Current and Ex-Staff Advice

Before I got staffed, I RPd in the school for two terms, involving myself in the school plot and in individual plots while attending as many classes and doing as much homework as possible. I didn't know any of the staff or mods personally until after I got staffed, and there was only one staff member I RPd with regularly before hand. I was more focused on involvement in the RP than on any other factor and I didn't play Quidditch. Even when I wasn't involved in something directly I kept up with what was going on in the plot and in other people's stories. -Con_Stripes (4 terms on staff)

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During my first term as a student, I developed a genuine love for the roleplaying game. I tried my hardest to involve myself and my character in everything I could, because I sincerely loved the roleplay and loved being in it. I played Quidditch, served as prefect and Head Girl, attended classes and completed homework, was on the top points board each term, and participated in every school plot. I did that, though, because I truly enjoyed roleplaying and wanted to take advantage of every opportunity. I also made an effort to get to know as many people as possible and roleplay with them as much as I could. Everyone has something to give to the roleplaying game, so it was interesting to see what each different person could teach me. Before I was staffed, I was a student for six terms. I've been on staff for one term now (now three terms), and I'm still enjoying the roleplaying game just as much as I did that very first term. - Anna Banana (three terms on staff)

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I had been a student for six terms before I was hired on staff. I loved the school roleplay and was more focused on staying with the plot more than anything else. I didn't go out for quidditch, I rarelyyyy did the homework and went to a class every now and again, though that was few and far between as well. I kept up with the plot and got to know quite a few people, many of them being mods and admins. As both student and staffer, I'm still learning new things and love seeing other members get a kick out of plot just as much as I used to and I try to continue that on the grounds. By creating their favourites, as well as throwing in some special, out of the norm threads, it just seems to add that extra something for them. It also helps to ask THEM for ideas. Allow them to have an effect on the school in another way. - Tailz (seven terms on staff. holy.)

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Before coming a member of staff I played a student for five terms. I was very new to the RPG world so it took me the first two terms to adjust. In saying that I still attended every possible class that I could, although my homework submissions were few and far between. In those first two terms I didn't actively partake in the school plot mainly because I was developing my own character and partaking in personal plots. From my third year onwards I was pretty much into everything, the school plot, while still developing my character and her own personal plots. I would have to say that I RP'd with anyone and everyone and enjoyed every moment of it and I think it showed in my RP's. My fifth year my character became a Prefect and I enjoyed the extra responsibility immensely. I never tried out for Quidditch only because timezones were not kind in when the games took place. I like, Tailz am still learning new things and I too take great enjoyment in watching the members participate in the plot or watching their characters grow as each term passes. I still love rping with anyone and everyone and hope to do so for many more years to come. - aussiegirl (three terms on staff).

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Just like Conner, I had only been RPing in the school RPG for two terms when I was asked to join the staff. Before that, I was a very active member, participating in every class I could manage and earning as many points as possible for Gryffindor. At the time, the points race kept me motivated to be the best student I could be and that became my main focus. I involved myself in the plot with heavy stalking, keeping myself up to date with whatever was going on. I didn't know many people and I'll admit that I was a more than a little timid when it came to RPing with my Professors (or anyone with a bolded name) so I stuck to playing with friends that entire first two terms and taking new opportunities as they came up. (i.e. MoM Division Head and DA Shopkeeper Assistant) I still LOVE the School RPG and I am grateful to be a part of it.
-Liisa (4 terms on staff)

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I joined Snitchseeker for the fanclubs, but it was the school RP that kept me here. Before being asked to join the staff team, I was active as a student for eight long terms, playing my first character from a little firstie right up until the year he graduated. I didn't try crazily hard to do well, I just had fun, RPed with my friends and played Quidditch. I tried to attend the majority of classes and tried being creative in my posts - likewise with the homework. My own homework is stressful enough, so I was far-fetched and a little silly with SS homework. I'm also quite the avid stalker, so I was always up to date with the latest gossip in the RP, especially plot-wise which resulted in my character often being involved somehow. My only advice is ... have fun. - Waterloo (1 term on staff)

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I like to think of myself as the perfect example that you can be a troublesome member on Snitchseeker and still somehow manage to get on Staff. I RP'ed for five terms and I never went to class or even really attempted to earn house points. I had been warned once or twice on the site so I stopped caring about being staffed since I thought it would never happen in a million years. I focused on having a good time in the RP with my friends doing some pretty crazy stuff and then one day I got asked to teach. Honestly my only advice to anyone that wants on Staff is to have fun with your character, even if your character is out there breaking rules (not that I'm ENCOURAGING rule breaking but you get what I mean). Also remember it's not always the kids that earn the most House points that get staffed or the perfect Prefects and Quidditch captains. Sometimes the troublemakers get staffed ;] - Si (4 terms on Staff)

