(Sexual Activity and Performances)
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{{CaptionedImage|file=MattP.jpg|align=right|caption=Event Manager: Matt Pennington}}
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{{CaptionedImage|file=EmmaWoodsCropped.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Conduct: Emma Woods}}
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This is our page of rules for conduct. Additional key links:
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*[[Reporting a conduct problem]]
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*[[Sanctions]]
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==Overview==
 
==Overview==
Live roleplaying is a cooperative hobby which means that your enjoyment of our game is dependent on the behaviour of other participants and likewise their enjoyment is impacted by the way you approach and play the game. Because of this unique cooperative aspect of live roleplaying, we require all our participants to meet certain common standards of conduct and behaviour while they are at Empire events or using online spaces devoted to the game.
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Our code of conduct lays out what is required of everyone who wishes to be part of our community. These rules apply at all times to all participants.  
  
This code of conduct defines the responsibilities of participants involved with Empire. The aim is to benefit everyone involved by ensuring that you know what behaviour to expect at an event and what behaviour is expected of you. We want to make clear what behaviour is acceptable because Empire is a large active community of thousands of live roleplayers - who all have own views on these matters. Explicitly defining a social contract that you agree to by choosing to participate allows you to know the standards that you will be held to by others.
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The conduct rules are separate to [[Empire_rules|the game rules]], in that they cover how you treat other participants. Everyone should treat each other according to these conduct rules so that we can roleplay safely and respectfully. Game rules govern how the game is fairly played and explain what behaviour is classed as [[Playing_the_game#Cheating|cheating]]. If you're worried someone is cheating, please [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk contact the game team] rather than the conduct team.
  
All our rules for conduct apply to everyone who attends our events, to all participants regardless of whether they are players or crew. The underlying goal of this code of conduct is about respecting other participants - and taking reasonable measures to produce the best events we can that are as accessible to as many people as possible. We want to produce high quality events that are enjoyed by all participants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or sexuality.
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If you believe that anyone has breached any of the conduct rules below, we encourage you to [[Reporting_a_conduct_problem|let us know]], regardless of where it took place.
  
Although we are passionate about these issues - it is outside our scope as an events company to support public discussions about them. These pages lay out the behaviour that is expected from participants in our game to ''remove assumptions about how things work at our events''. We have published the definitive source for what is and is not acceptable at Profound Decisions events, so that everyone can understand what rules are used at our events.
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If you have any questions about any of these rules, please [mailto:conduct@profounddecisions.co.uk contact the conduct team] who will be happy to help.
{{CaptionedImage|file=SteveTiernan.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Security: Steve Tiernan}}
 
{{CaptionedImage|file=ClareEvansCropped.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Player Support: Clare Evans}}
 
  
==The Conduct Team==
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If you are at an event, and a conduct experience has led to you feeling anxious or distressed, you can ask to speak with a member of the [[participant welfare]] team. You may do this before, after or instead of speaking with the conduct team.
* Emma Woods is the head of conduct at Empire
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__TOC__
* Matt Pennington, Clare Evans, and Steve Tiernan are members of the conduct team
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==When and Where do These Rules Apply?==
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* '''Our conduct rules apply equally to all participants - that is anyone who is attending the event in any capacity'''
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* '''The relevant rules apply at all times, actions that breach our guidelines for behaviour are not acceptable no matter when or where they occur'''
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Our conduct rules apply equally to everyone attending an event in any capacity, whether they are players, crew, staff, caterers or traders - whenever we refer to a ''participant'' it refers to everyone covered by this list. Most of our conduct rules apply at all times, including online. You can report any breach of these conduct rules, even if it takes place outside of an Empire event. For example, if you are concerned that another member of the Empire community has sexually harassed someone at work, or via online messages, then we would encourage you to report that.
  
Emma Woods is the member of crew with primary responsibility for ensuring the conduct of all participants meets our guidelines and for dealing with any issues arising. If you wish to report an issue with the conduct of another participant then the best person to speak to is Emma or any other member of her team.
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The sections of our conduct rules that restrict your roleplaying are specific to the Empire setting and community. These include our rules [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|restricting the types of character you can play]], the in-character use of [[Conduct#Language|language]], [[Conduct#Sexual_Activity_and_Performance|sexual performances]], and roleplaying [[Conduct#Roleplaying_Romance|romance]] or certain types of [[Conduct#Roleplaying_IC_Conflict|conflict]]. These sections of our conduct rules apply at all Profound Decisions Empire events and [[Sanctioned_events|social and sanctioned events run by players]].
  
If you raise an issue with a member of our crew, then they will encourage you to speak to a member of the conduct team and help to get hold of them for you. If you prefer then you can ask for a specific member of the team - or ask to speak to a male or female member of the team - otherwise the crew will attempt to put you in touch with whichever member of the team is available first. We will take all complaints seriously and treat them with respect regardless of your gender, relationship status, race, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, national origin, disability, sexuality, transgender status, religion or age, or any similar distinction.
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None of the following excuses are acceptable:
  
==The Welfare Team==
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* ''"I was only joking"''
* John Newton is the head of participant welfare at Empire
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* ''"I was in-character"''
* A member of the team is available on request throughout the day
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* ''"I was drunk"''
Our participant welfare team consists of members of our volunteer crew team who have experience or qualifications in counselling and support. If you are experiencing problems at the event that are causing you distress then you can ask for a a member of this team to help, they are on hand during the day to provide support and assistance to any participant who needs it. The welfare team have a dedicated tent available where anyone can talk to them in confidence.
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* ''"I'm their mate and they don't mind"''
{{CaptionedImage|file=John.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Participant Welfare: John Newton}}
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* ''"I didn't know it was against the rules"''
Members of the welfare team will aim to provide basic support and assistance for anyone who requests help. They have advice on how to access professional counselling services that can provide crisis counselling or support with mental health. They can help if you wish to contact the police. In general they will try to provide any help possible with any other needs you have.
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If you believe that anyone has breached any of these rules, we encourage you to [[reporting a conduct problem|let us know]].
  
 
==Equality and Diversity==
 
==Equality and Diversity==
* '''Real-world discrimination is as unacceptable at our games as real-world violence'''
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* '''You must not insult another participant on the basis of an out-of-character attribute such as race, ethnicity, nationality, class, religion, gender, disability, sexuality, transgender status, age, or body shape'''
* '''It is not acceptable to insult another participant on the basis of an out-of-character attribute.'''
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* '''You must not discriminate against other participants on the basis of any of these out-of-character attributes and must be aware of unconscious bias'''
* '''Empire is a gender-blind setting'''
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* '''Empire is a gender-neutral setting - you cannot play a character who is sexist'''
* '''References to non-consensual sex or sex with minors are not permitted'''
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* '''You cannot play a homophobic or transphobic character'''
  
The setting does include in-character prejudice and bigotry - it is fine to insult another ''character'' on the basis of an in-character attribute, such as their [[lineage]], species, [[archetypes|archetype]], or in-character nationality or beliefs. What is not acceptable is any treatment based on out-of-character attributes of gender, social-economic status, relationship status, nationality, national origin or religion. Any behaviour that is based on real world discrimination is prohibited at Profound Decisions events, ''regardless of if it takes place while participants are in-character or out-of-character''. Participants are '''not''' allowed to discriminate at all on an grounds of race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, transgender status, or age, or any similar distinction.
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The Empire setting includes in-character prejudice and bigotry - you can insult another ''character'' on the basis of an in-character attribute, such as their [[lineage]], species, [[archetypes|archetype]], or in-character class, nationality or beliefs. What is not acceptable is any insults or prejudice based on the listed out-of-character attributes.
  
The setting includes a number of [[common attitudes]] towards matters of age, race, sexuality and gender which are common throughout the world. These cultural norms are designed to reflect the rules for conduct for the game, except where noted they are not optional.  
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Empire includes a number of [[common attitudes]] towards matters of age, race, sexuality and gender throughout the setting. We have deliberately opted to discard real-world history to create a game setting that does not include any form of gender discrimination. It is not acceptable to play a character that doesn't conform to these common attitudes. There are no social roles reserved for specific genders - and the idea of assigning responsibilities based on gender should be seen as ridiculous by every character. Characters in the world of Empire do not make any assumptions about characters based on their gender.
  
