Conduct and Themes Policy

This is the Work In Progress Conduct & Themes Policy, and is designed to inform you of acceptable conduct when playing the game, as well as potentially sensitive themes that may occur.

Work In Progress will be dealing with a variety of themes and genres, many of which will be lighthearted or comedic, but some of which may be dark or unsettling - particularly as the game draws on. The GM team want to ensure that everyone feels safe and comfortable when playing the game, and so we have put in place some measures to help with this.

We understand that this policy is very long, and it's often helpful to use it as a reference rather than reading it in full (though we encourage you to do so). There are three simple questions you should ask yourself, though:

• Do I have consent?

Consent is absolutely key, and must be observed at all times. If it is specified here that you must ask before doing something, or another player indicates they do not consent to what you are doing, then you should not do it. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and if in doubt it's important to ask.

• What is the impact of my actions?

If you think your behaviour may be upsetting another player out of character, or you want to do something that you think may upset them, then you should communicate with them before continuing with it - whether or not it's something specified in this policy. Remember: someone might have felt pressured into giving consent but still be upset about it, so be mindful if you think this could be the case!

• Am I acting in good faith?

You shouldn't try to get around this policy in sneaky ways or abuse it to gain an in-game advantage - just act in good faith. The spirit of the policy is always more authoritative than the exact wording, and so legalistic attempts to defend breaches of acceptable behaviour will be interpreted as being in bad faith and will not be accepted.

All games run by the Oxford University Role Playing Game Society are subject to the society's Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy. It is expected that all players and GMs will be familiar with this policy when playing Work In Progress.

When in and out of character, all players and GMs are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner toward all other players and GMs and in accordance with the society's Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy, as well as the university policies mentioned within it.

You must be 16 or over to take part in the game.

Physical contact of any kind requires the consent of the other participant. If you suspect that your character may have reason to have physical contact with another character, make sure you have checked beforehand out of character with that player or GM whether they are comfortable with it.

Consent can take the form of blanket consent (“I am happy with physical contact from you during the course of the game”) or can be more specific (“Do you mind if we join hands for the moment?”). Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and if you aren't sure you should always ask.

It is important to have someone's consent before taking pictures of them, writing fanfic or making artwork involving their character or NPC:

• The GMs will ask every player whether they can take a photograph of them, which will be uploaded onto the wiki for the purposes of identifying them - more detail on this can be found in the Privacy Policy.

• However, if you wish to take any photographs involving players or GMs whether before, during or after session, you must ask permission from everyone who would be in the photograph. Players and GMs have the right to request that a photograph is deleted if they have not given permission.

• If you wish to draw artwork or write fanfic about another character or an NPC, please ask the character's player or the relevant GM whether they would be alright with that, and you should give them a heads up as to the type of artwork or fanfic that you plan on creating. If they say they're not okay with it, you must respect their decision.

Bullying, non-sexual harassment, romantic obsession or romantic stalking may be things your character wants to engage in during the course of the game, but must not be initiated without the out of character consent of the other participant. If consent is not given, this must be respected and the subject should not be brought up again.

Even if you have consent to engage in one or more of these, keep yourself in check by periodically asking yourself the questions “Do I have consent?” and “What is the impact of my actions?”, which are addressed in more detail at the beginning of this policy. Remember: consent may be withdrawn at any time, and you may be inadvertently pressuring someone who is not actually comfortable with what you are doing.

Engaging in harassment or stalking in a sexual context is absolutely forbidden.

It is important to maintain a strong In Character/Out of Character divide in order to ensure that everyone is comfortable taking part in the game:

• It is not acceptable to insult or exclude a character while in character based on an out of character attribute that a player or GM has. This includes physical attributes, accents, speech impediments, unconscious ticks etc.

• In character grudges or rivalries should never be brought into an out of character setting, and out of character disagreements or clashes should never be brought into an in character setting. However, this doesn't mean you should feel forced to roleplay with someone that you don't want to.

You may request not to roleplay with another player or GM before or at any point during the game, and we will do our best to ensure that you come into contact with that person as little as possible. You may ask us to inform that person of your request or you may keep your request confidential, though keeping the request confidential will prevent us from asking that person not to roleplay with you during the course of the game.

If another player makes you uncomfortable, please bring the matter to the GM team either in person or via email, which will be seen by all GMs. If a GM makes you uncomfortable and you wish to discuss it confidentially, then please contact the head GM via her personal email. If the head GM makes you uncomfortable then concerns should be raised with the society president, whose contact details can be found here.

This section deals with potentially upsetting themes which may be present in the game. If you wish to play Work In Progress but have concerns about one of these themes, please get in touch to talk about your concerns or for any questions you may have.

It is expected that these subjects are treated in an appropriate manner and within the constraints listed here. Please keep in mind that these subjects should always be handled sensitively due to the potential real-life experiences of other players or GMs.

