Playing a Junior

The new ones at the school, Juniors, need to find their place in a new environment. Most have just finished their basic magical education, and are now excited to see the world of Czocha with all its possibilities. There are lots of rules to learn, places to explore and friends to make, as it’s a fresh start for everyone. Some want to make a good impression in class and gain the favour of the Professors. Others want to impress the older students by participating in the craziest dares. Most importantly, everyone wants to find out to which house they would like to belong, as it will be a huge part of their life at Czocha.

Each Junior will go through the Sorting to find out which House will be their home for the next three years. Their first task is to get to know the Houses, talk to as many people as possible and make sure they make the right impression on the right people. Prefects are of course the ones making the final choice, but the opinions of their Sophomores and Seniors also carry a lot of weight and a recommendation from one of them might be the key to your dream House. On Friday, the sorting interviews are held, and one by one the Juniors go meet the Prefects. The interview will be short, and its contents are a well-guarded secret. So, while you can try to affect your sorting, ultimately the choice is not yours, and you might even end up somewhere you didn’t expect at all. It’s nothing to worry about though, as any House will welcome you as their own and become your new family.

Play a Junior if you want to:

• Enter Czocha being inexperienced, wide-eyed and open to options
• Learn only very little of the world lore beforehand
• Go through the Sorting and have your House chosen for you

Playing a Sophomore

Sophomores are starting their second year at Czocha. They are no longer the new kids, and they’re bursting to use their new authority and freedom. Finally, they have new Juniors to act as role models for, and for the first time they are allowed to enter the Dark Forest on their own. Of course, it’s not all fun and games, and soon the new, more challenging classes will show them that they still have a lot to learn. Sophomores are in the middle of the school in many ways: they’re not quite as clueless as the Juniors, but they also haven’t been around as long as the Seniors. 

Sophomores love to test the new Juniors in various ways to find out which ones would be the best fit for their house, and to try to influence the Prefects to get the ones they want. The choices mean a lot to them, because each Sophomore will become a mentor to one of their newly chosen housemates. How are they going to guide and mold them? Will they help them with homework or show them all the secret passages? It’s also time to step up and take more charge in your clubs and other social groups. Your second year is the perfect time to start making a name for yourself, test your limits and make sure everyone in the school knows who you are.

Play a Sophomore if you want to:

• Belong to a House from the beginning, but still be on the inexperienced side
• Have a lot of freedom to explore and rebel
• Become a mentor to a freshly sorted Junior

Playing a Senior

For Seniors, it’s their third and last school year, the time to leave their mark on history. They’re at the top of the school hierarchy and proud of it, ready to put cocky underclassmen in their place. They are nearing the end of their studies, but there is still an entire year before they’re fully ready to leave the school and to start a career in their respective fields. Some might have a clear vision of what they want to do in the future, others are still struggling to find their calling. The points game can also get heated as the Seniors want to ensure it’s their House that holds the Trophy for the entire school year before they graduate.

Being a Senior is not only about power, but also about responsibility. It’s your job to make sure that your Prefects find the best possible Juniors and the newcomers learn what it means to be a member of your House. Traditions must be passed on. You will shape the culture of your House, and often you’ll be the first one your Prefects will turn to when they need a task taken care of. You have the chance to set a precedent for those who come after you, whether as a rule-abiding model student or as a scoundrel of epic proportions. What kind of a legacy will you leave behind?

Play a Senior if you want to:

• Be at the end of your studies
• Have a lot of knowledge on how the school and the world works
• Take up responsibility in your House

Playing a Prefect

Each of the five houses is led by two Prefects. They’re Seniors chosen for the job for their exceptional qualities, each determined to prove their House is the best. They are the force pulling the House together and supporting its members through thick and thin, listening to their troubles and making sure everyone has things to do. They’re the students with the most power, but also with the most responsibilities.

• Figureheads of the house. Prefects are visible and memorable representatives of the house and reflect its values, each in their own way. They organise house meetings, divide tasks and ensure everyone feels included. They also take the House points game very seriously, and will go to great lengths to make sure their house wins the Czocha Trophy.
• Sorting. The Prefects have the honour and duty to decide which Junior goes to which house. They keep their eyes open and get information from their housemates, and, on Friday, they organise the Sorting and decide which Junior goes to which House. Of course, everyone is out to ensure they get the best, most suitable Juniors, and the competition can get fierce. After the Sorting, they also conduct the initiation rituals with the help of their House members.
• Curfew patrols. Students are not allowed to wander outside after curfew, and it’s the Prefects who patrol the halls and find any troublemakers who are out without a proper hall pass. This is the time when the Prefects are truly feared – no one wants to get caught!
• Winning and losing speeches. When the Grand Opening Ball ends, it’s time to announce the winners of the Czocha Trophy. The Prefects of each of the four losing houses will give a losing speech, and finally, the winning house gives a winning speech. The speeches are short, memorable and raise the house spirit one last time before the game ends.

Playing a Prefect requires active planning and coordination before the larp with your house, other Prefects and Staff members. You’re in charge of the house culture, traditions and many other things. You can plan events, rituals, pranks, songs or anything else you want in order to make your House look like its members and set it apart from the others. It can be busy and chaotic at times, as everyone looks up to you and seeks your help, but you can always rely on your co-Prefect, the rest of the Prefect team and your House members. The organisers will also always be available to help you both before and during the game.

Play a Prefect if you want to:

• Lead your house, sort the Juniors and take responsibility
• Plan, coordinate and make decisions before the larp
• Be a playmaker other students will look up to

Playing a Staff Member

Professors and other Staff members are the backbone of the larp. With the leadership of the Head of School, they teach various magical subjects, organise extracurricular activities, and guide students to become extraordinary witchards. They are at the top of the school hierarchy, both loved and feared by the student body. Some of them act as Monitors for different Houses and Paths, being their closest contact to go to in case of trouble. They also have the power to give and take House points, so staying on their good side is crucial. They can assist you in a number of areas, but disrespect a Professor, and you might end up in detention! As Staff, you will have a big impact on the larp content and what kind of experiences the students will have, but also will have your own stories and relations to explore.

Staff players form a close-knit team that coordinates all kinds of matters related to running the school in the months leading up to the larp. They discuss the overall mood and vision, school rules, lesson plans, and much more. They can also plan extra activities and plotlines if they so wish. Playing Staff means being a playmaker and having more responsibilities than an average player, but help and support from the organisers is always available.

Play Staff if you want to:

• Play an adult character in a position of authority
• Plan, coordinate and make decisions before the larp
• Run classes and other activities for students