Backbeat Ballad is a Changeling: the Dreaming Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) game set in the World of Darkness (WoD) universe. Changeling is an urban fantasy setting where the creatures of Fae myths and legends struggle to exist and maintain relevance in the wake of an increasingly modern, increasingly dreamless society. It is a game of adventure, loss, discovery, and dreams, all set against the backdrop of a world where Wonder struggles always against the crushing weight of soulless banality.
Backbeat Ballad is an independent troupe game unconnected to any global chronicle or organization, created by a group of individuals who love LARPing, and is built from the ground up with a Community First mindset. Changeling: the Dreaming’s 20th Anniversary edition provides the meta upon which Backbeat Ballad is built, and is combined with a House-built system that updates and seeks to streamline the mechanical processes by importing C20 tabletop rules to a more locally familiar LARP framework.
Included in this document is an overview of practices and policies that we expect all members of the Backbeat Ballad LARP community to observe. Where relevant, a link to the appropriate policy in full has been provided.
The Practical
1) Code of Conduct: Any person who engages with the Backbeat Ballad community- whether as staff, player, or a spectator within official community spaces or events- is expected to abide by our Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policies. These polices are detailed in depth here: https://backbeatballad.com/codes-of-conduct/
2) Drugs and Alcohol: All events organized under the Backbeat Ballad label are drug and alcohol free, as detailed in our Code of Conduct. This is a non-negotiable policy. Violation will result in removal of the violator from the event space, and may result in removal of their ability to continue to engage within community spaces.
3) Covid 19: We require participants who attend Backbeat Ballad events in person to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Those who cannot be vaccinated are required to wear a mask when present in event spaces. This policy is detailed in full here: https://backbeatballad.com/covid-19-policy/
4) Age Requirements: Participants in Backbeat Ballad events and community spaces must be over the age of 18. Participants as young as 16 will be conditionally allowed at in-person events only in the presence of their parent or legal guardian, and at the discretion of the event venue owner. Parent or guardian must be present at the event venue for the entire duration of the event. Participants under the age of 18 are not allowed in the community Discord, under any circumstances.
5) Props and Prop Weapons: We encourage player in Backbeat ballad to get creative in their creation of props and prop weapons for their characters, in accordance with the following guidelines.
- Staff has final right of approval for any props brought into Backbeat Ballad play spaces. If you’re concerned about if a prop will be allowed, partner with a member of Staff beforehand.
- Absolutely no sharp-edged props. This includes metal, glass, or ceramic knives, swords, picks, hooks, pikes, et al, as well as shields or armor.
- Absolutely no realistic firearms, be they modern, historical, or sci-fi in nature. If it in any way reads like a real firearm, the prop will not be allowed.
- Props should never be used to hit, poke, prod, or otherwise touch any player or staffer, nor should they be used with emphasis/violent intent against any portion of the venue. Use of props upon another player or the venue should be narrated only.
Example: Tapping a cane on the floor for attention is acceptable. Slamming a cane into the wall with both hands is not.
6) Stunting: Absolutely no stunting is allowed. This includes staged fights, slaps, falls, punches, swinging from the banister while declaring your love for king and country, et al.
7) Respect the Venue: Backbeat Ballad events are held at a private residence. Respect the venue and its owner. Refrain from handling the owner’s private belongings or engaging in behaviors which may damage their property, inside or out. Do not leave trash or cigarette butts laying around. Take your trash with you.
8) Respect the Community: Backbeat Ballad was created with a Community First dynamic in mind. We want our players and staff to feel safe within Backbeat Ballad spaces. Refrain from belittling, attacking, or otherwise demeaning your fellow community members. If there is an OOC issue between players related to game, or between players and staff related to game, that requires mediation, we have processes in place to address these issues. Any issues of these sort should be brought to Missa, who is our player advocate and mediation specialist.
9) Respect the Staff: The Backbeat Ballad Staff is here to help facilitate a fun, safe, and encouraging LARP experience. Please help show your appreciation for all their hard work by following the policies laid out here. Rulings of the Staff may be appealed to the Storyteller, but the Storyteller’s rule is final. We ask that the community at large refrain from presenting themselves as a staffer in anyway, including, but not limited to: answering questions directed to staff, adjudicating challenges, or disciplining other players. Remember, the staff is made entirely of volunteers who love the hobby just as much as you do, and should be accorded the same courtesies one would extend any other community member.
10) The 48hr Cooldown Rule: Please allow 48 hours for staff to respond to any game requests such as character approval, mechanics questions, or downtime mechanics, before prodding us for an answer, or taking your issue to another member of staff. In addition, please wait 48 hours after game before approaching staff to: offer feedback (positive or negative); initiate downtime roleplay or downtime actions; or otherwise request assistance with any part of the game. This allows the staff time to decompress, and to avoid burnout.
11) The No Contact Rule: Backbeat Ballad is run primarily as a “No-Contact Without Consent” LARP. Players must get full and informed consent before initiating any sort of physical contact. Be respectful of each other’s personal space and needs, and utilize our consent and calibration mechanics to help keep everyone’s play experience a fun and safe one. Consent and calibration mechanics can be found in detail here: https://backbeatballad.com/consent-mechanics/
12) No Metagaming, No Cheating: Metagaming is defined as using out-of-character knowledge for direct or indirect in-character gain. Cheating is falsifying or misrepresenting one’s character sheet, misleading or lying to a player or staffer (out-of-character) about one’s intentions or behaviors in a scene, or otherwise behaving in a dishonest manner in regards to the game and one’s fellow players.