[Headmaster Alan Burdett]

Welcome to Tally!

It's great to know you're interested in our board. We hope by now you've had a chance to read Board Rules. This is the only topic we expect you to read, but if you're looking for more information, check out the Tallygarunga Handbook, which contains all the links to other interesting and fun topics.

The first step is to register.

If you've done that already - awesome! You should have registered under your character's name. If you haven't done that, don't stress - just contact an admin as soon as possible, to have your account name changed over. Chances are, someone's about to contact you about it anyway. If you're having trouble thinking of a good name, you can check our Name Help guide to get you started!

The second step is to decide what you want to be!

This is a difficult decision! We're currently looking to bring in more students and to fill out some of the positions in the teaching staff and Narragyambie areas. This is where taking a squiz at the Positions Available topic can be helpful. There's plenty available to do at the moment, so have a ball.

The third step is to decide who you are!

Also a difficult part, but relax - and don't be afraid to make your character normal, either. We recommend you check out our creation guide, Creating a Character Mousie Will Love and What Tally Needs for additional pointers on creating your character. Because who doesn't want to create a character that will help balance out the board? If you don't - that's cool, but once you've got your character ideas together, skip on to step four!

The fourth step is to write it up!

So, you're registered, you've got the character ideas and you've read your way around a little. Fantastic! We have a bit of a different profile system to most boards. Our profiles are done through the forum's user profile system. Click on 'My Settings' in the user menu (that's your account name just above the sign out button!), and find the Edit Profile Information link. Click that, and you'll be taken to the custom profile.

Ignore the contact information, unless you want to add it. What we're looking for, is the bit that says 'Full Name'. Everything below that, is to do with your character. Fill it out as best you can, and give as much detail as you think is necessary. Remember, the minimums listed there are only a guide. If you need to use lists, that's fine! Describe your character in as much detail as you can.

If you're having trouble with the custom profile system, or don't understand how it works - feel free to ask for help in the CBox, or follow the alternate application method below. In the alternate application, you answer the same questions - but post the profile as a thread, like many other boards. Once you're accepted, we'll then show you how to get it into the profile like everyone else! Right now, we want to know who your character is - so you can get in and have some fun!

The fifth step is to apply!

Got your profile filled out? Happy with your character? Excellent. Now you're ready to apply. Head on over to our Character Applications forum, and post the following form into a new thread, with your character's name as the topic title.

[b]Character Name:[/b] (your character's name)     
[b]Applying For:[/b] (list the position if staff or shop owner, if student answer 'student')              
[b]How Did You Find Us?:[/b] (how did you find Tally?)     
[b]Your Name:[/b] (what may we call you?)

The sixth step is to wait!

And it shouldn't take long. We have staff on almost all of the time, and we'll get to you as soon as we possibly can. But feel free to entertain yourself by chatting in the CBox, and looking about the other information topics further. Once your character is approved, the application topic will be moved - and your username will change colour. Then you're free to go and wreck your havoc on Tallygarunga! Enjoy!

Alternate Application Method
Getting your head around Tally's custom profile fields for the first time can be pretty tricky, so from now on we're offering you two methods of application - the standard custom profile, or a thread profile. Both applications are exactly the same, and thread-based profiles will be moved into the custom profile fields when you're accepted. We'll show you how to do it in your own time, but right now - you want to get playing, right? Right! So if you don't understand, and you want to get your character out there -- post this completed form into the Character Applications forum.

[b]Character Name:[/b] (your character's name)     
[b]Applying For:[/b] (list the position if staff or shop owner, if student answer 'student')              
[b]How Did You Find Us?:[/b] (how did you find Tally?)     
[b]Your Name:[/b] (what may we call you?)

[The above is the standard short application. Once your application has been moved to the custom profile fields, everything below this line will be removed, so it looks like the rest!]

[b]Character Date of Birth:[/b] (Required: Day, month and year, please)
[b]Age:[/b] (Required: Your characters age. The board runs on current time.)
Character Type: (Required: Student / Tally Professor / Tally Staff (non-teaching) / Narragyambie resident / Melbourne resident / Visitor / Ministry worker / Familiar / VMU student / VMU staff / St Andrews student / St Andrews staff)
[b]Species:[/b] (Required: Please ensure you've read the appropriate topic on your species, otherwise answer 'Human')
[b]Blood Status:[/b] (Required: Halfblood / Pureblood / Muggleborn / Halfbreed / Muggle - note that very few characters will be pureblooded)
[b]Year:[/b] (Required for student characters. Usually character's age, minus 10. For instance, a 16 year old character is a sixth year, 14 year old is fourth year, unless for reasons stated in history.)
[b]Birthplace:[/b] (Required: Country at least, more detail if you wish.)
[b]Occupation:[/b] (Required for characters with jobs.)
[b]Face Claim:[/b] (Not required: A celebrity play-by for your character, if you choose to have one. Try to find someone who fits the age and description of your character, and has at least one verifiable source of information (IMDB, Wikipedia etc will be fine). We don't accept Facebook/MySpace or unnamed models - this is for the privacy of those people.)
[b]Patronus:[/b] (Not required - fourth year and up only.)
[b]Appearance:[/b] (Required: A description of your character. Roughly 200 words or more will be fine here.)
[b]Personality:[/b] (Required: A description of your character's personality. Roughly 200 words or more here.)
[b]History:[/b] (Required: A rundown of your character's history. Roughly 500 words or more here.)
[b]Secrets:[/b] (Not required: Anything your character keeps hidden.)
[b]General Knowledge:[/b] (Not required: Anything widely known about your character.)
[b]Quote:[/b] (Not required: A short quote that describes your character.)

Once your character has been accepted using this form, we'll show you how to fill out the custom fields - and sort out any problems you were having before! In the meantime, you'll be able to play. Woohoo!