Welcome to The Clubhouse! We are a general discussion community with a variety of categories and genre's to discuss.
We host a quarterly "Battle of the Houses" (race for the house cup) event that lasts a total of three months. We sort people into Hogwarts Houses so they can participate in contests and events allowing them to earn House Points towards the House Cup.
And, we also offer role-playing forums specif to Harry Potter, The Vampire Diaries, and the Originals where memebers can create their own role-plays. If those three RPs don't meet your needs, we also have an Other Role-Play forum.
We allow promotion and advertising via signature and user profile. Additionally, we've opened up a Promotion Forum section that allows visitors and members to promote various things such as forums, websites, blogs, streams, social media and discord servers, and an other category for sites/links that don't fit in any of the other categories.
We are happy and excited that you've decided to stop by. We hope that you join us soon. If you're already a member, we're super glad to have you as a part of this community and we hope you enjoy your time with us!
Hello there, and welcome to The Clubhouse! As we have a custom theme and offer a lot of different areas for discussion, role-playing, and promotion, we've put together this guide for you guys in hopes that it will enable you to navigate the site, edit your profiles correctly, and maybe help you to understand what's accepted and here and what isn't. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via the SUPPORT forum.
Above, each link will take you to a post that tells you more about each thing. Be sure to read through each one to get a better understanding of how things work around here. If you still have questions or need help, our Support forum is always open.
THC has an RP category where members and staff are permitted and encouraged to role-play with each other. We do NOT have a set story-line or theme. Instead, we allow everyone to create their own role-plays as they go. That said, there are some rules and guidelines we require all members to follow. They are outlined below:
areas role-playing is allowed The following areas of the forum permit role-playing.
rp partner searching & thread titles Each RP forum has a Partner Search thread in it. Members and staff are encouraged to utilize this thread when searching for other's to join their RP (if the RP is only going to be open to a select few characters. Optionally, you can network with friends via Private Message to see if they want to participate in the RP. Instructions for obtaining partners can be found in each Partner Search thread.
If your RP will be open to all members and staff, there is no need to request a partner(s).
the actual rp thread Once you're ready to start your role-play, you will create a new thread in the forum where your RP takes place. Title your RP thread as follows:
Open: [OPEN to ALL] First-Years On A Train Open: [CLOSED to 3] A Unicorn Dies In the Forest
Notice the "Open to All" tag? This means that anyone is permitted to join in on the RP. The second part "First-Years On A Train" is the title of the RP itself.
Now, take a look at the second title's tag, "Closed to 3." This means the RP is only open to three specific people (the people the original poster recruited for specifically for the RP).
Thread Description For RPs, we require that user's fill in the thread description option. This should be something short that tells the viewer what the RP is about.
First Post of RP Thread The first post of the RP thread must include the synopsis/description of the RP. If the RP is closed to certain people, you must tag them in the first post.
You can tag a user by using the @ symbol followed by their username. For example, if you were tagging me, my username is admin. The tag would look like this:
The first post of the RP thread MUST contain an actual RP Post to kick start the role-play.
rp post length A great RP is detailed, descriptive, creative, entertaining, and imaginative. It should contain a minimum of 3 complete sentences. Though, we highly recommend 4 - 7 complete sentences to give people something to work with when responding to the RP.
bumping Bumping an RP thread is permitted, but should NOT be done excessively. Please do NOT bump posts more than one time in a 72 hour period. To pump a thread, simply reply to it and tag the users who are participating in your RP. It will bring their attention back to the RP
harassment While all TCH rules apply to role-playing, harassment is heavily enforced. If a user asks to be removed from an RP and you continuously tag them in a thread, send them messages, etc., this is considered harassment and your RP thread will be locked.
pg-13 Rules Again, while all THC rules apply to role-playing, the PG-13 rule is heavily enforced.
TCH has a creative category where we allow and encourage our members and staff to showcase various forms of art from graphic and Web design and Photography to much much more. We have some rules and guidelines that our members and staff need to follow regarding the creative forums. They are outlined below:
POSTING WORKS While we encourage all members and staff to share their works, we need you guys to understand that you work can be seen by guests viewing our site. So, be aware of that when you're sharing things on our forums. The following guidelines apply to posting works in our creative sections.
ALL works submitted by you MUST truly be made by you. If caught submitting work that is not your own, you'll lose your privilege to post in the creative forums.
Do NOT post likes to actual running websites to show your works. This is technically advertising and we have specific forums where you can do that. However, if you have a website design, blog design, or forum design, you are permitted to post links to TEST SITES only.
