Code of Conduct

Preliminary Version - Oct 2023

## General Code of Conduct

1. Players are expected to behave and act in a civil, respectful, honest, and responsible manner at all times, particularly towards other Dark Skylines players.
2. Players should never engage in activity that violates the terms of service of any of the platforms Dark Skylines utilizes, including VRChat and Discord.
3. All players and staff are expected to immediately cease all interactions if they are experiencing hostility. It is always better to step away from the game if necessary.
4. Players should not attend Dark Skylines events while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
5. Discrimination or harassment based on race, gender, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, color, disability status, or any physical or mental limitations is strictly prohibited. All individuals are urged to report any witnessed or experienced incidents of such behavior to the staff promptly.
6. Real-life always takes precedence over activities and narratives in Dark Skylines. Participants must always remember that Dark Skylines is a fictional and fantastical representation. Should any participant feel the boundaries between reality and the game diminishing (commonly called ‘bleed’), it is imperative they relay their concerns to the staff. Appropriate measures, including potential breaks from gameplay, will be implemented to reestablish a healthy perspective.

## Our Values

Dark Skylines players are encouraged to know their own limits and protect their physical and emotional safety. If at any time a participant believes an activity may be unsafe for any reason, they should request a halt to activities until such time as the unsafe condition or situation has been remedied. If during the event a participant becomes aware of a situation that may jeopardize the safety of themselves and/or other players they should report it immediately to a member of staff.

When interacting in-character, we require that players make efforts to ensure that they are respectful of other players' boundaries. That includes, but is not limited to, not touching another character (Yes, this applies to a virtual LARP such as ours) unless you have confirmed OOC that it is acceptable with that player.

## Player Behavior and Concerns

### Bleed

Bringing out-of-character conflicts into game or in-character conflicts out-of-game is considered poor form and will not be tolerated. Players are expected to deal with each other civilly and sensitively at all times.

### Complaints

If you have complaints regarding another player, a marshal, or the game itself, please speak to a member of Dark Skylines staff as soon as possible. We take all concerns presented to us seriously and strive to keep all concerns confidential where possible; this may include being unable to provide a complainant with the results of an investigation. Regardless, the staff will seek to address and resolve all issues as quickly as possible to the best of our ability.

### Disciplinary Action

Players who have acted in a way that is inappropriate may face disciplinary action. A master record of disciplinary action is maintained by the HC.

A disciplinary action may be initiated by any member of the Narrator Team acting on their own or on behalf of another player. Players who are found to have violated these rules may face punishments.

In general, the Narrator Team will use the least punishment necessary to resolve an issue—this usually will be a verbal or written warning. If this behavior is not corrected, other disciplinary action may be taken including but not limited to:

* Exclusion from an event
* Removal or withholding of XP for a character
* Removal or withholding of AP for a player’s characters
* Removal of Graduations from a player
* Decommissioning of Characters
* Verbal or written warnings
* Suspension
* Exclusion from Dark Skylines

The Dark Skylines and GIB Games Staff reserve the right to ask a player to leave an event, or not attend future events, if we feel the player is negatively impacting the experiences of other players in any way. GIB Games is the final arbiter of this matter.

### Appealing Coordinator rulings and Disciplinary Action

A player may appeal a disciplinary action made by the Narrator Team to the HC for review.

## Content and Consent

It is mandatory to obtain explicit and enthusiastic consent from all involved parties for any scene that encompasses sexuality, intense themes, descriptions of violence, or any content potentially perceived as distressing or discomforting. Consent is always situational and must be acquired for each individual scene or event. Past consent does not indicate blanket approval for future events, even with the same participants.

All players must communicate precisely and transparently about the nature and content of the scene for which they are seeking consent. Anything less than an unequivocal 'Yes' should be interpreted as a 'No.' If consent is ambiguous or uncertain, players must adjust the scene or content until a clear, mutual understanding and agreement are reached. Any vague responses, such as "I'm not sure" or "It depends," warrant further discussion to ensure complete comfort and understanding among all participants.

Try to define the boundaries of consent by the comfort level of the participant who is the least comfortable, so that consent and a safe and welcoming environment is guaranteed for all participants.

Players and staff must take the word of participants when they are describing their comfort level in any situation or scene. It's vital to receive a 'no' with understanding, ensuring participants, outside their character roles, have the freedom to gracefully exit a scene whenever they feel the need.

This also means that no participating player or staff member can be held responsible for participating in a scene that was agreed upon by all participants and consent was given. Members are expected to be honest with each other at the time of granting consent and cannot withdraw consent retroactively, but they always hold the right to express their discomfort and withdraw their consent at any moment during the interaction.

Our primary aim is to uphold the well-being, safety, and comfort of all members. It's important not to judge or criticize anyone for setting personal boundaries; instead, they should be met with appreciation and respect. Recognizing someone's decision to opt out of specific content due to personal reasons is, in fact, a testament to our community's strength and understanding. Such open communication builds trust, nurtures mutual respect, emphasizes individual choices, and showcases the values of our community.