Because Work In Progress deals with a large number of genres in Vignettes, we have made a distinction as to how certain themes may be handled within Vignettes as opposed to how they may be handled outside of them. The reason for this is that while we may wish to allow certain themes to exist in a particular Vignette - an example being gender roles, which are a form of discrimination on the basis of gender - we do not want those themes to be brought into the main game and to define its plot. Such themes may be relevant to the plot of the Vignette itself, however.

• Where a bullet point on a theme begins with 'Certain Vignettes', anything that follows may only occur in a Vignette that has given a content warning addressing that particular theme and how it will manifest, and must not occur outside of that Vignette.

• During the Vignette, players must not introduce any other theme beginning with 'Certain Vignettes' that was not included in a Vignette’s content warnings, or exceed the limits of its content warnings during the course of that Vignette.

• Outside the Vignette, players and GMs may reference the existence of such a theme within the Vignette but should not explore it further.

• Animal abuse.
  • Combat with monstrous or animal-like Impressions may be possible in either Vignettes or the Dreamscape, though must not resemble torture or neglect.

• Bullying or (non-sexual) harassment.
  • Harassment in a sexual context is absolutely forbidden.
  • Mild forms of bullying or (non-sexual) harassment may occur. Players should be very careful to consider whether their character's behaviour could be considered either of these and must check-in with the other player or the relevant GM before initiating or escalating that sort of behaviour.
  • In particular, this applies to 'playground bullying', which involves exploiting an imbalance of power to exclude, demean or humiliate someone - often in front of a complicit group and sustained over time. Open hostility, petty revenge and other forms of social PvP do not necessarily require checking-in with the other player or GM beforehand, though you should always bear in mind the question “What is the impact of my actions?”, which is addressed at the top of this policy.

• Consensual sexual activity.
  • Anything more than a kiss will be treated with a 'fade to black' in turnsheets before it occurs, and must not be roleplayed in sessions.
  • Please do not roleplay this where other players or GMs may accidentally come across this such as via the email system, as the GMs are copied in on every email.

• Death.
  • Player characters may retire through dying or being killed, though in such an event we will strive to ensure that they have a satisfying ending. We will inform a player if their character has died.

• Degenerative diseases or cancer.
  • Muses may suffer from Fading or Censorship, which may be seen as a form of degenerative disease, though Muses cannot suffer from real-world degenernative diseases or cancer.
  • The Great Fade is analogous to writer's block. Jo will not suffer from either of these themes over the course of the game.
  • Certain Vignettes: Impressions in Vignettes may suffer from either of these themes as part of their background, though the representation will be mild and non-specific, such as a dying relative. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing these.

• Discrimination on the basis of gender or sex (e.g. sexism).
  • This does not occur in the Dreamscape.
  • Certain Vignettes: Discrimination on these bases may occur in the background of Vignettes in a mild form, such as through gender roles. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Discrimination on the basis of nationality, religion or faith.
  • Muses may discriminate against each other on the basis of their Faction, and some Impressions discriminate against Muses as a whole. Real-world religious tropes may also occur, such as crucifixes, though no discrimination will occur on the basis of any real-world religion.
  • Certain Vignettes: Discrimination on the basis of nationality or (fantasy) religion may occur in the background of Vignettes in a mild form. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Discrimination on the basis of real-world biases not otherwise covered in this policy.
  • Other forms of discrimination, such as those based on age, name or language, either do not occur or do not make sense within the Dreamscape.
  • Certain Vignettes: If we anticipate that a form of discrimination not otherwise covered in this policy will appear in a Vignette, and that it may be potentially upsetting, a specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing it.

• Drug or alcohol addiction.
  • Muses cannot become addicted to either drugs or alcohol, and do not become addicted to Creative Juices.
  • Certain Vignettes: Impressions in Vignettes may suffer from either of these themes as part of their background, though the representation will be mild and, in the case of drugs, non-specific, and players and GMs should be mindful of the intersection with mental illness. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing these.

• Extreme gore.
  • This may occur with cartoonish or exaggerated descriptions in Vignettes or the Dreamscape.
  • Certain Vignettes: Descriptions may be more genre specific, and therefore more realistic - though will not be gratuitous. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Extreme violence.
  • This may occur with cartoonish or exaggerated descriptions in Vignettes or the Dreamscape.
  • Certain Vignettes: Descriptions may be more genre specific, and therefore more realistic - though will not be gratuitous. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Gambling and gambling addiction.
  • Gambling may be encouraged as part of the game, and it is possible for Muses and Impressions to become addicted to gambling, though players and GMs should be mindful of the intersection with mental illness when this leads to self-neglect.

• Genocide.
  • Systematic campaigns to eradicate a group on the basis of any forbidden theme, mass killings on the basis of any forbidden theme or allusions to real-world genocides are forbidden themes.
  • The threat of wiping out all Muses may occur during the course of the game, and Vignettes in post-apocalyptic settings which reference large-scale destructive acts which primarily targeted a single group may occur.
  • Certain Vignettes: Large-scale destructive acts which primarily target a single group may occur directly or as a threat, such as the destruction of a planet. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Homelessness.
  • Players and GMs should be mindful of the fact that homelessness does not necessarily equate to sleeping on the streets.

