Safety at Event Horizon
Inclusivity
The Event Horizon Crew is committed to creating an event that is as inclusive and accessible as possible. This not only means welcoming participants who have never larped before, but also giving our players the tools and support to create a respectful community for players across multiple axes of marginalization. Our Crew is predominantly GSRM (gender, sexuality, and romantic minorities) with multiple neurodivergent crew mates.
From the setting to the game mechanics, we are building the event with pillars of accessibility, inclusivity, and safer space practices. Embedded in the game are easy to learn rules that promote self-care, communication, and accountability. We have dedicated workshop time to build our safer space.
From the setting to the game mechanics, we are building the event with pillars of accessibility, inclusivity, and safer space practices. Embedded in the game are easy to learn rules that promote self-care, communication, and accountability. We have dedicated workshop time to build our safer space.
Accessibility
We aim to give participants a complete picture of accessibility at our locations and make reasonable accommodations. We always ask participants if they have any accessibility needs or questions. Our games are also designed with mobility in mind, and include activities for participants who are mobility challenged.
Content
While our setting is nowhere near utopian, it is a progressive future and we will not be playing with contemporary bigotry. There will be analogues to privilege, marginalization, and colonialism for those who wish to play with those subjects, but in an entirely opt-in context. We have a zero tolerance policy towards sexism, racism, transphobia, ableism, or any other real world bigotry in or out of our game, while also acknowledging that our players will likely be coming from a wide variety of educational and personal backgrounds. Our aim is to promote safety and progress through live action roleplaying.
Players will be able to view the major content of each larp prior to ticket purchase, as well as the subjects the larp does not play with.
While our setting is nowhere near utopian, it is a progressive future and we will not be playing with contemporary bigotry. There will be analogues to privilege, marginalization, and colonialism for those who wish to play with those subjects, but in an entirely opt-in context. We have a zero tolerance policy towards sexism, racism, transphobia, ableism, or any other real world bigotry in or out of our game, while also acknowledging that our players will likely be coming from a wide variety of educational and personal backgrounds. Our aim is to promote safety and progress through live action roleplaying.
Players will be able to view the major content of each larp prior to ticket purchase, as well as the subjects the larp does not play with.
Wellness Staff
At each Weekend Event we have two designated larp wellness staff who are there to support player physical and emotional health. Wellness staff are not necessarily licensed counselors.
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct reflects our values as a company and our expectations for everyone at our events, including our volunteers, staff, and owners. The CoC is updated for each event. We require all participants to read and abide by the CoC.
The CoC is also the rubric by which we may take disciplinary actions. In general we do not take disciplinary actions for behavior that isn't prohibited by the CoC, except in cases of egregious oversight to unacceptable behavior. We want our participants to know what to expect from us, so the CoC is also a document to hold us accountable. If you feel that the CoC neglects to protect against unacceptable behavior, you can email your suggestion or concern to safety@eventhorizonlarp.com .
Event Horizon has always had a Code of Conduct for our events. You can read the current Code of Conduct here.
The CoC is also the rubric by which we may take disciplinary actions. In general we do not take disciplinary actions for behavior that isn't prohibited by the CoC, except in cases of egregious oversight to unacceptable behavior. We want our participants to know what to expect from us, so the CoC is also a document to hold us accountable. If you feel that the CoC neglects to protect against unacceptable behavior, you can email your suggestion or concern to safety@eventhorizonlarp.com .
Event Horizon has always had a Code of Conduct for our events. You can read the current Code of Conduct here.
Procedures
Previously, Event Horizon publicized only part of our internal procedures for dealing with safety compromises, incidents, and violations of the CoC. We are now publishing our full internal procedures so that participants know what to expect from the incident process. Read them here.
When there is a compromise to player safety, the Safety Board convenes to do the following: take preventative measures to de-escalate when appropriate, gather incident reports from as many people as possible, and convene to determine whether or not the CoC was violated. If the CoC is violated, there are different disciplinary actions we may take.
The Safety Board has comprised the company owners, who are currently Quinn Milton and Sadia Bies. If a member of the Safety Board is involved in the incident, they will recuse themselves from the process and Maya Ziv will step in. If all Safety Board members are involved in the incident, we will hire an outside consultant, and if the determination needs to happen ASAP, Maya Ziv will make the determination.
