Night Knights

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====== 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?usp=drive_link|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.((This wording has been adapted 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, 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]]).

===PvP===

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 seperately((occasionally the discussion around the check-in might conclude that it would make sense to change your actions to make your character //more// of an easy target, or amp up the drama of the fight.  Those changes are fine)).  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.

===Deep Emotional Roleplay - Ballgowning===

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).

===AI Policy===

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).

=====Themes=====

//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@nightknights.oxfordlarp.com|GM Team]] to talk to us about your concern - and, as ever, for any questions you may have.

==== Potentially Sensitive Themes That May Occur ====

Themes listed here may occur during the course of //Night Knights//.  It is expected that these subjects are treated in an appropriate manner.

  * Portrayals of disabilities, including but not limited to sensory impairments, mobility impairments, and mental illness including eating disorders
    * 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.
    * Antagonistic characters may be disabled, but disability or deformity should not be treated as a sign of villainy, and should form a core aspect of the character beyond simply adding to the "villainous aesthetic".
  * Natural disasters, wars, terrorism, or other fictional parallels to real world events of an upsetting or traumatic nature
    * These may occur in nightmares or within the "monster-level" of the fiction.  In the IC "human world", such things will not occur during the game.
  * Bullying
    * There may be mentions of bullying targeting one or other of the child NPCs in the game, as might be experienced in a real-world school
  * Torture
  * Manifestation of progressive illness
    * i.e. illnesses which worsen over the course of the game
  * Common phobia triggers, such as spiders, needles, or clowns
  * Violence and gore-equivalents against toys and monsters
    * e.g. descriptions of a teddy bear losing stuffing, or of the breaking of parts of a plastic toy.
    * Monsters will generally "bleed" ichor or shadow, rather than actual blood.
    * Some depictions of "body horror" in environments or monster appearances may occur, e.g. an environment which appears to be made of meat, or a monster which is covered in blood.
  * Mind Control or other means of removing agency
    * Characters will always be aware that any such influences are external - this does not change the character's own "internal monologue".
    * This may take the form of:
      * "Body puppeting", where the character is not in control of their body, but still in control of their own thoughts.
      * External influences/compulsions/restrictions, where a character is aware that the influence is external, though may not be able to resist it in the moment.
    * Players will only be able to use such powers on other players in a temporary manner
  * Animal abuse 
  * Cannibalism 
  * Violence specifically targeting minors
    * This is a game about a child being under threat from the monsters under the bed.  While there will be no physical harm to Jordan as a direct result of these attacks, there will be perceived threat, and potential psychological consequences.
    * All toys are under some threat of violence.  We are disallowing toys which are depictions of babies and toddlers, but toys which are depictions of older children may exist - any violence to them will not be described in detail.

==== Forbidden Themes ====

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.

  * Domestic abuse
  * Consensual sexual contact
    * Romance between toys is fine, but should be limited to a children's cartoon understanding of romantic relationships (i.e. kissing and hugs, but no heavy petting)
  * Extreme or indiscriminate violence (against humans or animals)
  * Extreme gore (involving humans or animals)
  * Addiction, such as drug or gambling addiction
  * Slavery or human trafficking
  * 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
  * Discrimination on the basis of protected real world characteristics (e.g. gender/sexuality/race)
    * This includes any discrimination based on perception of which gender a toy would typically be intended for.  All toys in Night Knights are considered gender neutral.
  * Incest
  * Genital mutilation or castration
  * Portrayals of real-world religions or historical figures, or specific real-world historical events
    * The setting of Night Knights is limited to the house and the toys' experience of it.  While the wider world is similar to our own, making reference to actual specific real-world elements is inappropriate.
  * Self-harm and suicide as an expression of emotional distress.
    * Note that self-harm and suicide may appear in the form of e.g. ritual sacrifice, heroic sacrifices, or as a necessary act to complete a task.
  * Miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion
  * Horror elements related to pregnancy, or any non-human pregnancy
  * Child abuse
  * Eugenics, genocide, and genocide denial

==== 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. 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.