These consent gaining measures should occur at the start of any scene with potential to make individuals feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Members or officers joining a scene already in progress must agree to the existing boundaries that have been defined or may decline participation.

### Sexual Roleplay

Sexual roleplay (commonly called Erotic Roleplay or ERP) occurs when two characters consensually engage in content of an explicit sexual nature, whether this occurs over text, voice or another platform.

This content is not appropriate to occur at a Dark Skylines event or on the Dark Skylines discord server. Consenting players engaging in ERP on other platforms should inform a Narrator prior to this occurring to establish that all parties involved are consenting. Players at any time have the right to end these interactions and ask that they be retconned or no longer be detailed explicitly, commonly called a “fade to black”.

### Check-ins

We are a LARP community, and we enjoy our characters role-played interactions, or we would not be here. However, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between amazing acting and a negative emotional response on the part of the player. We are here to have a safe and fun environment for all of our fellow players and officers.

If you are not sure, check in with the player. Simply step out of character for a moment and quickly check in with the player in question. Having a safe environment to explore role-play is more important than losing a moment of immersion. Just get their attention and ask, “Are you OK?”

If a player responds to your Check-In with anything other than an affirmative response, stop immediately and call a Narrator.

### No Sexual Assault Content

For the well-being and comfort of all our members, the depiction or allusion to rape or sexual assault in role-playing is strictly prohibited, across all platforms.

All scenes depicting, insinuating, or discussing rape or sexual assault are forbidden. This encompasses any situation where a character is made to engage in a sexual act against their will, whether by force, manipulation, or the exertion of power or special abilities. A character cannot under any circumstances be compelled against their will to engage in any sexual contact they would not have otherwise willingly engaged in.

## The Narrator Team

The Narrator Team is an essential component of the Vampire the Masquerade LARP experience facilitated by GIB Games. As representatives of the game and the community, Narrators are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, courtesy, and respect.

### Rules, Rulings, and Appeals

1. Players may appeal rulings made by a member of the Narrator Team. The first point of appeal is usually the ST over the venue in question.
2. If they believe there is reason to still appeal this ruling, they may refer the ruling to the remainder of the Narrator Team to review. The HST has the final ruling on these matters.
3. Scenes may be retconned by the Narrator Team. This is often done to remove an overruled ruling or fix a break in continuity.

### Appealing Narrative Rulings

Any ruling made by a member of Dark Skylines staff is subject to our appeal process. A player may appeal such a decision through the following levels

The decision of a member of the Narrator Team may be appealed to the Narrator Team. This may require a scene be frozen. The narrator Team will discuss the matter and return a ruling as soon as convenient.

Players should not abuse the appeal system. We are human, and we make mistakes, but there is no reason to clutter the team’s workload with frivolous appeals.

### Volunteer Staff

#### Assistants / Helpers

Assistants are not usually considered a part of the Narrator Team but may perform some specific tasks such as:

* Assisting new players in creating character sheets
* Portraying NPCs
* Helping to create avatars
* Helping to create worlds
* Supporting the VRPG repo

#### Coordinators

Coordinators perform more specific tasks that may be required to ensure smooth operation of the game. In general they are not considered Narrators. Duties might include:

1. Addressing disputes between players and facilitating resolutions to ensure the continuity of the game.
2. Moderating Dark Skylines group instances and kicking people if necessary
3. Moderating Discord channels
4. Keeping and maintaining records
5. Managing scheduled events

#### Narrators

Narrators act as both referees and also as guides for the game experience. Narrator duties include:

1. Responding to rules inquiries between games and providing clarifications on rules questions when reasonably convenient.
2. Review player earnings of AP each month.
3. Actively responding to calls during gameplay for rules clarifications and scene decisions.
4. Attending, overseeing, and reviewing scenes in game as necessary to ensure conformity with the game rules.
5. Responding to Downtimes
6. Regularly address issues with the game rules and propose, discuss and implement changes as necessary.
7. Participating in Narrator Team meetings.
8. Collaborating in crafting and sustaining ongoing storylines.
9. Portraying NPCs and running approved plots. Suggesting changes to ongoing lore and plots as necessary.

#### Storytellers

Storytellers are special Narrators with a greater knowledge of the game and world Lore, who create, run, and manage the Dark Skylines plot. They create and run plot lines within large sections of the Dark Skylines world, usually consisting of a particular subject matter or venue, such as a sect or a specific splat. Storytellers should avoid playing PCs that fall into their own jurisdiction.

1. Creating and managing NPC files for the NPCs under their control
2. Overseeing and responding to downtimes regarding their venue, NPCs, and plot lines
3. Serving as the Direct Storyteller for PCs under their jurisdiction
4. Serving as the first point of appeal for rulings under their jurisdiction
5. All of the duties of Narrators and Assistants as required.

