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 but is not limited to, needing water, taking scheduled prescription medication, stimming time, bedtime, needing to pee, too hot 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 long break, take a nap in cast or elsewhere, eat a meal, re-hydrate or walk in the forest.

Remember - it is NEVER rude to leave a scene abruptly! We accept any and all reasons to leave a scene.

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.

Example:

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 by using the OPT OUT Mechanism.

We encourage folks to fade to black in text and in game! Even if the RP isn't intense - this re-enforces using this mechanism at other times.

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 quickly and without major interuption.

There's a verbal version of this and a non verbal version.

''Okay Hand or Thumbs Up or Verbally Say "Green"

Thumbs Middle, or flat hand 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 quick OOG check-in and negotiation out of game. Yellow is the calibration mechanic, it means the person wants to remain in game but may be heading towards an opt out or fade to black.

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

WHEN UNSURE - DO A CHECK IN.


 * Safety is always paramount to immersion.**

Other Mechanics and Rules
CN: Mention of Potentially Triggering Topics

At Mystfall there are a few subjects that we do not allow at any time.

This list is not exhaustive but is generally indicative of our safer communities policies and empathy to others.

No one should be leaving LARP traumatized or with lingering upset if you are, we will do what we can to rectify what happened.

If you feel something was unfair, that someone or something is discriminatory or toxic tell ombud immediately. Bud@Mystfall.ca

We understand LARP is a tightknit community and Mystfall wants our community to openly confront broken stairs and those creating an unsafe environment for others.

A step to avoid toxic behaviour is to say something when you see something. Avoid gossipping and be firm when setting your own boundaries, and reporting folks who repeatedly and intentionally breach those boundaries.

Subjects and Actions that are NOT acceptable at any time.
Active Dehumanising PCs or NPCs

Use of IRL Slurs of any kind

Gendered Violence of Any Kind (eg. Serial Killer that only kills XYZ person.)

Homophobia, Transphobia, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism etc,

Romanticized or Glorified Depictions of Public Suicide, or Self Harm. Content Warning This Before RP or preferably Don't RP this at all.

Romanticized or Glorified depictions of addiction.

Removal of Any Of the Above Consent Mechanics

Referring to PCs or NPCs purposely as 'it'

Sexual Assault Content in game or in backstory SA does not happen in our universe no one questions this.

Any kind of Constant IG Harassment of PCs. This includes 'justified' CvC - You kill them once and you are done - repeated killings of a PC without a negotiation/calibration is considered griefing.

Breaking firmly set and communicated boundaries. (Eg. I do not engage in any romantic RP, I do not RP gore/body horror, I do not RP being touched.")

Slavery or Ownership of another PC or NPC.