Firstly, thanks for waiting so patiently guys! And sorry for taking so long! Because, although it may not look like it, we have done a lot of work. Plus, different timezones makes it quite hard to work together.
Before I move onto explaining the update for you, I'd like to thank the other admins for a good job. They all worked for 15 hours plus, thanks to them all
As some members never read the rules/ plot/ and the update explanation, I've put the site on holiday for a while so you all have to read this
GRAPHICSSo obviously the main thing you will all notice is the change in graphics. The banner has been changed, but its only there to stay temporarily, as it will probably be changed again soon. The skin also changed, and is now slightly darker. The font, if you all have not noticed, has decreased slightly to make the index less stretched. The cursive font isn't supposed to be used at some places, but that will all be fixed tommorow. The index length has been decreased by the font size and the layout, and, in my opinion anyways, the site looks better throughout. The sidebar has also been edited.
RULESThe rules have been edited, and WILL be enforced better now. So if your sig's are too big, I suggest you change them now
All members should reread the rules right now, because in addition to reading the new ones, you should reread the old ones as well
MUST READSThough older members hardly need to go read this, there is a new guide for new members to look at. New members will also get a new welcome letter which will underline how to get around PA for them. The other must read threads explains our site, and the roleplaying guide is something that EVERYONE needs to read now. Because we've had many unrealistic roleplaying going around for long enough.
OTHER INFORMATION TOPICSWe've edited each of the other information topics to make them up to date. We've added a few new ones you should check out as well, expecially the 'MAGIC' one, which details magic limitations which many people were breaking. The setting topic details the setting of the site well.
The character application has changed to add some new stuff and remove stupid stuff. We have a characters needed topic now as well.
SPELL COMPENDIUMThe spell compendium has been edited and is almost completed now. Have a look at some spells there!
FOCUS OF POTTERS ARMYThe focus of Potters Army is shifting from grad roleplaying to Hogwarts, so our current plot focuses more on Hogwarts. New members will now start off as students before they can create graduate characters, and all PA events will now be Hogwarts only. Also, all grads will no longer be able to post/see Hogwarts if they are not teachers. This does not mean that Graduate role-playing will end really. We've added some new stuff for them as well.
PLOTWe have a new plot that focuses mainly on Hogwarts, go read it!
LAYOUTThere are some layout changes. The Owl post thing is gone and so are several other forums throughout the site. Some, in the case of the Creative Corner, have been merged together. All this is done to reduct the index
HOGWARTSMASSIVE changes in Hogwarts staffing. Half the classes have been cut, leaving us with only 6. There are no heads of house, so those are all up for the taking for the few remaining teachers. Also, all incompetent teachers have been fired, sorry. You will probably need to sign up for classes again, if you wanted to take a lot, because we removed plenty of classes. The only ones left are:
Alchemy
Care of Magical Creatures
Charms
DADA
Herbology
Transfiguration
Because these had better teachers and seemed more fun than subjects like Muggle Studies and History of Magic. Also, all order teachers have left Hogwarts, so now they are all replaced or their classes have been cut. Teachers, if you have a problem with this, PM me.
We made a new teaching guide as well, which will be PMed to all teachers.
Also Hogwarts now has a change in layout. It has been shrinked slightly if you haven't noticed as many were complaining about the size of the index. There are less subforums too.
Oh, and people who aren't attending classes will be PMed now. One class isn't hard yknow.
HOGWARTS CHAMPIONSHIPSome changes in this as well. Selwyn is inactive. While Christy and Aden are temporarily gone. Therefore, they all need to be replaced. Amelia replaces Christy, Bane replaces Aden and Aminia replaces Selwyn. If anyone has a problem with participating in the tournament, they can PM me.
GRADUATE ROLEPLAYING AND JOBSWe've gotten rid of the department of mysteries, as theres nothing to do there. We've also gotten rid of Diagon Alley jobs, and halfed the Hogwarts teaching staff. So this leaves lots of jobs open. We've designed PM's to each job which serve as guidelines on what to do with that job. We will PM these tommorow.
So we have brought in personal shops. Each graduate can make their own shop in Diagon or Knockturn Alley, where people can purchase items or just roleplay. Which gets me to..
MONEY SYSTEMOur money system was criticized, so we changed it. From now on, if you want an item, all you have to do is claim it at the character possesion thread. So what do you do with your sickles? Spend them on other members personal shops.
REALISTIC ROLEPLAYINGIts not like were going to be enforcing a post length on you (Though as always, we recommend a paragraph), but you should at least start roleplaying realistically! To see what I mean, see the roleplaying guide! Also, see the dueling guide as people duel unrealistically too. And by the way, we are going to send moderators after people to see if they are roleplaying realistically or not. The moderators will point out unrealistic roleplaying by everyone, including admins or other moderators cause no one RP's perfectly.
ORDER/DEATH EATERSThe Order and the Death Eaters will now get better organized. Death Eaters have a new head, Sandra Archer. We hope she organizes them well so we can get our plot going faster
Admins and mods will make DE or Order characters to get them both active.
HOMEPAGEWe're creating a lovely little html homepage which the forum will redirect too. It will be finished and put on tommorow!
OOC stuffWe plan to increase OOC discussion outside of the cbox after this update. So, at the other discussion, we added controversial topics for you all to give your opinions on. We also now have a quote of the month, and a question of the month, so make sure to comment on that!
OTHER SMALL STUFF
Its funny how: little bits of editing, updating the canon list and magical abilities and other stuff, removing ranks, adding new ranks, sorting members, deleting groups, making more groups, moving dead threads, removing the announcements threads from the Pensieve (if you noticed how annoying that was before than you would be thankful:/) and a few other stuff can take sooo much time but make a very small difference
If you read that all, thanks! *gives a cookie*
Darren
Head Admin
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