Consent Mechanics

Consent Mechanics
At MYSTFALL we have a strong culture of enthusiastic consent. This means that players are empowered to choose their own interactions and what kind of plot they want to partake in. We have many ways to navigate boundaries and content below.

Permission for Physical Roleplay

Before any in-game or text interaction that requires physical touch you must always ask for Permission for Physical Roleplay. If enthusiastic consent is not confirmed then describe the scene.

Example,

Kat and Alex are doing a medical roleplay, Kat is facedown and currently in her IG bleed. Alex rushes over to help her friend and kneels down, before any roleplay commences Alex asks, "Permission for Physical Roleplay - I am going to roll you over and begin applying a bandage."

Kat is comfortable with this and non-verbally and enthusiastically nods and gives a thumbs up.

Kat can also say "Permission Granted."

Alex continues with the roleplay.

The next time later in the fight Kat goes down again, but this time Kat says "Permission Denied." Kat doesn't need to explain why and Alex doesn't take this personally. Alex instead says, "Ok! Described Scene: My character rolls you over gently, and applies a bandage."

They both continue the roleplay but this time Alex uses descriptions of scenes verbally to explain what is happening.

On occasion you may hear "Permission Granted, Blanket" or "Blanket Permission: Alex Only" this is the player giving blanket permission for physical role play, within the scene this permission can be revoked at any time for any reason. You may never ask for blanket permission, it can only be given. This term is used among experienced role-players who have earned each other's mutual trust over years of roleplay. Some folks LARP with their intimate partners or close friends. Blanket permission is not a goal to attain, merely a way for people with OOG relationships to indicate to other players that consent has been enthusiastically given.

Trigger + Discomfort Policy

At anytime, for any reason you need to exit a scene you may do so. This is indicated by going Out-Of-Game by using the associated hand signal. (Fist, placed on top of head) Reasons can vary widely from anxiety or discomfort to other reasons covered under self care. This includes, needing water, taking scheduled prescription medication, bedtime, needing to pee or something else.

Characters are still subject to IG results of RP, this is called Fate of the Party but Players will not be punished OOG for needing to use this policy. If you remove yourself because of strong emotions or OOG bleed do not go back into the game. Instead take a break, take a nap, eat a meal or walk in the forest.

Fade to Black

Fading to Black is a consent mechanic that allows people to participate in potentially graphic roleplay or have a built in out if they cannot or do not wish to continue. Typically, Fading to Black is used to gain the result of intense RP without graphic detail or to finish a roleplay. Fading to Black is a collaborative consent mechanic, if someone is asking to Fade to Black it isn't to ruin someone else's fun it's to protect their own fun and mental health. Please enter scenes that Fade to Black in a mindset of cooperation, compromise and consent.

Eg. Kat and Amcreva have an interrogation scene. Kat needs to get information out of Amcreva who is an NPC with important knowledge. Kat doesn't have any skills like Knowledge Rend or Solomon to assist. Kat asks, OOG.

"Amcreva, Are you okay with an interrogation scene?"

Amcreva thinks about it. "I think I will be comfortable with the interrogation verbally, and maybe a few fake punches or slaps. I absolutely do not want to actually be tied up. But I'll hold my hands behind my back and we can drape the rope to make it look like i'm tied up. Also, Anything that involves body horror or torture I'd definitely need to fade to black."

Kat nods, "Okay! So we will role play the interrogation, only verbal threats and a few described scenes of a slap or two. When we fade to black will your character give up the information or die protecting that information?"

Amcreva nods, "Well, I don't feel this character is loyal to the point of death. I will give you the information when we Fade to Black or before that if the roleplay goes well."

Kat and Amcreva roleplay the scene. Kat chooses to fade to black when a boffer knife comes out and she implies verbally she is going to stab Amcreva.

"Was that okay?" Kat asks, Amcreva nods. "That was very intense but also really fun! I forgot to ask to Fade to Black when the knife came out."

Kat replies, "We both agreed that the scene would Fade to Black when any kind of body horror would be involved. I appreciate the roleplay. I thought you were really convincing!"

Fade to Black should not be used to stop other people’s graphic roleplay you are not involved in. If you do not like the roleplay content around you, you need to leave the scene.

Red, Yellow, Green

This is also called the stoplight mechanic, sometimes it's hard to be able to negotiate your limits if you don't know what they are. The stoplight mechanic allows both you and the other players in the scene to gauge how everyone is feeling. There's a verbal version of this and a non verbal version.

''Okay Hand or Thumbs Up or Verbally Say "Green" Thumbs Middle with Wiggle or Verbally Say "Yellow" Thumbs Down or Verbally say "Red"''

Green means keep going. I'm ok.

Yellow means direct roleplay away from subject at hand eg. A triggering subject, or that it's time for a negotiation out of game.

Red means stop. Hard stop. Players go out of character and do a check in immediately.