G eneral Statement of C onduct Policy

RIFTS: The Living Campaign’s (RIFTS:TLC) mission is to create fun and welcoming
roleplaying experiences. Mutual respect and tolerance of different perspectives is essential to
creating these experiences. While conflict between in game characters may arise, at no time
should a player feel excluded or threatened at the table. To this end, we reserve the right to refuse
participation to any person for inappropriate or illegal conduct. All refusals of participation must
be accompanied by a reason, duration of refusal, and the criteria for rejoining RIFTS:TLC
activities.

H arassment is prohibited.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to, offensive comments and actions related to gender,
expression, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, race, disability, ethnicity, and religion.
 It also includes displaying sexual images, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing
photography, disruption of events, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention,
and any conduct that violates the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Ralph Act, and any federal or
California state law regarding any type of discrimination.

Anyone asked to cease harassing behavior is expected to do so immediately. Anyone engaging

in harassing activity will receive one verbal warning. Failure to cease harassing behavior will
result in ejection from the game and, at the discretion of the organizers, suspension from future
events. Those ejected for harassing behavior will receive a written description of:

1. The facts of the incident(s) that led to ejection

2. A description of the penalties imposed in response to the harassing behavior
3. Information on how to appeal the organizers’ decision(s)

If you are being harassed, see someone else being harassed, or have any other concerns, please
contact any event organizer to help resolve the issue and provide resolution to the harassment.

Attendees, volunteers, and sponsors (Participants) shall not harass others through in-game
conduct.  In-game harassment is not excused because such action is "in character" or because it is
part of the confines of the game rather than directly to another person.  

Participants M ust F ollow C ode of C onduct

Participants must follow this Code of Conduct (Code). The Game Master has the right to ask
anyone who violates this Code to leave the table and speak with the organizer. Following the
procedures detailed in the “Organizer Response” section below, the organizer has the right to
remove a person in violation of the Code from the play area or premises. See below for examples
of each violation.

 Disruptive unsafe, and aggressive behavior are not permitted at any R IFTS:TLC
event. Participants must not conduct themselves in a manner that is disruptive to the

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 enjoyment or safety of others at the event. Any attendee that is behaving destructively
may be ejected from the event at the discretion of event organizers.
 Be respectful of the venue. Adherence to a venue’s rules and policies is mandatory. Be
gracious to the staff working, do not destroy or damage equipment, and be mindful of
noise levels when in public areas of the venue.
 Theft behavior is grounds for immediate removal from the play area and the
premises. That said, you are responsible for your belongings.  Neither RIFTS:TLC, the
event organizers, nor other RIFTS:TLC members are responsible for your belongings or
any lost or stolen property. If you find any lost property, please turn it in to the venue’s
lost and found section.
 All Participants must follow the G ame R ules Policy. Please refer to Game Rules Policy
below for further details.
 Minors must be supervised.  Any attendee under the age of 13 must be accompanied by
an adult.  Both the child and the adult must participate in the event.  Note that while
children are permitted at the event, they should be aware that the majority of attendees
are adults, and the children should be aware of the level of play and maturity expected of
them.  Unruly or disruptive children, along with their guardian, may be asked to exit the
event until the child can be calmed.  But we ask that guardians take action before being
asked out of courtesy to the other Participants.

Examples of Violations
Organizers, game masters, and players alike should maintain an awareness of possible violations
to the Code. The following list contains examples of violations. This list is not all-inclusive.

Disruptive Behavior

 Excessively vulgar or profane language

 Leaving excessive trash in the play area
 Talking over other players excessively
 Demanding unreasonable levels of attention from the Game Master
 Excessive talking not related to the game at the table

Improper Social Behavior

 Using discriminatory slurs against another participant

 Taking photos of other Participants without their consent
 Harassing other Participants
 Using social media to bully other Participants

Aggressive Behavior

 Threatening to hit other Participants

 Tearing up another player’s character sheet
 Actual physical violence against any other Participants or their property
 Practical jokes that can humiliate or physically injure other Participants
 Throwing or moving objects in anger or a threatening manner, such as throwing a chair

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Theft

 Stealing books, miniatures, or other property

 Stealing another Participant’s certificates
 Taking another Participant’s dice without asking permission
 Stealing organizer or Game Master materials, such as table tents, maps, and adventure
documents

O rganizer R esponse

An organizer who has Code violations brought to his or her attention should resolve the manner
quickly and professionally, with minimal disruption to the event if possible. The responses given
here are guidelines, and if the situation calls for a more or less serious response to resolve a
situation, the organizer is empowered to take appropriate action.  

