Darkwood Nights strives to maintain a fun and exciting atmosphere for Live Action Role Play (LARP) while also making people feel welcome and safe. LARPing by its very nature is often socially competitive and at times high adrenaline; misunderstandings and disagreements can arise easily. This Code of Conduct outlines what is expected at our events and in our social spaces.
We expect all staff and participants to behave in an appropriate, mature, and responsible manner. Everyone is expected to treat others with courtesy and respect and to abide by all federal, state, local laws, statutes, ordinances, and site specific rules.
The nature of LARPing often creates in-character drama. Darkwood Nights is an 18+ game and we expect participants to separate character conflict from real life.
Scope
This policy applies to conduct at any Darkwood Nights event and in our official spaces (including Discord, the website, and official social pages). It may also apply to off-site conduct reasonably connected to this community when it materially impacts participant safety, event operations, or the ability of others to participate.
Examples of conduct that may result in consequences
While not exclusive, the following list provides examples of behaviors or actions that may result in consequences up to and including removal from a Darkwood Nights event and/or our community:
Violation of our Anti-Harassment Policy
Violating any laws including illegal drug use*
Failure to comply with reasonable Darkwood Nights staff instructions
Physically destructive behavior
Endangering the safety of yourself or others
Deliberate cheating to include gibbering, machine gunning, metagaming, rhino hiding and turtling (refer to our LARP Culture Document on the website: Common Abbreviations & Terms for definitions)
Physically threatening another participant
Arriving to game, or playing game, while intoxicated or obviously under the influence of drugs, alcohol or marijuana
Failure to abide by Darkwood Nights or event location safety guidelines
Disruption of the event
Repeated out of character bullying, intimidation, or boundary pushing that discourages participation or destabilizes the community
Retaliation for reporting, witness pressure, interference with staff review, or attempts to inflame an active conduct issue in Darkwood Nights spaces
Spreading or amplifying claims presented as fact, posting demeaning content, or running a persistent disparagement campaign in a way that reasonably harms safety, participation, event operations, or the reputation of Darkwood Nights or its participants
*Any suspected violation of law constituting a felony, including illegal drug use, will be immediately reported to the police. In addition, the participant will be removed pending resolution of the alleged legal issue.
Authority to sanction and remove
Program Leadership (Program Manager and Heads of Staff) may correct behavior, sanction, or remove participants when it is determined such action is in the best interest of Darkwood Nights, our community, or the hosting space. We will typically provide a verbal or written warning and allow you to correct your behavior when appropriate. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, temporary suspension from an event, loss of privileges (including loss of XP for a period of time or retirement of a character), restrictions in Darkwood Nights online spaces, or no contact expectations between participants.
Under normal circumstances, such sanctions are a result of the infraction reporting and investigatory process. However, Program Leadership may initiate a review and take action without a formal complaint when circumstances warrant.
Darkwood Nights is not a court. Decisions are made using a reasonableness and credibility standard to protect participant safety and the community. A documented pattern of minor incidents, including conduct that creates a hostile environment or discourages participation of others, may be treated as a conduct issue even if each incident alone would not result in removal.
Administrative actions taken by a single staff member may be reviewed by the rest of Program Leadership after the fact to ensure consistency with policy.
Reporting
If you experience behavior that you feel violates this policy, reports may be submitted to report@darkwoodnights.org. Please refer to our Anti-Harassment Policy and Infraction Policy for more information.