Accio! FAQ
☆ Applications and Reserves
Can I apply for a character without placing a reserve?
Provided the character is not already reserved, this is welcomed.
What is the point of a reserve if we can just app anyway?
It can be considered a statement of intent to apply, and it also prevents people from applying for your character while you write your app.
If the character I want is reserved, can I submit a challenge application?
No. We prefer not to judge applications as though they are a contest.
If I have previously dropped a character and want to play them again, do I need to re-apply?
Yes. If you wish to rejoin with a previous character, and they are not currently taken or reserved, we do ask that they are reapplied. However, you don't need to rewrite any part of the application.
If a character appears in more than one canon, can I app a “double” from another canon?
If the universes are significantly different (for example, a straight adaptation or a retelling would not be considered a separate canon), we will permit a double. This means that yes, we do allow both Kingdom Hearts' Aerith and Final Fantasy VII's Aerith at the same time. However, to avoid this getting too crazy (particularly in the case of superhero canons), we permit only one double per character.
If someone else is already playing the canon version of my character, can I still app an AU version?
Yes, this is fine. However, these will also be considered “doubles.” Like the above answer, we permit only one double at a time.
What kind of fandoms can I apply from?
The vast majority of fandoms are welcome here, regardless of whether they are comics, video games, anime, live-action and so on. However, there are a few kinds of canon that we are unwilling to take on. Unfortunately, the boundaries are tricky to define, but typically those canons are ones with minimal regard for continuity (cartoon shorts, like Looney Tunes), or ones where characterisation is almost purely fanon (Vocaloid). We also do not typically permit real-life individuals, but will take existing fictional depictions of them (such as Frederic from Eternal Sonata). If in doubt, please contact a mod.
Can I app a non-human?
Sure, provided they can communicate with humans! Otherwise, we suggest making them an AU and apping them as a Harry Potter character. Also, it's advisable that non-humans at least have hands to wield a wand with, though advanced transfiguration magic will be able to aid those who don't.
In story, however, please note that due to the Wand Ban for non-human magical beings, permission for any non-human to have use of a wand will have to be granted by the Ministry. Individuals are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and this assessment takes place prior to their arrival at Hogwarts.
Can I app a silent protagonist?
As most silent protagonists do have suggestions towards their personality, they are fine!
Can I app a robot?
Sadly, electronics do not function at Hogwarts, as the magical atmosphere causes them to malfunction. For that reason, robots can only be applied as AU.
Can I app a child?
For their own safety, child Outsiders also stay at Hogwarts, and receive some basic primary education. So, yes. Provided they are Outsiders, kids are fine.
Can I app a villain?
For the most part, yes. Villains will only be refused when they are very openly villainous, psychotic and destructive - considering that they will be attending the same school as the wizarding youth, the Ministry will be more than a little apprehensive when an Outsider starts screaming about how they're gonna burn everything to the ground and watch rivers of blood flow.
NEW! Can my character's pet come along?
Yes, this is fine! If you wish to have a character's animal companion join them, simply add a 150+ word summary of the critter, its personality, and any abilities it may have to the application. In order for a pet to be considered, it should have its own identifiable personality, but not to the level where it can be reasonably played alone in this setting.
☆ Characters
How did my character end up here?
An experimental spell by a hopeful Dark Wizard went awry, and his actual intentions remain under investigation. The unintended result of the spell has been to summon many people from other worlds. Your character would have popped up somewhere in the middle of the UK, and been collected not long after by the Ministry of Magic.
If all characters have “magical potential,” does that mean my character has to have special powers in their canon?
No. All characters, regardless of how painfully normal their life is in their own canon, have whatever quality it is that enables the use of magic in this reality. Their possession of this quality is the reason the summoning spell has called them here.
Can my character keep their original powers?
Yes. However, if a character is particularly prone to showing off a destructive power, it will be subject to limitations by the Ministry.
Can I update my character to a later point in canon?
In Accio! we have chosen not to permit canon updates, as the character is taken directly from a specific point in time. Choose your canon points carefully, and stick to them!
If new background information comes up in canon that wasn't shown before, can I incorporate that?
As this has already happened to your character, incorporating new background material is fine.
How are dropped characters handled?
This depends on whether the character was from Harry Potter, an OC/AU designed to fit into Harry Potter, or from another fandom. For characters who are classed as Outsiders, they will have faded out of this reality and disappeared. OC and AU characters will have left Hogwarts, either to go into private tutoring or to move abroad. Harry Potter characters will return to being NPCs.
If I app a Harry Potter or AU character someone has played previously, will I have to use their previous CR and development?
For the sake of continuity, we do ask that prospective new players check the previously played character's past CR and development, particularly in the case of major Harry Potter characters. There is a section of the application form where we ask the applicant to agree to this. We don't ask for a super in-depth review, however, and expect other players to help out where appropriate.
So... how do I check that character's previous CR?
We keep a list of Harry Potter “native” characters who have been played, what their account names are, and links to their community tags. We also strongly advise making an intro post to the OOC community, so that those who have played out past CR will have an opportunity to discuss things with you.
How is a hiatus handled?
If the player feels as though the character's absence needs to be justified, what has happened will be left up to that player, but please keep it reasonable! As suggestions, they could have been unwell, or become bogged down in their studies. It's probably much simpler, however, just to say that they carried on with their everyday business off-screen.
☆ Setting
How are characters sorted?
Typically, characters will have a private interview and sorting in the Headmaster's Office on arrival at Hogwarts. However, characters who arrive during the summer holidays will be sorted during the start-of-year Sorting Ceremony instead.
Do characters stay at Hogwarts during the summer holidays?
Rather than staying in the castle during the summer holidays, a camping ground will be set up near Hogsmeade. For some students, summer school will be part of the camp.
What is the magical barrier?
The magical barrier has been erected by the Ministry of Magic in order to retain a degree of control over the Outsiders. It prevents them from leaving the area surrounding Hogwarts, largely to avoid them approaching Muggle society. There is a charm that enables off-worlders to pass through the barrier, but it is a closely-guarded secret.
How far does the barrier extend?
Think of the barrier's shape as being a dome. It is quite large, and covers Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and some of the surrounding territory.
My character should be in the Fifth Year, and due to take OWL exams. They don't have the knowledge to take those!
Hogwarts has devised a scheme to accommodate the Outsider students specific needs, while avoiding dropping student-age characters down too far. The details on how Outsider studies are handled can be found here.
My character has no money. How will s/he afford anything?
Hogwarts does have an assistance fund to aid students with financial difficulties, though the influx of students from other worlds has resulted in the need for the Ministry's aid. The fund grants a set amount of money per year, and will cover school supplies, uniform, clothing, and what little is left over can be used at the student's wishes. Most students will likely need to purchase their supplies second-hand.
If the rest of the game uses book material, why is the uniform the film version?
Because. The film game us a nice visual representation of the uniform, which is probably embedded in many people's heads as the uniform. It's also more fun to draw.
Some other question?
Feel free to ask any other questions in comments to this post.
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