! - For full, detailed rules, read the paragraphs! But, if you're on-the-go and you don't have time, read the mini point-form rules underneath the paragraphs. They share different fonts, so hopefully they'll stand out, and will be easily-accessed.

There is also a hidden code somewhere in the rules, just so we make sure that all members have read the rules. We won't give you a hint, so read on!

Hogwarts : A Legend is filled with "minor" teens all throughout the ages thirteen to twenty-five, and because of the minor ages we have on the site, we will not allow any grave swearing or content in role plays, in the chat box, or in the OOC boards. Along with the innapropriate text rules, we will also have no tolerance for sexist, pornographic, or racist images on the board. If you are found posting any, the consequences will result in a permanent ban. Due to the minor teens we have on the site, the site's overall rating is PG13 - and therefore we will not accept anyone's biography if they are under that age.

Yes, it is nice to have tons of characters, and we do happen to allow unlimited amounts, but since we want all of our users active, there is a 35 post requirement (on every account) after five characters are created. Any spam posts or advertisements anywhere on the forum will be deleted without notice and will not be tolerated. And to add onto the character-inclined rule, we will need all people to have their characters first and last name as their display name. Members of the site are not allowed to give other members their characters, swap or trade accounts, of any kind. In order to give a character to someone else, that original account must be deleted, and the biography rewritten by the new holder.

- You must be 13 in order to register here, at Hogwarts : A Legend.
- Because of the youth of the board, no grave swearing is permitted.
- No pornography, racism, sexist, or gory images are to be posted.
- Hogwarts : A Legend's overall rating is PG13
- You are allowed to have unlimited accounts, however, after five accounts, each account must have at least 35 accumulated posts.
- Any spam, advertising, or affiliation posts not made in their respective boards will be deleted.
- Everyone must have their character's first and last name as their display name.
- There is to be no switching/swapping or exchanging of accounts/characters.

Every post on the forum in character must be at least four to five full lines - any posts that do not meet these requirements will need additional editing before they can be approved. Yes, you are probably wondering why we have a posting limit - it is because we would like you to improve your role playing skills while you are here, and we would like to see and help you along the way. As for threads, please do not post in someone else's thread unless the thread openly addressing any willing roleplayer or otherwise indicates you personally (your name in the thread subject).

I would like to highly emphasize this rule: no killing off characters without the consent of the owner of the character and at least one administrator to approve of the plotted death. When buying school supplies, or buying anything in general, please create your own thread to avoid cluttering others. We would also like to put a giant emphasis on this rule: no role playing in present tense - it confuses the responder and sometimes tends to drive them off. Also, to finish off with this section: NO GOD-MODDING - which is controlling someone else's character - this will not be tolerated, and you will be asked to edit your post.

- The absolute minimum post-length is 4-5 full lines
- All closed threads and others that do not include your character are OFF LIMITS.
- No killing off characters without the direct consent of the member and an administrator.
- There is also a rule stating that we can not accomodate any "present tense" role playing.
- God-Modding will also not be tolerated whatsoever, and can result in a severe warning.

As an original character, you're expected to use your own avatar and signature - not a canon character's celebrity - because it would cause much confusion within the forum. As said before in the General Forum Rules, we will not tolerate any nudity, sexual, racist, sexist, extreme gore/violence, grave swearing, or anything of the sort in any graphics posted on this site - that includes signatures and avatars.

To be completely blunt and flexibly-comfortable, we are going to allow you to have signatures within 550 pixels in width by 300 pixels in height (unless it is a 300x400 signature). That is to say that if any signatures violating this rule are to be found, they will be removed without warning. If you need a set (avatar and signature) created for you, you may request one in the Graphics Request board where one of our highly-trained graphic designers will make up a signature and avatar for you - given that they have the free time, for we are not, however, obliged to make you a set.

- As canon and original characters, you're expected to use your own signatures and avatars.
- Signatures passing 550x300 will be removed WITHOUT WARNING.
- Although 300 is the maximum size for a typical 500x200 signature, 200x300 signatures (two separate images) will be accepted.

