Every player must read and agree to these policies before playing.
Please raise any concerns or questions before your first session.
These are the expectations to which we aspire when we play a game together.
Each player may find certain expectations more challenging or easier.
We promise to do our best.
Player’s Code of Chivalry
Engaged. I will participate in the game in a way that helps my fellow players have fun and tell a great story.
I will keep my attention primarily on the game session, listening even when it is not my turn to act.
If I need to fidget or move around, I will do so in a way that is not distracting to others.
I will not play any other games or watch videos during the game session.
I will avoid excessive conversation that is not relevant to the adventure.
Kind. I will support, validate, and encourage myself and others, so all feel welcome.
I will respect boundaries, not engaging in topics or themes with which my fellow players are not comfortable.
I will inform my GM privately of any topics or themes to be avoided entirely or described only in passing (“lines” and “veils”).
I will use players’ and characters’ names and pronouns as they are provided to me.
I will clean up after myself at the end of the session.
Considerate. I will control my own actions and not attempt to control, overly influence, or detract from others.
I will not touch other people or their possessions without clear consent.
When I or my character encounter misfortune, bad rolls, or inconvenient rules, I will accept it gracefully or remove myself until I may do so.
If there is background noise in my environment or if I need to eat or drink, I will mute my mic except when talking.
I will abide by the Content Policies applicable to my group and will ask the GM for any clarifications I may need.
Ready. I will be at the table and ready for the game session at the scheduled time, with everything I need ready to play.
In person: Character sheet, dice, and writing utensil.
Online: Headphones, webcam, and microphone; character sheet, map, and video chat open and logged in.
Content Policies
The player characters are a team of heroes, working together to do good in the world.
While PCs can have a dark past, ulterior motives, or shady methods, the heroes should still be heroes in the end.
If a character turns fully to a path of evil/against their party, they become an NPC under the control of the GM, and the player must make a new, more heroic PC to join the party. This must be discussed with the GM ahead of time.
This applies generally to all my games, with specific exceptions for some adult groups.
Game content will be age appropriate, using something akin to MPAA movie ratings, with the addition of ‘lines’ and ‘veils’ as safety tools for roleplaying.
Under age 13: PG - Stylized/cartoonish violence, some slightly dark themes or rude language allowed. More serious adult topics avoided or dealt with simplistically as appropriate.
Age 13-17: PG-13 - Violence and war without excessive gore. Dark and serious themes explored without being too explicit or disturbing. Strong language allowed in moderation.
Age 17+: R - Content appropriate for a general audience of adults, with no restrictions on language. A strong emphasis on safety tools like ‘lines’ and ‘veils’.
In-Character Romance: Not in games with kids.
The GM will not roleplay any romantic relationships involving characters played by kids, regardless of the age of their characters.
Kids are also not allowed to roleplay such relationships with each other in my games.
Non-player characters may have romantic interests described at an age-appropriate level (e.g. a space marine journeys home because he misses his wife; the blacksmith hires the players to save her girlfriend from a dragon).
In adult games only (age 17+), romantic themes may be explored if all parties are fully on board after an out-of-character conversation. Intimate scenes always “fade to black.”
LGBTQIA+ people and relationships are valid and will be treated on equal terms following the same guidelines.
Other Policies
For most groups, a quorum is three players, so a scheduled session will proceed as long as three players (plus the GM) can show up,
If a session must be cancelled, I will attempt to reschedule it within the same calendar week with at least a quorum of players agreeing to the rescheduled time.
In the unlikely occurrence (it has never happened yet) that we are unable to make-up the session before the end of the season, I will refund the fee for one session.
Players must pay for the session using the online scheduling page before they will be allowed to join.
Since I run games for so many different players every week, I cannot keep track of alternative payment plans or IOUs.
Game session audio may be recorded by the GM for note taking purposes.
I sometimes listen back to a session to prepare for the next one.
I store this audio on my device only as long as it is needed and I do not share it with anyone.
Values
I welcome and celebrate neurodiversity. As a parent of autistic and ADHD kids (and as a former 2E kid myself), I can relate to the unique needs and strengths of quirky brains. I’ve found that my tendency to improvise within the guardrails of a structured adventure works especially well for neurodiverse players.
All are welcome at my game table. I make a conscious effort to include and celebrate LGBTQIA+ folks and people of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
After all, why be a villain when the world could always use more heroes?!.