======Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy======

We as the //APERIS// GM team wish for the game to be an enjoyable and memorable experience for all players involved. The following page concerns various sensitive themes and topics and how we intend to handle them, and advises a sensitive approach for players on dealing with these same themes within the Society Game. This policy should be followed at all times when interacting with the game //APERIS// including during uptimes, writing emails, writing turnsheets, and sending messages on the game's Discord Server.
 
The Conduct and Acceptable Themes Policy, also known as the CAT Policy, is the method by which we set out what themes we expect will or may come up in play, providing players with full knowledge of what themes to expect and how they will be handled. As an official ORPGSoc game, //APERIS// is subject to **[[ https://oxfordrpg.com/CATPolicy2025.pdf|the ORPGSoc CAT Policy]]** and it is essential that players familiarise themselves with this policy before playing, for awareness of what themes are allowed and disallowed. This page in some cases reiterates and in some cases adds more specific restrictions and clarifications that apply to //APERIS//. Regardless of the CAT Policy, all players and GMs should treat each other with respect. If someone else asks out of character that you stop roleplaying a particular theme or topic around them, for any or no reason, respect their boundaries and stop.
 
We aim to create an environment in which all players can feel safe and comfortable. Whilst we use the following policy as a guideline in how themes in our game will appear and be handled, the policy should always be taken in good faith and attempting to reason to the wording instead of the spirit of the policy will not be tolerated.
 
If you have any questions about our explanations of, or our presentation of, certain themes, please feel free to contact the [[gm@aperis.oxfordrpg.com|GMs]].
 
If you feel the CAT policy has been breached, you can reach out to any member of the GM team. If you have a concern about a particular GM, you can reach out to one of the CAMPOs, [[ameal.wolf@outlook.com|Ameal]], [[ourpg@owen-range.co.uk|Ben]] or [[jack.garland@some.ox.ac.uk|Jack]] (rather than the usual game address, as those emails are seen by all the GMs). Any such issues will be handled with the specific case in mind and we will do our best to account for the safety and comfort of all players. If you have a concern about any of the CAMPOs, please contact the Welfare Officer for the Society, Jasper either on Discord or through [[jasper.hopkins@stcatz.ox.ac.uk|email]]. You may prefer to contact the Society President, Faith, either on Discord or through [[faith.williams@stcatz.ox.ac.uk|email]].

=====Age=====
All //APERIS// players must be 16 years or older to play. Most players will be between the ages of 18 and 30. If you are under 18 years of age, you must disclose this to the GM team for safeguarding reasons. //APERIS// player characters must also be 18 years old or older.

=====Requesting Not To Roleplay With Someone=====
You may request not to roleplay with another player or GM before or at any point during the game, and we will do our best to ensure that you come into contact with that person as little as possible. You may ask us to inform that person of your request or you may keep your request confidential, though keeping the request confidential will prevent us from asking that person not to roleplay with you during the course of the game.

=====Conduct=====
Society Games have certain [[uptimes and sessions|safety calls]] that players must familiarise themselves with and respect in-session.
 
Due to the nature of Roleplaying Games, it is necessary to maintain a strong divide between In Character (IC) and Out of Character (OC) issues. This is generally referred to as the IC/OC divide, and means that all arguments, tension, or other in character feelings **should not** spill into the real world. Similarly, OC feelings should not be brought IC.

Before making OC physical contact with another player while roleplaying, you should always ask for consent.

Romantic or similarly emotionally intense relationships---including intense rivalries---between characters (known as [[Glossary#Ballgowning]]) should be checked OC with other players or GMs involved before beginning. NPCs will not initiate romantic relationships with Player Characters unless they have the Romance Me [[quirks|Playstyle Quirk]].
 
Please note that some people will opt into themes that other players wish to avoid. If you have opted out of a theme (e.g. via a [[gm:quirks#playstyle quirks|Playstyle Quirk]], including a note in your [[Character Creation]] submission, or informing the GMs directly), you will not be forced to encounter those themes in Downtime. However, players that have touched on those topics may discuss them in Uptime. In this case, you can use [[gm:uptimes and sessions|safety calls]].

==== PvP ====
 **We expect PvP in //APERIS//**.  Players will be members of different factions with different goals, and conflict between these factions is expected to be a key theme of the game. Players should expect to be in conflict with another player at some point in this game. This conflict will typically be pragmatic and faction driven, with more personal conflict covered by [[glossary#Ballgowning]]. Physical PvP is primarily expected to occur in Downtimes, although it is possible for physical PvP to occur in Uptimes. This will, however, be exceptional, and will only happen after planning with GMs and the other player(s) involved. Physical PvP in emails should only occur with the OC consent of all GMs and Players involved. 


