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Game Rules

The initial Play Test will be invaluable for refining the rules to ensure a safe, fun game for all. As we grow into what our world will become, these rules will see updates and changes.

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Adherence to Mosswood rules ensures:

1. Player safety and agency at all times.

2. Game play remains within the scope of game creation.

3. Game play fosters a fun and creative environment for all.

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​This page is divided into three sections.

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Current Rules Version

Guide V 1.0 - April 2022

Click here to download a simplified
PDF of the current version.

Rules

General Gameplay Rules

  1. General Mechanics

    • Letter Writing

    • Forms

    • Roleplay Notes

  2. Specific Notable Mechanics

    • NPC and R-NPC Rules

    • Wooing

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This section of rules is all about the actual mechanics of participating in Mosswood.

General Mechanics

  1. Letter Writing
    Letter LARPing is a format of Live Action Role Play in which players contribute to a greater world story by writing letters from one character they control to characters played by others.

    1. Nothing gets sent to a recipient without being checked by staff for content. Any item or OOC note sent with your game correspondence must be divulged to Staff using the Letter Uploader link. Breaking this rule will result in an immediate eviction from Mosswood.

    2. No player information, such as names and addresses, are to be sent in game-related correspondence. Breaking this rule will result in an immediate eviction from Mosswood.

    3. All letter content should be rated PG-13. This is a very loose definition, and even film and television does not have a checklist of qualified content. Below is a brief summary of what we define as PG-13.

      1. A PG-13 rating contains some material that might not be suited for children under age 13, but may include violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements.

      2. Descriptions of or allusions to drug use is permitted.

      3. While depictions of nudity are allowed, they must not be sexually oriented. No sexual acts between characters will be permitted.

      4. Depictions of violence are allowed, but must not be realistic, extreme, or persistent.

      5. Common triggers must be respected, such as death, violence, pregnancy, or substance use; when in doubt, obtain out of game consent for potentially troubling topics.

  2. Forms
    There are currently three forms for players to utilize to enhance their game play. One is required, the others are optional. 

    1. Letter Uploader (Required)
      Any letter that is sent to our PO Box must be scanned or saved as a PDF and uploaded prior to us forwarding it to the intended recipient. If we receive a letter that has not been scanned, we will contact the author. If the author cannot provide a scan or PDF of the letter, staff will open and scan the letter before sending.

    2. Critter Updater (Optional)
      This optional monthly form provides a way to alert staff to character backstory decisions, events in your PC's life which haven't yet made it into a letter, and plot points you'd like noted as canon. The form is due the 15th of each month, and covers events from the previous month (e.g., your May exploits are submitted on June 15th). You may still submit the form past the 15th, however events won't be considered canon until the following month. Anything in this form may be used in the Forest Report, so please mark anything considered secret.

    3. Forest Reporter (Optional)
      Submit an item for the next Forest Report using this form. Submissions may include general information, an image, or an ad and are due by the 15th of the month (e.g., submit by June 15th to be in the July Forest Report). Staff may contact you with follow-up questions.

  3. Roleplay Notes
    While the majority of roleplay should occur via letters, occasional in-game events may include real-time, chat-based roleplay on our Discord server (under supervision of staff).

    1. Roleplay via DMs or other private avenue violates the Mosswood safety rules and is grounds for eviction from Mosswood.

    2. Anything that takes place in roleplay is not officially canon until/unless it appears in a letter. Roleplay is opt-in and consent may be rescinded at any time. To retract any canon events, you must contact Staff so that all involved parties can be informed.

Specific Mechanics of Note

  1. NPC and R-NPC Rules
    Due to the nature of Letter LARP, we have chosen to create a set of NPC rules designed to eliminate problems such as taking advantage of players or the game system.

    1. NPC
      A Non-Player Character (NPC) is any character that's not a registered Player Critter. Any player may have background NPCs as a part of their backstory, family, and life. These characters exist to support your Player Critter (PC).

      1. An NPC you control may not write to or receive letters from others in Mosswood.

      2. An NPC you control may not participate in roleplay or events, except as a background to your PC.

        1. An example of correct use: Your character is attending a festival and is bringing with them a younger sibling to babysit. The younger sibling is portrayed as having a good time and enjoys the games, but does not lead the discussion.

        2. An example of incorrect use: Your character is attending a picnic and brings with them a co-worker from their job at the Tailor Shoppe. The Co-worker flirts with others at the picnic, leads conversations, and leaves the party with someone else’s character.

    2. R-NPC
      In order to more directly support your PC, you may create one Registered NPC (R-NPC) with slightly more agency than standard NPCs.

      1. Registration of a single NPC may occur during initial character creation, or at any time by opening a Support Ticket on our official Discord server.

      2. The R-NPC may send outgoing mail, but only up to 5 of the total 15 monthly letters per player.

      3. The R-NPC may receive unlimited mail from other players.

      4. R-NPC actions and letter content is restricted. An R-NPC cannot Woo or be Wooed by another PC in the game. An R-NPC may not participate in aggression or conflict with another PC in the game. These strong and meaningful interactions are saved for the main PCs of Mosswood.