ALL graphics, art, photography, etc., MUST remain PG-13. Posts may NOT contain nudity, pornography, extreme violence, racism/discrimination, etc. They CANNOT promote anything deemed illegal in the United States of America.
Be mindful of your peers and the different age groups.
Utilize thread descriptions when creating your thread and describe (in short) what the piece is about. Keep it short and simple. You can go into more detail in the actual post about the piece.
Be sure to utilize and complete all required fields on the post template provided to you when you are creating a thread in any of the Creative forums.
CRITIQUING WORKS We know that people who post their works want to get feedback on said works. As such, we encourage our members to leave their insight after viewing a member's showcase item. That said, the following guidelines are in place for critiquing other people's work.
Do NOT just post that you like or dislike something, make your critique constructive.
Tell the user how you feel about the piece AND why you feel that way.
Offer ideas on how the piece can be improved upon.
When commenting on a user's work(s), try to make your responses a minimum of two to three complete sentences.
There are several ways that users can advertise their forums, websites, blogs, streams, etc., on TCH forums. That said, the following guide will tell you where it's permitted and the guidelines for doing so.
USER PROFILE All users have the ability to add a Website Name and Website URL to their user profile. Simply look at the top navigation bar on the forum. Click on the box that has your name on the left-hand side and a slide out toggle menu will appear.
Next, click the first icon (looks like a person and a pencil). Doing so will open up your "Edit Profile" options. Scroll down the the page until you see the tabs. Look for the "Personal Tab." Click the Personal Tab and then scroll down the page until you see the fields for your website information. Fill in the fields, then save the personal settings by clicking the button at the bottom.
FORUM SIGNATURE While we allow users to add links to their sites and projects via their profile, it shouldn't be abused. As such, the following guidelines are in place for forum signature advertising:
Do NOT put more than three external links in your signature. Anything over three will be removed by a staff member.
While formatting via BBCODE is permitted in signatures, we do NOT allow members to change the text/font-sizes.
If a link within a forum signature violates our Forum Rules or the ProBoards TOS, it will be removed by a staff member.
To edit your forum signature, follow the steps from above. Only this time, scroll down to the forum signature box and edit the contents there. Be sure to save your "Personal Settings" when done to ensure the changes are saved and working.
PROMOTING INSIDE PROMOTION FORUMS When promoting or advertising websites and such via a specific promotion forum, please make sure you adhere to the guidelines outlined below. Also, guests/visitors or non-forum members are able to utilize the promotion forums. They must follow the rules and guidelines as well.
Be sure to promote or advertise in the right forum. A forum Promotion should NOT be placed in the Blog Promotion forum.
Utilize the thread description to tell us (in short) what the site/link you're promoting is about.
Bumping IS permitted every 72 hours IF the promotion thread has made it to the second page.
Make sure to use and fill out the posting template completely for all "Required" fields.
ALL promotions MUST follow our Rules & Guidelines and the ProBoards TOS. Violations will be removed.
Many times over, users often have the question about the difference between the username and the display name. In this FAQ, we're going to cover those differences and explain somethings that will hopefully help you figure out what is what in regards to them. Let's get started.
USERNAME The username is the name you entered when you registered for the forum. It is automatically submitted in all lowercase letters with no spaces. It cannot be changed. It is your permanent username. Users can use the @ symbol followed by your username to tag you in threads.
For example, my username is admin even though my display name is Teg. If a user were to tag me in a thread they'd type @username or @ admin without the space between the @ symbol and the username @ admin (without the space) would result in Teg.
DISPLAY NAME The display name is the name others view across the entire forum. It's show with every post you make, message you send, on your profile, in the member's list, etc. It can be edited via the User Profile. That said, on our site, that is a perk you can purchase using forum currency you earn posting around the forums.
When a user joins our forum, they are given 1 free display name change which allows them to change their display name to what they would like. After that first change, it can be bought out of the Clubhouse Shop. Then, a staff member can change it for you.
We understand with a new forum and new skin that people can be a little lost, so we've put this little "How To" guide together for editing your user profile to make it a tad bit easier for you.
GETTING TO THE EDIT PROFILE PAGE There are a couple of different ways you can get to the "Edit Profile" page. First, click on your name in the top left-hand side of the main navigation bar. A slide out menu will appear with icons. Click the first icon. It looks like a little person with a pencil. You will be taken to the "Edit Profile" page. Just scroll down until you see the different tabs.
Another way to get to the page is to click on your avatar in the top left-hand side of the navigation or on your name anywhere on the forum (not the nav bar). By doing so, you will be taken to your user profile. Scroll down the page until you see the big box that contains your name and avatar. On the far right-hand side, you'll see some icons. Click the icon that looks like a little person with a pencil to be taken to your "Edit Profile" page.
