Start page: Inconsistent capitalization of “When and where” link in Details section ====== Conduct and Themes ====== All games run by [[https://www.oxfordlarp.com/|OLS]] are subject to the Conduct and Themes Policy which can be found on the [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KaYDNtRp9ygv-zthFJwSq8vvE9pVHwrtehBwjB1Ng4U/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.viv9ect5szmz| OLS google drive]]. It is expected that all GMs and players will be familiar with this policy when playing Echoes. This page in some cases reiterates and in some cases adds more specific restrictions and clarifications that apply to Echoes. Therefore, **we encourage you to read this page carefully, even if you are an experienced player**, as elements of this CAT Policy differ from previous games. We would like to remind all participants that the spirit of the policy is to be considered more authoritative than the exact wording, and legalistic attempts to defend breaches of acceptable behaviour will not be treated as valid.((This wording has been taken from the Snakepit games policy, found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/134o8SzVmd7g2ymXfNzQ6axlBC96RtmAkw1U10gjWzAI/edit)) We expect players to follow a general policy of treating other players with respect. ===== Conduct ===== Unlike some games, Echoes is not a contact LARP. This means you shouldn't initiate contact with another player or GM without checking in OOC first. This includes all forms of contact, such as hugs or performing medical roleplay. Echoes is a strictly non-combat game - in the event you wish to initiate combat with another character please speak to a GM. Players (and GMs) in Echoes are expected to maintain a good IC/OC divide. This means understanding that feelings between characters (whether that's anything from hatred to romantic) are between characters, and not the people playing them. Players are expected to get OC permission before engaging in an intense emotional relationship, whether romantic or otherwise. We encourage you to talk to players who you've had particularly intense interactions with before/after sessions to make sure you are keeping the character separate from the player. See [[tips_for_new_players|tips for roleplayers]] for more suggestions on this (including advice on character bleed). As per the Conduct and Themes Policy, if you wish to raise an issue with regards to another player, contact the GM Team (); if you wish to raise an issue with regards to a GM, contact the Head GM, Liana, privately (), and if you wish to raise an issue with regards to the Head GM then please contact the Society Chair () ==== Requesting Not to Roleplay with Someone ==== You may request not to roleplay with another player or GM before or at any point during the game, and we will do our best to ensure that you come into contact with that person as little as possible. You may ask us to inform that person of your request or you may keep your request confidential, though keeping the request confidential will prevent us from asking that person not to roleplay with you during the course of the game. ==== Out-of-character Behaviour Guidelines ==== When out of character, all players and GMs are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner toward all other players and GMs. All characters should be treated as the intellectual property of their players. Anyone wishing to depict another player's character in any way (e.g. drawing a picture with that character in it, writing a story in which that character features, etc.) must first get the express out-of-character consent of the other player. If the other person does not give permission, this must be respected, and never brought up again. This applies both to PCs and NPCs. == AI Policy == Echoes is an AI-free game. All content (including wiki pages, turnsheets, emails and images) will not be AI generated in any way. Players are also expected not to use AI as part of the game (though we doubt this is likely to come up). ===== Themes ===== Echoes is intended to be a tragedy, and as such deals with a number of difficult themes, including loss and grief. However, we want playing Echoes to be safe and comfortable out of character for all players. Below there is a list of potentially upsetting themes you may find in Echoes, and a list of themes which is banned from the game. If you have any questions or concerns about any of these themes, please reach out to the GM team at so that we can find a way to make the game safe and enjoyable for you. ==== Topics Not Permitted ==== * Sexual assault, sexual coercion or any other form of non-consensual sexual activity * Sexual activity with those lacking the capacity to consent e.g. children * Sexual harassment * Use of real-world discriminatory slurs * Extreme gore * Miscarriage and stillbirth * Discrimination on the basis of gender or sex * Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation e.g. homophobia * Discrimination on the basis of gender identity e.g. transphobia * Discrimination on the basis of physical disability, mental health condition, or neurodivergence * Discrimination on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race * Eating disorders * Incest * Torture * Cannibalism * Slavery or human trafficking * Genital mutilation or castration * Animal abuse * Child abuse * Eugenics * Genocide * Genocide denial ==== Topics Expected in Game ==== * Discrimination on the basis of IC nationality, religion or faith – it is permitted for people of the town to be wary of outsiders, although it is not permitted for characters to be discriminatory on the basis of a specific outsider characteristic (eg. Agnes may be cold to John because John is new to the town. Agnes may not be cruel to John because of the country John is from.) * Mind control or other means of removing agency – there will be no directly removal of agency, but characters will deal with large scale events out of their control * Homelessness * Classism * Grief * Industrial accidents, including significant injury up to physical impairments and death * Child labour * Death penalty and past executions (there will be no executions during the 5 IC days of the game) * Indirect self-harm as an expression of emotional distress (Characters will not be permitted to take actions where the goal is to self-harm or commit suicide. However, characters may make choices out of emotional distress knowing that doing so will likely result in death, so long as the driving motivation is not to die. If you wish to engage with this theme, or as with any theme if you wish to avoid it, please contact the GM team in advance.) * Portrayals of real-world religions: the setting will be period-accurate Christian, but we do not intend this to be a major theme of the game * Portrayals of real-world historical figures * Portrayals of real-world events of an upsetting or traumatic nature ==== Topics which are permitted and may come up unexpectedly in game ==== * Consensual sexual activity (fade to black) * Sensitive portrayals of disabilities, including but not limited to sensory impairments, mobility impairments, and mental illness * Disabilities may be roleplayed, if done sensibly. Participants are expected to be highly aware that roleplaying as a character with a disability does not extrapolate into a real-world understanding of living with that disability * Many of your fellow players and GMs have experience with disability; be considerate and think about whether what you’re doing may upset them * Common phobia triggers, such as spiders or needles * Degenerative diseases or cancer * Drug or alcohol addiction * Gambling * Pregnancy * Chronic illnesses * Childbirth and abortion (will not be portrayed in game, but may be a component of backstories) * Medical malpractice * Emotional/physical abuse, e.g. domestic abuse or bullying * Terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism * Extreme or indiscriminate violence – this will not be described graphically