you have your own ideas in mind.
Appearance:--If they have company over, how are they supposed to dress?
--Alternately, how do they dress when nobody cares how they look, or they're alone?
--Remember to give a description of things like how they wear their hair, or do their make up. Things like that! It's an easy bit to fill out your character's appearance, and helps with posting later.
Personality:--What would your character never ever do in a million years?
--If they could spend the whole day doing whatever they want, would they be lazy? Or go out and practice Quidditch? Or study really hard?
--How does your character explain themselves to others, when it comes to adjectives? Do they think they're funny? Smart? Shy?
--If someone insulted their friends/family/relationship partner, how would your character react?
History--What was your character's first experience with magic? Did they know they were magical before? How, then? Maybe their parents told them, or another relative.
--Have they had a best friend all their life? It could be an NPC or a character already on PA (so long as you get their permission before saying so in the application).
--What was their biggest challenge in school? What were they best at?
--If they've graduated, what was their first job? Maybe they were an apprentice somewhere first?
--Where do they live? Is it different from where they grew up?
--What happened to their family over the years? Is everyone still alive and well?
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