In particular, we have deliberately opted to discard real-world history to create a game setting that does not include any form of gender discrimination. Characters in the world of Empire do not make any distinction between genders or assumptions about characters based on their gender. There are no social roles reserved for men - or for women - and the idea of assigning responsibilities based on gender should be seen as ridiculous by any normal character.
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==Gender Identity==
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* '''We support our trans and non-binary participants and their right to declare their own gender and that of their characters'''
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* '''You must use a participant's stated pronoun'''
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* '''All participants are entitled to use the toilets that they feel most comfortable using'''
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{{CaptionedImage|file=Pronoun Badges.jpeg|align=right|width=350|caption=You are welcome to use pronoun badges}}
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We support our trans and non-binary participants and their right to declare their own gender and that of their characters. All participants must use a person's stated pronouns. We understand that it is easy to make honest mistakes in this regard, but refusing to acknowledge a correction or deliberately misgendering another player or their character is not acceptable. If you make a mistake, and are corrected, then accept the correction and move on with minimal fuss. We welcome and encourage the use of pronoun badges, in or out-of-character, by those who want to use them. It is fine to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossplay_(cosplay) crossplay] at Empire events, and for a player to use different pronouns to their character, provided it is done with serious intent.
  
There are additional guidelines for the use of [[language]] by all participants that are designed to reflect the gender-blind setting and encourage participation by all genders. However everyone should be aware that the Empire setting is written to exclude non-consensual sex or sex with minors. All participants ''must'' avoid in-character references to either of these two subjects in play.
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Transgender and non-binary identities are commonplace [[Common_attitudes#Gender_Identity|in the setting]] and are considered unremarkable. Some individuals who choose to change their gender expression choose to use [[Technology#Groveblossom_and_Changing_Gender|Groveblossom]] to pursue physical changes, but not all trans characters make that choice.
  
==Respect==
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All the larger blocks of toilet and hygiene facilities that are located around the site are split into male, female and gender neutral toilets. All our participants are entitled to use the facilities that they feel most comfortable using. You must not challenge other participants when using the facilities.
* Romance and love should be roleplayed in ways that respect other players
 
* If your character's actions are experienced as sexism or misogyny then you will be asked to stop
 
* If you feel able to, then you can ask another player to stop if you are uncomfortable with the roleplaying
 
* If you do not feel able to or the person persists, then speak to a member of the conduct team
 
  
Empire includes themes of romance, love, and consensual sex, with significant cultural dimensions in some nations, such as Dawn where true love is an ideal almost as important as glory. No part of the setting should be taken as license to make other players out-of-character uncomfortable. These elements of the setting are based on real world themes and experiences and they require common-sense to deal with without reflecting real-world discrimination. As a general rule if you are engaging with another character in this way then it is best practice to check out-of-character beforehand that they are happy for you to do that - and where appropriate to establish clear boundaries for what you are doing.
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==Language==
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* '''Avoid language that assumes gendered roles in the Empire setting'''
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* '''Avoid gendered nouns when referring to mixed groups'''
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* '''Your roleplaying must avoid any reference to rape or any form of non-consensual sexual activity'''
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* '''Your roleplaying must avoid all references to slut-shaming'''
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* '''These rules also apply to songs and performances'''
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* '''Empire is not a family-friendly event - profanity is permissible'''
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<div style="float: right; width: 50%; max-width: 650px;"><box>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 120%;">Suggestions for Addressing Mixed Gendered Groups</span><br>
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We specifically ask people to avoid using gendered nouns like "lads" or "boys" to describe mixed groups, but even phrases like "ladies and gentlemen" can be problematic in Empire, since the setting includes large numbers of non-binary characters. A better alternative is "citizens" which applies equally well to everyone, but you could use "honoured guests", "warriors" or similar in different circumstances. In [[Highguard]] it is quite common to refer to "brothers, sisters, and siblings" to make clear that you are referring to everyone, while in [[Dawn]] you might say "nobles and yeofolk" (or just nobles!).
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</box></div>
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There are no gendered roles in Empire, so you must make a good faith attempt to avoid phrases such as "protect the women" which wrongly imply that women in the setting are helpless or need protecting. You must make a similar effort to avoid gendered nouns like "men", "guys", "lads", or "boys" for groups that include members of other genders. Similarly, you should avoid using dismissive nouns and phrases that are gendered, such as "calm down love".
  
Characters in nations like Dawn or the League might have reason to disdain or criticise another character for the decisions they make regarding love, romance and marriage. However, we will not tolerate slut-shaming in Empire under any circumstances. You should only engage in conflict of this nature within a context where you have respect for the other player involved and where you have good reason to believe that they are happy for you to engage with them in this way. The above principles of checking in and establishing clear boundaries apply.  
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The Empire setting includes themes of mind-influencing magic, drugs and addiction, slavery, human sacrifice, racism and prejudice, sex work, violence, robbery, torture and murder. The setting does not include rape, non-consensual sex, or sex with minors - these concepts simply do not exist in Empire. You must avoid in-character references to rape or any form of non-consensual sex. Sexual activity is never intrinsically shameful in Empire and you must avoid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slut-shaming slut-shaming language].
  
If your in-character discrimination is experienced as sexism or misogyny by the people it is aimed at, then you will be asked to stop. If you are asked to stop, you must do so.
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These rules also apply to songs, performances and any material you write or publish in-character. You can write and perform your own songs at Empire events, or filk existing material, but you must follow all the above guidelines. Songs like "Three Dirty Goblins", that notoriously celebrate non-consensual sex, may not be performed at Empire events, even if the offending verses are changed or removed.
  
If another player is roleplaying with your character in a way that is making you feel uncomfortable then you can ask them to stop if you feel able to. If you do not feel able to, or if the player persists, then please speak to a member of the crew who will contact the conduct team for you.
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Empire is not a family friendly event, so it is acceptable to use profanity while in-character. As with all language in Empire, you should make sure it fits with the setting.
  
 
==Sexual Harassment==
 
==Sexual Harassment==
* '''Sexual harassment will not be tolerated by us at our events'''
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* '''Sexual harassment will not be tolerated'''
We understand that many people come to Empire to socialize and enjoy themselves - but nobody should have to tolerate harassment from other participants. Our definition of sexual harassment includes any of the following behaviour:
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A victim of sexual harassment can be of any gender, as can the perpetrator. Our definition of sexual harassment includes any of the following behaviour:
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* Repeatedly asking a person to socialise when they have indicated they are not interested
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* Repeatedly standing or sitting too close to or brushing up against a person without their consent
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* Sexual comments, banter, jokes, or innuendo in company that includes people who are not comfortable with that
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* Sexualising or sexually objectifying another person without their consent
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* Touching a person in an intimate or sexual way without their consent
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* Any form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slut-shaming slut-shaming]
  
* Repeatedly asking a person to socialize when the person has indicated that they are not interested.
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Bluntly, if you continue to hit on other participants after they have indicated that they are not interested or if you make sexual comments or jokes that make other participants uncomfortable - then we will treat that as sexual harassment and deal with you accordingly.
* Repeatedly standing or sitting too close to or brushing up against a person without their clear consent.
 
* Sexual comments, banter, jokes, or innuendo in company that includes people who are not comfortable with that.
 
* Touching a person in an intimate or sexual way without their clear consent.
 
  
In plain English, if you continue to hit on other participants after they have indicated that they are not interested or if you make sexual comments or jokes that make other participants uncomfortable -  then we will consider you guilty of sexual harassment and deal with you accordingly.
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You must not sexualise another participant against their wishes. This rule covers how you speak to another participant, but also how you speak about them, as well as any writing or art that you publish.
  
A victim of sexual harassment can be of any gender. The victim can be of the same gender as the harasser. The harasser can be any participant, a player or a member of crew. All of our rules apply to all participants regardless of gender or status.
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Crew must not [[Conduct#Age.2C_Power_and_Bullying|abuse their status]] to harass other participants.
  
