CODE OF CONDUCT
HOW WE PLAY TOGETHER
Welcome to RPG Taverns! We are excited to have you join us for adventure, camaraderie, and fun. To ensure a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable experience for everyone, we require all players, GMs, and staff members to agree and adhere to high standards of behaviour and conduct.
Where this code of conduct applies
This code of conduct applies at all times within our venue, both in and out of game. It also applies when interacting with others via official channels such as the RPG Taverns Discord.
Living Document - 03/04/24 Update
This code of conduct is a living document. We value your feedback and we expect to make additions and changes to its content over time as we continually seek to improve the inclusivity and safety of our community and evolve and mature our internal processes. If you have any feedback or questions regarding this document, please reach out to us at info@rpgtaverns.com.
Start With Respect - Our Golden Rule
Mutual respect is at the core of everything we do here at RPG Taverns. It is on this foundation that we build our community, tell engaging stories, and go on thrilling adventures with each other.
What do we mean when we say mutual respect?
Respect each other - Your actions and behaviour must be respectful towards your fellow players. Respect them for who they are and embrace their diverse backgrounds and the vibrancy they bring to our world. You won’t always agree on everything but you must be respectful in any debate or disagreement.
Respect our GMs - Respect our GMs for the time and energy they spend to bring life to our world and tell rich, engaging stories. Respect their authority at a table by providing any feedback in a respectful and non-combative manner. Most of all, respect that our GMs are people too, and a simple thank you goes a long way!
Respect our staff - Respect our staff and their place of work. They work tirelessly long after the sessions have ended to make sure everyone is provided with a safe and fun experience. Don’t make that work harder.
Respect yourselves - Your voice matters - you should never feel intimidated or shy at a table. You should always conduct yourself in a way that is dignified and respectful.
If something ever goes wrong, our first question will be, do you think that was a respectful thing to do? Start with respect, and the rest will follow.
Diversity
RPG Taverns seeks to foster a safe and welcoming space for all our players and celebrate the power of TTRPGs to bring people from all walks of life together. It is this diversity that makes our community great and brings depth and vibrancy to our world.
We have rules and expectations in place to foster and protect the diversity of our community, which we outline throughout this document. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and we expect that this will grow and adapt over time. Where there is a concern regarding the content of this document, or a scenario occurs that isn’t specifically mentioned, our golden rule of mutual respect will take precedence.
Throughout this document, we will refer to personal characteristics. Personal characteristics are part of who we are as people and can refer to an individual’s age, disability or impairment, gender identity, neurodiversity, race (including nationality, ethnic or national origin), religious beliefs, or sexual identity. All members of our community, regardless of their personal characteristics, should be free to be their authentic selves and be treated equally and with respect.
It should be noted that the existence or lack of certain personal characteristics does not permit or excuse a person to engage in disrespectful, intolerant, or exclusionary behaviour towards others. We expect all members of our community to interact with each other positively and respectfully.
General Behaviour
You must behave in a way that is dignified, respectful, and safe at all times.
There are many ways to describe the behaviour that we expect at RPG Taverns. But the easiest way to articulate it is simply to be a good person that people want to be around. While they may not be seen in the same light as more extreme behaviours such as harassment, more minor negative behaviours also have a negative impact on those around you. You should avoid these behaviours at all times, both in character and out of character.
What this looks like:
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Being encouraging and welcoming of new players, or players that are less experienced than yourself.
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Making sure each person is afforded agency on their turn.
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Making sure each player has a chance to be in the spotlight.
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Giving constructive and helpful feedback.
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Taking feedback positively and constructively.
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Thanking your GM and your fellow players at the end of a session.
What this doesn’t look like:
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Arguing with the GM.
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Being dismissive of others and their contributions.
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Playing overly combative, aggressive, or generally unpleasant characters.
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Interrupting or speaking over other players.
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Excessive swearing or foul language.
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Sabotaging the efforts of other players.
Bullying & Harassment
You must not bully or harass others, including players, GMs, or members of staff.
Bullying and harassment in any form is unacceptable at RPG Taverns. Individuals engaging in these behaviours show a fundamental lack of respect towards their fellow community members and are in violation of our golden rule. This applies to interactions both in and out of character.
What this looks like:
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Calling out minor instances of bullying and harassment both in and out of character.
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Reporting instances of bullying or harassment via our reporting functions.
What this doesn’t look like:
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Repeatedly singling out or isolating others.
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Referring to others by unwanted nicknames.
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Maliciously damaging another person's property.
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Breaching an individual's privacy.
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Repeatedly entering someone’s personal space without consent.
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Continuing to ask someone to socialise after they have already declined.
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Continuing to ask for phone numbers or other methods of contact after they have already declined.
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Making inappropriate comments or sexual remarks without consent.
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Touching someone inappropriately or sexually when they have not consented.
Conflict
Any conflict, debate, or disagreement must be approached in a way that is constructive and respectful.
Healthy conflict is a core part of TTRPGs. But there is a point where conflict becomes unhealthy, potentially aggressive, or even violent. As such, we expect people to engage in healthy and respectful conflict at all times, both in character and out of character.
What this looks like:
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Being willing to compromise.
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Debating the facts and the situation, not the person.
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Leaving any in-session debates or rivalries at the table.
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Always obtaining consent from both the GM and the player in question before engaging in any combat or other activity that may be detrimental to another player.
What this doesn’t look like:
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Overly violent or aggressive combat during gameplay.
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Being argumentative or stubborn either in and out of character.
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Sabotaging or working against others at your table if they do not agree with you.
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Raising your voice, standing over, or otherwise intimidating others.
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Engaging or inciting real-world physical violence.
Drugs & Alcohol
If you choose to consume alcohol, you must do so responsibly and in moderation.
