✎ equality_and_themes [UMBA]

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====== Equality and Themes ======

All games run by the [[http://users.ox.ac.uk/~rpgsoc/|Oxford University Role-Playing Games Society]] are subject to the Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy which can be found on the [[http://users.ox.ac.uk/~rpgsoc/policies.shtml|OURPGSoc website]].  It is expected that all GMs and players will be familiar with this policy when playing //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//.

//Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// is a light-hearted game though darker themes may occur particularly in regards to the normalised dubious ethics of the Arena and treatment of Monsters and citizens of Bastion - the GM team does not, however, want to make players uncomfortable.  Therefore, please find below included a list of potentially upsetting topics which may be present in the game.  If you wish to play //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// but have concerns about one of these themes, get in touch with the [[gm@umba.chaosdeathfish.com|GM Team]] to talk to us about your concern - and, as ever, for any questions you may have.

As per the Conduct and Themes Policy, if you wish to raise an issue with regards to another player, contact the GM Team ([[gm@umba.chaosdeathfish.com|gm@umba.chaosdeathfish.com]]); if you wish to raise an issue with regards to a GM, contact the Head GM, Tom, privately ([[hamsterpotter1@gmail.com|hamsterpotter1@gmail.com]]), and if you wish to raise an issue with regards to the Head GM then please contact the Society President ([[florence.walker@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk|florence.walker@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk]])

==== Potentially Sensitive Themes That May Occur ====

Themes listed here may occur during the course of //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//.  It is expected that these subjects are treated in an appropriate manner.

  * Cruelty to Animals / Animal Abuse
    * //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// focuses around a society with few qualms about harming the giant Monsters that inhabit their world for the purposes of their entertainment.  This game encourages such an outlook and it is expected that most characters will share this viewpoint.  Real-world animals also exist, and while they may too come to harm but there will be no gratuitous description of violence against real-world animals.
  * Self harm
    * Self harm as a means of expression of emotional distress is disallowed.  Self harm for other reasons may occur.
  * Consensual Sexual Activity
    * We shouldn't have to say this but please do not roleplay this via email - the GMs are copied into every email sent and we don't want to read this.
  * Extreme Violence
    * Violence in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// will be exaggerated and cartoonish.
  * Extreme Gore
    * Gore in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// will be exaggerated and cartoonish.
  * Discrimination on the basis of physical disability
    * It is highly likely that characters will suffer debilitating physical injuries in the course of the game.  Where this occurs this should be considered more a sign of the severity of what occurred and characters should moderate their language accordingly.  Use of real-world slurs to describe other people is forbidden.
  * Discrimination on the basis of nationality
    * There are groups that live in the city of Bastion and there are groups that do not.  All of these could be considered nations and conflict between them is expected and encouraged.  There are no real-world nations in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//.
  * Discrimination on the basis of religion or faith
    * There is no organised religion in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// but faith and cult-following of individuals, Monsters and ideals may occur and is a reasonable cause of conflict.  There is no real-world religion in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//.
  * Torture
    * Torture in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// will be exaggerated and cartoonish.
  * Slavery / Human Trafficking
    * Involuntary participation in the Arena and its activities is a theme that may be explored during the course of //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//.
  * Mind Control or other means of removing agency
    * Player Characters will not be mind controlled.  Any roleplaying effects that affect the minds of characters will take the form of suggestion (e.g. things that make you feel happy make you happier than usual), not control.
  * Genocide
    * While the GM team will not introduce plot that involves genocide, at some point in the past, a near total extinction event evidently occurred and this is something that can be discussed during the game.
  * Genocide Denial
    * While the GM team will not introduce plot that involves genocide denial, at some point in the past, a near total extinction event evidently occurred and this is something that can be discussed during the game.
  * Gambling
    * Characters can and are encouraged to take part in many forms of gambling in both uptime and downtime.  This is a thriving part of Arena life and will be explored during the game.
  * Eugenics
    * While eugenics in its strictest definition will not be a theme in the game, there are some elements that may strike similar chords - in particular the potential application of the skill "Monster-Human Biological Augmentation".  We remind players that Human-Monster reproduction and Monster-Monster reproduction are not themes of this game, and that the scientific method does not work from Monster to Monster, but wish to include this warning so that adequate warning is given for associated themes.
  * Degenerative diseases or cancer
    * This may occur in the course of the game and players are advised to handle the subject sensitively due to being unable to know the real life experiences of nearby players.
  * Drug or Alcohol addiction
    * This may occur in the course of the game and players are advised to handle the subject sensitively due to being unable to know the real life experiences of nearby players.
  * Homelessness
    * This may occur in the course of the game and players are advised to handle the subject sensitively due to being unable to know the real life experiences of nearby players.
  * Terrorism
    * This may occur in the course of the game and players are advised to handle the subject sensitively due to being unable to know the real life experiences of nearby players. In particular, it is advised that caution is used with regard to current real world events if you are plotting an action that could be construed as terrorism.

