by The Pandemonium Institute:

"Dealing with negative behavior is something you may have to do sooner or later. As is the case with all social gatherings, sometimes a player will speak in a disrespectful tone to another player. BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER is a social game, which means social tools are useful in playing it. There are good, fun ones like charm or humor, but one or two players may get a little caught up in the excitement and revert to some of the more negative social tools, such as shouting, bullying, or emotional blackmail. Any player behavior that is unpleasant or otherwise destructive to the good vibe of the game should be nipped in the bud. This type of behavior is not acceptable, as other players may feel uncomfortable at best or argumentative and victimized at worst. Every player deserves to be in an environment where they feel accepted, respected, and able to make their own decisions.

If you encounter negative behavior, take the player aside for a private chat. Explain to them that their tone and behavior might be unpleasant to one or more players. Stress that the problem is not the person, but the behavior. Most players will immediately change how they interact with others, as they hadn’t realized how heated they were getting. They probably saw their actions as enthusiastic or intense, and will appreciate that you took them aside to let them know otherwise.

Players that verbally justify their own bullying or aggression and put the blame on others should not be welcome at any future games you run until they can overcome this tendency. 

Similarly, players that feign offense and hurt feelings might be using negative social tools. For example, if a player pretends to be really annoyed, hurt, or angry at being nominated for execution, that can cause a bad vibe for the game. An upbeat, fun, and respectful mood is more important than either team winning or losing. Period.

More importantly, you need to know whether any in-game expression of distress is genuine, so that you can act appropriately and compassionately. If a player abuses that trust by pretending to be genuinely upset when they are not, you should have a quiet word with them to encourage them not to do so again.

Judging what is and isn’t offensive or unpleasant can be tricky, so use your best judgment. Censoring certain topics of conversation rarely goes well, as it is usually a player’s tone, not their words, that is problematic to others. Swearing, smacktalking, or vulgar or contentious subjects might be fine depending on your group. Personal attacks, insults, or anything that makes a player feel unsafe, hurt, or unheard are not."

Source: BOTC Base Almanac, pages 30-31
Links: https://botclinks.page/MainRulebook | BGG |Rulebook Almanac

recommendation from the Social Contract of Social Deduction Games Panel at Final 3 Con 2025

recorded for posterity by LivFreeOrPie 

If a game's emotional intensity reaches a point where players are getting uncomfortable, something shocking happens, and you feel "the air leave the room," consider using the following tool: stop the game and take a timed 10 seconds of silence for everyone.

"We will take ten seconds of silence, then I will speak and address what's been perceived as happening. Then we'll restart the game."  

This will allow players to breathe, gather themselves, and address the problem immediately.

If the issue in interpersonal, start with private discussions with the individual(s) involved before bringing it to the group to address. Consider taking one or more players aside to privately clarify if the issue is a misunderstanding between two players or a tool in the game.

If you decide to handle the breach of decorum publicly, try not to embarrass or humiliate the cause(s) of the breach. Consider charitability attributing unwanted behavior to stress, anxiety, or exhaustion. If the same breach happens a second time, after intervention, a larger conversation is needed and game should be deprioritized and potentially ended early.

Remind the group that we're all here to have fun and Rule 4: "Kill with grace, and die with dignity."

Credit to the Grim Scenarios Discord

1) Always choose kindness.

2) Talk to everyone, especially dead players. They have votes, maybe a different world, and can help you solve.

3) Include players you suspect are evil and outed evil players. You literally have nothing to lose and they might have useful information. Also, outed evil players can be some of the most fun to interact with.

4) Make space for others to speak: you don’t have to wait for the ST to call on people.

5) Be aware of how much space you are taking in public chats. Avoid overtalking and filibustering.

6) Review and respect each player's pronouns.

7) Be each other’s biggest fans. Did someone have an awesome play? Completely bamboozled you? The correct solve? Let them know!