When there is a compromise to player safety, the Safety Board convenes to do the following: take preventative measures to de-escalate when appropriate, gather incident reports from as many people as possible, and convene to determine whether or not the CoC was violated. If the CoC is violated, there are different disciplinary actions we may take.
The Safety Board has comprised the company owners, who are currently Quinn Milton and Sadia Bies. If a member of the Safety Board is involved in the incident, they will recuse themselves from the process and Maya Ziv will step in. If all Safety Board members are involved in the incident, we will hire an outside consultant, and if the determination needs to happen ASAP, Maya Ziv will make the determination.
Safety Mechanics
We often use these mechanics in our games.
Reality Check
This is the emergency game-off signal. One person yells “reality check” and everyone who can hear repeats “reality check” and freezes in place and does not speak. The game is halted until the emergency is handled. When the emergency is over, game is started again by someone saying “3...2...1… Fantasy check” and everyone else repeating “Fantasy check”. Reality check is never used for clarifying rules or if you think someone is not reacting properly to a mechanic. It is only used for immediate safety concerns.
Examples:
Out-of-Game Signal
If you want to talk to a player out-of-game, place your fist by your head and hold it there until you return to in-game. Use this if you need to speak to them out of game to improve your game experience. Try to use this sparingly and out of sight of other players so that the game is not frequently interrupted. Examples:
Look Down
Place your hand over your eyes as if shielding them from the sun. This indicates that you do not want to engage with other players. For example, if you want to go to the out-of-game space and do not want to be intercepted along the way, use Look Down. If you see someone using Look Down, ignore them and give them space.
OK Check-In
This is for use when you want to check that another player is okay without stopping the scene with Reality Check or the Out-Of-Game Symbol. Hold an “OK” sign close to your body and make eye contact with the other player. If they return a “thumbs up” that means that they do not need assistance. If they return anything else (thumbs down, thumbs iffy) that indicates that they need assistance. Use the out-of-game symbol to ask if they need help such as going to the out-of-game space, re-negotiating the scene, or finding a wellness staff.
We often use these mechanics in our games.
Reality Check
This is the emergency game-off signal. One person yells “reality check” and everyone who can hear repeats “reality check” and freezes in place and does not speak. The game is halted until the emergency is handled. When the emergency is over, game is started again by someone saying “3...2...1… Fantasy check” and everyone else repeating “Fantasy check”. Reality check is never used for clarifying rules or if you think someone is not reacting properly to a mechanic. It is only used for immediate safety concerns.
Examples:
- Someone has broken their wrist. Reality check is called. One or two people go to the injured person to help them, but everyone does not crowd around the injured person. When the injured person is taken out of the scene, “fantasy check” is called and the game continues.
- You are dueling a player and they are getting dangerously close to a cliff edge. You call “reality check” and warn the person that they are about to fall off a cliff. Pro Tip: don’t sword fight near the edge of a cliff please!
- On the dance floor someone had dropped their glasses and they are about to be crushed. They call “reality check” and find their glasses. When their glasses are found, they call “fantasy check” and everyone continues to get down.
Out-of-Game Signal
If you want to talk to a player out-of-game, place your fist by your head and hold it there until you return to in-game. Use this if you need to speak to them out of game to improve your game experience. Try to use this sparingly and out of sight of other players so that the game is not frequently interrupted. Examples:
- You would like to plan a fight scene with another player. You get their attention, hold up your fist to your head, and tell them you want to talk to them about a scene. Go somewhere out of the way and plan a sweet fight scene. When you are done, lower your fist to indicate moving back in-game.
- You notice that another player is in visible distress. You use the OK Check-in signal (explained below) and they give you an unclear answer. You hold your fist above your head and go to ask them if they are okay and offer support.
Look Down
Place your hand over your eyes as if shielding them from the sun. This indicates that you do not want to engage with other players. For example, if you want to go to the out-of-game space and do not want to be intercepted along the way, use Look Down. If you see someone using Look Down, ignore them and give them space.
OK Check-In
This is for use when you want to check that another player is okay without stopping the scene with Reality Check or the Out-Of-Game Symbol. Hold an “OK” sign close to your body and make eye contact with the other player. If they return a “thumbs up” that means that they do not need assistance. If they return anything else (thumbs down, thumbs iffy) that indicates that they need assistance. Use the out-of-game symbol to ask if they need help such as going to the out-of-game space, re-negotiating the scene, or finding a wellness staff.