      5. A player may change their R-NPC after four months if they so choose, by opening a Support Ticket on the official Discord; a retired R-NPC cannot be re-registered.

  2. Wooing
    In-game romance is an opt-in feature of Mosswood. If you have selected “Wooing” as one of your Critter’s two Interests, your PC is eligible to be Wooed! This is a consent function to allow players of all comfort levels to participate and enjoy their Woodland Adventure.

    1. Anyone may initiate Wooing, but Wooing may only be initiated with a PC who has indicated they are comfortable with it. A list of PCs eligible to be Wooed can be found on our official Discord server.

    2. In order to initiate Wooing, the PC must write in a letter their intent to Woo the recipient, with a YES/NO question. The phrase may be a variation of “I would like to Woo you. May I?”

      1. If the answer is NO, the characters are not Wooing. The recipient may change their mind at any time in a new letter. An example of this may be that in June, a recipient says “No, sir, we’ve only just met!” and then in August writes back with another YES/NO question, such as “I have reconsidered, would you still like to Woo me? If so, I accept.” Both parties must consent in a written letter.

      2. If the answer is YES, congratulations! You are now Wooing! Enjoy your relationship! Either party may change their minds about being in the relationship at any point, but a conversation must occur between all affected parties to ensure clarity.

    3. While Wooing, keep in mind the general rules of consent and a PG-13 environment, both in letters and in roleplay.

    4. Changes to the Wooing status, such as a breakup, an engagement, or a marriage, can be done through letters, Critter Update forms, or by opening a Support Ticket for direct assistance from Mosswood Staff.

Conduct

Player Code of Conduct

This section of rules is all about interaction with other players.

  1. Consent & Agency

    • Yes, and... No, but...

    • God-Modding

    • Discord Support Tickets

  2. In Game vs. Out of Game

    • Bleed

    • Discord Server

    • Red Flags

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Consent & Agency

  1. Yes, and… No, but...
    A huge part of any LARP is improvisational-style interaction. A commonly used rule of thumb is to follow the “Yes, and…” or “No, but…” mindset of replying to new ideas and concepts. Utilizing this technique places emphasis on interaction as two players in one game in a larger story, rather than pigeon-holing any other players into one player’s independent plot. Whether a proposed action/attitude is accepted or rejected, leave the outcome open-ended such that the other player(s) may decide how their PC reacts. By mutually building on the existing concept, every PC is allowed growth and opportunity for connection.

  2. God-Modding
    Your character(s) belong to you, and you alone decide their personalities, actions, and fates. “God-modding” is a phrase used to describe taking over a character or situation in which you do not have that authority. Deciding things for others strips that player of their agency and autonomy over their character.

    1. Pre-negotiate actions and relationships with other players.

    2. Obtain consent for any interaction that involves others.

    3. Never dictate another PC's actions/reactions.

  3. Discord Support Tickets
    In order to gain clarification/confirmation, staff may open a Support Ticket with players.

    1. If you are unavailable at the time a ticket is opened, we will wait for you. Nothing is so urgent that real life has to be paused.

    2. Please keep Ticket interactions professional and civil.

In Game vs. Out of Game

  1. Bleed
    Bleed is a LARP term for the phenomenon when in-game events affect the player outside of game. Given the lengthy nature of a letter LARP, bleed is a common occurrence. While character bleed can lead to some great things like new friendships, it can also lead to some uncomfortable feelings.

    1. If you find yourself feeling upset or frustrated while writing another player, pause for a few days to allow emotional processing. If regularly upset at another PC's communications, consider adding them to your Caution List (even temporarily).

    2. Avoid "I/me" statements when thinking about your character.

    3. Pre-negotiate all in-game conflict with other players, so that everyone feels safe communicating if/when something makes them uncomfortable.

    4. Alert other players out of game if something said/done makes you feel uncomfortable, and be open to altering any plot point as needed to ensure universal consent.

    5. Consider creating a space for writing letters that puts you in your character's mentality. When you leave this space, you're setting aside your PC and reinforcing the boundary between player and PC.

    6. Contact staff via a Discord Support Ticket if you're concerned for any reason.

  2. Discord Server
    Our official Discord server has its own set of rules in-line with any online social community. While joining the server is 100% optional, there may be some element of the full game experience that a player will miss out on if they do not join or participate. Players who choose not to join will be contacted via email for staff questions, whereas members who join will be contacted via Discord Support Ticket. Server Rules are available on the server once a player has joined.

  3. Red Flags
    There may be some interactions that indicate a problem may arise between two players. If you see any of the following behaviors, please open a Discord Support Ticket so staff may address the concern.

