About the game

1) What is an anonymous game?

An anonymous game is just what it sounds like - a game where the various players and mods do not know one another's out of game identity.  All contact goes through the Inbox/Private Messages feature on Insane Journal, as well as posts in the OOC comm and comments on the wiki.

2) What if I want to make a character with a friend?  What if we want to play siblings or old friends?

Tough.  This isn't the game for that.  I don't doubt that those characters are awesome; I ask that you play them elsewhere.

3) What happens if shit goes down and I have an OOC conflict with another player?

The anonygame really tends to cut down on this; the character sheets will also help.  If it does happen, though, the mod will act as the arbiter and let both sides plead their case through the same anonymous channels.

4) What canon are we using?

All the Harry Potter canon officially written by J.K. Rowling, including suppliments and websites and interviews, save the epilogue of the final book, which takes place in the future.

5) Can I play a canon character?

By and large no; anyone young enough to be going to this school will not have been in the books anyway.  If you've got an exception, please feel free to apply him or her, but know that your chances are slim.

6) Can I play the relative of a canon character?

Yes.  All you have to do is write up a well rounded character.  This includes: children, cousins, siblings.  This needs to pass the 'smell test' for me -- if you're making them related to a canon because you want to be super speshal, I will turn it down.  If you make them related because of appropriate personality traits or flavor, or the passing of special magical gifts, then I will likely say yes.

7) Can I play a special magical creature?  Werewolf? Veela?  What about something not in the books, like a fairy princess or a medium?

Yes.  Please take canon into account and, as above, don't do it to be a spechal snowflake.  Do it for flavor or as part of a brilliant character concept, and I'll agree.

8) Can I play part of a special group not in the books, like a family of airship-flying magical pirates or a member of a super secret cabal of flower mages?

Sure!  Just make sure the sanity outweighs the crack; in other words, the character must still be a character and playable if for some reason we have to remove the unique/invented culture.  See also 6 and 7.

9) Is there anything that's an absolute no?

Generally this game is designed to be fluffy and light; I do reserve the right to turn down characters who are far too emo, dark, brooding, or will otherwise break the spirit of the game.  Some emo is just character; someone who likes to cut while wearing black, crying tears of rose petals, and listening to Depeche Mode is excessive.  Please note also that these are kids; anything that would generally get a squick-warning in fanfic is subject to my approval on application.  I absolutely will not allow the following: child abuse, incest, extremely violent characters, suicidal characters.

10) How do I apply?

Go here, and do as it says.

11) How do I talk to the mod?

Three ways: 1) Leave a comment here.  2) Send a message to knitmeapony or asst_hopkirk via the Private Message function on IJ.  3) If you are already in the game, post in the OOC comm asking for the mod to contact you by PM, or simply post the question.

About the world

1) Does this take place in real-time?

Yes.  Days pass just the same as they do in real life; additionally, it takes place at the end of 2008.  The end of the last Harry Potter book is in 1998, or thereabouts; work with that when writing history.

2) What do most wizards think of Pumwicket?

The press has trumpeted this as a GREAT success.  Everyone thinks Pumwicket is a fantastic place, a second Hogwarts for the less fortunate.

3) Who can attend Pumwicket?  Do you have to be British?

You do not have to be British born to attend, however for the purposes of this game I will be encouraging it. The student's parents (or at least a guardian) MUST live in the British Isles in general, but they don't have to be a citizen.  Other countries have their own methods to instruct, and just like with special types of powers there must be a reason in your background for the move -- because this will be a limited thing, please make it a good one.

4) What ages of students go to Pumwicket?

 Because the school only just opened, it's a wide variety.  You must be a minor to enter school; however when you enter, you are given an examination to see where you are in terms of skill. If you're 15 and brand new, you will be a 15 year old firstie, and can be at school up to age 21 (seven years total). But if you're nineteen, no matter how little you know you're out of luck. Seventeen and under.

5) Can an exceptional muggle student with weak magic and no actual magical training test into, say, third or fourth year if they excel in the non-magical subjects, since those are more in play here than at Hogwarts? In general, how is that disparity between magical and non-magical talent addressed?

Both accelerated and challenged students are handled through independent study. If you rush ahead or fall behind your year, you have a couple outs:

1) since many of the classes are mixed often you're moved 1 or 2 years ahead/behind but your schedule stays the same.

2) if there's not a mixed class, your schedule may be altered to try to put you in a class more your speed for one or two subjects.

3) you may be moved to theory-only courses. You don't have to be able to do transfigurations to understand the 'science' behind them; while others have practical exams, you write essays.

4) worst-case scenario, if you're wildly behind/ahead (say, an utter squib for magic or dyslexic to the point of falling years behind) those courses will become your 'open' periods, and you will have more open study courses later in the week. (see a day in the life for what that means)

Finally, if you're sixth or seventh year you may be moved to do more projects, even teach a second class if you're capable, or possibly do an internship where you're capable.  In general, the school is more interested in getting the students through seven years of education than sticking to a set curriculum. The smaller size allows for it, and the mandate of the Ministry almost forces it.