Disruptive behavior can be dealt with by the Game Master upon first offense by issuing the
Participant a warning. Upon being issued a second warning, the Game Master should notify the
organizer of the event. If the Game Master is engaging in disruptive behavior, a Participant
should immediately inform the organizer.

Improper social behavior is more serious, and the Game Master or other Participants have the
right to notify the organizer immediately. The organizer should issue a warning for the first
offense, and remove the player from the table or play area upon any subsequent offenses.

Theft and aggressive behavior are grounds for an immediate removal from the play area and/or
premises and should always be brought to the organizer’s attention immediately.

R easonable Accommodations Policy

RIFTS:TLC will consider any reasonable accommodation request. RIFTS:TLC will only deny
request that result in a fundamental alteration, undue burden, or direct threat. If. RIFTS:TLC
denies a reasonable accommodation request, it shall attempt to find an alternative
accommodation by engaging in the interactive process with the requesting Participant.
Participants shall direct their reasonable accommodation requests to one of the Game Masters.
RIFTS:TLC prefers that Participants email their reasonable accommodation requests prior to the
game session to [INSERT NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS HERE], though we recognize that
from situations may require the requests to be verbal or in another written format.

Appeal of Punitive Action

RIFTS:TLC shall designate an Appeals Board consisting of not less than three RIFTS:TLC
Members. RIFTS:TLC shall make the Appeals Board’s contact information readily available A
player may make a written appeal of any punitive action taken in response to harassment or other
Code violations to the Appeals Board. The player must submit an appeal no later than 30 days

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after receipt of notice of punitive action. The appeal must describe the player’s reasons for
challenging the punitive action, request for relief, and contact information for the player. Appeals
using vulgar or harassing language will be automatically denied. The Appeals Board will issue a
written response to the player no later than 30 days after receipt of the appeal. The Appeals
Board’s decision is final.

G ame R ules Policy

While role playing is emphasized over rules, we understand that the occasional conflict may
arise. In anticipation of these conflicts, we set forth the following guidelines:

1. Unless otherwise stated and described below, all games will adhere to the rules described
in the books pre-specified by RIFTS:TLC.
2. RIFTS:TLC will maintain a list of “homebrew” rules that contradict, supplement, or
deviate from those in the books pre-specified by RIFTS:TLC. RIFTS:TLC reserve the
right to edit these rules at any time.
3. Players can always ask for clarification of the rules described in the aforementioned
books and “homebrew” rules.
4. A player disagreeing with any of the aforementioned rules and/or their interpretations
during a game may make one request to the Game Master running their session to change
or re-interpret the rule. A player may only challenge a rule that affects his or her own
character. The Game Master will listen to the request and then make a ruling. This ruling
is final unless the player invokes the appeal procedure described below. Any additional
argument related to the requested rule change may be considered harassment at
RIFTS:TLC’s discretion.
5. A player disagreeing with a Game Master’s ruling may make a written appeal to the
RIFTS:TLC Appeals Board after the end of the gaming session but no later than 30 days
after that session. The appeal must describe the disagreement and provide a way to
contact the player. Appeals using vulgar or harassing language will be automatically
denied. The RIFTS:TLC Appeals Board will issue a written response to the player no
later than 30 days after receipt of the appeal. The written response must uphold or deny
the appeal and describe the reasons for the decision. These decisions are final and will
apply to all future games.

Regards to www.roleplayrally.com and concodeofconduct.com for the inspiration and outline for
the Code of Conduct, and our friends at Chupacabracon for their example of a well-written and
comprehensive Code of Conduct.

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