    1. Did a player write something about your character that you did not consent to?

    2. Did a player act on assumptions and not come to you directly?

    3. Did a player request to engage in Mosswood RP in secret using a Direct Message or via other private communication?

Conflict

Conflict & Resolution Guide

This section describes what to do if there is a conflict, and what the potential outcomes are. If someone has broken a General Gameplay Rule or the Player Interaction Code of Conduct, this Guide describes what to do next. If you're in doubt, please contact us anyway. If you have a concern, it is valid and we want to hear it!

  1. Caution List & Danger List

    • Caution List

    • Danger List

    • Adding Names

  2. Reporting & Outcomes

    • When & How to Report

    • What Happens Next

    • Potential Outcomes

  3. Forest Evictions

    • Breaking Bannable Rules

    • Danger List Placement

    • Multiple Caution List Placements

    • Three Strikes

    • Staff Determinations

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Caution List & Danger List

The most important safety feature in Mosswood is the Caution List and Danger List.

  1. Caution List
    Every player has their own independent Caution List. This is a confidential list of names that the player feels uncomfortable interacting with, for any reason. Staff will never require justification for who is on this list, and this list may change at any time. Players will not receive letters from those on their Caution List; the sender will not be informed that they're on the recipient's Caution List.

  2. Danger List
    There is one confidential Danger List for Mosswood. This is a list of players that have been identified as a threat to the safety of others and to the well-being of the game as a whole. Players on the Danger List will not be allowed in Mosswood.

  3. Adding Names

    1. When you register for Mosswood, you have the opportunity to add names to a Caution List and to the Danger List. If you choose to do so, we will start a confidential conversation with you to make sure this is the right move for all involved.

    2. During gameplay, names can be added to either list through the Reporting system, as described later on this page.

    3. If any single player has been added to the Caution List of multiple players, we reserve the right to move them to the Danger List on a case-by-case basis for the safety of the community. If they are a current player, they will be evicted from Mosswood. Players in this situation will receive communication from Staff to clarify the situation, prior to being evicted. Staff will respect the confidentiality of all players and work on a case-by-case basis to ensure safety and positive gameplay for all is prioritized.

Reporting & Outcomes

  1. When & How to Report a Player

    1. If you believe a player has broken a General Gameplay Rule or the Player Interaction Code of Conduct as described above, please file a report by opening a Support Ticket in Discord or emailing us at admin@mosswoodlarp.com.

    2. Filing a report is 100% confidential. The safety and agency of the reporting player is of the utmost importance. No action of any kind will be taken until/unless the reporting player is comfortable moving forward.

    3. Filing a report is not the same as a punishment. All of our rules follow a “three strikes” system (except for those which explicitly state otherwise). If you feel that someone is behaving poorly, filing a report allows us to help them correct a situation, so that everyone (including that player) has a comfortable, fun time in game.

    4. Start by opening a Support Ticket in our official Discord server, or sending us an email at admin@mosswoodlarp.com. Your first line in the Support Ticket or subject of the email should be “I would like to file a report.” If you'd like to exclude a specific staff member, let us know in the ticket before proceeding further. By default, all current staff have access to Support Tickets, and the Partners of Badger & Bobcat LLP have access to the email.

  2. What Happens Next
    Once a Support Ticket has been opened, a staff member will join to discuss the situation. From there, any number of things can happen. We may choose to bring the other player(s) involved into a separate ticket to handle a dispute. We may choose to simply add the other player to your Caution List. We may contact the other player for more input. During and after the Reporting process, we ask that the reporting player keep the conversation confidential.

  3. Potential Outcomes
    In most cases, we utilize “three strikes” for players to give them ample opportunity to improve their behavior. These “three strikes” do not have to be against the same rule; each completed report resulting in staff intervention with the reported player constitutes one strike. There are four possible outcomes when a report is submitted.

    • The Report is incomplete and no action is taken.

    • The reported player has a Strike against them.

    • The reported player is added to your Caution List.

    • The reported player is evicted from Mosswood.

Forest Evictions

An eviction from Mosswood is essentially a ban from playing Mosswood and any future games owned or run by Badger & Bobcat, LLP. There are five ways in which a player can be evicted.

  1. Breaking the Bannable Rules
    There are two rules whose breaking will result in an immediate eviction:

    1. Nothing gets sent to a recipient without being checked by staff for content.

    2. No player information, such as names and addresses, are to be sent in game-related correspondence.

  2. Danger List Placement
    If a player is placed on the Danger List, they will be evicted.

  3. Multiple Caution List Placements
    Being placed on the Caution List of multiple players might constitute moving a player to the Danger List.

  4. Three Strikes
    Any player that has had three instances that necessitated staff intervention to resolve repeated breaking of rules will be evicted from Mosswood. 

  5. Staff Determinations
    In some rare cases, Mosswood Staff may agree to evict a player from Mosswood. These cases would typically include a player that has only had one or two strikes, but with such severity that they are considered a threat to the safety of our community. We do not foresee this occurring, but reserve the right to make these decisions.

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