policys
Terms
IC = in character. Refers to locations, entities, and behaviours that are part of the game world.
OC = out of character. Refers to locations, entities, and behaviours that are separate from the game world and exist solely in real life.
Equality and Diversity
Any instances of discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, OC religion, and body shape will be considered OC slurs and a basis for exclusion from the game (see Exclusion From Games).
Inappropriate Themes
Whilst at events, it is inappropriate for players or game organisers to make reference to sexual activity with non-consenting partners, including all minors and non-human animals.
General Safety
We endeavour to run as safe a game as possible. However, Cleansing Flame involves a large amount of outdoor activity, often at night, as well as LARP combat. Each player is responsible for remaining aware of environmental hazards, and avoiding them. For instance, if you believe that an area is unsafe to fight in due to slippery ground, do not fight there. It is perfectly acceptable to drop OC temporarily to move yourself and other players to a safer location. Endangering other players, for whatever reason, is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game.
In the case of an individual requiring OC first aid, this should be attended to immediately. The ref team contains trained first aiders, so contact the ref team and we will provide all needed assistance.
Combat Safety
In LARP combat, blows with weapons must be pulled so that they strike with very little force. All players have a different tolerance for being struck, so caution and restraint are mandatory. If a player informs you OC that you are striking them too hard, then they are, by definition, correct, and you must ensure that you strike more lightly. If a player does not reduce the force behind their blows when asked, inform a member of the ref team who will resolve the situation. Striking too hard when you have been asked to refrain from doing so is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game.
You must not fight with any weapon that has not been approved by a Cleansing Flame weapons checker. If a weapon is deemed unsafe for any reason, it must be stored in an OC area for the entire event. Note that most LARP weapons are unsuitable for stabbing in combat. Only if a weapon has been judged as stab safe by a Cleansing Flame weapons checker may it be used for stabbing. Bringing a non-approved weapon into an IC area, or stabbing with a weapon that has not been approved for it, is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game.
Physical Contact and Harassment
Engaging in physical contact with another player, IC or OC, without their express consent is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game. Depending on the severity of the offence, it may also be grounds for criminal prosecution. Any other behaviour judged by the ref team to constitute OC abuse, harassment, or intimidation is also a basis for exclusion from the game.
It is acceptable, and strongly recommended, to quickly drop OC to ask for consent to engage in any IC physical contact. In particular, if your character begins an IC romantic relationship with another character, holding an OC conversation to determine boundaries is advised. Do not feel under any pressure to consent to any physical contact with which you are not 100% comfortable. You are not LARPing 'better' or 'harder' if you do so.
Cheating
Whilst IC at an event, all players are required to abide by the rules of the game. This includes, but is not limited to, responding to weapons calls as the rules dictate, and following the rules on incapacitation and death. Should a player fail to abide by the game rules, for instance, to give their character an unfair advantage, this will be investigated by the ref team and may be grounds for exclusion from the game.
Stealing
Whilst IC, your character may choose to attempt to steal an item that is the property of another character. This is an acceptable and encouraged form of player versus player conflict. However, depending on the nature of the phys rep for that item, please follow the policies below.
If the phys rep is clearly the property of the game or its organisers, feel free to keep the phys rep until the end of the event, then hand it back to the game organisers.
If the phys rep is the property of a player, please return it to a ref within thirty minutes of the theft, informing that referee of whom you stole the item from. The item will be held for safekeeping by the refs, who will inform the player who owns the phys rep as soon as possible that the item is now in their care. If appropriate and feasible, a replacement physrep will be provided to the player who stole the item so that they can carry their loot around IC.
If you are unsure as to the ownership status of a stolen physrep, please assume that it belongs to a player and act accordingly.
Failure to abide by these practices is a breach of the rules and is grounds for exclusion from the game. It may also be grounds for criminal prosecution.
Dropping Out of Character
There are many reasons why, during the course of the event, players may need to drop OC temporarily, some of which are described above and below. To prevent disruption to other players' roleplay, it is advised that, when you need to drop OC, you generally do so quickly and quietly. Please do not hold extended OC discussions in an IC area, particularly near other people who are roleplaying. There exists a dedicated OC area for people to go to should they wish to spend time as themselves away from the game. Persistently dropping OC for no reason in a way that is disruptive and irritating to other roleplayers is a basis for exclusion from the game.
Being in Kit
Players are required to be in appropriate IC kit during the event whilst in any IC area, as far as is reasonable and practicable. If the ref team determines that any part of your kit is definitely unsuitable for the game world, you will be asked to remove it, and may be lent replacement kit by the ref team if needed. Note that the ref team's supply of kit is intended for use in crew roles, and in emergencies, and abuse of the lending system will not be tolerated, and may be basis for exclusion from the game.
Exclusion From The Game
When a player is deemed to have performed a behaviour that is a basis for exclusion from the game, they will typically be given a single warning. This is to accommodate the fact that people make mistakes, and may be unaware in certain cases that their actions are in breach of the rules. A second offence within the same category will lead to an individual being asked to leave the event and to be prevented from booking future events. A refund may be given for the current event, depending on the severity of the behaviour, and is not guaranteed in any situation. In rare cases, a behaviour may be sufficiently harmful to other players (for instance, physical or sexual abuse) that an individual is excluded from the game with no warning. In all cases, the discretion of the ref team is paramount, and decisions will be made to promote the best enjoyment of the game by the player base as a whole.
Criminal Prosecution
Activity during events must comply with UK law, and criminal behaviour will be judged very severely. Activities such as physical assault, sexual harassment, theft, and taking illicit drugs will be reported to the police as a matter of policy.