WHAT TO EDIT It is completely up to you if you want to edit your profile or not. There are multiple things you can edit:
Avatar
Avatar should be equal dimensions. So, essentially 100 px x 100 px, 200 px x 200 px etc. The base recommended size is 150 px x 150 px
This image is visible with all your posts and messages, on your profile, etc.
Personal
Display Name - This option is only available when you first join our forum. After you've changed it once, you'll have to purchase it from our Clubhouse Shop.
Email & Password - You can change this if you want to, just make sure you remember it so you can access your account. Staff do not have the ability to reset your password or email address.
Gender - You have three options to choose from, feel free to pick one, though it's not required for this one.
Location - Feel free to update your location. However, for the sake of safety and privacy, we recommend only posting the state and country of where you live.
Website Name and Website URL - The name of your website goes in the Website Name field and the FULL URL to your website goes in the website URL field.
Most Recent Status - essentially a status update.
Forum Signature - This can be formatted with BBCode and is usually where members put signature graphics, greetings, and links to their sites.
Personal Notes - You can add personal notes if you wish and review them later
270x270 Picture - This is a URL only field. You'll want to link to a 270 px by 270 px graphic or picture that will be displayed in your mini profile prior to hovering over it to reveal your mini profile information.
Gender - This is the second gender field and is only available for staff editing. If you fill out a sorting ceremony, this will be updated for you.
House Points - House points can only be modified by staff
*NOTE:Most, things in the Personal Tab can been seen on both the user profile and mini profile.
Social
Here, you can update your social media and messenger links like Facebook Twitter, Google+, Skype, Yahoo, etc.
Settings
There are a number of settings available via the Settings Tab.
We highly recommend enabling drafts, if you're the type of person who types a lot of information into one post, someone who hits the back button by accident, etc., as it will safe drafts of your post so you don't have to rewrite everything.
Unless you are familiar with BBCode, we recommend switching your posting default to Preview Mode
Privacy
Here, you have the option to set yourself invisible, which means that members won't be able to see if you're online. However, staff can see if you are online and invisible.
You can also choose to show/hide your email, gender and birthday. That said, the gender option when you complete your sorting ceremony will be visible always.
You also have the option to block people. You cannot block staff members, it won't work.
Notifications
Here, you can set up how you want to receive forum notifications.
Badges
Here, you can see the badges you've received whether by purchase or gift and you can choose which badges you want to display.
support forum faq - hogwarts houses, sorting, & house cup
While this is a general discussion forum, we've put a little spin on things by having our members get sorted into Hogwarts houses and compete against each other in the Race for the House Cup (battle of the houses).
As such, here is some important information about Sorting.
GET SORTED We highly encourage and recommend that our members and staff get sorted into houses as those who do are able to participate in forum-wide contests and events, earn house points for their house and extra galleons for participating in contests and events.
You might be asking yourself how to get sorted. Well, head over to the landing pad's sub-forum called "Sorting Ceremony." Create a new thread and answer all the questions on the form presented to you. A staff member will assist you by completing your sorting ceremony based on a cheat sheet key we made to go with it.
Once you've been sorted, you will be added to the appropriate user group for that house and you'll have a colored username across the forum.
HOUSE CUP/BATTLE OF THE HOUSES In order to earn points towards the house cup for battle of the houses, you'll need to be in a Hogwarts house AND you'll need to participate in different events/contests across the forums. This event runs four times per year and lasts approximately three months.
At the end of the three month period, a house cup will be determined by the amount of points that each class has. The winner will receive a special graphic/icon for their profile and mini profile, as well as a signature and avatar to represent their house cup win customized to include their name if they like.
support forum faq - house points, Contests, & Events
Users who are sorted into a Hogwarts House will have the opportunity to earn House Points and extra Galleons by participating in and/or winning certain events and contests. In order to earn house points, you must be sorted into a house.
House points will range from 10 up to 100,000. Every event/contest will tell you how many house points can be won.
CONTESTS/EVENTS Throughout the forum during the month, there will be multiple contests/events going on. Each contest/event will award users House Points toward the House Cup for their assigned house. In addition to House Points, extra Galleon (forum currency) rewards can be awarded which will help increase the amount of forum currency you have here at TCH.
Our Clubhouse Shop features items that can be bought specific to the user. This is an updated list as of 10/16/2018 and this list will be updated as needed for new or removal of items
HOW TO BUY ITEMS Before we go through the list of items, you need to know how to buy items. In the navigation bar at the top of the forum, there's a menu option called "Clubhouse Shop." It has a small shopping basket icon next to it. Click that link to be taken to the shop.
