Rules for Good Players
I've been contemplating player advice ahead of a play-by-post Wages of Sin campaign I'm running and Prismatic Wasteland's How to Be a Good Player blogwagon. Here's what I've got.
- Be kind.
Play in good faith, and expect the same of others. Give compliments. Ask questions. Find ways to be helpful. Share things you like. Treat everyone with respect. Be a fan of the characters.
- Take care of yourself.
Cover the essentials. That's where the foundations for safety and good play are built. Eat plenty, stay hydrated, and try to sleep well. Know your limits, when to push them, and when to back off. Learn what you need when you're struggling or spiraling. Take walks. Do grounding exercises. Breathe. Learn about bleed. Ask for help when you need it.
- Look out for each other.
Check in regularly. Get consent. Provide content warnings. Speak up if you notice something's off. Address problems before they get worse. Help where you can. Do not tolerate hate, discrimination, harassment, or abuse.
- Be cruel.
Cut until it is beautiful. Creativity is subtractive. Tear away at what could be until there is only what is. Do not fear consequence. Do not moralize. Make a mess, relentlessly. Understand that you will destroy possibility as you bring forth results. Do not make more rules for yourself. Forget the fear you will hurt somebody. Cut.
- Stay hungry.
Want. Want more. Desire deeply and intimately. Do not fear your desire. Hold it tender and close. Leave yourself wanting more. Want so much you can never be satisfied. Do not save choices for later. Fill your mouth, selfishly. End scenes early. Find new desires. Share what you want. Reveal your intent. Learn to love tension, lean into resistance, and want want want.
- Go for the throat.
Do not hesitate. Make the obvious choice. Make the vulnerable choice. Find where the flesh is soft and the blood runs underneath. Go there. Sink your teeth in and do not stop when your mouth is wet. Pick fights even when you don't think you'll win. Expect to lose. Expect to fail. Expect to get hurt. Hang on by your teeth. Make it hurt.