Themes, Safety, & Points of Contact

Acceptable Game Themes

While Unfinished Tome is a dark fantasy game involving occult and mystic power, cults, strange monsters and many dangers there are some themes that will not appear in the game and should not be part of your roleplay.

The following topics are not part of our game and will not appear in any form in the game:

Sexual violence or coercion.
Discrimination based on OOC characteristics (such as race, weight, gender identity or expression). While it is acceptable to discriminate against another character based on their IC attributes (such as lineage or hometown), this is not meant to be a theme explored in the game.
References to real world tragedies.
Forced pregnancy.
Miscarriage or stillbirth.
Racial Supremacy.

The following topics will not appear “on screen” during the game, but might occasionally be referenced (such as in a history of a war):

Harming of minors.

The following topics may appear in game, but we will always try to sign-post these and work out an alternative if required:

Torture.
Self harm.
Suicide.

Referees

Refs or referees are there to answer questions and try to ensure player safety, that the rules are being followed correctly and facilitate player actions in the world.
Our refs will be in character (IC) the majority of the time so that you can ask them questions both in character and out of character. While IC they are often called "Pages". Each page has its own name and character which you can interact with in game.
Our refs will be identifiable by robes covered in scrolls or paper coloured robes or they will be wearing a hi vis jacket if they are OOC.
If you cannot find a ref there will always be one in our main monster room.

Our current ref team can be found here.

Going Out of Character

You may at any point drop out of character (OOC) if you are not feeling OOC comfortable with the situation you are in. Your mental and physical health is more important than the game. This is not to be used as a tool to gain IC advantage.

To signal you are going OOC raise one hand clearly in the air and remove yourself from the current encounter. When you are ready to return to play either time yourself in at a suitable location or find a referee.

Refs will wear paper coloured robes while IC

Safety Calls

Tome includes a number of OOC calls to help facilitate a safe and enjoyable game. Apart from where otherwise noted, any event attendee may use these calls if they feel it is appropriate. If you hear one of these calls you must respond appropriately.

Lay Off

May be used by anyone, including bystanders, to indicate they are finding a roleplaying situation uncomfortable or blows from combat too hard, without needing to drop OOC.
Respond appropriately and lessen intensity in the current situation if someone uses this call.
While this call exists to help negotiate a situation in a more immersive way you may always break character to ensure your safety.
For example: someone is shouting in character threats at Lionel. Lionel says, “Lay off.” The character shouting pauses, lowers their voice and takes a step back.
Alternatively Lionel says “Lay off, can we do this at normal volume.” The other character lowers their voice whilst continuing the scene.

Bring It On

May be used by anyone to indicate they wish to increase the intensity of a roleplay situation and try to seek consent from other attendees to do so.
It may also be used as a way to indicate you are comfortable with the current situation.
While this call exists to help negotiate a situation in a more immersive way you may always break character to ensure your safety.
For example: Lionel has been captured by monsters and is being interrogated but is not giving up information. The interrogating monster wants to escalate and says they are going to bring it on and Lionel responds that yeah bring it on. The monster can now escalate.
Alternatively Lionel might respond “bring it on, but no torture” to make limits clear.
Alternatively Lionel might respond “no don’t bring it on” and the scene should continue at the same level of intensity.

Non-combatant

May be used by anyone to indicate that they should not be struck with a weapon.
If someone uses this call you may carefully simulate striking them, but should not make contact with them. The person making the call should still take in character damage from the weapon blows that come close to making contact.
After using this call you should attempt to remove yourself from the combat.

Man Down

This call is only to be used to indicate an out of character injury.
If you hear this call please stop fighting immediately and wait.
Please do not echo the call so the first aiders can locate the injured person and assist.

Time Freeze

Pause all actions and roleplay.
We would ask players not to use this call normally and allow refs to use it but if you feel unsafe and cannot get out of the situation you may use this call to pause play.

Time In

Used after a Man Down or a Time Freeze in order to restart play.

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