Hi all. The team and I wanted to take a moment to have a bit of a discussion about a few things.

Primarily, we wanted to discuss special abilities. Previously, we've opened up tryouts for specific special abilities in an effort to try to limit how many are in the group. This made sense when we were a smaller group, but we are constantly growing. One additional issue we've come across this term with our policy and process is a lack of interest in the tryouts. We are taking some time now to re-evaluate this policy, and we would love your input!

Do you feel that setting limits are necessary? Why? If we were to keep the limitations, do you have any suggestions to how we can improve our process? Would you prefer we remove the policy and allow for members to roleplay with whatever abilities they'd like? If so, would you revamp your character to have a special ability?

Keep in mind, if we remove the policy of limiting how many special abilities are available, we may put in a new policy that may limit each member in that you may only have one special ability. This means if you have multiple characters, only one character may have an ability. That character would also be limited to one ability. This is not definite though, so we'd like to hear your feedback on that as well.

One other issue we'd like to discuss at this time is possibly extending this term for a week or two. I'm sure some of you have noticed a lack of activities this term, and we'd like to take this time to apologize. Extending the term will allow for us to post a few more before we end this term - however, the choice is yours. If you feel like you would like to end the term on time, take a break, then start fresh for next term, please speak up!

Though most of the discussion will be geared towards the above two issues, if you have any other concerns, please feel free to voice them.

? I think one special ability per player is a good idea. ? Limiting is also a good idea. Maybe if a TON(twenty or more) are trying out, you could have a lottery?

Hm. I know it's not particularly helpful, but I can see justification for a couple ways. Yes, in canon most of these things are very limited. Allowing everyone to do whatever they like can result in some interesting characters. I'm sure a lot of folk have had bad experiences with people who just /have/ to be ultra special, though I haven't met anyone in the group like that. Eventually we'll find one, I'm sure, if we keep growing. ^.^;; At the same time, playing with abilities and unique traits is a lot of fun, and can be fun for others if you handle them well (aren't a jerk).

With that said, it really seems that most of these abilities aren't going to have much bearing outside of roleplay, which not all members engage in. Perhaps imposing a restriction geared towards making sure special slots are given to those who will actually use them would be helpful?

One ability per person is definitely reasonable. If you want to switch abilities, you have to put whichever character you're using with one on the shelf to bring in another. nods

I agree with the one ability per player limit, too. I think that's enough excitement for a person to handle. I don't think there should necessarily be tryouts as they are now, but some kind of a little audition would still be good.

I like the idea of extending the term. It's been a super busy one for a lot of people, and I'm sure most of the user base would appreciate some extra time to tie up loose ends. I still have quite a few chapters worth of questions to post in the book club (winter semester killed me), and I'm sure others have things they'd like to do, too.

I think one special ability per person could be a good idea, I honestly didnt try out because I dont talk/rp out my character much...I love doing the activities though and being a behind the scenes student :)

I think extending the term by a week could be cool too...Im sure everyone knows you guys have real lives too :) I think you guys have been doing great! :)

I'm happy with keeping one ablity per person. Honestly I don't think it really makes much sense for my werewolf boy to also be part fae or be great at even more things as that would wind up making "god" mode characters and these are kids, they can't have everything.

Extending the term is good idea to me. Everyone in the rp aspects seem to be extremely busy so this would help those people play more. However, I do have a question back... if we extend, are captains to extend their clubs as well? either way works for me but thought this might be something that needs to be asked.

I, too, think that term should be extended a bit. So many of us have had exams and crazy things going on, it'd be great to have a little more time.

I also agree one ability per character is good. I thought the tryout process was perfectly fine, but I don't really care if its removed, so mark me down as indifferent to that point.

I do think it should still be restricted to a certain number of slots per ability, though, or the entire school will be full or werewolves, animagi, mermaids, etc. haha. Maybe a couple/few more of each than we have now, but I don't necessarily think it should be free for all.

