07/07/01: Behind the Scenes: Magic and Muggles
by Sass Mun

Sass : Was it you or Bex who initially came up with the idea to make a room out of the Harry Potter books?

Rhyia: Well, if I recall correctly, Bex and I were talking about the books around the time the fourth book came out and she approached me with the idea that she wanted to begin a room based on the series. We brain-stormed from there, but originally it was Bex's idea.

Sass: How did you decide what kind of rules you would need for a room based on a book? I mean, there is no role playing system to go by for it so it must have been difficult to come up with your own rules.

Rhyia: It was difficult initially, since we had to decide what year to put the books in, what to do with undefined characters, should any C's be off-limits, etc. We decided to put it on the Message Board for the room
and have everyone put up their ideas, and the ones that we liked the most would be used. That way, it would be a very chatter-based decision, and everyone could have a chance to get a say.

Sass: I have noticed that the room is very chatter friendly, even for someone who has not read the books. Was this a consideration when you were putting the room together?

Rhyia: We most definitely wanted it to be a friendly place for everyone who wanted to play, especially people of different ages, but since some people might want to play and yet haven't read the books it had to be taken
into account. To play a C from one of the books, we more or less agreed that the whole series had to have been read so the person could really understand the entire scope of the character. But we encourage originals so that
people can learn their way through the setting if they're unfamiliar. Who knows, if they find themselves intrigued by the setting they may pick up the books and a book C... So by being open to those who don't know the books, you foster a good RPing crowd.

Sass: I noticed a LOT of information that would assist someone who has not read the books before in role playing in the room. Information that give the basics of the room concept. Was this hard to write up? And how did you decide what to include and what to leave out?

Rhyia: Bex did the actual writing up of the basics pages and the information that should be including on the home page, which was probably very hard to do. Once we decided on the setting, where characters would be, etc. we took the basics of everything and put it on the page. Though I'm sure we probably left something out, and if we remember, we'll put it in, but better more then less I suppose. The books are full of details, but mostly the setting and the main characters and basic history had to be outlined and the rest can be explained upon request.

Sass: When Bex and you decided to set up a PR based on the Harry Potter books, did you ever think it would go over so well?

Rhyia: Actually, we first started working on it six months before it ever got off the ground. We put up a page, did the basic work-ups, thought up some ideas... then we both just didn't go on with it due to being busy, real life interference's, things like that. Bex then came to talk to me again about it, and that's when really started moving along. I had some serious reservations at first, because I didn't think people would go for the setting and the rating we affixed on it. But I was happily proven wrong, and love the fact that things have taken off.

Sass: Was it the fact that the books are for children of about the age of 12 that helped you decide what the rating for the room should be?

Rhyia: Actually, I like to think of the books as universal, they really can be read and appreciated by all ages thanks to the way they were written by J.K. Rowling. But also because of their content (such as murder,
lycanthropy, coups for the government, mistreatment of children, ghosts and things like that), it needs to be read with an open mind and a maturity that you can round off as about the age of twelve. So that's really why the age was put at twelve, I think. A K rating would simply be too open for a room dealing with things of that nature.

Sass: Is there anything in particular you would like to share about the room or its creation that you think the readers would like to know?

Rhyia: Biggest thing I'd like to say is that we're always looking for people to join us and enjoy the room with us (of course I had to try for a ittle advertising :-) ), and that no matter how much you know about Harry Potter and the books, there are always those in the room willing to help. The room's really based on it's chatters, as all rooms are, and it's however much you put in that you get out of it. We're going to try and do our best, give it our best, and we hope that'll be appreciated and returned.

Sass: Thank you for giving me a bit o your time to answer these questions. I am looking forward to having time to play in there myself.

[interview with Bex, host]

Sass : Rhyia gives you credit as being the one to come up with the idea to run a  role play room based on the Harry Potter series.  Exactly why was it you thought it would make for good RPing material?

Bex : Well, the world in the books is so incredibly through and accessible to all ages. My original idea was to make a MUSH, a multi-player shared hallucination, (another type of role playing environment) out of Hogwarts. So, while I'm researching how to make this place for free, it hits me, why don't I just make it for IMC? Granted, I'll lose a lot of extras I could have by making it on a mush, but hey! It's IMC!

Sass : Do you still have plans on making it a MUSH type of role playing adventure? Or are you simply going to leave it as it is?

Bex :  Making a MUSH is hard work, and it costs a lot money. Then you need to advertise, and draw people in... and if it were successful, it would be ten times more work in dealing with the traffic. While I think that is the ideal form for Magic and Muggles to be in, it's just not possible for me to do.

Sass : Have you considered the possibility of getting the concept and such rolling and then pitching it to the Author? Maybe her marketing crew has enough capital to get it rolling.

Bex : Oh, jeepers, no, never considered that. MUSH's and MUX and MUDs and the like, they're a dying art form... with games like Doom and Everquest taking over the text based role playing, it's unlikely we'd get support.

Sass : *chuckles* ah.. well, then I suppose on to the next set of questions. *L* How did you decide what kind of rules you would need for a room based on a book? I mean, there is no role playing system to go by for it so it must have been difficult to come up with your own rules.

Bex : Not really. I generally hate bothering with applications. That's always the first thing to consider in a room. For M&M, I got a brilliant idea. You must app, but if you don't get a reply, you're approved. This way, I can take my time with the applications. And since they're generally all great, I never really have to touch them, or reply. The other things to consider were simple. Language, picture content, general behavior. The room just has one real basic rule. If it doesn't happen in the books, it doesn't happen in the room.

Sass : Did you expect such an outstanding response when you initially came up with the concept? I mean, the room was booming from it's conception, was that something you expected?

Bex : I had no idea this was going to happen. When I first pitched the idea around, I found four people or so who'd read the books. I thought, 'Oh, the general public thinks these are just kids books, they won't flock to the room.' I was absolutely floored when we got such a response.

Sass : This was actually MY first thought, that they were kids books. Until I was guilted into reading one. *snickers* Some rooms find that once the newness wears off, they see a decline in numbers. Have you found this the case with Magic and Muggles?

Bex : Not at all. We've got the same folks as we did in the beginning. While the number of new applications have declined, we still got the same old crew. I owe this entirely to the RPers, of course. My work schedule doesn't always leave me with the energy needed to RP or SM there lately.

Sass : Is there anything in particular you would like to share about the room or it's creation that you think the readers would like to know?

Bex : Well, just a word of advise if you're planning to apply... Harry Potter is, and forever shall be, the focus of the room. Stinks for some, but this is the case. Make a character to complement him... not overshadow him. He's the boy who lived. Be in awe.

Sass : *chuckles* That can be a task for some I bet. Well, thanks for taking the time for this interview. Good luck with the room.
 

Ed. Note: Anytime I read "M&M," I think of Mazes and Monsters. Mmmm... Mazes and Monsters.