Code of Conduct

Roleplaying is a collaborative effort. At Worlds Near and Far Gaming, we always strive to maintain an atmosphere where everyone gets a chance to have fun in their own way, and we do expect players to play with that same collaborative spirit in mind. If we all play with the goal of everyone feeling safe, comfortable and having fun, then everyone can have the experience of a lifetime.

Respect for Other Players

Depending on the event, you may be playing with friends or strangers. Regardless of who you share the game table with, it is important that all players be treated with respect. This includes:

Using fellow players’ preferred names and pronouns
Welcoming a diversity of game and life experience, identities, and cultural backgrounds
Treating others as you would like to be treated
Refraining from engaging in harassment or discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability or pardoned criminal convictions.

Creating a Safe Space

The Game Master and players will work together to foster a safe, comfortable, fun gaming environment, no matter where gameplay takes us. Players must not engage in:

Inappropriate behaviour towards minors
Sexual harassment or unwelcome advances towards other players or the GM
Bullying, body shaming, and intimidation towards other players, nor will players use their character’s actions to justify toxic out-of-game behaviour (the “That’s what my character would do” defense)
Presentation of or use of real-world hate symbols or ideology, whether represented visually or mentioned verbally
Sexual or erotic subject matter of any kind, whether violent or not, especially if minors are present at the table. Adult-oriented games such as Vampire: the Masquerade may include heavily-veiled suggestions of sexual activity, but these scenes and situations must never be described in detail.
Romancing of Non-Player Characters (NPCs)

Romance between characters can only happen with express consent from the players of those characters prior to the session date, and only players who are at least 18 years of age may give this consent.

When a situation surrounding safety arises, we will prioritize the perspective of the person who feels unsafe.

Safety Tools

A variety of safety tools are available for use at our gaming tables to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable during gameplay.

Lines and Veils

A Line is a strict “do not include this” rule. Anything covered by the Lines list will not be presented as part of the story, and players may not engage in any action that goes against a Line.
A Veil is a softer “keep this out of sight” rule. Anything on the Veils list can be included, but it needs to be presented in a vague “fade-to-black” kind of way, with no explicit descriptions or detailed roleplay involved.
The Lines and Veils list for your game will be decided and agreed upon before the session as part of the consultation process.
The Game Master reserves the right to add other Lines and Veils as the need arises, whether by the Game Master’s own volition or by request by a player at the table during play. All discussions of Lines and Veils between players and the Game Master will be kept confidential unless the player who asked for it chooses to divulge this information.
Every player will have the opportunity to submit their own Lines and Veils.
- While the Game Master will use their best efforts to accommodate the Lines and Veils, it may not be possible to run certain storylines or game systems if a Line or Veil is inherent to the story or game, especially at short notice. In cases such as this, the Game Master will work with those involved to come to the best possible compromise to ensure Safety and Comfort for the affected player(s).

Standard Lines and Veils for Worlds Near and Far Gaming

No Adult (X-Rated) Content
No roleplaying of sexual acts. Game Masters will be refraining from roleplaying these themes so as to maintain a professional distance with players. Discussion of whether these themes are to be included at all will be addressed during the consultation process. In any case, even implied sexual acts must always be consensual.
No real-life racism, sexism, ableism, anti-Semitism, anti-LGBTQ2IA+ themes, and anything else that targets a marginalized community or is otherwise protected under the Human Rights Code. This includes slavery.
No violence or harm towards children and teens. Player Characters must be at least 18 years of age unless the player is under 18. Children and Teens will only be depicted in scenes where no harm will come to them, except in cases where a minor player is depicting a child or teen, in which case no details will be given about their character’s injuries or afflictions that may arise as a result of combat or other story situations. Children and Teens will not be depicted at all in games that are restricted to adult players only, such as Vampire: the Masquerade.
Once the Lines and Veils are finalized for the game, every player must agree to adhere to the Lines and Veils before playing.
Lines and Veils will be adhered to and adapted to at all times during gameplay, no exceptions.

X Card

Sometimes we don’t know that something will make us feel unsafe or uncomfortable until we are in the moment. Sometimes something comes up during a game that we, as players, hadn’t even considered. In cases like these, the X-Card is available for your use.

You will each have your own X-Card at your seat to use any time you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
You are strongly encouraged to use the X-Card whenever you feel you would like to. You will not be judged for having paused gameplay to do so. Your safety and comfort are important.
If you use an X-Card, the Game Master will check in with you to see what you need in order to feel safe and comfortable. A break may be called, or the Game Master may speak with you privately, a scene can be glossed over or discontinued, or you can remove yourself from the scene while the triggering situation is present, and the Game Master will fill you in on the essential information to the story without the triggering subject matter.

Check-In

For particularly graphic, violent, or horrific scenes, or when roleplay gets heated between characters, the Game Master can do a quick check-in.

To check in, the Game Master will give a thumbs-up or ask if everyone is okay.
If you are okay, give a thumbs up in response.
If you are starting to feel somewhat uncomfortable, point your thumb sideways.
If you are feeling uncomfortable, give a thumbs down.

If any response other than “thumbs up” is given, the Game Master will call a break to allow things to cool down, and they will speak to the affected players to resolve the situation.

Stars and Wishes

Your thoughts and feelings help us to make better games for you. At the end of the session, we will ask how your experience was. Feel free to share favourite moments, cool things your fellow players did, and what you loved doing. We also value constructive criticism, as well as requests for improvements.

Making the Game Fun for Everyone

Everyone approaches roleplaying games differently, incorporating several different play styles to greater or lesser degrees. In order to ensure that everyone has the best time possible, please ensure that you:

Consider how actions affect the other PCs
Contribute positively to the overall group’s effort
Do not engage in Player Character vs. Player Character (PvP) conflict, whether physical or verbal, unless everyone at the table agrees to it
The Game Master may allow an exception in cases where a player character has been controlled by magic or curses laid upon them by a non-player character (NPC) or story element.

Respect for the Game Master

The Game Master has a unique role at the game table. They present the story, portray every character not being portrayed by the players, referee the rules, and perform a host of other tasks. Our Game Masters collaborate with players to create an incredible experience, but they must also be permitted to do their job. Please bear the following in mind when playing:

Our Game Masters will welcome your respectful input, but theirs is the final say regarding any aspect of gameplay, including rules adjudication, the adoption of house rules, story elements, character approvals, and anything else that may apply to the game experience.
If the Game Master is uncertain of a ruling, a “field call” will be made for the specific situation at hand, and the rule will be looked up later so the game can keep moving.

Smoking and Substance Use

Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco-related products must only be smoked outdoors and far enough away from the table that the smoke is not disruptive to players. This is both out of consideration for your fellow players and to maintain the good condition of our game assets.
Alcohol may be consumed in moderation by those who are legal drinking age in the jurisdiction the event is held in.
Cannabis may only be consumed in jurisdictions where it is legal to do so, and only by those who are of the legal age to imbibe in said jurisdiction, except in situations where cannabis has been prescribed for medical purposes. Regardless of the reason for imbibing, Cannabis products must not be smoked indoors where Worlds Near and Far Gaming property and assets (terrain, miniatures, set dressings, etc.) are situated.
The Client, Participants, and Guests who will be in the vicinity of gameplay may not be under the influence of illegal drugs
Instances of extreme or disruptive intoxication will not be tolerated, and will lead to the offending player’s expulsion from the event.

Minors

A minor is any person who has not yet reached the legal age of majority for the jurisdiction in which the event takes place.
Minors must be supervised by a responsible adult who is at least 18 years of age and is acting in the capacity of caregiver or guardian during the event.