Expectations and Safety

Taste-tested tips and tricks to running your own safe, successful Culinaria campaign.

Expectations

What Are The GM Expectations?

A Game Master (GM) is the person responsible for creating and controlling the world and non-player characters (NPCs) in a tabletop roleplaying game. They also act as the storyteller, referee, and facilitator of the game.
Acting as the storyteller: Create the plot of the campaign, as well as control the pacing and flow of the game.
Playing the NPCs: Control the NPCs in the game, including their actions, dialogue, and reactions to the players.
Facilitating the game: Keep the game running smoothly and make sure that all players are having fun. This includes managing the rules, resolving conflicts, and answering any questions that the players may have. The GM has final say on all rules, mechanics and events in the game, so that the game can proceed with a consistent and fair manner.
Overall, the Game Master's role is to create an engaging and immersive experience for the players, and to make sure that the game is fun and fair for everyone involved.

What Are The Player Expectations?

In a tabletop roleplaying game, players have several responsibilities, including:
Creating a character: Players typically create a character that they will control during the game. This includes choosing abilities, stats, and backstory, as well as acting out their character's actions, dialogue, and reactions during the game.
Following the rules: Players are responsible for understanding and following the rules of the game as established by the GM.
Collaborating with the GM and other players: Work with the GM and other players to create an engaging and immersive experience for everyone. This includes taking part in the story and making decisions that will affect the game's outcome. Be engaged and active during the game and make decisions that will move the story forward. Communicate your actions, thoughts and ideas effectively to the GM and other players, and cooperating with them to achieve shared goals during the game.
Overall, the players' role is to breathe life into their characters and collaborate with the GM and other players to create a unique and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Safety Tools

Utilizing and Expanding Your Safety Tools

Safety tools are ways GMs and players reduce harm and create a comfortable gaming environment for everyone involved. One of the most popular safety tools is the TTRPG Safety Toolkit by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk.

These tools are not included in the Culinarypunk TTRPG itself but are simply a set of tools I personally like to use for any TTRPG I'm playing and think they're fantastic resources for anyone in the TTRPG community.

— Emily, Culinarypunk Creator

The TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a resource co-curated by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk. The TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a compilation of safety tools that have been designed by members of the tabletop roleplaying games community for use by players and GMs at the table.
You can find it at bit.ly/ttrpgsafetytoolkit.

Open Communication and Discussion

Communication is not solely the GM's job. It's a responsibility of everyone at the table. Although the GM may lead the story, everyone is on an equal playing field when it comes to communication, safety, and consent.
Many of the above-mentioned safety tools are meant to expand communication and make discussions easier for the group as a whole, but everyone must be open to use the selected tools and willing to freely speak about concerns. You cannot always avoid conflict. It may be difficult to see through problems when emotions are high, so letting people walk away and come back with a calmer head may be the best case way to solve issues. An open door policy, allowing players to walk away from the table or game at any time without questioning or judgement, is a fantastic safety tool when things become overwhelming.