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So for me, I played ten terms in the school before I joined staff, since I was totally more into playing a student and getting into fun plots and just really having a good time interacting with everyone. I think my 'staffing' story is more traditional in the sense that I was a prefect and then head girl, and I held a leadership position with the Yearbook before I took on staff officially. I actually helped out with a red name staff character a few terms before that too, which was good fun. I really enjoyed being staff but it is a HUGE amount of work and I think a lot of people don't realise that, or understand that it changes the feel of the school RP for you -after all your priority becomes helping others have fun rather than focusing on having fun yourself. Not that it isn't fun mind you, its just that its definitely a lot more than what meets the eye, and in a lot of ways it is actually more fun to be a student! The best advice I can give is not to stress over it, and to simply enjoy the RP. People don't get staffed for angling for it, or for harassing mods or staffers or admins about it, so don't be one of those people! Instead, get involved, follow the plots, get to know other RPers and focus on enjoying yourself. The rest will follow when the time is right! - Tegz (2 terms on staff, term 29 and 30)


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When I was first asked to be on staff I was playing a 6th year. I declined. I would have regretted not playing out my character's last term and I was happy to get a spot the year after. I was very involved in the school plot and I would tie in my own plots. I never did not play something out. When someone would do something to my character, whether they asked my permission or not, I would go with it. I had the best scenes that way, and everything was just more creative. One thing to remember, is that you don't play staff for your own enjoyment... sure... it's fun, but the focus of staff is to play so the STUDENTS will enjoy the RP. So... I think my advice is, don't try to play your character so that you'll get on staff. That was never my concern... play your character to the fullest, and have fun. If you get staffed, more power to ya. - Droo (16 terms on staff)

I know I could just ask you but I figured other people might be interested in the answer too. How do you decide/choose people to play the other character accounts? Like ghosts, house elves, Hogsmeade Shopkeepers, replacement professors, quidditch players and all that sort of thing?

As of right now, ghosts and shopkeepers are played by staff members.

House elves, on the other hand, were manned by students in secondary accounts. We're not really utilizing the house elves due to a lack of interest on the part of the students and a lack of activity on the part of the elves, but if there was an interest in the student body in bringing them back... I think we definitely would consider it .

Replacement professors... that one is tricky because last term was the first time we tried it. In a perfect world, we never need to hire a sub at the last minute because our professors can fulfill their commitment through the term until they have to depart. Obviously, real life comes up and sometimes that isn't possible. In the past, we simply left that post empty... this past term we tried out subs. They were chosen from active RPers (students) who had particular skill in the subject area in question. Their accounts didn't have read access to any of the mod/staff forums and had limited editting function.

Prefects and Quidditch captains are nominated by the Head of House and House mod to the Headmaster, who will approve the nomination. We look at active RPers within a house who fall within the correct age range (rising fifth year or above), although I know that occasionally someone younger is selected. It is my goal not to do that unless we simply don't have anyone old enough to take the spot. Prefects are expected to show a lot of the same characteristics as staff (creativity, responsibility, maturity, teamwork, etc), and it helps if their character makes sense in the role too. For example, it doesn't really make sense to select a prefect IC who is struggling in their classes, doesn't attend, gets in trouble a lot, etc. So if YOU want to be prefect, I'm telling you that your character needs to want it too.

Quidditch captains should show those skills and make sense IC too, but they also require approval by the Flying Instructor. They have so much specialized knowledge about how the game is played and what is required that we definitely rely more on OOC stuff in this case than with any of the others.


Thanks for asking the first question, Tegz! I'm happy to answer ANY other questions that come along.

I have a question

I've seen in the past a person becomes really active, all of a sudden, for one term and then wham all of a sudden they are staffed or become prefect or ect... or what have you.

And I understand what you are saying they had the skills that you are looking for, or all the points, but it just seems like a gross oversight to the people that have been active for more than one term with the same skill set. To get overlooked.

I understand excellence knows no age, gender....all that good stuff, but it seems fairer to promote someone with a proven track record. And not someone with a quick flash of brilliance.

And disrespect intended here, its something that I've been mulling over and thought it best to go straight to the source

I can assure you that if someone who has only been active for a few terms is hired, it isn't because people with the same skill set are being overlooked. That person would have had to go above and beyond what was expected of a newer RPer (or a returning RPer), enough that they made an impression on multiple staff members and earned nominations from them, and enough that they were able to demonstrate the required qualities and leadership skills thoroughly.

I think the big key is that time on the site does not equal a qualification in being hired. Some people will be members on SS for years, will have fun and make friends, and will enjoy the RPG... but they may never be hired to be on staff. I don't want to pin that 'never' on anyone, because people grow and change and develop over time on SS, but I do want to emphasize that length of time in the RP will never be an indication of staffing, although it has its own perks.

That being said, I don't know anyone who's been hired after just one term, and certainly not recently. Two terms is sometimes sufficient for "proven track record" when that person demonstrates qualities we require in the RP.