• Indiscriminate violence.
  • This may occur with cartoonish or exaggerated descriptions in Vignettes or the Dreamscape.
  • Certain Vignettes: Descriptions may be more genre specific, and therefore more realistic - though will not be gratuitous. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Mental illness.
  • Jo will not suffer from mental illness over the course of the game.
  • Muses and Impressions may suffer from mental illness, though any representation of it must not be exaggerated or distressing.

• Mind control or other means of removing agency.
  • Player characters will not be mind controlled without their player's consent, which requires them to opt into the Mindbender Quirk. However, roleplaying effects may occur that affect a character's mental state, and will take the form of suggestions (e.g. “you feel happier than usual”).
  • Player characters may retire through losing agency, such as becoming part of a hive mind or succumbing to an overpowering force. Such events will be rare, and will only occur after we have had a discussion with the player.

• Physical disability.
  • Muses and Impressions may suffer from physical disability, though any representation of it must not be exaggerated.

• Pregnancy.
  • Muses can procreate but cannot get pregnant, though pregnancy may occur within Vignettes.

• Real-world historical figures and events.
  • Impressions of historical figures and Vignettes of historical events may occur, though they will always be fictionalised versions. We will not introduce any figure or event that is controversial, upsetting and/or likely to give rise to OC arguments (e.g. politicians, dictators, some celebrities, recent wars etc.).
  • Real-world fictional characters, such as those from real-world franchises, will not be present during the course of the game.

• Romantic obsession or romantic stalking.
  • Stalking in a sexual context is absolutely forbidden.
  • Mild forms of romantic obsession or romantic stalking may occur, though will not be initiated by NPCs against players. Players should be very careful to consider whether their character's behaviour could be considered either of these and must check-in with the other player or relevant GM before initiating or escalating that sort of behaviour.
  • This does not apply to non-sexual, non-romantic stalking, such as an assassin stalking their mark.

• Self-harm.
  • Self-harm as an expression of emotional distress is a forbidden theme.
  • Muses may intentionally harm themselves by giving away Creative Juices or allowing themselves to Fade.
  • Certain Vignettes: Self-harm may occur in relation to Impressions, though the representation will be mild, such as ritual bloodletting. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Slavery or human trafficking.
  • Slavery and human trafficking do not exist in the Dreamscape.
  • Certain Vignettes: Impressions may be enslaved (though not trafficked), though slavery on the basis of any form of discrimination is forbidden. For example, an orc may not be enslaved simply because they are an orc, whether as part of systemic racial oppression or a lone individual's bigotry against orcs. However, as examples, a manservant may be enslaved to their mistress, and serfdom in a medieval setting is allowed. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Suicide or suicide attempts.
  • Suicide or suicide attempts as expressions of emotional distress are forbidden themes.
  • Muses and Impressions may commit suicide or attempt to do so, though the representation will be implied rather than overt, such as a suicide mission or heroic self-sacrifice.

• Terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism.
  • Mass acts of disruption or destruction may occur in Vignettes or the Dreamscape, such as the destruction of infrastructure which causes a number of deaths, though must not consist of indiscriminate violence with the primary aim of maximising death.
  • Certain Vignettes: Terrorism may occur in any form, including indiscriminate violence with the primary aim of maximising death. A specific content warning will be given for a Vignette containing this.

• Torture.
  • This will be treated with a 'fade to black' in turnsheets before it occurs.
  • Muses may be tortured, though not gratuitously.

If there are any phobias or themes that make you uncomfortable that are not mentioned here, please feel free to let us know so that we can make sure you avoid them.

The following themes will not be present in Work In Progress. They must not be portrayed, mentioned or alluded to by players or GMs at any point during the game.

Please note that the first four themes in red should be given extra consideration due to their severity.

• 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 or sexual stalking.

• Use of real-world discriminatory slurs.

• Cannibalism.
  • Muses consuming each other does not make sense within the the game.

• Child abuse.

• Discrimination on the basis of gender identity (e.g. transphobia).

• Discrimination on the basis of physical disability or mental health condition (e.g. ableism).

• Discrimination on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race (e.g. racism).

• Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (e.g. homophobia).

• Domestic abuse.

• Eating disorders.

• Eugenics.

• Forced abortion.

• Genital mutilation.

• Genocide denial.

• Incest.
  • Muses do not procreate via sex, but can still participate in both activities and have conventional family relations. Sex or procreation with a family member must not occur.

• Miscarriage and stillbirth.

• Non-consensual feeding (e.g. during hunger strikes).

• Real-world current figures and events.
  • Jo lives in an alternative version of reality where these do not exist.