==== Forbidden Themes ====

The following themes will not be present in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//. They must not be mentioned or otherwise introduced by players or GMs at any point.

  * Sexual assault, sexual coercion or any other form of non-consensual sexual activity //(this applies to all OURPGSoc games)//
  * Sexual activity involving those lacking the capacity to consent, e.g. children //(this applies to all OURPGSoc games)//
  * Sexual harrassment //(this applies to all OURPGSoc games)//
  * Use of real-world discriminatory slurs //(this applies to all OURPGSoc games)//
    * A set of example in-universe insults and slurs that are appropriate will be provided, and characters are encouraged to use those where appropriate, but real-world slurs are completely forbidden.
  * Miscarriage and Stillbirth
    * It can be presumed that a baby will be born alive unless its mother is killed before the baby is born. It can be presumed that there will be no debate around this and that any attempts to kill a child while the mother is pregnant or during childbirth without the consent of the mother will fail without discussion.
  * Discrimination on the basis of gender or sex
    * Society in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// has always considered all genders equal.  It does not make sense for your character to be prejudiced on the basis of gender or sex.
  * Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation e.g. homophobia
    * Society in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// has always considered all sexual orientations equal.  It does not make sense for your character to be prejudiced on the basis of sexual orientation.
  * Discrimination on the basis of gender identity e.g. transphobia
    * Society in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// has always considered all genders equal.  It does not make sense for your character to be prejudiced on the basis of gender or sex.
  * Discrimination on the basis of mental health condition
    * Serious mental health plots are not part of the tone of //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena//.  Use of real-world slurs is forbidden, and use of real world diagnostic terms regarding mental health should also be avoided for this reason.
  * Discrimination on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race
    * Society in //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// does not recognise real-world ethnicity or race.  It does not make sense for your character to be prejudiced on the basis of ethnicity or race.
  * Eating Disorders
  * Forced Abortion
    * We are not interested in dealing with the issues surrounding abortion in this game; pregnancies will only occur with the consent of all parties, and once conception has occurred the baby will be born alive unless its mother is killed before birth (see Miscarriage and Stillbirth) or makes a free choice to abort the pregnancy.
  * Incest
  * Domestic Abuse
  * Genital Mutilation
  * Sensitive Current Topics
    * //Ultimate Monster Battle Arena// does not take place in the real world and as such discussion of sensitive current topics makes no sense.
  * Bestiality
    * In particular, Humans and Monsters cannot couple.

==== OC Behaviour Guidelines ====

Whilst it is expected that Monster Fighters will be no strangers to hero worship, any IC portrayal of stalking or romantic obsession **must not** be initiated without the express OC consent of the other player involved. If the other person does not give permission, this must be respected, and never brought up again. This applies both to PCs and NPCs.
 
Equally, we anticipate that players may want to write fanfic in-universe – which, as long as all parties involved agree to it, we wholly welcome. However, you may only write IC or OC fic about existing characters with //full OC permission// from the relevant individuals. Again, this also includes GMs. 

Examples of perfectly reasonable conversations to have OC: 

**Person One**: //Would you feel comfortable with my character, Fanboy47, developing an obsessive crush on your character, Destroyer of Souls, and loudly declaring his love for her whilst surrounded by a fan club at all of her Monster Fights?//

**Person Two**: //Yes – that sounds like a lot of fun!// 

Or: 

**Person One**: //I wanted to check OC if you would feel comfortable with my character writing fanfic about your character without them necessarily knowing IC. Would this be okay?// 

**Person Two**: //Actually, I don’t feel comfortable with fic being written about my character by somebody else at all.// 

**Person One**: //Okay! Thanks for letting me know.//
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