What is Changing?
The shift to a Mature rating does not mean we are loosening our standards, or that we are promoting or allowing explicit/gore content. This revision of a decade-old ruling allows us to more accurately reflect the kind of serious and darker storytelling already taking place on the server, while also providing clear and enforced boundaries to protect the community.
The reworked rules related to this change can be read below as written in the Server Rules.
Administrator wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:19 pm 1.4 - Content Rating
BGTSCC is a Mature-rated (M) roleplay server and is intended for players aged 18 and older only. This rating reflects the type of content that may arise through character-driven storytelling - such as emotional intensity, complex moral choices, combat, injury, and themes of grief, trauma, romance, or corruption. It allows space for mature ideas and meaningful roleplay, but it does not allow explicit, graphic, or sensationalized content.
The Mature rating is not a license to shock, provoke, or disturb. It is a framework for responsible storytelling among adults, and all players are expected to maintain respect, empathy, and discretion in their play. The server is not a safe haven for edgy or exploitative content under the guise of maturity. Our rules below reflect this commitment.
The following rules are non-negotiable and strictly enforced:Violations of these rules are treated with utmost seriousness and may result in punitive action up to and including removal from the server. The staff reserves the right to review character concepts, backstories, and RP logs sent to us to ensure compliance. If you are unsure if the content is appropriate on our server, it is best to assume it isn't.
- Sexual abuse, rape, prostitution, sexual violence, ageplay, and non-consensual eroticism are strictly forbidden. This includes any form of direct roleplay, dialogue, implication, or backstory reference. The portrayal or sale of sexual services (e.g., brothels, lap dances, "escort" RP) is also not permitted.
- Characters must be 18 years of age or older (or the racial equivalent). Characters that appear, behave, or are described as minors - especially in the context of violent or sexual content - are not permitted.
- Gratuitous or graphic torture, mutilation, or gore is not allowed. While darker themes may be part of some stories, extreme violence should always be implied or fade-to-black. Roleplay that dwells in graphic detail or uses such content for shock or attention will be moderated and potentially removed.
- Pregnancy must be pre-approved by the DM team. It is treated as a major narrative event that places the character into a temporary retired state for the duration. Children may not be played as PCs or appear actively in scenes without direct DM oversight and permission.
- The sale of hard drugs (e.g., narcotics, hallucinogens) in public RP is strictly prohibited. Such content must be kept private and handled with narrative care.
- Scenes that involve any combination of the above - such as abuse narratives involving children, disturbing sexual themes, or grotesque violence - are entirely off-limits. Do not attempt to circumvent these rules through creative wording, vague implications, or 'backstory' defenses.
Why the change?Administrator wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:19 pm 1.5 Erotic Roleplay (ERP)
Our server is intended for mature audiences, and we recognize that romantic and mature themes can add significant depth to storytelling and character development. However, certain topics can be problematic or harmful to our community atmosphere. Themes including sexual abuse, child molestation, sexual violence, and rape are explicitly prohibited, even within character backstories. Again - if you're unsure whether certain content is appropriate, it's best to assume it isn't or seek DM approval first.
Erotic Role Play (ERP) is highly discouraged but permitted under specific conditions:Players should strive for respectful and mature interactions, practicing empathy and acknowledging the comfort and boundaries of others. If a conflict arises related to ERP or mature themes, players are encouraged to resolve it respectfully through private communication. If a satisfactory resolution isn't achievable privately, players should contact a DM or Admin for assistance.
- Consent: ERP must always have explicit in character and out of character consent from all participants involved.
- Privacy: Any ERP or explicit descriptions must remain strictly private and conducted away from public channels or areas. ERP should always be done discreetly, and is strictly limited to whispers or tells.
- Communication & Comfort: Participants must communicate clearly and respectfully. If a player becomes uncomfortable OOC, they must express their discomfort openly, and all participants are expected to honor this immediately. Players must be mature, respectful, and empathetic toward others.
- Prohibited Themes: Ageplay is strictly forbidden. Any kinks or fetishes portrayed must adhere to all ERP guidelines and not breach any listed prohibitions. Refer to rule 1.4 Content Rating for clarification.
The DM team will not provide support, special items, or storytelling enhancements specifically aimed at facilitating ERP.
Over the years, BGTSCC has evolved. While our focus remains on collaborative storytelling and character-driven roleplay, the tone of those stories often touches on heavier themes - emotional conflict, moral ambiguity, power struggles, and complex personal narratives. These elements, when handled responsibly, can offer compelling and meaningful roleplay experiences. However, they also demand a content framework that supports both creative freedom and firm boundaries.
Maintaining a Teen rating while allowing stories of that nature created a disconnect between what was being played and what was officially supported. It left too much open to interpretation, and blurred the lines of what was acceptable. By shifting to a Mature rating, we are not opening the doors to explicit content - we are drawing a clearer line. The Mature rating gives us the room to explore serious themes responsibly without limiting creativity, while making it clear that graphic sexual content, narratives of abuse, excessive gore, or anything exploitative has no place here. This is a move toward clarity, consistency, and community safety - not toward permissiveness.
By re-evaluating past and present experiences, and taking into consideration the future of the server and its direction, we believe the rework of these rulings reflect the serious tone and storytelling often found in character-driven roleplay, while also reinforcing a firm and non-negotiable boundary against graphic, explicit, or harmful content.
We are also clarifying the server's stance on Erotic Roleplay (ERP). While ERP has always been subject to strict boundaries, this policy revision ensures consistent enforcement and removes any ambiguity about what is and isn't acceptable. This clarification is not an invitation for ERP to become more prominent. Instead, it sets hard limits so that when such scenes do occur, they are handled discreetly, respectfully, and in line with the tone of the server.
Ultimately, this change is about trust. Trust that our players can tell mature stories with care, and trust that our staff will maintain the boundaries that keep this server a safe, respectful, and engaging place to roleplay.
Thank you.