=====Themes That Are Not Permitted=====

  * Sexual assault, sexual coercion or any other form of non-consensual sexual activity
  * Sexual activity with those lacking the capacity to consent e.g. children
  * Sexual harassment
  * Use of real-world discriminatory slurs
  * Suicide and self-harm as an expression of emotional distress
  * Miscarriage and stillbirth
  * Discrimination on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race
  * Discrimination on the basis of gender or sex
  * Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation e.g. homophobia
  * Discrimination on the basis of gender identity e.g. transphobia
  * Discrimination on the basis of physical disability, mental health condition, or neurodivergence
    * //This theme is banned---however, spending time at APERIS may be taxing on the mind and body. As a result, characters may raise concerns about other characters’ fitness to be at the station.//
  * Discrimination on the basis of religion or faith
    * //Expressing prejudice towards a character solely because of their religion or faith is banned---however, actions and opinions influenced by a character's religion or faith may be opposed by others.//
  * Eating disorders
    * //Eating disorders are not a theme that will explored in APERIS---however, disordered eating caused by lack of resources may occur.//
  * Dieting
  * Forced abortion
  * Incest
  * Torture
  * Cannibalism
  * Slavery or human trafficking
  * Genital mutilation
  * Child abuse
  * Eugenics
  * Genocide denial


=====Sensitive Themes That May Occur=====
These are themes that we suspect may become relevant. Because they are sensitive themes, we ask that you read the information below carefully and respect the depictions of these subjects in game.

  * Mind-altering effects or other means of removing agency
    * //**Mind control will not take place in this game.**//
    * //Memory loss **will** arise in game.//
    * //Mind-altering effects that will affect the way characters perceive the world **will** arise in game. If a player takes the Break My Brain [[Quirks#Playstyle Quirks|Playstyle Quirk]], these effects have the potential to be more frequent, intense, and debilitating.//
    * //Other means of removing agency, such as coercion and blackmail, may also occur.//
  * Discrimination on the basis of nationality
    * //Prejudice towards different Factions, some of which are deeply tied to particular nations, will feature in the game. Players should not engage in discrimination on the basis of nationality outside of prejudice towards Factions.//
    * //References in conversation to historical instances of discrimination on the basis of nationality are allowed, as long as they are handled sensitively.//
  * Discrimination on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race
    * //It is **not permissible** for any character to discriminate on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race in //APERIS//. However, references in conversation to historical instances of discrimination on the basis of real-world ethnicity or race are allowed, as long as they are handled sensitively.//
  * Other real-world biases and discrimination not mentioned in Appendix B of the ORPGSoc CAT Policy.
  * Slavery and human trafficking
    * //Slavery and human trafficking will **not** take place within //APERIS//. However, references in conversation to historical instances of slavery and human trafficking are allowed, as long as they are handled sensitively.//
  * Genocide
    * //Genocide will **not** take place within //APERIS//. However, references in conversation to historical instances of genocide are allowed, as long as they are handled sensitively.//
  * Extreme violence
    * //A player will only receive GM descriptions of this theme if they take the Hit Me Harder [[Quirks#Playstyle Quirks|Playstyle Quirk]].//
  * Extreme gore
    * //A player will only receive GM descriptions of this theme if they take the More Gore [[Quirks#Playstyle Quirks|Playstyle Quirk]].//
  * Body horror
      * //Players will not be the subjects of body horror, but may encounter external manifestations of it. By default, these manifestations will not include gore. More extreme and/or gory manifestations will only be encountered if a player takes the More Gore [[Quirks#Playstyle Quirks|Playstyle Quirk]].//
  * Animal abuse
    * //Animals may be harmed in the course of this game. Human harm to animals will not be gratuitous.//
  * Medical malpractice
    * //The isolated setting of the game may, out of necessity, result in instances of medical treatment that deviate from the conventional standard of care. Deliberate harm from medical professionals towards their patients will not be a subject of the game.//
  * Real-world religions and faiths
  * Real-world figures and events
    * //As long as they do not break the CAT policy, figures and events from 2001 and earlier are considered canon and may be referenced. This includes figures alive pre-2001 who lived beyond that year, although any of their actions post-2001 are not considered canon in the world of APERIS.//
    * //Under this rule, parody is still allowed. For example, your character may have played the hit new game GeoBlocks, even though the existence of Minecraft is not canon.//
  * Historical revisionism
    * //Exploration of this theme will **not** include genocide denial, which is banned according to the CAT Policy.//
    * //While historical revisionism has various definitions, its use in APERIS specifically refers to the alteration, redaction, or tampering with historical records and narratives, often to benefit a political or ideological agenda, or the agenda of an organisation. A related term would be historical negationism.//
  * Emotional/physical abuse, e.g. domestic abuse or bullying
  * Suicide and self-harm as anything but an expression of emotional distress, e.g. self-sacrifice
  * Terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism
  * Indiscriminate violence
  * Mental illness

=====Further Sensitive Themes=====
These are themes we are not expecting in the game, but nonetheless may arise unpredictably. These should be handled sensitively both by GMs and players.
  * Consensual sexual activity
    * //While this may occur and be referenced in game, it will not be detailed. If it occurs in turnsheets, it will be handled in a [[glossary#fade-to-black style|fade-to-black]] style.//
  * Pregnancy and childbirth
    * //Players should not play pregnant characters, but pregnancy and childbirth in backstories and discussion of pregnancy and childbirth is permitted.//
  * Physical disability
  * Degenerative diseases or cancer
  * Drug or alcohol addiction
  * Gambling
  * Homelessness
  * Chronic illnesses