==Challenging==
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==Sexual Activity and Performances==
* '''Please challenge any behaviour that violates these rules at events if you feel safe to'''
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* '''At Empire events, sexual touching in public spaces is prohibited'''
* '''If your behaviour is challenged, you ''must'' apologize and back off'''
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* '''At Empire events, nudity and sexual performances are prohibited'''
  
We ask all participants to support our efforts to prevent discrimination or harassment by making clear that that behaviour will not be tolerated. If you see examples of behaviour that is inappropriate because it appears to violate our rules on discrimination or harassment, then we encourage you to challenge the people involved on the spot if you feel confident enough to do so. It is not helpful to get into a direct confrontation with another participant but a simple forceful statement such as "OOC - please stop bothering X" should be sufficient.
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You must not make other people into an audience for overt sexual activity whether in-character or out-of-character at an Empire event. Everyone has different levels of comfort and we want to respect each other's boundaries. Consensually kissing someone else in public at an event is fine, but if things are progressing to a 'hot and heavy' level, then you must move to a private space such as your own tent.  
  
If your behaviour is challenged by another participant in this way then you ''must'' apologize for any offense caused and back off immediately regardless of any other considerations. If you feel your actions have been misconstrued, then you should state that case to our referee if the matter is reported.
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Nudity and overt sexual displays in public are not permitted at Empire events. Clothing and costume should ensure that genitalia are covered. The exception to this is for those who are breast-feeding, which is always acceptable at Empire events.
  
We ask participants not to confront inappropriate use of gendered language directly; see the [[Language|language page for specific guidance]] on how to respond to that.
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Performance roleplaying that is focused on sexual displays are not acceptable at Empire events. This means that anything involving nudity, striptease, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_dance erotic dance], burlesque or similar is not permitted.
  
It is also important to appreciate that Empire is a game of political conflict between players. It is absolutely appropriate to challenge payers for any behaviour that violates our rules on harassment or discrimination - but it not appropriate to use this mechanism to respond to legitimate in-character conflicts between characters that do not contain any elements of sexual harassment or similar.
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==Sexual Consent==
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* '''All sexual activity must be based on informed consent in and out-of-character'''
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* '''People who are drunk, intoxicated, asleep, or passed out can't consent to sex'''
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* '''Any individual with a conviction, or pending trial, for a sexual offence involving a minor or a lack of consent that is in the public record cannot attend Empire events'''
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We expect all participants to meet the specific standards for consent based on the [https://www.voicesagainstviolence.org/what-is-consent/ FRIES model]. We encourage you to report any behaviour that falls short of these standards in any way that causes you distress.
  
==IC/OOC Divide==
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<box>
* Empire is a game built on struggles between player-characters
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The [https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/relationships/sexual-consent Planned Parenthood website explains the FRIES model of consent] as:
* It is never acceptable to direct out-of-character criticism at players for choices they have made in-character
 
  
Empire includes many elements of player designed to encourage cooperative roleplaying between player-characters. It is designed to be a game that you can enjoy playing without ever coming into conflict with other characters - if that is your choice. However, the game is fundamentally built around the idea of a political struggle between player-characters for control of nations and the Empire. The key sources of drama and conflict in the game are the actions initiated by player-characters.
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* '''Freely given.''' Consenting is a choice you make without pressure, manipulation, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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* '''Reversible.''' Anyone can change their mind about what they feel like doing, anytime. Even if you’ve done it before, and even if you’re both naked in bed.
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* '''Informed.''' You can only consent to something if you have the full story. For example, if someone says they’ll use a condom and then they don’t, there isn’t full consent.
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* '''Enthusiastic.''' When it comes to sex, you should only do stuff you WANT to do, not things that you feel you’re expected to do.
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* '''Specific.''' Saying yes to one thing (like going to the bedroom to make out) doesn’t mean you’ve said yes to others (like having sex).
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</box>
  
It is never acceptable to direct out-of-character criticism at players for the choices they have made in-character. It's not appropriate to criticize people's roleplaying generally - that is almost never constructive, but because Empire is sold as a game for engaging in challenging political conflict with other characters, no player should ever criticize other players for doing that - or for the decisions they have taken while doing that.
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People who are drunk, intoxicated, asleep, or passed out cannot consent to sex. Consent is never implied by things like your past behaviour, what you wear, or where you go. Sexual consent is always clearly communicated — silence is not consent. You get the final say over what happens with your body. It doesn’t matter if you’ve hooked up before or even if you said yes earlier and then changed your mind. You’re allowed to say “stop” at any time, and your partner must respect that.
  
==Reporting==
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We encourage you to [[Reporting a conduct problem|report any incident]] involving a lack of sexual consent so that the conduct team can investigate it. If the team conclude that someone has engaged in sexual contact in recent years that left the other party distressed and did not stop at the point where lack of consent was indicated, then we will [[sanctions#Permanent Ban|issue a ban]]. If the actions caused distress but the perpetrator stopped at the point where lack of consent should have been apparent, then we will issue a [[sanctions#Formal Warning|formal warning]]. For instance if someone freezes during intimacy, then we expect a person to become aware of that in a credible time-frame and stop.
* '''We encourage anyone who is experiencing problems with another participant's behaviour to raise the matter with us'''
 
  
We have completely overhauled our approach to handling issues of harassment and discrimination at events to try and make it as easy as possible for attendees to bring incidents to our attention. Please see the wiki page on [[reporting discrimination or harassment]] for information on how to raise an issue with us, the options available to you when you raising an issue and how we handle the matter.
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==Relationships with Minors==
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* '''All participants must observe the laws concerning the age of consent and act appropriately around younger participants'''
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* '''Prominent members of the community must not use status, responsibility or power to groom, sexualise, or pressure participants who are under 18'''
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The age of consent in the UK (the legal age when people can engage in sexual activity) is 16 years old. All participants who are over 16 must not engage in sexual activity with anyone who is under 16. The law says anyone under the age of 13 can never legally give consent; any sexual activity involving children will result in a ban and a child protection referral.  
  
==Supporting==
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The law gives additional protection to young people who are over 16 but under 18 - in particular it is illegal for a person in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18 who is in the care of their organisation. Because we operate a live roleplaying game, our crew are not the only people with positions of authority and trust. Player characters gain in-character authority as part of playing Empire or organising for the game. We will regard any participant who plays a significant national figure, holds an Imperial title such as [[general]], [[senator]], or [[cardinal]], or who is a group leader, organiser, minibus driver or similar as holding a position of prominence in the community. This means that all participants who are over 18 and in a position of prominence must not sexualise or engage in sexual activity with participants who are under 18.
* '''Please support any participant who comes to you with an incidence of sexual harassment'''
 
Members of our conduct team are on site throughout the day to deal with any violation of our conduct rules, our security team are likewise available throughout the night. However we understand that many people who experience harassment find it difficult to approach a stranger to report the experience. They may be intimidated by the prospect of speaking with someone they do not know - or simply be unaware of who they should contact. We appreciate that in many cases, a participant will prefer to speak to a friend, regardless of whether they are a player or crew.
 
  
We ask everyone who attends our events to be aware that if another participant approaches you to discuss a case of harassment or assault, they are likely to have identified you as the individual they are most comfortable to approach over this matter. We realize that dealing with these matters is difficult and challenging - but we cannot create an event free from harassment unless participants support that goal. If someone has reached out to you to ask for help, we ask you to do everything that you feel capable of to help them access that help.
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[https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/grooming Grooming] is not acceptable under any circumstances. If you have any concerns that an Empire participant is behaving inappropriately around minors or younger players, please [[reporting a conduct problem|let us know]].
  
There are different levels of support that any participant can provide, depending on what is required and what you feel comfortable doing. As a minimum every participant who attends the event should try to be aware of [[reporting discrimination or harassment|who to report a case of harassment]] to. In addition to this, please consider if you are able to provide any of the following additional levels of support:
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==Bullying and Abuse of Power==
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* '''All participants must refrain from out-of-character bullying'''
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* '''Participants must not out-of-character abuse any status they may have'''
  
* If a participant does not know how to report an issue to Profound Decisions, you can help them to find a member of the crew who can respond.
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Bullying can be any behaviour that is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting. It may involve the abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone. No participant may out-of-character bully another participant. We use the definition of bullying laid out by the [https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/understanding-bullying/definition anti-bullying alliance] which states:
* If a participant does not wish to speak to Profound Decisions, you can ask if they are comfortable allowing you to report the incident either in their name or anonymously.
 
