Info:Character Guidelines
Character Allowance
New members may create one primary character to start. Once a new member has made ten role-playing posts, he or she is now eligible to create up to 8 primary characters.
Each writer may create up to 8 primary characters. If a writer would like to create an additional primary character, he or she should check with the Curators before creating the bio.
Any writer with an active primary character may also create up to 3 secondary characters. Secondary characters should be thought of as background cast to support bigger plots on the site. They may not be Professors or hold any other major roles. Active primary characters may bump secondary characters from the Cast of Characters roster and the Avatar Registry.
Any writer with an active primary character is also welcome to create NPCs (Non-Played Characters). These NPCs should be thought of as extreme background cast. Any active member may create as many NPCs as they wish.
- NPCs do not have their own account.
- NPCs may not reserve avatars.
- Any NPC can be bumped from the Cast of Characters by any active character.
- Recurring NPCs should be added to the.
- NPCs may not hold a major role or a singular role. She can be one of the Senior Obliviators but not the Head Obliviator.
- If you would like an NPC to be added to the Cast of Characters, post it to the Cast of Character Additions sign-up list.
- NPCs may be reviewed by the Curators.
To create a new primary or secondary character, a writer should register a subaccount for that character and submit a new Biography Form. (Read more...)
Writers may retire their characters from the role-play permanently. For a primary character, this can happen when a character's story has come to an end and they have been written out of the game in-character; or if a character has been Inactive for at least 4 months. Secondary characters may be retired at any time.
Retired characters are removed from the Cast of Characters and do not count against a writer's Character Allowance. To retire a character, please contact a Curator.
Activity
- A character is considered Active if they have posted in at least one role-play thread in the past month.
- About once a month, a curator will perform an Activity Check. Any character who has not role-played in at least a month will be given the Inactive status. The writer will be notified of inactivity and the character's name will be grayed out on rosters, indicating that an active writer may take that spot with the consent of curators.
- To become Active again, a character simply has to make a role-playing post. The Curators will take care of the rest!
- Major roles (such as Headmaster, Minister of Magic, Heads of Houses, Professors, Prefects, Quidditch Captains, etc.) are important because they facilitate role-play for other writers. Because of this, these positions have extra in-character and out-of-character activity requirements. (Read more...)
Making Changes to a Character
- If you would like to make an in-character addition or change to your character (such as becoming a creature, becoming a criminal, getting a new job, discovering a special ability, or being awarded a special title), please use the appropriate Supplementary Request form.
- If you would like to change a secondary character into a primary character (or vice versa), please contact a Curator. We'll let you know if anything needs to be added or changed in their biography.
- If you would like to retire a character, please contact a Curator. We will update the rosters and can help you figure out how to tie up any loose ends.
- Major Character Changes
- If you would like to make major changes to a character's history or personality after they have been approved for play, please use the character revamp Request form. This allows you to clearly outline the changes you need to make to the age, personality, history and/or personality that could have significant repercussions in-game.
- Changes must be approved by Curators.
- Part of this process will include checking in with other characters that may be affected by the changes. Their input will be considered as to the best way to make the changes.
- Not all major revamps can be accommodated because they may contradict to much that has already occurred.
- Simple updates and small tweaks may be done without permission, but use caution!
Career Change
File this simple form if your character changes jobs. Please remember that all job changes should make sense in-character. If the career change requires major changes to the character, please fill out a Character Revamp instead.
Character Types
Hogwarts Students
- Hogwarts students are all from the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- Only magical students may attend - no Squibs, Muggles, or non-humans.
- No transfer, exchange students or late-starts.
- First, Second, Third, Fifth and Seventh Year students are currently open for play. (Fourth and Sixth Years are NPCs.)
- Calculate your student's year and birthday with the Hogwarts Year Calculator.
- Hogwarts students must attend classes and abide by the school rules.
Hogwarts Staff
Hogwarts is proud to hire only the best of the best in their fields. Nearly all Hogwarts Professors are graduates of Hogwarts‡, and are of the highest calibre. Professors are required to host class threads on a regular basis and Professors, Heads of Houses, the Headmistress and Deputy Headmaster are all considered Major Roles and subject to strict requirements. (Non-teaching staff are not considered major roles)
Writers who fail to meet these activity expectations may be asked to have their characters transfer to a new position at the end of the Hogwarts semester.
- Hogwarts professors must be at least thirty years old and should have experience in their field.
- Hogwarts professors are required to teach 1-2 Hogwarts classes each in-character month. These classes should be developed through posting and come to a reasonable end.
- ‡Foreign-educated Hogwarts professors are rare and so are capped at 3.
People of the Wizarding World
Outside of Hogwarts is a vast, rich wizarding world - which includes the Ministry of Magic, St Mungo's Hospital, Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and many more places. Each comes with an assortment of different professions and opportunities - summarised by the Cast of Characters. The whole of the magical world is at your disposal!
Some of the roles, such as Ministry Department Heads, are considered Major Roles and are subject to strict requirements.
➤➤General Character Biography Form
Criminals
Criminals are also welcome to join in the fun at Absit Omen! Please be aware that criminal characters are expected to cooperate with Magical Law Enforcement writers, and may face reasonable consequences for their crimes.
