Genre and Scope

Dystopia Rising: Michigan (DR:MI) is a part of the greater Dystopia Rising Network and is therefore in the genre of post-apocalyptic horror. While DR:MI’s culture, theming, and tone leans more toward Borderlands or Fallout than The Walking Dead, undead monsters and creatures, devastating illnesses, and terrifying horrors should still be expected as a part of the world. By playing at DR:MI, you are opting into this genre and the themes that go along with it. As a reminder, these are fictional and simulated themes; the game staff will never hurt you, the player, for real.

The following is not an exhaustive list, but is a sampling of what to expect as a function of the post-apocalyptic horror genre.

  • Acts of violence

  • Blood and gore

  • Body horror

  • Drug use and addiction

  • Torture

  • Intensely emotional environments intended to frighten

  • Themes surrounding death and dying

  • Monsters, creatures, zombies, raiders, and other such antagonists

  • Medical and surgical simulation roleplay

  • Disease plots, modules, simulations.

  • Loud noises, shouting, and chaotic environments

  • Wartime themes and consequences

  • Political tension

Additionally, games at DR:MI contain the following:

  • Focus on Character Versus Environment (CvE) conflicts, with occasional Character Versus Character (CvC) conflict

  • Exploration of moral grey areas

  • Emotional roleplay surrounding a character’s identity and core values, including explorations of self (e.g. gender identity, religious affiliation)

  • Sandbox-style storytelling

  • 24-hour in-character immersion

  • Lightest touch combat simulation

  • Night raids by antagonists and early morning ‘wake-up’ modules

  • Shared personal growth

  • Communal living spaces and bathrooms

All this said, by choosing to play in a DR:MI game, players and staff members commit to working with one another to provide a good gameplay experience for all, despite potentially tough scenes and topics. Below, you will find our “off-limits” topics, decided upon through community input and consideration.

Off-Limits Topics and Themes

First things first: if you are ever uncomfortable with the direction or content of a scene (including scenes that are well-within the scope of the genre), you can ALWAYS opt out or communicate that the direction should change by using the OK Check-In System. This system is designed to empower players to control their own experiences, and it’s a good way to let others at the event know your limits and needs at any time. Using this system is highly encouraged: no one can read minds, and so a part of being a good scene partner is checking in—with yourself often, and with others where/when appropriate.

That said, there are some sensitive topics that the community at large has decided to opt out of entirely for the good of the majority. These topics will never be the subject of storylines/roleplay/modules and are listed here:

  • Sexual Assault

  • Slavery

  • Child Endangerment (see Character Guidelines for more information on the role of children at DR:MI)

  • Discrimination and violence based on immutable characteristics (e.g. racism, sexism, homophobia/transphobia)

Finally, we firmly believe that real-world contentious topics are best discussed and navigated by individuals privately outside of the LARP space to promote healthy discourse and good boundaries between real-life and play. Furthermore, real-life discriminatory behavior, physical assault, or sexual assault will NEVER be tolerated at Dystopia Rising: Michigan, per our Community Guidelines.