* If a participant is able to speak to Profound Decisions, then you can offer to accompany and support them if they will find this helpful.
 
* If a participant is reporting to Profound Decisions, you can provide moral support during the process and ask what outcomes will take place.
 
  
We don't require any participant to do these things - but all of the above can provide invaluable assistance to an individual who has chose to approach you to ask for help. Anything that you can do to help them get a successful outcome to their situation will improve the event for them and by extension for every legitimate participant.
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'''"Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or online."'''
  
==Online==
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Empire is a game of politics - we expect players to try to seek in-character advantages when roleplaying with each other - but participants must keep in-character and out-of-character goals distinct and separate. Crew and players who have authority or status as part of playing Empire, or organising for the game, must avoid using their position to benefit themselves inappropriately. Anyone in a position of prominence must not abuse an in-character relationship with another participant for out-of-character gain - such as demanding sexual favours for in-character benefits. Likewise, you must not abuse an out-of-character relationship with another participant for in-character gain, such as the out-of-character group leader demanding people in their group give them their ribboned items and resources.
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Our crew are entitled to the respect of the community for the hard work they do in supporting the game. Member of crews must not abuse this responsibility by invoking their crew status in any relationship with another participant in any way, for sexual, romantic or material gain.
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If you have any concerns that a relationship between two or more Empire participants is unhealthy, bullying, or potentially abusive in any way, please [[Reporting_a_conduct_problem|let us know]].
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As per our [[Costume#Criticism|costume guidelines]], we don't allow participants to criticise anyone's costume unless constructive feedback has been requested.
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==Roleplaying Romance==
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* '''You need a participant's consent to roleplay a sexual or romantic relationship with their character'''
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* '''You need another participant's consent to sexualise their character in any way'''
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* '''Slut shaming is never acceptable at Empire'''
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* '''You can always ask another player to stop if their roleplaying towards your character is making you uncomfortable'''
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* '''If you are asked to stop roleplaying with someone then you must stop'''
 +
 
 +
<div style="float: right; width: 50%; max-width: 650px;"><box>
 +
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 120%;">When Should I Check In On IC Flirting?</span><br>
 +
Relationships between characters can develop organically at any time. For example, you don't normally need to check in with someone before politely complimenting them, offering to buy them a drink or asking them to dance with you.
 +
 
 +
But you need someone's out-of-character consent to take things further in-character. For example, expressing strong romantic or sexual feelings for someone's character, pursuing them romantically, sending them expensive gifts, or sending gifts to their home. You should check in with the player first to be sure they are happy with the idea. If they are, then you should mutually agree clear boundaries and discuss whether you both want to include affectionate touching as part of your roleplaying.
 +
 
 +
If you want to send someone anonymous expressions of your character's feelings, then you should find a third party who will agree to check that the other player is out-of-character happy to receive them.
 +
</box></div>
 +
Although Empire includes themes of romance, love, desire and sex, you must have another participant's ongoing consent to roleplay a sexual or romantic relationship with their character. You must never put pressure on another participant to consent and you must accept that they may withdraw their consent at any time.
 +
 
 +
Check out-of-character with another player before engaging in romantic roleplay with them to be certain they are enthusiastic for you to do that. You should mutually agree clear boundaries for physical contact and ensure that you respect them.
 +
 
 +
Empire is a sex-positive setting that includes bawdy humour and sex work. However, just as you [[Conduct#Sexual_Harassment|must not sexualise another participant against their wishes]], you must not sexualise their ''character'' without their consent, either verbally or in any writing you produce for the game. For example, check with another player before you create suggestive poetry or erotic fiction about their character. You may not slut-shame another participant under any circumstances.
 +
 
 +
Characters in nations like Dawn or the League might have reason to disdain or criticise another character for the decisions they make regarding love, romance and marriage. You should only engage in conflict of this nature within a context where you have respect for the other player involved and where you have good reason to believe that they are comfortable with it. Check in regularly and establish clear boundaries. Whatever you agree, your roleplaying must not include [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slut-shaming slut-shaming], which is not part of the setting.
 +
 
 +
You can roleplay dysfunctional, emotionally toxic or tempestuous relationships, or relationships which shift between romantic and adversarial - for example, someone falling in love with a person they have bullied, or former lovers becoming sworn foes. However, please remember that [[Conduct#Language|sexual assault, sexual coercion, and rape are not part of the Empire setting]], so you should not include these themes in any character history or relationship roleplay.
 +
 
 +
If another participant's romantic roleplaying is making you feel uncomfortable, you can ask them to stop if you feel able to. If you do not feel able to, or if the participant persists, then please speak to a member of crew who will contact the conduct team for you.
 +
 
 +
If you are asked to stop romantic roleplaying with another character then you must do so immediately. You must minimise any further potential for out-of-character distress, regardless of any in-character considerations, even if you feel your actions have been misconstrued. By default, you should avoid any romantic references to their character and avoid referring in-character to any romantic history you have previously had.
 +
 
 +
==Roleplaying Conflict==
 +
* '''Empire is explicitly a PvP game; the primary source of conflict derives from the tension between different players' ambitions'''
 +
* '''You should avoid in-character confrontations with other characters where there is out-of-character animosity, or when you are angry out-of-character for any reason'''
 +
* '''You must not out-of-character intimidate other participants when confronting their character'''
 +
* '''If you have a high intensity, in-your-face encounter with another character, then you should find a way to check in with the player afterwards'''
 +
* '''If you regularly bully or belittle another character, you must check in periodically with the player'''
 +
<div style="float: right; width: 50%; max-width: 650px; clear: right;"><box>
 +
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 120%;">When Should I Check In On IC Conflict?</span><br>
 +
Empire is built around the idea of political struggle. The game is designed to give you opportunities to oppose characters whose ambitions run contrary to your own - everyone playing a politically active character has opted into that game. You may take all reasonable in-character actions to oppose another character, up to and including killing a player's character (though this should always be a last resort for any character) without discussing that with them.
 +
 
 +
If your opposition to another character involves hostile confrontations that feature close-quarters shouting or abuse, or if you are regularly bullying or belittling another person's character, then you must be mindful of the other player's experience. If your roleplaying with that player includes elements like these - which would be inappropriate if they were out-of-character - you must check in with the other player. You can do this at an appropriate moment after an encounter has come to a natural end.</box></div>
 +
Empire is a character-driven game where the majority of the conflict that you experience at events will come about from [[The_game#Player_vs_Player_Politics|the competing agendas and rivalries of different player-characters]]. The game is intended to be a sandbox for player-vs-player politics and is designed for people who enjoy this kind of conflict in their live roleplaying games. Many people enjoy attending Empire without getting involved in the ruthless in-character politics, but if you play a political character, a character who pursues a political title or pushes a political agenda - or you seek to advance an unorthodox, contentious, or heretical view, then you must expect that you will encounter stiff in-character resistance from other characters who set out to oppose you.
 +
 
 +
This kind of in-character conflict can quickly become unpleasant if it is marred by any element of out-of-character animosity. You should take reasonable steps to avoid in-character conflicts with another character if there is a significant out-of-character disagreement between you. You must avoid in-character confrontations with another character if you are out-of-character angry with them for any reason. We ask participants to assume best faith of each other, but if you believe that another participant is not following the spirit of these rules, we encourage you to raise the matter with a member of the conduct team.
 +
 
 +
<div style="float: right; width: 50%; max-width: 650px; clear: right;"><box>
 +
<span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 120%;">Avoiding Being Physically Intimidating</span><br>
 +
If you are engaged in a dramatic confrontation with another character, then consider your relative sizes. If you are taller or have a bigger build than someone you are talking to, then you can reduce the impact of your size by keeping an arm's length distance or more between you.
 +
 
 +
If you are confronting someone in a tent or building, make sure that you don't block the only exit from the area.
 +
 
 +
If you know the other participant well, they are significantly less likely to be physically intimidated by your in-character actions. Checking in with someone after your character has been in a confrontation with them will help you establish appropriate boundaries and build out-of-character trust.</box></div>
 +
 
