The Tokens System

Tokens are a bonus that you receive every in-character year, giving you the tools that you need to shape your character's narrative in any way that you choose. It is an incredibly flexible system, allowing for a wide range of ideas and concepts to be introduced into Model Hogwarts.

There are four types of token: Minor, Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. Each is capable of buying different items, abilities and stories. In general, the higher level tokens are rarer, and may be spent on purchases that are more powerful and impactful.

Tokens are given on a regular year-by-year schedule. They do not depend on your activity at all, so you will not lose the chance to roleplay your character's story as a result of real life becoming too busy for a time.

## What types of token are there?

The main difference between the four types of token is the narrative scope that they carry: in other words, the level of influence a purchase might have on Model Hogwarts. The tokens system is designed to give every roleplayer and character the chance to influence the Model Hogwarts universe, while also limiting the impact that any one single character may have. To achieve this, each character gets a significant volume of lower-scope tokens, but very few high-scope ones.

In order of increasing scope and rarity, the types of token are:

* **Minor**: Small scale purchases with varying but controlled scopes.
* **Apprentice**: Small in scope, what you can get with Apprentice Tokens is centred around your character, and generally do not have a large impact on the model at large.
* **Journeyman**: Along with the power increase, the overall nature of Journeyman Tokens will often have what you purchase growing in scope to include your character’s friend group and Hogwarts itself.
* **Master**: These represent the absolute limit of scope, allowing you to not only influence the characters around you and Hogwarts on a whole, but this can even reach beyond the walls of the school, leading to large, long term impacts on the Model Hogwarts storyline.

## When do I get my tokens?

You will receive tokens at the dice change, which falls halfway through summer break. You may spend them as soon as you receive them, but it is worth noting that there may be significant delays at this time due to the amount of applications that are typically submitted after the dice change.

All characters will receive a set progression of tokens in their first seven in-character (IC) years. This progression will be different depending on whether your character begins as a first year Hogwarts student, a fourth year Hogwarts student, or an adult in the wizarding world. All of these character types receive the **same tokens** in those seven IC years, but in a **different order**. After those first seven IC years have passed, you will continue to receive tokens at a slower pace, in a five-year cycle.

The token progressions are illustrated in the following graphics. First years, fourth year and adult characters receive the following Apprentice, Journeyman and Master tokens in their first seven IC years, **in addition to three minor tokens per year**.

After seven years have passed, tokens are allocated according to the following cycle, again, is in addition to three minor tokens per year.

Alternatively, the Tokens Guide Spreadsheet displays the same information, in tabular form.

## How many tokens do I have?

The Token List: Student Version displays exactly how many tokens you have available to use. It will be updated after every purchase.

## What can I buy with tokens?

### Token Master List

This list is a full table showing **all possible purchases**, including links and a visual guide on when everything unlocks.

### Natural Abilities

Certain innate powers passed down through the bloodline (such as being a true Seer) or circumstance (such as becoming a Werewolf or a Ghost) have special rules due to their extreme in-universe rarity and potential impact on Model Hogwarts. The Natural Abilities page outlines these rules and lists each of these abilities.

### Other Purchases

All purchases **other** than natural abilities are listed on the following pages, sorted by which token is used to buy them:

## How many special powers can I get?

In many fantasy roleplays, a character's set of special powers is considered central and essential to character development. However, in the Harry Potter universe, the standard uses of magic are through spells and potions a character learns, which are represented through our learn points system (see the Spell Casting & Learning page). Special powers like being an Animagus or Legilimens are very rare and impactful, with very few characters in the Harry Potter series having more than one of these powers, and plenty having none at all.

To try and bridge the gap between Harry Potter canon and other fantasy roleplay experiences, we do allow characters on Model Hogwarts to possess multiple abilities, both natural (innate) and learned. However, a limit is imposed to keep any character from having too many. You may hear this limit referred to as the **power cap**. Every natural or learned ability contributes a certain amount of points to their 'power score', and if a character has several high-level items or pets then these may begin to accumulate points as well. If a character tries to get something that will put their power score above the cap, the application will be automatically rejected. Every character on Model Hogwarts, past and present, is held to this same standard.

The scoring system for powers is kept secret, because we want to avoid people keeping score or trying to reach the cap - that's not the point of powers. The apps team will tell you if you're getting close to the cap, and you're free to consult with the team if you're planning a particular series of powers and want to know if they fit within the cap. Additionally, please note the following rules:

* In your character's first 4 IC years on the model (up to 2 real life years), they may only have a maximum of 2 powers (learned or natural). This limit is removed after that period passes.
* Characters in Seventh Year or below may only have 1 power worth a Master token (learned or natural).
* You may only have 1 **natural** ability across all of your characters.
* You may only purchase a maximum of 2 **learned** abilities for your character in a 2 IC year (1 real life year) period. If you buy a second one while your character is still learning the first, you will need an unusually high level of justification, and you may be asked to delay it until the first ability is completely developed, or extend the development period for both abilities.
* Characters that have been on the model for at least 7 IC years (3.5 real life years) may apply for a purchase that would break the power cap, but this will require an extremely high level of justification and the apps team will decide case-by-case whether this is allowable.

## How do I spend a token?

If you want to purchase something with a Minor Token, all you need to do is go into the #private-discussion-queue and ping @Vendor. The Vendor Team will bring you to a private thread where you can explain the purchase and have it approved.

Some Apprentice Token purchases are possible to acquire through a discussion with the Vendor team as above, while others are not. You can check whether a specific purchase requires an application by examining its entry on the Apprentice Tokens page. For those Apprentice purchases obtainable through the queue, you will be expected to answer basic questions such as why you want the purchase and how it will happen.

Apprentice purchases that cannot be obtained through the queue require a formal application using the Token Purchase Applications form. In this application you will need to answer questions, depending on what you are purchasing, such as why you want the purchase, why it makes sense for your character, and how it will impact other characters.

Journeyman and Master Tokens always require an application through the Token Purchase Applications form, as linked above.

## How do I get an application passed?

Applications (or "apps", as they are often called) are treated seriously, and will only be passed if they demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the questions asked, and an understanding of what you're trying to buy. As a general rule, higher tokens require more thorough and detailed answers to all the questions in the form, although there are exceptions to this. Natural abilities, for example, require a high-standard app even if the ability only costs an Apprentice Token.

A guide to writing apps, with an example application, tips from the Model Hogwarts Apps Team (our team who reviews apps) and reasons why some apps are rejected, is provided on the How to Write an Application page. Reading this before attempting your first app is highly recommended!

## Frequently asked questions

If you have questions about the tokens system that are not covered here, or want to familiarise yourself in the system in depth, check the Tokens FAQ. This page addresses some of the most common questions people tend to have when considering a token purchase application.

If you are still unsure or your question hasn't been answered, you should join the Model Hogwarts worldbuilding server by typing `+worldbuilding` in one of the #info-and-spam channels, and then go to #apps-private-discussion-queue and ping @Apps to request a discussion with the Apps team.