Consuming alcohol in excess can have a negative impact on a session, potentially ruining the experience for everyone involved. It can also result in potentially unsafe scenarios for others. RPG Taverns reserves the right to refuse alcohol service to anyone who appears intoxicated or is behaving inappropriately, but we expect that you should refrain from getting to such a point. In addition, this is a drug-free venue.
What this looks like:
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Watching how many alcoholic drinks you have consumed and cutting back or slowing down where needed.
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Making use of the non-alcoholic options available at the bar, including access to free water.
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Watching out for your friends and having a word if you believe they are drinking in excess.
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If one of the bar staff does cut you off, respecting their decision without argument.
What this doesn’t look like:
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Being under the effect of any substance to the extent that it impairs your ability to behave safely and respectfully to others or to such a level that it disrupts gameplay.
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Consuming alcohol on site that has been purchased from outside the venue.
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Bringing any illegal substances to the venue.
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Pressuring others to drink or drink excessively.
Equality & Inclusion
You must treat all players with respect regardless of their personal characteristics.
As a community, we welcome people from all walks of life, regardless of their personal characteristics. We celebrate the diverse world views and stories that we all bring to the table and ensure that every voice is equally respected and valued.
What this looks like:
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Making every effort to pronounce a player name or character name correctly.
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Using the correct declared pronouns for a community member or an in-game character or using gender-neutral terms where preferred pronouns have not been declared.
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Being respectful in how you choose to play a character with different personal characteristics to your own. For example: If you opt to play a character with a disability or impairment, it should be a meaningful part of your character’s story, identity, and gameplay.
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Having an open mind about the personal characteristics of others and how you can best accommodate them to improve the gameplay experience for everyone.
What this doesn’t look like:
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Any form of discrimination relating to an individual’s personal characteristics.
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Using language that is directly or indirectly offensive or is detrimental to another individual.
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Incorporating stereotypes or harmful tropes in your role-playing that relate to any personal characteristic.
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Challenging someone’s personal characteristics. For example, challenging the existence of, or otherwise minimising the impact of a person’s disability or impairment.
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Roleplaying personal characteristics in a way that minimises or trivialises them. For example, playing a character with an impairment for comedic or cosmetic purposes in a way that minimises or trivialises the challenges faced by those living with an impairment in the real world.
Reasonable Accomodations
You should make reasonable efforts to accommodate the personal characteristics of others and be open to any reasonable accommodations to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment.
Small accommodations can make a big difference in terms of a person's experience as part of our community. Under our golden rule of mutual respect, you must engage with such requests for reasonable accommodations in good faith and at face value.
What this looks like:
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Allowing for longer breaks or making space at an accessible table for those with mobility impairments.
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Avoiding causing audio or visual triggers that may affect some neurodiverse individuals.
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Reducing background noise or adjusting table layouts for individuals with difficulties hearing.
What this doesn’t look like:
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Challenging the need for or purposefully neglecting to accommodate another person’s personal characteristics.
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Purposely ignoring or repeatedly failing to adhere to a reasonable accommodation.
When Things
Go Wrong
Despite best intentions, there may still be incidents where a player or group of players conduct themselves in a way that is not fair or respectful to other players, members of staff, or the wider community.
We encourage you to call out such incidents in the first instance if you are comfortable doing so. If you are not comfortable doing so, we encourage you to report the incident via one of our reporting channels.
While ignorance does not excuse poor behaviour, not everyone in our community will have a high level of familiarity or awareness of all characteristics, backgrounds, and beliefs. There is the potential that no matter how well-intentioned the individual is, missteps or offences can occur, due to a lack of understanding. In these situations, we ask that an educational stance be employed in the first instance to build awareness and reduce the likelihood of said behaviour happening in the future and that a sincere apology be given.
We understand that it is unfair for someone who has been on the receiving end of such behaviour to be the educator, and therefore we welcome them to approach one of our members of staff to fulfil this role. Repeated or purposeful instances of such behaviour will not be tolerated.
If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe, please speak to a member of staff immediately.
In Person
If you witness or experience any behaviour during a session that violates the Code of Conduct or makes you feel uncomfortable, please report this to your GM in the first instance.
If they are unable to solve the issue, please report it to any onsite staff member of RPG Taverns immediately. The staff member may note down your details for further correspondence or ask you to also report your concern or complaint via email info@rpgtaverns.com.
Consequences or rulings implemented by GMs or onsite staff members of RPG Taverns may be appealed to the RPG Taverns disciplinary committee via this email address.
Email
You can also report any concerns or complaints via email at info@rpgtaverns.com. A member of staff will respond to you as soon as possible to discuss next steps. Please include as much information as possible to help assist with resolution including (where applicable) the offending party, witnesses, location, date and time, and a summary of the incident. All submissions will be treated confidentially and with the utmost respect.
Anonymous Webform - Click Here to View Form
We understand that in some situations, individuals may be uncomfortable making a complaint via identifying channels. As such, we do provide an anonymous form to report incidents. Making an anonymous report can compromise our ability to fully investigate the incident in question as we cannot seek additional information about the incident, clarify the circumstances or our understanding of the incident, or update you on the progress and outcome of any resulting investigation. As such, we highly recommend that you make your report via email instead.
Mod Tag (Discord only)
To flag inappropriate content on Discord, please tag the post with the ‘@Mods’ tag to bring it to the Discord Moderation team’s attention. To escalate a Discord matter, please email info@rpgtaverns.com.
Please note that the ‘Report Message’ function within the Discord UI goes directly to Discord themselves, and not RPG Taverns. We recommend you use either of the RPG Taverns reporting terms above if you’d like to bring any particular post to our attention.