 +
No participant should ever feel out-of-character intimidated or threatened by the roleplay they are participating in. You must take reasonable steps to ensure that nobody is out-of-character physically intimidated by your roleplaying in a dramatic confrontation. If you want to deliberately roleplay being physically intimidating towards another character, then you can must ensure that you have their specific, informed, and enthusiastic consent to the roleplaying beforehand.
 +
 
 +
If you have a dramatic confrontation with another character that involves shouting or hurling abuse, then you should check in with that player afterwards. Look for an opportunity to have a quiet chat with them after an in-character scene has concluded or after time-out if needed. If the other party does not enjoy being the recipient of this kind of open hostility, then you must reduce the intensity of any future encounters. You can still engage in political opposition to that character but you must ensure any future confrontations are less threatening.
 +
 
 +
If you regularly confront another character in ways that involve bullying or belittling them, then you must check in in periodically with that player to ensure that they are enjoying the interactions. If the other participant is not enjoying the roleplaying, then you can still engage in political opposition to their character but you must stop bullying or demeaning them.
 +
 
 +
The best reason to enter into an intensely antagonistic dynamic with another player-character is to make the event more enjoyable for them. The best people to roleplay these ongoing antagonistic relationships with are people you are good friends with out-of-character - they should be avoided with anyone with whom you have a poor out-of-character relationship.
 +
 
 +
==Grappling==
 +
* '''You must not grapple or roughly handle other participants without their consent'''
 +
 
 +
You must not grapple or physically roughly handle another participant without their prior consent at Empire events. We do not permit grappling on the battlefield under any circumstances. Please ensure that you are familiar with the [[Event_safety#Grappling.2C_body_contact_and_shields|specific rules for grappling]] at events if you wish to include that in your roleplaying.
 +
 
 +
==Extremism==
 +
* '''Symbols, slogans, and politics of any totalitarian or oppressive movement, such as the far-right, are not acceptable'''
 +
Any extremist politics that are fundamentally intolerant are not acceptable to us. This includes political slogans, gestures, symbols and statements of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far-right_politics far right] or any totalitarian or oppressive movement. It also includes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-right 'alt-right'] symbols, memes, and humour. Individuals who support any extremist, intolerant politics of this kind are not welcome at Empire events.
 +
 
 +
==Crew==
 +
* '''All participants must remain civil when dealing with crew who are in pursuit of their Empire duties'''
 +
* '''You must not argue with crew over their decisions; if you have a disagreement then ask to speak to the head of department'''
 +
* '''Any member of crew who receives a formal warning for their conduct will be permanently removed from crew'''
 +
 
 +
All our crew are entitled to carry out their role without being abused or mistreated. We understand that events can be stressful, but Empire is completely dependent on the goodwill of our crew to create the events - without the hard work of our volunteers the events could not happen. You should assume good faith when dealing with a member of crew and must remain civil towards them when they are carrying out their appointed role.
 +
 
 +
Players are not permitted to argue decisions with game referees or any other member of crew. If you believe a member of crew has made a mistake, then you can raise that with them provided you remain civil. You must not raise your voice with a member of crew or attempt to intimidate them. If you disagree with the decision, then you should ask to speak to the head of department. If you are not satisfied with the answer, then you can ask for a meeting with [[Profound_Decisions_management_team#Matt_Pennington|Matt Pennington]] to discuss it. If you're not at an event then you can email [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk].
 +
 
 +
All our crew are required to uphold all our conduct policies. If any member of crew is the subject of a [[Reporting a conduct problem|conduct complaint]] that results in a [[Sanctions#Formal_Warning|formal warning]] then they will be permanently removed from crew. If you have any complaint about a member of the conduct team then please speak to [[Profound_Decisions_management_team#Matt_Pennington|Matt Pennington]].
 +
 
 +
==Challenging Bad Behaviour at Events==
 +
* '''If you feel safe to, please challenge any behaviour at events that violates our conduct rules'''
 +
* '''If you do not feel able to do so, then please speak to the conduct team about the incident'''
 +
* '''You may ask another participant to leave your group tent or group campfire at any time'''
 +
* '''If your behaviour is challenged at an event, you must apologise and back off'''
 +
 
 +
We ask all participants to support our efforts to enforce our conduct rules by making clear that misbehaviour will not be tolerated. If you encounter people breaching these conduct rules, we encourage you to challenge the people involved on the spot if you feel confident enough to do so. A simple forceful statement such as "OOC - please stop doing X" is ideal.
 +
 
 +
If a player is in a tent belonging to you or your group, or is around your group campfire, you may instruct them to leave if their behaviour is inappropriate. If your group has additional social rules for your own space, such as a ban on smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may instruct players to leave if they break your rules. Your social space at the event is considered to be your area - participants are only welcome to enter with your blessing.
 +
 
 +
If your behaviour is challenged in this way, then you ''must'' apologise for any offence caused and back off immediately. If you are asked to leave another group's tent or campfire by a member of the group then you must do so.
 +
 
 +
The Empire campsite can be very noisy - in some camps there is singing and celebrating late into the night. This isn't against our conduct rules. If you are struggling with noise after time-out, you can ask your neighbours to reduce the noise, or you can contact our security team, who can speak to them on your behalf.
 +
{{CaptionedImage|file=MirandaBrennan.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan}}
 +
 
 +
==Online Conduct==
 +
* '''We expect reasonable and appropriate online behaviour from all our participants'''
 +
* '''Breaches of our conduct rules are reportable regardless of where they take place'''
 
* '''Our code of conduct includes behaviour of all participants in online public forums and spaces devoted to Empire'''
 
* '''Our code of conduct includes behaviour of all participants in online public forums and spaces devoted to Empire'''
We expect all participants to follow these guidelines when posting online in public forums and spaces devoted to Empire. We will not enforce our code of conduct on other social media spaces - but we do expect participants to follow it when exchanging emails or private messages with each other.
 
 
Profound Decisions provide a set of official Empire forums and Facebook groups for all participants to discuss the game. These are moderated by volunteers appointed by Profound Decisions who follow these published [[moderation]] guidelines.
 
  
==Limitations==
+
Everyone in the Empire community should follow our code of conduct online and at events. Although we do not "police the internet", part of the function of our conduct guidelines is to lay out the standards of behaviour that we require from everyone who participates in our game. We will look into any evidence of behaviour that violates our rules that is reported to us, regardless of where it takes place. For example, it is not acceptable to sexually harass someone in private messages, or to post racist or homophobic content on any platform.
The goal of our rules is to provide a high degree of personal safety and comfort to everyone who is participating in the Empire campaign. These rules govern all events run by Profound Decisions, as well as all the official online forums and Facebook groups that exist to support game and are moderated by us.
 
  
Empire sanctioned events run by other LRP groups may use their own event rules to govern the conduct of players at their events, but we expect most organizers to use the standard rules. We require any event organizer to be explicit in advance if they intend to deviate from any of our published rules.
+
If you have concerns that the online behaviour of an individual who you believe attends Empire breaches our conduct policy (whether that is posts on social media or private messages sent), then please let us know. You can email our conduct team ([mailto:conduct@profounddecisions.co.uk conduct@profounddecisions.co.uk]), or our team of online mods ([mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk]) between events. You can speak to any member of the conduct team at an event. We will investigate anything that is [[Reporting a conduct problem|reported to us]] and attempt to identify who is responsible where necessary. If we find evidence of a breach of our rules by a member of the Empire community then we will [[sanctions|take action]].
  
If an event organizer is using the Profound Decisions conduct rules and an individual's behaviour does not meet the required standards then the event organizers or the affected parties may choose to pass the details of that matter to us for consideration. As the event is an extension of the Empire campaign then we will act on the basis of any clear violation of the rules at that event if we can verify the details. In particular we expect that players who have a must-avoid order will attempt to follow the spirit of these rules while attending any Empire events.
+
Profound Decisions provides a set of official [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Empire forums] and Facebook groups for all participants to discuss the game. These are overseen by a team of moderators - members of our crew who implement the published [[moderation]] guidelines. Moderation is distinct from conduct; there are additional guidelines designed to ensure that our groups remain welcoming, friendly and on topic. Having a post moderated does not automatically constitute a breach of conduct - but if a post does violate our conduct rules then the moderators will pass the matter to our conduct team to deal with after they remove it.
  