If you happen to be late for a class, please do not speak up to the Professor or anyone around you once you've sat down, just take out your notes and wand (if needed). If you are in a class where a wand is required and you are to learn a new spell, please keep in mind that your character will not be able to perfect the spell during their first attempt. Please make an effort to dedicate two or three posts to learning a spell before they can perfect it.

When flying - considering you're a first year - your character will not be able to have the broom levitate to their hand the moment they set foot in front of it. Perfect characters will not be tolerated - everyone has their flaws and strengths. Please, like said before, dedicate five or six paragraphs to learning how to fly because it makes the whole effect more realistic. While you're in a class, remember to always read the Professor's posts above all others! They are the ones who will give direction, teach the class, and give instruction that might be worth House Points or other special things!

- When walking into class, please do not speak up or draw attention to yourself.
- When learning a new spell, please note that your character WILL NOT be able to perform it first try.
- The same rule is linked to Flying as well, the above rule and this are to be followed.
- Please read the professor's posts before the students so you know who you're interacting with first.

- When you enter a special power under your character, there must be a spot open on the list!
- Your special power must be on our list, no exceptions.
- Parselmouth/tongue is currently completely out and will not be available for a few more terms.

This is a major rule we tend to find being broken: the relationships shared between a character and various canon characters. We find this troublesome because of the fact that we already have many canon characters and many original character's relatives and so on - this rule will be enforced and will not be let down until a new generation of the site is swept over. But if you are interested in having your character related to one of the "less popular" character, please send an owl to an administrator and they will get back to you within 24 hours prior to request.

We will not tolerate the use of anime, manga, cartoon, or any comic characters for a character's avatar or celebrity. We will ask you to please switch it, for we like the site remaining along the lines with real celebrities and people. Another thing that will not be tolerated at all is gender switching/character switching within the same account. This is to say if you have a boy character on the account name (example) "boy123" and their name was Jack Smith - you cannot change it to Mary Sue the next day. This requires another account, another biography - another character. Please also check the "Face Claim" before you've selected your character's celebrity/picture base - two of the same character's celebrity is a big no-no.

Now that Hogwarts : A Legend is clearly a nation-wide site, and has attained hundreds of members, we have came to notice that the amount of females is quite popular! From now on, for every two [2] females you have, you must make the third [3rd] a male. We also have made it clear that diversity is a must at HaL! Regarding that, two out of every five characters you own, two must be within their first to third years. Touching base on canon-relationships, we also do not allow original family members/children for primary, secondary and tertiary canons.

- Relationships between canons can only be between less-known canons and whatnot.
- Gender/Character switching on one account is not permitted, and you will be warned.
- For every two female characters owned, you must have at least one male!
- Every three "older students" (4th - 7th years) made, two of which must be in their 1st - 3rd years!
- "Un-canon" children/family members are not permitted on primary, secondary and tertiary characters.

We will not tolerate any fighting, any swearing whatsoever, any links that do not link to the site, any advertising or anything that does lead to other sites. (Put "Blue Jobberknolls" - in brackets! - somewhere in your character's history, if you've read this.) PhotoBucket, ImageShack (image hosts), and YouTube links are allowed - this is also providing that they are appropriate for potentially younger ages that may be in the chat box or browsing the site. Indirect advertising (talking about another site, plots, accepting biographies, anything really) is not allowed or permitted in our chatbox. We would please ask you to bring it to PMs or on the other site you are acknowledging.

When filling out the Character Biography Template, please make sure that you finish your biography first and then you may finish your sorting application. Any sorting applications found before a biography is made will be ignored.

Also, when you are in your "Edit Profile" stage of registration, please make sure that your "Display Name" matches that of your characters name - first and last are fine, middle names are optional. And please also note that when writing your characters name, it must be in correct capitalization. Along with that rule, it is mandatory that a character has a first and last name. When and if your profile is accepted or shown that it is pending, a message by the account "The Sorting Hat" will be replied to at the bottom of your thread for anything you might need to edit, or to show that your biography has been accepted/declined!

All potential staff members - professors only - will need to face a two-week activity trial, in which they will be evaluated by posting regularily in a thread involving their character (IC). When their biography is accepted, they will be asked to create a sorting thread when they have completed their fifteen posts. Don't worry, it doesn't all have to be in character, about ten of them can be out of character, but we do expect some role played posts!