D&D General Of Consent, Session 0 and Hard Decisions.

[Lazybones]

I don't use safety forms but I do hold a Session Zero for each of my games where I have a discussion of my table norms and invite player feedback/additions. I also use Discord and encourage players to contact me independently if they have issues with another player or the content of the game; this option has been used by players about a dozen times in the five years or so that I've been playing 5e.

 

[DragonLancer]

I'm not a fan of the idea of consent forms or what have you. I've had grief before because on certain social media pages, I have said that are we not all adults and can we not handle such within the confines of a game? If someone, a new person coming into the group or at a convention... etc., where to come to me privately and say that they have had experience in some way with certain unpleasant situations/topics we can discuss it. I don't tend to run anything too graphic in that sense anyway but such might be part of a characters/NPCs background or part of an adventure/campaign background, but never on screen as it were.

 

[Zardnaar]

So, a few things. Trying to make heads or tails of your OP. Its a little all over the place. First, your table you do whatever you want. Though, if you are running learning/demo games at FLGS and you cant do so without violence, genocide, and racism, that seems really odd. Is the worry here you might bait and switch folks? They learn to play and then you drop you violence, genocide, and racism and worry about them suddenly balking at the inclusion of such topics?

My games don't generally feature things like that but it might get referenced eg ancient past eg Darksun.

I'm not narrating it in a game as such. I do ask about BG3 as that's roughly where I am without the sexy parry time.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'm not a fan of the idea of consent forms or what have you. I've had grief before because on certain social media pages, I have said that are we not all adults and can we not handle such within the confines of a game? If someone, a new person coming into the group or at a convention... etc., where to come to me privately and say that they have had experience in some way with certain unpleasant situations/topics we can discuss it. I don't tend to run anything too graphic in that sense anyway but such might be part of a characters/NPCs background or part of an adventure/campaign background, but never on screen as it were.

I've also seen horror stories online about consent forms.

Seafood pizza type players "it's not on the consent form". You can't really catch every corner case scenario on a form.

I cover the big issues, point out villains will do reprehensible acts (they're you know villains), stick pg13 on it and tell them to let me know in private if there's anything specific.

 

[Umbran]

Few years ago there was a storm in a teacup around consent forms. It was mostly an online thing I've never had a player present one or even know what one is.

I have seen them referenced online and read the horror stories around them when wielded by drama queen/seafood pizza type players. Yes you can present one to the DM but ultimately it's their choice if you even get to play or not.

Yeah, well, I think you have them backwards.

Consent questionnaires aren't typically something a player brings on their own. They are a thing the GM asks folks to fill out.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yeah, well, I think you have them backwards.

Consent questionnaires aren't typically something a player brings on their own. They are a thing the GM asks folks to fill out.

They're fine in that scenario. If people want to use the.

They're mostly a theoretical online thing only in America. Next player I meet who even knows what they are irl will be a first.

Curse of Strahd probably needs a conversation if you're going to run it because of the ick factor in it.

 

[TiQuinn]

Seafood pizza type players "it's not on the consent form".

I really don’t know what you mean by this. Seafood pizza type players is not the dunk you think it is.

 

[Zardnaar]

I really don’t know what you mean by this. Seafood pizza type players is not the dunk you think it is.

You're I'm a group. You order pizza. Seafood pizza player vetoed all the pizza options that aren't a variety of seafood pizza because that's what they like.

Ir if a variety is ordered they get a seafood pizza and eat everyone else's pizza leaving their pizza at the end for themselves.

Yes I've seen this happen not theoret.

 

[Steampunkette]

"I hate consent forms and I think they're bad and used only by (American) people who are too sensitive and selfish! Also they shift the perceived power dynamic into the hands of players and -I- have all the power since it's -my- game."

"So instead of working with my players about the kind of material that will appear in my games; I'll just tell everyone what I want in my games, what I don't tolerate from players, and subtly encourage violence at and under the table if you act in a manner I don't like."

"Also I'll have private discussions about you with my friends and if they don't like you I'll be kicking you out of the game."

... yeah. Yeah. That's one way to have the consent talk. Doesn't make you come across as a shining beacon or anything... But I think you know that with your "LE Tyrant DM" note.

 

[SlyFlourish]

I'm not sure I understand the concept of a player-driven consent form either but I do use safety tools and found they work well – not even for really hard topics but just stuff people want to avoid.

I have basically two that I use. Instead of an X card, we use "pause for a minute" from script change. Anyone, at any time, can say "pause for a minute" and address something. It might not even be a concerning topic, it might just be to understand whats happening. As a GM, I can use it to make sure the players are good if the characters are in conflict. It helps.

Second, we have lines and veils. I'll state what the hard lines are for my game and also what sort of content will be veiled. Players can add stuff or bring me other things to add to it.

Here's an example from my next one-page campaign handout:

“Pause for a Minute”
During this campaign, at any time, anyone can say “pause for a minute” to stop current conversations and break character to discuss any issues. Use it freely to clarify the game’s direction and address any concerns.

Content, Lines, and Veils

This campaign includes racism and classism by evil NPCs. Good-aligned characters, including your own PCs, do not hold these racist ideals.

Extreme violence, slavery, torture, and consensual sexual contact will be veiled off-screen.

This campaign will not include non-consensual sexual contact or harassment; PC-initiated torture; character-driven racism; violence towards domesticated animals; violence towards children; misogyny; transphobia; homophobia; death by exposure on the sea; or non-consensual character-on-character violence, theft, or betrayal.

One of those lines, you'll notice, is pretty specific because a player brought that to me before-hand.

All of this works well for me. I can speak from experience that I've been in situations where I really wish we had solid safety tools in place and did not. It's not hard and it can ensure people are having a good time.