Rules and Safety

Consent-based play

At Danse Macabre, most scenes will involve some small part of negotiation, either before or during the game. In a LARP about vicious monsters, some measure of physical contact (i.e. laying a hand on someone´s shoulder) or non-physical conflict (i.e. being threatened, experiencing prejudice or mental coercion) is implied. However, everybody has their own boundaries. 

Players wishing to move past these implied boundaries (i.e. wrestling somebody to the ground, or getting into somebody´s space and shouting at them) are expected to negotiate or calibrate these scenes. Detailed mechanics for this will be outlined in the Player´s guide, and will be demonstrated at the start of each event.

The golden rule

We believe that the fear of losing your character, and the time you spent on developing it, stifles dramatic and cool roleplay. To combat this, we employ the golden rule. You have ownership of your character, and your character can not die due to non-storyteller interaction if you do not want that to happen. This does not mean that your actions do not have consequences! Playing to lift comes first, and that might mean living to fight another day, carrying deep scars.

Sensuality and intimacy

For some Kindred, their requiem is a deeply sensual affair. The archetype of the vampire has often been used as a metaphor for repressed desire given free reign, and at Danse Macabre, we do not shy away from these themes. However, Danse Macabre is not a LARP about sensuality or sex. There are strict boundaries to be respected to allow for all participants to feel comfortable at this LARP, which can not be deviated from, even if both parties consent. Bottoms will remain on for all participants at all times. Any kind of sensual touch is to be calibrated before the scene. There will be absolutely no real sexual acts performed. It is forbidden to touch an -even partially- undressed participant without prior calibration. 

Safety Mechanics

The emotional and physical well-being of our participants is paramount at Danse Macabre. Following the Golden Rule and Consent-based Play frameworks, we will use several safety mechanics like how to leave a scene which triggers the player (not the character) ("bowing out") or checking in with your fellow player if they are OK ("OK check-in"). These will be explained during each mandatory pre-game workshop. 

Respect

While tensions might be high during the game, we demand of our participants to be respectful, both of themselves, other participants, organizers, props, and the venues we play at. Failure to do so will result in a ban.

Discrimination

We want our event to be a safe space for all our players regardless of sex, gender, ethnicity, age, body type or sexual orientation. Although there will be in-game instances of abuse, insults and discrimination during the event, any bullying based on a player's off-game traits will not be tolerated.

Inebriation

An inebriated LARPer is unsafe to play with. If organizers deem you unable to participate, you will be removed from the game. 

Policies

You can find our privacy policy, picture policy, and refund and cancellation policy here.

The safety of our participants is hugely important to us, and Danse Macabre commits itself to providing a safe environment to LARP in. To provide this safety with a host of participants we have never met, we will introduce a flagging round for session 0 and all sessions following that.

How it works

Two weeks before the event starts, we will send all registered participants to the session an email with a full list of participants.  You will have a set time to flag participants by replying to that email. If you don't want to flag anyone, no action is needed.

What is flagging?

Red Flag: This indicates that you believe someone should not be allowed to participate in the LARP due to safety concerns or potential harm to other players.

❖ If you submit a red flag, we will ask for a reason.

❖If someone is red-flagged, they will be informed but will not be told who flagged them or why.

❖Please use this option responsibly, as red-flagging will prevent someone from attending.

Yellow Flag: This means you are okay with someone participating but would prefer not to have a close connection with them in the LARP or be in the same run.

❖This is not related to safety, just personal comfort.

❖Players who are yellow-flagged will not be informed, and this will not affect their ability to participate.

We are aware flagging is an imperfect system, and will use this responsibly to create and safeguard Danse Macabre as a safe environment for all our participants.