The “Other” Spicy Content
Sexy time content at Dystopia Rising CT
First of all, let’s take a moment to consider the nature of our society. We can pretend to live in a postapocalypse, fight each other, have giant fights, and even player murder-face killers but somehow the discussion of sex and sexual themes is more difficult to talk about regards to larp. It probably has something to do with the fact that most of us have never had to deal with being murdered in the woods, however, a number of us have had interaction with romantic and sexual content. So, the subject content relating to sex and sexuality is more relatable in a larp setting.
Live Action Role Play offers a unique avenue for players to immerse themselves in fictional narratives and character interactions, including those of a sexual or erotic nature. However, navigating sexual content requires a careful approach to ensure the safety and comfort of all participants.
That being said, there is no perfect system for engaging in this sort of content. There is no perfect means of communication, management, or engaging in the subject matter without there being the potential for either mistakes and negative emotional bleed.
What we can do is provide some basic guidelines, some rules of engagement, make some safety and meta tools, and set some standards of play from a game runner perspective.
No Real Sex On Site.
People can walk into your shared cabin space and they did not consent to being a part of your “private scene”.
No Non-Consent Narratives
Sexual assault is a no-go as a narrative point. No exceptions.
Scene Consent is Paramount
Obtain clear consent from all involved parties before engaging in any sexual content. Consent should be enthusiastic, informed, and revocable at any stage of the game. That includes observers.
Don’t Get Spicy In Common Spaces
If other players need to walk through or have access to the play space that you are having your roleplay session in, you should not have your scene in a space that non-consenting people need to access.
A Sock On The Door
If a room is going to have sexual related roleplay, put a note on the door that says “Intimate Roleplay Ongoing, Knock First”. This way the people inside and outside the room can discuss and make an educated decision regarding engaging the roleplay. In the instance it is an attacking threat, a short warning will be given with the antagonists beating on the door and being verbal before entering. Intimate roleplay does not ensure safety from zombies, raiders, or killers. The banging on the door is to allow players to shift gears to survival.
USE OPT OUT MECHANICS
You can leave a scene at any time. You do not need a reason or need to give an explanation. You can go out of character at any time and leave. With the intense nature of romantic scenes, others may not be aware of your emotional state. If you make the decision to opt into a scene with adult content, you need to be able to make the decision to opt out of the scene with adult content.