If you'd like to play a Criminal character, please fill out the Criminal Supplemental Form in addition to the General Biography Form. You are welcome to send both in at the same time.
Creatures and Magical Beings
All kinds of magical creatures are available to play in Absit Omen! Those wishing to write a creature character should be sure to conform to both Harry Potter canon as well as details established as AO canon.
If you'd like to play a character who is a creature, please fill out the Creature Supplemental Form in addition to the General Biography or Student Biography form. You are welcome to send both in at the same time.
- Werewolves
- Werewolves have played a big part in Absit Omen's story. In the 2008-2009, there was a controversy over whether or not they could attend Hogwarts, which inspired a student group called SAWS to form. A criminal organization also began to experiment on werewolves in spring 2009, resulting in the creation of Direwolves. Currently, werewolves are being kidnapped and forced to participate in an underground werewolf fighting ring.
- Werewolves in the Wizarding World
- Werewolves at Absit Omen
- Vampires
- Veela & Part-Veela
- Goblins
- Giants
- House Elves
- Ghosts
Pure-blooded Witches and Wizards
- Pure-blood: Both parents and all four grandparents are magic folk.
- Half-blood: At least one parent is magic, but there is a Muggle or Muggle-born in the recent family tree.
- Muggle-born: Both parents are muggles.
New pure-blooded characters need to be related to an already establish AO or HP Canon pure-blooded family. Once you have created your pureblood character, we can help you find a connection. Check out the AO Pureblood Families page to see a list of current families!
Canon Characters
- Canon characters are welcome at Absit Omen!
- Canons should not contradict previously existing information about them, coordinating with both the HP canon and any AO canon.
- The events of the Epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have not yet occurred (2019) and we are not obliged to head in that direction.
Canon Characters at Absit Omen Characters not listed are open for play. Inactive canon characters are adoptable.
Special Abilities
- What is a Special Ability?
- A character's capacity to do something which is rare among the magical community.
- A skill or trait which requires abnormally high levels of power or intelligence.
- Special Abilities are both innate (Seers, Metamorphmagi) or the result of study (Occlumency, Animagi).
- Each character can have a total of two Special Abilities.
- Each character may have up to two special abilities.
- For learned special abilities like Animagi and Legelimancy, characters may explore as beginners and need not apply for the ability - just contact the Curators to let us know. Please remember to apply if your character reaches intermediate or master level.
- If you'd like to let go of your special ability, you can contact the Curators to drop it.
List of Special Abilities:
Please refer to the Special Abilities Roster to view available spots. Only Active characters count against the site-wide cap.
Special Titles
- Special titles are leadership roles, awards or honoraries earned in-character.
- Some special titles are considered Major Roles and have important extra requirements.
- Students may have up to three special titles. Adults may have as many as they have earned.
- See what's currently available at the Cast of Characters.
Special Titles at Hogwarts
These characters are expected to be duly qualified in-character, and in good academic and disciplinary standing. Writers should actively engage their characters in their duties or risk losing the spot.
- Head boy & head girl, prefects: Major Roles Level 3, actively patrol the halls, engage in leadership and assist in maintaining decorum
- Quidditch captains: Major Roles Level 3, assist in coordinating Quidditch matches and hold at least 1 team event every 2 in-character months
- Student club presidents: create opportunities for students to participate, hold at least 1 club event every 2 in-character months
- Deputy Headmaster: Major Roles Level 1
- Head of House: Major Roles Level 1
Other Special Titles
- Order of Merlin: An award of great honor, bestowed by the Ministry of Magic for great services to the Wizarding World. The bearer must have performed a feat most generous, courageous or benevolent. First Class, Second Class and Third Class are awarded according to height of prestige.
- Member of the Wizengamot: Revered members of society with a reputation for fairness, good judgment, and deep understanding of Wizarding Law that comes with substantial age and experience.
Foreign-Born Characters
Characters from outside the UK and Ireland are welcome at AO, but the focus of our role-play is on the Wizarding World of the UK and Ireland. When creating characters from other countries, please conform with AO canon already established.
Magical Schools in Other Countries
Note:Please do not introduce new magical schools that overlap with any already existing in the AO canon.
- European students may attend Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, or Durmstrang.
- American students may attend the Salem Witches Institute or the Red Rocks Academy. Advanced students may continue their studies at Laevenstrome's Fundunct of Sorcery.
- Girls in North America can attend The Northwest Witches Academy.
- Canadian students may attend Pinebrook Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
- Israeli or Jewish students may attend Beit Gaddol in Jerusalem.
- Iranian or Shiite Muslim students may attend Gondishapur in Iran.
Foreign-Born Students at Hogwarts
All Hogwarts students must be born in the United Kingdom or Ireland and/or be permanent residents and citizens at the time of their admittance to Hogwarts. We do not allow transfer students from other magic schools nor students whose permanent residence is outside the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Adopt a Character
Absit Omen members frequently outline characters they'd like to see in the role-play and offer them up for another writer to adopt and write as their own.
