Content Warnings

The themes of Dystopia Rising often touch close to our real world in ways we cannot always avoid. The DR:TX team believes that we can still tell these stories about challenging topics, but we also believe we need to be transparent about our intentions and set proper expectations for our content. In our tradition of radical trust, we want to also trust in each player that attends our game to know their own limits and be able to choose to avoid topics and situations that make them uncomfortable.

It’s important to watch for descriptions, situations, or events that you might want to avoid. You may find new limits that are unknown to you because the matter never came up. We encourage you to take the necessary steps for your own emotional safety. We want you to be comfortable with the types of horror in our events so you can enjoy the thrill of the zombie apocalypse and the nightmare creatures we introduce into the game space.

It’s one reason we take our OK Check-In system so seriously! We understand that these may not be stories you want to participate in, and that’s okay! Remember, you can always use the OK Check-In system to choose to leave a scene, even CVC!

A content list is Dystopia Rising’s use of a technique known as innehållsförteckning, or “ingredients list”, which was first created by Nordic game designer Karin Edman. A content list is a series of focuses that are expected to be regularly occurring at a local branch. It is not the same as a content warning in that a content list provides a wide array of information about the nature of an event’s intended design and not just items that the writers of an event may see as “warning worthy”. Since it is impossible to know what might be triggering for all potential participants, we have decided it is better to provide a listing of content (or ingredients) that participants can use to make educated decisions regarding their participation at an event. (p. 13, DR Corebook)

Dystopia Rising: Texas is a 16+ event.  Minors require their parent's permission (and a signed waiver) to play. This is an adult game with adult themes.

Our events could have the following content:

  • Institutional corruption and abuses of power, incarceration

  • Physically demanding activity (running, simulated fighting, etc.)

  • Simulated drug use and addiction, drug abuse, and drug-related death

  • Simulated alcohol abuse, alcohol-related death, intoxication, and alcoholism

  • Simulated psychological role play

  • Lightest-touch combat simulation

  • Religious conflict, religious-related death, corruption, and abuses of power (only in-game faiths - not real faiths)

  • Disease, infection, and consequences of diseases

  • Body Horror, grotesque or disturbing mutations, visceral costumes and props

  • Death, mourning, death rituals, and the potential loss of life and harm to self or others due to character choices.

  • Memory loss, edited memories, and amnesia

  • Intense emotional situations, where characters may be pushed to their emotional limits.

  • Wealth inequality and class disparity

  • Rent and debt collection

  • Resource scarcity, and the struggle to provide for yourself in the apocalypse

  • Night-time attacks (even on sleeping characters)

  • Splatter / Gore modules (forewarning will be provided, but these modules will cover players in liquid or debris that could stain costumes)

  • 24-hour character immersion

  • Mutated and hostile fauna, including spiders, bugs, snakes, deer, bears, and clowns.

  • Wild west tropes with a post-apocalyptic flavor

  • War and War-time stories, particularly involving off-screen conflict against enemy forces.

Our events do not Contain or condone:

  • ANY content (themes, discussion, jokes, or conversation) that relates to rape, sexual abuse, or sexual assault. This includes sex with characters who are under 18. This includes coerced sex work. 

  • Actual sex, drugs, or alcohol.

  • Actual violence.

  • Actual racist, sexist, homophobic, trans-phobic language; for that matter any language intended to make people feel shitty based on the accident of being born to one circumstance versus another.  

MEDICAL AND SAFETY RESOURCES

We have a dedicated Safety team at DR:TX. Folks on this list are available resources for non-emergency/non-professional assistance. The Med Room in Kiva (back room past the the Post Office) has a revamped and restocked medical supply box. These supplies are available for everyone, though we do not have any consumable medications in there past emergency doses of Tylenol for use in heart attack emergencies.

Mental and Emotional health are also included in our Medical and Safety resources. The Med Room can also be used as a safe decompression space if you need to step out of character and take time re-center or process something. Several of our medical staff are also mental health professionals, and can be tapped to help provide assistance if you need it.

If you do require assistance, and don’t know how to find someone to help, tap any Guide or Gamerunner and we will help you with finding that resource, or contact emergency services if needed.