All games run by OLS are subject to the Conduct and Themes Policy which can be found on the OLS google drive. It is expected that all GMs and players will be familiar with this policy when playing Night Knights.
We would like to remind all participants that the spirit of the policy is to be considered more authoritative than the exact wording, and attempts to defend unacceptable behaviour legalistically will not be appreciated or treated as valid.1) We expect players to follow a general policy of treating other players with respect.
Unlike some games, Night Knights 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. Night Knights is a strictly non-combat game - in the event you wish to initiate combat with another character please speak to a GM (note there are likely to be severe IC consequences for doing so).
Players (and GMs) in Night Knights 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. 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 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 (gm@night-knights.oxfordlarp.com); if you wish to raise an issue with regards to a GM, contact the Head GM, Tamsin, privately (tamcoton@gmail.com), and if you wish to raise an issue with regards to the Head GM then please contact the Society Secretary, Phil Barber (iamthespaceinvader@gmail.com).
Night Knights is primarily a PvE game, with the players teaming up to protect Jordan from the Monsters Under the Bed. However, there is always a possibility of PvP occurring, as characters disagree on how best to do this, or whether the dangers of a course of action outweigh the benefits.
We require an out-of-character check-in before any violent or potentially lethal PvP action - i.e. anything which would result in your character (or those under their control) causing physical harm to another character, or anything where your character's actions would foreseeably and deliberately result in the death of the other character. You should contact the other player, either talking to them in session or sending an email, and let them know that your character is planning to attack theirs. You are not required to give details (beyond whether the PvP will be violent or lethal), though this might help to give context.
The purpose of this check-in is to give warning to the targeted player, and to allow the players to engage with each other OOC despite their conflict IC. Someone checking in with you about violent PvP should not change your character's actions, unless your character learns about the impending attack seperately2). In most circumstances, this is a warning, not an opportunity to refuse to participate in the PvP - though the GMs are available to advise, facilitate discussions, and make a ruling if required.
We no not require such a check-in for other forms of PvP, e.g. social manoeuvring, sabotage, or similar, though we recommend it as this will often lead to a better story overall.
For deep emotional roleplay, such as roleplaying relationships, attraction between characters, fierce rivalries, or other strong emotions towards player characters, we require an OC check-in between the players to ensure that everyone is comfortable. This can be as detailed or as cursory as desired - though preference should go towards planning things out more deeply if the players disagree - and can be as simple as “are you comfortable for my character to be attracted to yours, and them getting into a relationship?”
If either party is not comfortable out-of-character with the deep emotional roleplay, the other should back off from that roleplay. In some cases, the deep emotional roleplay may be the result of an enmity that develops due to one character's antagonistic actions - it may be appropriate for that more antagonistic character to back off from those actions if the player cannot handle the in-character consequences resulting from them. The GM team are available to help advise and make a judgement call on any issues that arise.
Note that since Night Knights is a game about a child's toys, sexual roleplay between characters is not appropriate for this game, and is listed as a banned theme below. Any romance should be limited to a children's cartoon understanding of romantic relationships (i.e. kissing and hugs, but no heavy petting).
Night Knights 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).
Night Knights is a game focussed around fighting monsters and facing fears. As such, dark themes may occur - the GM team does not, however, want to make players uncomfortable. Therefore, please find below included a list of potentially upsetting topics which may be present in the game. If you wish to play Night Knights but have concerns about one of these themes, get in touch with the GM Team to talk to us about your concern - and, as ever, for any questions you may have.
Themes listed here may occur during the course of Night Knights. It is expected that these subjects are treated in an appropriate manner.
The following themes will not be present in Night Knights. They must not be mentioned or otherwise introduced by players or GMs at any point.
When out of character, all players and GMs are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner toward all other players and GMs. In particular, any in-character portrayal of stalking or romantic obsession must not be initiated without the express out-of-character consent of the other player involved. Furthermore, 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.