Player Safety

A Note on Player Safety and Comfort

Horror inherently deals with disturbing and potentially uncomfortable themes. While the goal is to terrify the characters, you never want to cause genuine distress for your players. It is your responsibility to make sure the game remains a safe and consensual space.

Set Boundaries Early: Before the campaign begins, have a clear conversation about hard limits. Establish what themes are entirely off-limits and what content players would prefer to fade to black or keep "off-screen."

Check In Regularly: Pay attention to the mood during intense scenes. If a scene crosses a line, pause the game, adjust the narrative, and move on. If your group plays online over voice channels or a virtual tabletop, it can be highly effective to establish a digital signal like a direct message, so players can flag their discomfort without having to interrupt the scene out loud.

Remember, the scares should be fun and exhilarating. When your players know their boundaries will be respected, they are actually much more willing to lean into the terror of the game.