Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy

All games run by OLS are subject to the Conduct and Themes Policy which can be found on the OLS Google Drive. It is expected that the GM, crew and players will be familiar with this policy when playing The Social Season. This page in some cases reiterates and in some cases adds more specific restrictions and clarifications that apply to The Social Season. Therefore, I encourage you to read this page carefully, even if you are an experienced player, as elements of this CAT Policy differ from previous games.

I would like to remind all participants that the spirit of the policy is to be considered more authoritative than the exact wording, and legalistic attempts to defend breaches of acceptable behaviour will not be treated as valid. I expect players to follow a general policy of treating other players with respect.

The Social Season is not a contact LARP. This means you shouldn't initiate contact with another player, crew member or GM without checking in OC first. This includes all forms of contact, such as dancing, hugs or performing medical roleplay. In the event you wish to initiate combat with another character, please speak to the GM. More description about how conflict will be handled in The Social Season can be found towards the end of the Style and Tone page.

Players, crew and the GM in The Social Season are expected to maintain a good IC/OC divide. This means understanding that feelings between characters (whether that's anything from hatred to romance) are between characters, and not the people playing them. Players are expected to get OC permission before engaging in an intense emotional relationship, whether romantic or otherwise. I encourage you to talk to players who you've had particularly intense interactions with before/after sessions to make sure you are keeping the character separate from the player. See tips for roleplaying for more suggestions on this (including advice on character bleed).

As per the Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy, if you wish to raise an issue with regards to another player or crew member, contact the GM (gm@season.oxfordlarp.com); if you wish to raise an issue with regards to the GM, contact the Society Chair (calsop170@gmail.com).

You may request not to roleplay with another player, crew member or GM before or at any point during the game, and I will do my best to ensure that you come into contact with that person as little as possible. You may ask the GM to inform that person of your request or you may keep your request confidential, though keeping it confidential will prevent the GM from asking that person not to roleplay with you during the course of the game. To make the request, you can email, message on Discord or catch me for a private conversation in-person.

A request not to roleplay with the GM cannot be anonymous (since such requests are seen by the GM), but you are welcome to make the request and no questions about it will be asked. If requested, I will avoid interacting with you during sessions and you do not need to submit or receive Turnsheets if you would prefer not to.

When out of character, all players, crew members and the GM are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner toward all other players, crew members and the GM. All characters should be treated as the intellectual property of their players. Anyone wishing to depict another player's character in any way (e.g. drawing a picture with that character in it, writing a story in which that character features, etc.) must first get the express out-of-character consent of the other person. If the other person does not give permission, this must be respected, and never brought up again. This applies both to PCs and NPCs.

The Social Season is an AI-free game. All content (including wiki pages, Turnsheets, emails and images) will not be AI generated in any way. Players are also expected not to use AI as part of the game.

Many of the themes presented here and in this game are complicated and nuanced. If you have any questions or concerns about any of these themes, or if there are any other themes not mentioned here that you wish to avoid, please reach out to the GM at gm@season.oxfordlarp.com or on Discord so that I can find a way to make the game safe and enjoyable for you. Please make sure to read this list carefully, as it differs significantly from real world history.

• Sexual assault, sexual coercion or any other form of non-consensual sexual activity
  • Although characters may be pressured into marriage, they are not permitted to be pressured into having children (biological or adopted) or any other form of sexual activity. All characters who engage in sexual activity are assumed to be fully educated about what they are consenting to.
• Sexual activity with those lacking the capacity to consent e.g. children
• Sexual harassment
  • It is not permitted to persistently romantically pursue a character who has made clear they are uncomfortable with this attention.
• Use of real-world discriminatory slurs
• Discrimination on the basis of protected real world characteristics (e.g. gender/sexuality/race)
• Incest
• Genital mutilation or castration
• Eating disorders
• Self-harm and suicide
• Torture
• Extreme or indiscriminate violence
• Extreme gore
• Miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion
• Slavery or human trafficking
• Mind Control or other means of removing agency
• Animal abuse
  • Animal racing is not planned to feature in the game, but it is permitted and part of the setting (primarily horse racing) – the animals involved in these cases are treated well. Hunting animals for sport is not permitted to occur during the game.
• Eugenics, genocide, and genocide denial
• Cannibalism
• Terrorism
• Portrayals of real-world events of an upsetting or traumatic nature
• Physical domestic abuse, including child abuse

• Discrimination on the basis of class
  • This is the main form of discrimination in the setting of this game, so is expected to be a significant theme. Characters born to less-wealthy families have fewer opportunities and live in worse conditions. The class system is rigid, making it difficult to advance, and has many tiers (with members of the Ton towards the very top). How established families in the Ton achieved such wealth and status is outside the scope of the game. Within the Ton, families generally look down upon other families who have less wealth and status. Members of the Ton may or may not personally sympathise with those of lower classes, but they will be aware of the societal barriers that divide them.
• Gambling
• Domestic abuse, including child abuse
  • Family structures are of high social importance and can be difficult to walk away from for reasons of reputation. Physical domestic abuse is a banned theme. Player Characters may be the victims or perpetrators of controlling, neglectful or emotionally harmful behaviour, but characters are not permitted to enact this behaviour towards their family with the intention of causing harm.
• Consensual sexual activity
  • While this may occur and be referenced in game, it will not be detailed. If it occurs in Turnsheets, it will be handled in a fade-to-black style.
• Portrayals of real-world historical figures
  • The only real-world historical figures planned to have a notable presence in the world of The Social Season are the Royal Family, described more here. Real-world historical figures are generally outside the scope of the game, but can be mentioned in passing where appropriate, such as if a character wishes to refer to the Prime Minister. The behaviour of all historical figures is amended to comply with the other restrictions of this CAT policy.
• Manifestation of degenerative illness
  • This is permitted in backstories. If a player wishes for their character to suffer from a degenerative illness during the game, they should handle the topic sensitively and warn other players who are becoming close to their character.

• Portrayals of disabilities, including but not limited to sensory impairments, mobility impairments, and mental illness
• Portrayals of real-world religions
  • Real-world religions exist as background in this setting (although they are amended to comply with the other restrictions of this policy), but the GM asks that players do not make religion a focus of their plot.
• Common phobia triggers, such as spiders or needles
  • If you have any phobia triggers you would like to avoid, please inform the GM and I will try to keep you away from them.
• Addiction, such as drug, alcohol or gambling addiction
• Homelessness
• Childbirth and pregnancy
  • Pregnancies and births may occur over the course of the game, but no detailed descriptions will be given.
• Medical malpractice