### Administrative Staff

The Administrative Staff are GIB Games staff who have a vested interest in the continued running of the game. They are accountable by their actions to GIB Games and ultimately to you, the players.
The HST and HC are responsible for the selection, appointment, and if necessary, the dismissal of volunteer members of the Narrator Team. This ensures that the team aligns with the game's vision and standards.

#### Head Storyteller (HST)

The HST maintains continuity of the story and plot, with the support of the Narrator Team.

1. The HST maintains the character files, often referred to as the "Tome of Existence," safeguarding the history and developments of each character. The HST’s character records are considered authoritative.
2. In the event of a PC conflict, the HST’s player characters are accountable to the Storyteller over that venue.
3. The HST serves as the Direct Storyteller for all Storytellers.

#### Head Coordinator (HC)

The HC maintains the administration and logistics of Dark Skylines.

1. The HC maintains the hosting, repo, and logistics of Dark Skylines events.
2. The HC provides support to Dark Skylines events, such as providing NPC support and assisting in handling event coordination.
3. Maintains the game’s master calendar.
4. Enforces and serves as the final point of appeal for disciplinary actions.
5. Serves as the disciplinary point of contact for complaints regarding members of the Narrator Team, including the HST.

### Staff Guidelines

The Narrator Team holds a pivotal role in shaping the experience of our players. As representatives of GIB Games and ambassadors of the Vampire the Masquerade LARP community, adhering to a specific set of behavioral standards is crucial.

Narrators found breaching these expectations may be subjected to corrective measures ranging from verbal warnings to potential removal from the team.

1. Professionalism and Respect: Treat every individual—be it player, fellow narrator, or any other stakeholder—with dignity and respect.
2. Player-Centric Approach: Prioritizing player welfare and experience is paramount. This means actively seeking feedback, addressing concerns promptly, and creating an environment where players feel valued.
3. Game Adherence and Integrity: Ensure strict adherence to the game's rules, avoiding potential conflicts of interest. Always remain objective, basing decisions on factual and unbiased assessments.
4. Communication: Communicate clearly and consistently. Address concerns and feedback in a timely and constructive manner. Maintain approachability for both players and fellow Narrators.
5. Conflict Resolution: Approach disputes with patience and empathy. Act decisively to ensure conflicts are resolved amicably and promptly.
6. Transparency: Ensure decisions are made transparently. Provide necessary explanations to maintain trust and understanding.
7. Team Cohesion: Recognize and appreciate the contributions of fellow Narrators.
8. Accountability: Own up to mistakes, apologize when necessary, and implement corrective actions. Encourage a culture of mutual accountability within the team.
9. Confidentiality: Handle any personal information or sensitive details with discretion and utmost confidentiality.
10. Inclusivity: Foster an inclusive environment where all players and Narrators feel welcomed, irrespective of their background, gender, age, or beliefs. Actively discourage any forms of discrimination or harassment.

#### Benefits

Being a Narrator is a volunteer position and is therefore not compensated. However, Narrator Team members generally receive:

* A subscription to VRChat+ paid by GIB Games
* An additional 4 Attendance XP per game to be assigned to a character of the Narrator’s choice who would otherwise have not received Attendance XP

#### Expectations

1. No interaction or communication with players will occur while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
2. Disagreements on rulings should be kept between the staff and the narrators only. Other players should only be involved in the discussion if their character is involved in the ruling decision and it is imperative to know their stance on the matter from an IC and/or OOC outlook before an informed resolution can be made. They should be reached via the character channels within the server. That way communication is open to all members of staff and there isn’t anything left private. If it must be a group discussion, a thread should be created involving the narrators and player in question.
3. If a narrator responding to a situation does not think they can address the matter fairly, then another staff member should be called to take over the ruling.
4. Stand united and support fellow Narrators, ensuring a synergistic environment conducive to the game's success.
5. Maintain transparent communication channels with the Narrator Team for any queries, challenges, or feedback.
6. When enacting NPCs, Narrators should strive to stay true to the NPC's motivations and characteristics.
7. Narrators should not engage in sexual roleplay using NPCs. All sexual encounters involving NPCs should ‘fade to black’.

#### Narrator PCs

1. Narrators may also have Player Characters (PCs) who should be overseen by an appropriate Storyteller or the HST.
2. Narrators are prohibited from narrating scenes involving their PCs directly.
3. When a narrator’s character becomes involved in a scene in which they are mitigating for another narrator already, another uninvolved member of the team should be called to rule on the issue from that point. This also includes if there is a potential that a narrator’s character may become involved at some point and it is known by any members running the scene from the beginning that this is a possibility. In the event that there are no other uninvolved narrators, the scene should be frozen until one can be brought in. In the rare event that all members of the Narrator Team are involved in the scene and are unwilling or unable to remove themselves from it, the HST will run the scene.
4. Any premeditated action taken by a Narrator's PC that intends to incapacitate, send another PC into torpor, or lead to another PC's death necessitates prior authorization from the Narrator Team.