CODE OF CONDUCT
Beyond the Gates uses many safety tools and this Code of Conduct is only one of them. It informs you of specific behaviors you must follow to participate. These behaviors were identified during our risk assessment as critical for you to “read and heed.” These behaviors can only reduce the risk of harm, and cannot by themselves promote a safe and inclusive space for our events.
The Beyond the Gates staff reserves the right to ask any attendee to leave the event venue (for the remainder of the event or even permanently) should they disobey or consistently disobey the below policies or any conduct policy found within the website, the rule books, or expressed at live events. Furthermore, in addition to this Code of Conduct, all participants must abide by ALL local, state, and federal laws and regulations or risk involvement with appropriate law enforcement action.
We respect each other’s space.
We respect each other’s emotions.
We respect each other’s consent.
Your safety is more important than the event.
With all that said, please observe the following behaviors in regards to Beyond the Gates:
Review and abide by our Anti-Harassment Policy.
Obtain enthusiastic positive consent for ANY physical touch. Yes means yes. ANY other response means NO.
Refrain from any sort of violence and also any simulation of violence outside of appropriately zoned locations.
Respect all accessibility and safety mechanics.
You are responsible for your own property at all times. BTG cannot be held liable for damage or theft of your personal property.
Beyond the Gates is considered a Drug-Free Zone, so everyone can play in a safe manner.
We ask that you comply with all staff member and facilitator instructions at all times; failure to do so may violate this Code of Conduct. However, as a participant, you have a right to fair and equal treatment. If you feel you have been treated unjustly by the staff or your concerns are not being heard, you have the right to discuss this with Management. Management has an “Open Door Policy”: you may contact them at any time, for any reason, and they will work to resolve any issue within the context of Beyond the Gates.
Email: help@beyond-the-gates.org
Text / Call: 801-792-4468
Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in a verbal warning, staff intervention, removal from the event or portions thereof, or permanent ban from Beyond the Gates events. The Beyond the Gates staff will consider intent and contrition when considering responses to Code of Conduct violation, but may apply more severe consequences to any violation at the staff’s discretion.
Do not expect any tolerance for repeat violations.
Beyond the Gates participants are encouraged to know their own limits and protect their physical and emotional safety. If at any time a participant believes an activity may be unsafe for any reason, they should request a halt to activities until such time as the unsafe condition or situation has been remedied. If during the event a participant becomes aware of a situation that may jeopardize the safety of themselves and/or other players they should report it immediately to a staff member.
When interacting in-character, we require that guests and staff make efforts to ensure that they are respectful of each others’ boundaries. That includes, but is not limited to, not touching another person beyond what is defined under the combat rules, unless you have confirmed Out of Character (OOC) that it is acceptable with that person. Being given permission to touch a person does not grant that right indefinitely, and anyone may retract consent at any time.
Beyond the Gates promises to do its best to provide reasonable accommodations for any physical, mental, or emotional needs of all guests and staff, and to always keep the safety and inclusivity of all community members in mind when producing, implementing, or enforcing event content, game rules, or conduct policies. In turn we ask all participants to respect the privacy of guests who utilize Beyond the Gates’ accommodation practices, and to keep others' limits and abilities in mind when negotiating roleplay, engaging in combat, or otherwise interacting with other players.
At Beyond the Gates, we strive to create an in-game (IG) experience that is rife with danger and intense emotions; out-of-game (OOG), however, we will not tolerate harassment on any grounds nor behavior that causes any participant to feel unsafe. Abusive, extremely insulting, or offensive language or actions that are intentionally harmful or demeaning to other players are never tolerated. We are committed to maintaining a fair environment for all participants regardless of sexuality, gender, race, ability, age, and faith.
Beyond the Gates participants are expected to play by the established rules of the game. When in doubt about the application of a specific rule, contact a staff member. Staff members are the final arbiters of all rules disputes.
Participants are expected to deal with each other civilly and sensitively at all times. The Beyond the Gates staff members reserve the right to ask a guest to leave an event, or not attend future events, if we feel the guest is negatively impacting the experiences of other guests in any way. Beyond the Gates staff members are the final and only arbiters in this matter.
If you have complaints regarding another guest, a staff member, or the game itself, please speak to a member of Beyond the Gates staff. If an issue is serious or distressing, we urge you to bring it to the attention of a Beyond the Gates manager as soon as possible. We take all concerns presented to us seriously and strive to keep all concerns confidential where possible; this may include being unable to provide a complainant with the results of an investigation. Beyond the Gates staff will seek to address and resolve all issues as quickly as possible and to the best of our ability.
Among themes of exploration, discovery, and invention, the in-game world of Beyond the Gates also includes themes of colonization, bigotry, and dislike based on heritage. The game may also deal with many disturbing and challenging subject matters, including but not limited to murder, slavery, colonialism, and capitalistic exploitation. We believe theatrical exploration of a subject is just as valid as exploration in other media and we do not feel that exploration of a subject and glorification of it are synonymous. The overarching plot of the world or character viewpoints does not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Writing Team or Beyond the Gates, or individuals within it.
Though many sensitive or challenging themes have a place to be explored in the game world, subject matters that will never be explored and are never permitted to be explored by participants are non-consensual sex, sexual assault, incest, and sex or assault involving minors. While we understand such things do exist in the real world, these are subjects which will never have a place in the stories of Beyond the Gates.
Any role play involving the theme or suggestion of rape is explicitly prohibited.
Beyond the Gates staff will never require guests to divulge their medical history or other personal or sensitive information in order to participate. If necessary, Beyond the Gates will attempt to provide a secure location for the storage of medication at events to the best of our ability.
Sexual harassment of any kind is unacceptable. If you are sexually harassed at an event, inform a staff member immediately. Depending on the severity of the issue, staff may issue a warning to the individual, ask them to leave the event, or prohibit them from attending any future events.
Other kinds of harassment based on real-world or out of game traits (sexuality, gender, age, appearance, etc) will not be tolerated. If you have been asked to cease an action out of game and continue with it despite the warning, you will be banned from the game.
Violations of the Code of Conduct and other complaints should be reported to a staff member immediately. Staff will investigate the complaint and deal with the offender based on the severity of the offense.