Just my opinion :)

I'm pretty much indifferent towards the special abilities. I think it would be fair a person to have just one. And I agree with that there should be a cap on slots per ability. Yes, I do enjoy reading people's roleplays but I think there would be too many werewolves and all that in a school for wizards and witches.

I also think it would be a good idea to extend the term. I know I personally lost several weeks due to school work and same goes with a lot of other people. I was kind of bummed about not too many people have done the assignment I created but I understand people are really busy with they own actual work.

I think a basic demonstration of writing ability and understanding of what your ability entails (and /doesn't/ include!) would be sufficient, though I won't argue if you guys think it should be more than that.

Huh, do we have to restart the clubs each term? O.o

basically, yes. This is my first time doing the CoMCC at the end of the term anyone else can take it over. If they are accepted they can run the club their way, so if they want to make it not an rp club then they can.

My personal feelings is that Term stay what it is because of how late it is we are deciding this. Pretty much everyone knows Term ends in June and an extension may end up confusing the newer people who are with us/make people think this will happen again, if that makes sense? (I'm sorry if it doesn't, I am half asleep right now.)

As for the Special Abilities tryouts, I did notice they weren't really huge this term. I think the best thing for it might be to allow each person 1 special ability and if they wish to have another added, apply for it.

WHAT? NONONO even if someone else takes over there will always be a place for Magnus to run an AU club with everyone in my book.

as far as I know, there /were/ no tryouts this term. Interest check, then nothing. shrug I figured people were busy. As long as it gets done in the end, yeah?

tryouts had been before start of term. If I recall correctly, they wrapped them up mid-end of March but I do recall them being open because it was listed as open in the Hufflepuff bulletin and I did check before I listed it. :x would know better about that I think.

it gives people a chance to be the head of a club and whatnot :D Au?

I remember the cutoff date for the interest board was considerably after I replied, but nobody ever contacted me. I don't recall if I posted before March, but I think I did -- pretty much the day I joined the group.

I agree with extending the term might get a little messy. Starting new after a breather could be really helpful for people trying to balance end of term school and then trying to RP about school or doing the challenges and such. That is just my opinion though.

As far as the abilities I like the limit to one ability. Some abilities are difficult to RP with so there might be people wanting to change into something new that it is easier for them and that would open it up to the other members. As far as the audition portion mentioned it might be easier to ask a few basic questions where a person can apply AND tryout at the same time. The person can submit a quick essay on what they would do and such. Something like apply for your top three abilities or something along the lines and as you ladies choose you can place people on their ability without having to go back and forth. I mean for me personally I am only interested in being a Seer and I love it, but I have seen others go back and forth trying to choose between abilities so that might be an option for them.

I like the limits on the number of each special ability - it makes the abilities more "special", and also means that you have to really want it to go to the effort of the try-outs, so you know it's something you can and will RP. If there was no limit, I wonder if we'd end up with 25 part-vampires for example, but only one which is actively RP'd. I know not everyone does RP, but to me at least, part of the fun of the special ability is using it in one of the roleplay groups ;) I was wary of the try-out process in the previous term, but I found it actually helped me to get into my character's head better - that meant I was more sorted before RPing her, and was able to (I think, at least) RP to a better level :D

Maybe for the try-outs, you could post the questions for each ability under spoilers, and still have the answers mailed to you; rather than having to apply, then wait for the try-out sMail to arrive? That might encourage more people to take part, seeing as they know what the questions are, and then there's no worry of "what if I'm not good enough at what I need to do"

I agree with one special ability per person - it means we can concentrate on that particular ability rather than trying to hop between various ones, which could get more complicated!

And yes on extending the term for a week - with the site errors the other week, and RL as well, I think a week-long extension would be helpful :)

I think only people who will actively RP that term (with # wizrp and otherwise) should be permitted a single special ability if they have one at all. Limits are a good thing imo, but I don't see why the audition process has to follow the same model as previous terms.

also makes a great point about why characters with special abilities should only have one, since something like the part fae werewolf boy from her example would be ridiculous.

I'd also prefer to have a nice break and then a clean slate with a new term instead of extending this one.