Our conduct rules do not cover any other real world situations. This includes other live roleplaying systems and events and any social or real world situation that are not a logical extension of the Profound Decisions environment. We are always prepared to talk to any participant about their concerns and we appreciate that situations that take place outside of Empire events are significant and can be pivotal to understanding the context of a situation or disagreement with another participant. But we will only take action against a participant on the basis of actions undertaken at Empire events or in the official online Empire community.
 
 
{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}
 
{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}

Revision as of 18:04, 11 May 2022

This is our page of rules for conduct. Additional key links:

Overview

Our code of conduct lays out what is required of everyone who wishes to be part of our community. These rules apply at all times to all participants.

The conduct rules are separate to the game rules, in that they cover how you treat other participants. Everyone should treat each other according to these conduct rules so that we can roleplay safely and respectfully. Game rules govern how the game is fairly played and explain what behaviour is classed as cheating. If you're worried someone is cheating, please contact the game team rather than the conduct team.

If you believe that anyone has breached any of the conduct rules below, we encourage you to let us know, regardless of where it took place.

If you have any questions about any of these rules, please contact the conduct team who will be happy to help.

If you are at an event, and a conduct experience has led to you feeling anxious or distressed, you can ask to speak with a member of the participant welfare team. You may do this before, after or instead of speaking with the conduct team.

When and Where do These Rules Apply?

  • Our conduct rules apply equally to all participants - that is anyone who is attending the event in any capacity
  • The relevant rules apply at all times, actions that breach our guidelines for behaviour are not acceptable no matter when or where they occur

Our conduct rules apply equally to everyone attending an event in any capacity, whether they are players, crew, staff, caterers or traders - whenever we refer to a participant it refers to everyone covered by this list. Most of our conduct rules apply at all times, including online. You can report any breach of these conduct rules, even if it takes place outside of an Empire event. For example, if you are concerned that another member of the Empire community has sexually harassed someone at work, or via online messages, then we would encourage you to report that.

The sections of our conduct rules that restrict your roleplaying are specific to the Empire setting and community. These include our rules restricting the types of character you can play, the in-character use of language, sexual performances, and roleplaying romance or certain types of conflict. These sections of our conduct rules apply at all Profound Decisions Empire events and social and sanctioned events run by players.

None of the following excuses are acceptable:

  • "I was only joking"
  • "I was in-character"
  • "I was drunk"
  • "I'm their mate and they don't mind"
  • "I didn't know it was against the rules"

If you believe that anyone has breached any of these rules, we encourage you to let us know.

Equality and Diversity

  • You must not insult another participant on the basis of an out-of-character attribute such as race, ethnicity, nationality, class, religion, gender, disability, sexuality, transgender status, age, or body shape
  • You must not discriminate against other participants on the basis of any of these out-of-character attributes and must be aware of unconscious bias
  • Empire is a gender-neutral setting - you cannot play a character who is sexist
  • You cannot play a homophobic or transphobic character

The Empire setting includes in-character prejudice and bigotry - you can insult another character on the basis of an in-character attribute, such as their lineage, species, archetype, or in-character class, nationality or beliefs. What is not acceptable is any insults or prejudice based on the listed out-of-character attributes.

Empire includes a number of common attitudes towards matters of age, race, sexuality and gender throughout the setting. We have deliberately opted to discard real-world history to create a game setting that does not include any form of gender discrimination. It is not acceptable to play a character that doesn't conform to these common attitudes. There are no social roles reserved for specific genders - and the idea of assigning responsibilities based on gender should be seen as ridiculous by every character. Characters in the world of Empire do not make any assumptions about characters based on their gender.

Gender Identity

  • We support our trans and non-binary participants and their right to declare their own gender and that of their characters
  • You must use a participant's stated pronoun
  • All participants are entitled to use the toilets that they feel most comfortable using
Pronoun Badges.jpeg
You are welcome to use pronoun badges

We support our trans and non-binary participants and their right to declare their own gender and that of their characters. All participants must use a person's stated pronouns. We understand that it is easy to make honest mistakes in this regard, but refusing to acknowledge a correction or deliberately misgendering another player or their character is not acceptable. If you make a mistake, and are corrected, then accept the correction and move on with minimal fuss. We welcome and encourage the use of pronoun badges, in or out-of-character, by those who want to use them. It is fine to crossplay at Empire events, and for a player to use different pronouns to their character, provided it is done with serious intent.

Transgender and non-binary identities are commonplace in the setting and are considered unremarkable. Some individuals who choose to change their gender expression choose to use Groveblossom to pursue physical changes, but not all trans characters make that choice.

All the larger blocks of toilet and hygiene facilities that are located around the site are split into male, female and gender neutral toilets. All our participants are entitled to use the facilities that they feel most comfortable using. You must not challenge other participants when using the facilities.

Language

  • Avoid language that assumes gendered roles in the Empire setting
  • Avoid gendered nouns when referring to mixed groups
  • Your roleplaying must avoid any reference to rape or any form of non-consensual sexual activity
  • Your roleplaying must avoid all references to slut-shaming
  • These rules also apply to songs and performances
  • Empire is not a family-friendly event - profanity is permissible

Suggestions for Addressing Mixed Gendered Groups
We specifically ask people to avoid using gendered nouns like "lads" or "boys" to describe mixed groups, but even phrases like "ladies and gentlemen" can be problematic in Empire, since the setting includes large numbers of non-binary characters. A better alternative is "citizens" which applies equally well to everyone, but you could use "honoured guests", "warriors" or similar in different circumstances. In Highguard it is quite common to refer to "brothers, sisters, and siblings" to make clear that you are referring to everyone, while in Dawn you might say "nobles and yeofolk" (or just nobles!).

There are no gendered roles in Empire, so you must make a good faith attempt to avoid phrases such as "protect the women" which wrongly imply that women in the setting are helpless or need protecting. You must make a similar effort to avoid gendered nouns like "men", "guys", "lads", or "boys" for groups that include members of other genders. Similarly, you should avoid using dismissive nouns and phrases that are gendered, such as "calm down love".

The Empire setting includes themes of mind-influencing magic, drugs and addiction, slavery, human sacrifice, racism and prejudice, sex work, violence, robbery, torture and murder. The setting does not include rape, non-consensual sex, or sex with minors - these concepts simply do not exist in Empire. You must avoid in-character references to rape or any form of non-consensual sex. Sexual activity is never intrinsically shameful in Empire and you must avoid slut-shaming language.

These rules also apply to songs, performances and any material you write or publish in-character. You can write and perform your own songs at Empire events, or filk existing material, but you must follow all the above guidelines. Songs like "Three Dirty Goblins", that notoriously celebrate non-consensual sex, may not be performed at Empire events, even if the offending verses are changed or removed.

Empire is not a family friendly event, so it is acceptable to use profanity while in-character. As with all language in Empire, you should make sure it fits with the setting.

Sexual Harassment

  • Sexual harassment will not be tolerated

A victim of sexual harassment can be of any gender, as can the perpetrator. Our definition of sexual harassment includes any of the following behaviour:

  • Repeatedly asking a person to socialise when they have indicated they are not interested
  • Repeatedly standing or sitting too close to or brushing up against a person without their consent
  • Sexual comments, banter, jokes, or innuendo in company that includes people who are not comfortable with that
  • Sexualising or sexually objectifying another person without their consent
  • Touching a person in an intimate or sexual way without their consent
  • Any form of slut-shaming

Bluntly, if you continue to hit on other participants after they have indicated that they are not interested or if you make sexual comments or jokes that make other participants uncomfortable - then we will treat that as sexual harassment and deal with you accordingly.

You must not sexualise another participant against their wishes. This rule covers how you speak to another participant, but also how you speak about them, as well as any writing or art that you publish.

Crew must not abuse their status to harass other participants.

Sexual Activity and Performances

  • At Empire events, sexual touching in public spaces is prohibited
  • At Empire events, nudity and sexual performances are prohibited

You must not make other people into an audience for overt sexual activity whether in-character or out-of-character at an Empire event. Everyone has different levels of comfort and we want to respect each other's boundaries. Consensually kissing someone else in public at an event is fine, but if things are progressing to a 'hot and heavy' level, then you must move to a private space such as your own tent.