IC = in character. Refers to locations, entities, and behaviours that are part of the game world.
OC = out of character. Refers to locations, entities, and behaviours that are separate from the game world and exist solely in real life.
Equality and Diversity
Any instances of discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, OC religion, and body shape will be considered OC slurs and a basis for exclusion from the game (see Exclusion From Games).
Inappropriate Themes
Whilst at events, it is inappropriate for players or game organisers to make reference to sexual activity with non-consenting partners, including all minors and non-human animals.
General Safety
We endeavour to run as safe a game as possible. However, Cleansing Flame involves a large amount of outdoor activity, often at night, as well as LARP combat. Each player is responsible for remaining aware of environmental hazards, and avoiding them. For instance, if you believe that an area is unsafe to fight in due to slippery ground, do not fight there. It is perfectly acceptable to drop OC temporarily to move yourself and other players to a safer location. Endangering other players, for whatever reason, is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game.
In the case of an individual requiring OC first aid, this should be attended to immediately. The ref team contains trained first aiders, so contact the ref team and we will provide all needed assistance.
Combat Safety
In LARP combat, blows with weapons must be pulled so that they strike with very little force. All players have a different tolerance for being struck, so caution and restraint are mandatory. If a player informs you OC that you are striking them too hard, then they are, by definition, correct, and you must ensure that you strike more lightly. If a player does not reduce the force behind their blows when asked, inform a member of the ref team who will resolve the situation. Striking too hard when you have been asked to refrain from doing so is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game.
You must not fight with any weapon that has not been approved by a Cleansing Flame weapons checker. If a weapon is deemed unsafe for any reason, it must be stored in an OC area for the entire event. Note that most LARP weapons are unsuitable for stabbing in combat. Only if a weapon has been judged as stab safe by a Cleansing Flame weapons checker may it be used for stabbing. Bringing a non-approved weapon into an IC area, or stabbing with a weapon that has not been approved for it, is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game.
Physical Contact and Harassment
Engaging in physical contact with another player, IC or OC, without their express consent is a violation of the rules and a basis for exclusion from the game. Depending on the severity of the offence, it may also be grounds for criminal prosecution. Any other behaviour judged by the ref team to constitute OC abuse, harassment, or intimidation is also a basis for exclusion from the game.
It is acceptable, and strongly recommended, to quickly drop OC to ask for consent to engage in any IC physical contact. In particular, if your character begins an IC romantic relationship with another character, holding an OC conversation to determine boundaries is advised. Do not feel under any pressure to consent to any physical contact with which you are not 100% comfortable. You are not LARPing 'better' or 'harder' if you do so.
Cheating
Whilst IC at an event, all players are required to abide by the rules of the game. This includes, but is not limited to, responding to weapons calls as the rules dictate, and following the rules on incapacitation and death. Should a player fail to abide by the game rules, for instance, to give their character an unfair advantage, this will be investigated by the ref team and may be grounds for exclusion from the game.
Stealing
Whilst IC, your character may choose to attempt to steal an item that is the property of another character. This is an acceptable and encouraged form of player versus player conflict. However, depending on the nature of the phys rep for that item, please follow the policies below.
If the phys rep is clearly the property of the game or its organisers, feel free to keep the phys rep until the end of the event, then hand it back to the game organisers.
If the phys rep is the property of a player, please return it to a ref within thirty minutes of the theft, informing that referee of whom you stole the item from. The item will be held for safekeeping by the refs, who will inform the player who owns the phys rep as soon as possible that the item is now in their care. If appropriate and feasible, a replacement physrep will be provided to the player who stole the item so that they can carry their loot around IC.
If you are unsure as to the ownership status of a stolen physrep, please assume that it belongs to a player and act accordingly.
Failure to abide by these practices is a breach of the rules and is grounds for exclusion from the game. It may also be grounds for criminal prosecution.
Dropping Out of Character
There are many reasons why, during the course of the event, players may need to drop OC temporarily, some of which are described above and below. To prevent disruption to other players' roleplay, it is advised that, when you need to drop OC, you generally do so quickly and quietly. Please do not hold extended OC discussions in an IC area, particularly near other people who are roleplaying. There exists a dedicated OC area for people to go to should they wish to spend time as themselves away from the game. Persistently dropping OC for no reason in a way that is disruptive and irritating to other roleplayers is a basis for exclusion from the game.
Being in Kit
Players are required to be in appropriate IC kit during the event whilst in any IC area, as far as is reasonable and practicable. If the ref team determines that any part of your kit is definitely unsuitable for the game world, you will be asked to remove it, and may be lent replacement kit by the ref team if needed. Note that the ref team's supply of kit is intended for use in crew roles, and in emergencies, and abuse of the lending system will not be tolerated, and may be basis for exclusion from the game.
Exclusion From The Game
When a player is deemed to have performed a behaviour that is a basis for exclusion from the game, they will typically be given a single warning. This is to accommodate the fact that people make mistakes, and may be unaware in certain cases that their actions are in breach of the rules. A second offence within the same category will lead to an individual being asked to leave the event and to be prevented from booking future events. A refund may be given for the current event, depending on the severity of the behaviour, and is not guaranteed in any situation. In rare cases, a behaviour may be sufficiently harmful to other players (for instance, physical or sexual abuse) that an individual is excluded from the game with no warning. In all cases, the discretion of the ref team is paramount, and decisions will be made to promote the best enjoyment of the game by the player base as a whole.
Criminal Prosecution
Activity during events must comply with UK law, and criminal behaviour will be judged very severely. Activities such as physical assault, sexual harassment, theft, and taking illicit drugs will be reported to the police as a matter of policy.