When you scroll down the page, you'll see a title bar with the name of our shop and on the far right-hand side you'll see "Wallet G #." The # is the amount of galleons you currently have on you that you can spend.
Look through the items, when you find an item that you want and that you can afford, you can add it to your cart. Then, go to "Basket." There's a tab near the top-right of the shop that says "Basket." Then, when you're ready to submit your purchase, click on "Check Out." It will tell you that the item was successfully purchased and direct you to your profile where you can see it in your Item Inventory.
HOW TO REDEEM ITEMS So, if an item you bought isn't an actual item (Display Name Change, Colored Username, Titles, clubs, etc.,) you will need to redeem the item. Actual items will just stay in your inventory for display and trade later.
To redeem an item, head over to the Redeem Item Thread, copy and paste the form in the first post of the thread into a new reply to that thread and a staff member will assist you with completing your redemption. Once the item is redeemed, it will be removed from your inventory and will have to be purchased again should you wish to do it again.
SHOP ITEMS The following items are currently in the shop as of 10/16/2018.
Display Name Change (Lasts until you change it again)
Change Name Color (Lasts for a period of 30 days)
Custom Title (Lasts for a period of 30 days)
Colored Custom Title (Last for a period of 30 days OR Up to the expiration of the custom title)
If you are a member of multiple groups, and one of those groups is a Hogwarts House, your Display Group MUST remain the House Group you were sorted into. If it does not, all groups will be removed from you. This is important as House groups have colors assigned to them, the rest of the groups do not. And, if you're planning on taking part in the House Cup race, or any other contests/events on TCH, this group needs to be your primary group.
Galleons are the forum currency on TCH. They can be earned multiple ways. Those ways are outlined below:
POSTING ON THE FORUMS By posting around the forums you can earn galleons in small amounts. Each new thread is worth 3 Galleons. Each new full reply is worth 1.5 Galleons, Polls are worth 1 Galleon (where allowed), and quick replies are worth .5 Galleons.
You cannot earn Galleons from posting in any of the forums located in the Promotion Category. You also cannot earn Galleons posting in the Forum Games forum.
MEETING POST GOALS The following list shows you how many galleons you get for reaching certain post goals:
10 Posts = 100 Galleons
20 Posts = 200 Galleons
30 Posts = 300 Galleons
40 Posts = 400 Galleons
50 Posts = 500 Galleons
100 Posts = 750 Galleons
500 Posts = 2000 Galleons
STAFF GET PAID IN GALLEONS If you are a member of our staff team, you get a weekly pay in Galleons. That said, it's dependent on your position here at TCH.
CONTESTS/EVENTS If you're sorted into a house and able to participate in contests and events, you will have the opportunity to earn Galleons by participating in AND/OR winning the contests/events. The amount of galleons earned will depend on the event or contest and who is running it. Participation Galleons are NOT required to be in any contest or event.
support forum FAQ - creating, joining, and running clubs
Here at TCH, we have a nifty little feature for our members called Clubs. A Club is a private forum where only members of that club are allowed to post. They get a custom group name, private forum, and can hold contests of their own for their club members for Galleon Prizes.
CREATING A CLUB To Create A Club, you need to purchase the "Create A Club" item from the Clubhouse Shop. It costs 5000 Galleons (Currently). The price of this pay go up or down as needed. Once you've purchased the item from the Clubhouse Shop, you'll need to redeem the item in the "Redeem Shop Items" thread in the support forum.
An administrator will assist you with setting up your club and you may or may not receive private messages from an admin requesting more information while they are setting up your club. Once your club has been created, the Administrator will PM you letting you know the Club set up is complete.
JOINING A CLUB If you wish to join a club, you'll need to request to join by going to your user profile, navigating to the "Groups" area (link is on left-hand side next to profile information). Then, find a group you want to join and click "Request to Join." You'll either be auto approved, or the group leader will need to manual approve you depending on which club you are trying to join.
Keep in mind, Administrator, Global Moderator, Moderator, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff are NOT Clubs and cannot be "requested" to join.
RUNNING A CLUB If you are a club owner, you'll be responsible for your club. You should remember to keep it free of spam, keep your members adhering to the forum rules and ProBoards TOS. If you run any club exclusive contests, make sure you are able to give out the rewards.
If you are unable to pin a topic or perform moderator actions in your forum, let us know what needs to be done and we'll help you out. Only actual moderators (group Moderator) and higher can perform moderation actions in forums.