Nudity and overt sexual displays in public are not permitted at Empire events. Clothing and costume should ensure that genitalia are covered. The exception to this is for those who are breast-feeding, which is always acceptable at Empire events.

Performance roleplaying that is focused on sexual displays are not acceptable at Empire events. This means that anything involving nudity, striptease, erotic dance, burlesque or similar is not permitted.

Sexual Consent

  • All sexual activity must be based on informed consent in and out-of-character
  • People who are drunk, intoxicated, asleep, or passed out can't consent to sex
  • Any individual with a conviction, or pending trial, for a sexual offence involving a minor or a lack of consent that is in the public record cannot attend Empire events

We expect all participants to meet the specific standards for consent based on the FRIES model. We encourage you to report any behaviour that falls short of these standards in any way that causes you distress.

The Planned Parenthood website explains the FRIES model of consent as:

  • Freely given. Consenting is a choice you make without pressure, manipulation, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Reversible. Anyone can change their mind about what they feel like doing, anytime. Even if you’ve done it before, and even if you’re both naked in bed.
  • Informed. You can only consent to something if you have the full story. For example, if someone says they’ll use a condom and then they don’t, there isn’t full consent.
  • Enthusiastic. When it comes to sex, you should only do stuff you WANT to do, not things that you feel you’re expected to do.
  • Specific. Saying yes to one thing (like going to the bedroom to make out) doesn’t mean you’ve said yes to others (like having sex).

People who are drunk, intoxicated, asleep, or passed out cannot consent to sex. Consent is never implied by things like your past behaviour, what you wear, or where you go. Sexual consent is always clearly communicated — silence is not consent. You get the final say over what happens with your body. It doesn’t matter if you’ve hooked up before or even if you said yes earlier and then changed your mind. You’re allowed to say “stop” at any time, and your partner must respect that.

We encourage you to report any incident involving a lack of sexual consent so that the conduct team can investigate it. If the team conclude that someone has engaged in sexual contact in recent years that left the other party distressed and did not stop at the point where lack of consent was indicated, then we will issue a ban. If the actions caused distress but the perpetrator stopped at the point where lack of consent should have been apparent, then we will issue a formal warning. For instance if someone freezes during intimacy, then we expect a person to become aware of that in a credible time-frame and stop.

Relationships with Minors

  • All participants must observe the laws concerning the age of consent and act appropriately around younger participants
  • Prominent members of the community must not use status, responsibility or power to groom, sexualise, or pressure participants who are under 18

The age of consent in the UK (the legal age when people can engage in sexual activity) is 16 years old. All participants who are over 16 must not engage in sexual activity with anyone who is under 16. The law says anyone under the age of 13 can never legally give consent; any sexual activity involving children will result in a ban and a child protection referral.

The law gives additional protection to young people who are over 16 but under 18 - in particular it is illegal for a person in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18 who is in the care of their organisation. Because we operate a live roleplaying game, our crew are not the only people with positions of authority and trust. Player characters gain in-character authority as part of playing Empire or organising for the game. We will regard any participant who plays a significant national figure, holds an Imperial title such as general, senator, or cardinal, or who is a group leader, organiser, minibus driver or similar as holding a position of prominence in the community. This means that all participants who are over 18 and in a position of prominence must not sexualise or engage in sexual activity with participants who are under 18.

Grooming is not acceptable under any circumstances. If you have any concerns that an Empire participant is behaving inappropriately around minors or younger players, please let us know.

Bullying and Abuse of Power

  • All participants must refrain from out-of-character bullying
  • Participants must not out-of-character abuse any status they may have

Bullying can be any behaviour that is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting. It may involve the abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone. No participant may out-of-character bully another participant. We use the definition of bullying laid out by the anti-bullying alliance which states:

"Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or online."

Empire is a game of politics - we expect players to try to seek in-character advantages when roleplaying with each other - but participants must keep in-character and out-of-character goals distinct and separate. Crew and players who have authority or status as part of playing Empire, or organising for the game, must avoid using their position to benefit themselves inappropriately. Anyone in a position of prominence must not abuse an in-character relationship with another participant for out-of-character gain - such as demanding sexual favours for in-character benefits. Likewise, you must not abuse an out-of-character relationship with another participant for in-character gain, such as the out-of-character group leader demanding people in their group give them their ribboned items and resources.

Our crew are entitled to the respect of the community for the hard work they do in supporting the game. Member of crews must not abuse this responsibility by invoking their crew status in any relationship with another participant in any way, for sexual, romantic or material gain.

If you have any concerns that a relationship between two or more Empire participants is unhealthy, bullying, or potentially abusive in any way, please let us know.

As per our costume guidelines, we don't allow participants to criticise anyone's costume unless constructive feedback has been requested.

Roleplaying Romance

  • You need a participant's consent to roleplay a sexual or romantic relationship with their character
  • You need another participant's consent to sexualise their character in any way
  • Slut shaming is never acceptable at Empire
  • You can always ask another player to stop if their roleplaying towards your character is making you uncomfortable
  • If you are asked to stop roleplaying with someone then you must stop

When Should I Check In On IC Flirting?
Relationships between characters can develop organically at any time. For example, you don't normally need to check in with someone before politely complimenting them, offering to buy them a drink or asking them to dance with you.

But you need someone's out-of-character consent to take things further in-character. For example, expressing strong romantic or sexual feelings for someone's character, pursuing them romantically, sending them expensive gifts, or sending gifts to their home. You should check in with the player first to be sure they are happy with the idea. If they are, then you should mutually agree clear boundaries and discuss whether you both want to include affectionate touching as part of your roleplaying.

If you want to send someone anonymous expressions of your character's feelings, then you should find a third party who will agree to check that the other player is out-of-character happy to receive them.

Although Empire includes themes of romance, love, desire and sex, you must have another participant's ongoing consent to roleplay a sexual or romantic relationship with their character. You must never put pressure on another participant to consent and you must accept that they may withdraw their consent at any time.

Check out-of-character with another player before engaging in romantic roleplay with them to be certain they are enthusiastic for you to do that. You should mutually agree clear boundaries for physical contact and ensure that you respect them.

Empire is a sex-positive setting that includes bawdy humour and sex work. However, just as you must not sexualise another participant against their wishes, you must not sexualise their character without their consent, either verbally or in any writing you produce for the game. For example, check with another player before you create suggestive poetry or erotic fiction about their character. You may not slut-shame another participant under any circumstances.

Characters in nations like Dawn or the League might have reason to disdain or criticise another character for the decisions they make regarding love, romance and marriage. You should only engage in conflict of this nature within a context where you have respect for the other player involved and where you have good reason to believe that they are comfortable with it. Check in regularly and establish clear boundaries. Whatever you agree, your roleplaying must not include slut-shaming, which is not part of the setting.

You can roleplay dysfunctional, emotionally toxic or tempestuous relationships, or relationships which shift between romantic and adversarial - for example, someone falling in love with a person they have bullied, or former lovers becoming sworn foes. However, please remember that sexual assault, sexual coercion, and rape are not part of the Empire setting, so you should not include these themes in any character history or relationship roleplay.

If another participant's romantic roleplaying is making you feel uncomfortable, you can ask them to stop if you feel able to. If you do not feel able to, or if the participant persists, then please speak to a member of crew who will contact the conduct team for you.

If you are asked to stop romantic roleplaying with another character then you must do so immediately. You must minimise any further potential for out-of-character distress, regardless of any in-character considerations, even if you feel your actions have been misconstrued. By default, you should avoid any romantic references to their character and avoid referring in-character to any romantic history you have previously had.

Roleplaying Conflict

  • Empire is explicitly a PvP game; the primary source of conflict derives from the tension between different players' ambitions
  • You should avoid in-character confrontations with other characters where there is out-of-character animosity, or when you are angry out-of-character for any reason
  • You must not out-of-character intimidate other participants when confronting their character
  • If you have a high intensity, in-your-face encounter with another character, then you should find a way to check in with the player afterwards
  • If you regularly bully or belittle another character, you must check in periodically with the player

When Should I Check In On IC Conflict?
Empire is built around the idea of political struggle. The game is designed to give you opportunities to oppose characters whose ambitions run contrary to your own - everyone playing a politically active character has opted into that game. You may take all reasonable in-character actions to oppose another character, up to and including killing a player's character (though this should always be a last resort for any character) without discussing that with them.

If your opposition to another character involves hostile confrontations that feature close-quarters shouting or abuse, or if you are regularly bullying or belittling another person's character, then you must be mindful of the other player's experience. If your roleplaying with that player includes elements like these - which would be inappropriate if they were out-of-character - you must check in with the other player. You can do this at an appropriate moment after an encounter has come to a natural end.

Empire is a character-driven game where the majority of the conflict that you experience at events will come about from the competing agendas and rivalries of different player-characters. The game is intended to be a sandbox for player-vs-player politics and is designed for people who enjoy this kind of conflict in their live roleplaying games. Many people enjoy attending Empire without getting involved in the ruthless in-character politics, but if you play a political character, a character who pursues a political title or pushes a political agenda - or you seek to advance an unorthodox, contentious, or heretical view, then you must expect that you will encounter stiff in-character resistance from other characters who set out to oppose you.

This kind of in-character conflict can quickly become unpleasant if it is marred by any element of out-of-character animosity. You should take reasonable steps to avoid in-character conflicts with another character if there is a significant out-of-character disagreement between you. You must avoid in-character confrontations with another character if you are out-of-character angry with them for any reason. We ask participants to assume best faith of each other, but if you believe that another participant is not following the spirit of these rules, we encourage you to raise the matter with a member of the conduct team.

Avoiding Being Physically Intimidating
If you are engaged in a dramatic confrontation with another character, then consider your relative sizes. If you are taller or have a bigger build than someone you are talking to, then you can reduce the impact of your size by keeping an arm's length distance or more between you.

If you are confronting someone in a tent or building, make sure that you don't block the only exit from the area.

If you know the other participant well, they are significantly less likely to be physically intimidated by your in-character actions. Checking in with someone after your character has been in a confrontation with them will help you establish appropriate boundaries and build out-of-character trust.

No participant should ever feel out-of-character intimidated or threatened by the roleplay they are participating in. You must take reasonable steps to ensure that nobody is out-of-character physically intimidated by your roleplaying in a dramatic confrontation. If you want to deliberately roleplay being physically intimidating towards another character, then you can must ensure that you have their specific, informed, and enthusiastic consent to the roleplaying beforehand.

If you have a dramatic confrontation with another character that involves shouting or hurling abuse, then you should check in with that player afterwards. Look for an opportunity to have a quiet chat with them after an in-character scene has concluded or after time-out if needed. If the other party does not enjoy being the recipient of this kind of open hostility, then you must reduce the intensity of any future encounters. You can still engage in political opposition to that character but you must ensure any future confrontations are less threatening.

If you regularly confront another character in ways that involve bullying or belittling them, then you must check in in periodically with that player to ensure that they are enjoying the interactions. If the other participant is not enjoying the roleplaying, then you can still engage in political opposition to their character but you must stop bullying or demeaning them.

The best reason to enter into an intensely antagonistic dynamic with another player-character is to make the event more enjoyable for them. The best people to roleplay these ongoing antagonistic relationships with are people you are good friends with out-of-character - they should be avoided with anyone with whom you have a poor out-of-character relationship.

Grappling

  • You must not grapple or roughly handle other participants without their consent

You must not grapple or physically roughly handle another participant without their prior consent at Empire events. We do not permit grappling on the battlefield under any circumstances. Please ensure that you are familiar with the specific rules for grappling at events if you wish to include that in your roleplaying.

Extremism

  • Symbols, slogans, and politics of any totalitarian or oppressive movement, such as the far-right, are not acceptable

Any extremist politics that are fundamentally intolerant are not acceptable to us. This includes political slogans, gestures, symbols and statements of the far right or any totalitarian or oppressive movement. It also includes 'alt-right' symbols, memes, and humour. Individuals who support any extremist, intolerant politics of this kind are not welcome at Empire events.

Crew

  • All participants must remain civil when dealing with crew who are in pursuit of their Empire duties
  • You must not argue with crew over their decisions; if you have a disagreement then ask to speak to the head of department
  • Any member of crew who receives a formal warning for their conduct will be permanently removed from crew

All our crew are entitled to carry out their role without being abused or mistreated. We understand that events can be stressful, but Empire is completely dependent on the goodwill of our crew to create the events - without the hard work of our volunteers the events could not happen. You should assume good faith when dealing with a member of crew and must remain civil towards them when they are carrying out their appointed role.

Players are not permitted to argue decisions with game referees or any other member of crew. If you believe a member of crew has made a mistake, then you can raise that with them provided you remain civil. You must not raise your voice with a member of crew or attempt to intimidate them. If you disagree with the decision, then you should ask to speak to the head of department. If you are not satisfied with the answer, then you can ask for a meeting with Matt Pennington to discuss it. If you're not at an event then you can email matt@profounddecisions.co.uk.

All our crew are required to uphold all our conduct policies. If any member of crew is the subject of a conduct complaint that results in a formal warning then they will be permanently removed from crew. If you have any complaint about a member of the conduct team then please speak to Matt Pennington.

Challenging Bad Behaviour at Events

  • If you feel safe to, please challenge any behaviour at events that violates our conduct rules
  • If you do not feel able to do so, then please speak to the conduct team about the incident
  • You may ask another participant to leave your group tent or group campfire at any time
  • If your behaviour is challenged at an event, you must apologise and back off

We ask all participants to support our efforts to enforce our conduct rules by making clear that misbehaviour will not be tolerated. If you encounter people breaching these conduct rules, we encourage you to challenge the people involved on the spot if you feel confident enough to do so. A simple forceful statement such as "OOC - please stop doing X" is ideal.

If a player is in a tent belonging to you or your group, or is around your group campfire, you may instruct them to leave if their behaviour is inappropriate. If your group has additional social rules for your own space, such as a ban on smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may instruct players to leave if they break your rules. Your social space at the event is considered to be your area - participants are only welcome to enter with your blessing.

If your behaviour is challenged in this way, then you must apologise for any offence caused and back off immediately. If you are asked to leave another group's tent or campfire by a member of the group then you must do so.

The Empire campsite can be very noisy - in some camps there is singing and celebrating late into the night. This isn't against our conduct rules. If you are struggling with noise after time-out, you can ask your neighbours to reduce the noise, or you can contact our security team, who can speak to them on your behalf.

MirandaBrennan.jpg
Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan

Online Conduct

  • We expect reasonable and appropriate online behaviour from all our participants
  • Breaches of our conduct rules are reportable regardless of where they take place
  • Our code of conduct includes behaviour of all participants in online public forums and spaces devoted to Empire

Everyone in the Empire community should follow our code of conduct online and at events. Although we do not "police the internet", part of the function of our conduct guidelines is to lay out the standards of behaviour that we require from everyone who participates in our game. We will look into any evidence of behaviour that violates our rules that is reported to us, regardless of where it takes place. For example, it is not acceptable to sexually harass someone in private messages, or to post racist or homophobic content on any platform.

If you have concerns that the online behaviour of an individual who you believe attends Empire breaches our conduct policy (whether that is posts on social media or private messages sent), then please let us know. You can email our conduct team (conduct@profounddecisions.co.uk), or our team of online mods (mods@profounddecisions.co.uk) between events. You can speak to any member of the conduct team at an event. We will investigate anything that is reported to us and attempt to identify who is responsible where necessary. If we find evidence of a breach of our rules by a member of the Empire community then we will take action.

Profound Decisions provides a set of official Empire forums and Facebook groups for all participants to discuss the game. These are overseen by a team of moderators - members of our crew who implement the published moderation guidelines. Moderation is distinct from conduct; there are additional guidelines designed to ensure that our groups remain welcoming, friendly and on topic. Having a post moderated does not automatically constitute a breach of conduct - but if a post does violate our conduct rules then the moderators will pass the matter to our conduct team to deal with after they remove it.

Further Reading