Code of Conduct

Welcome

Thank you for joining us in the Protospiel Online Discord server. We’re so happy to have you here and look forward to everything you have to share with us!

Community Rules

These rules apply to all activity in this Discord server, both inside and outside of our playtesting convention open hours.

✅ Be respectful, civil, and welcoming.
✅ Stay on-topic and post content as per each channel’s description and/or pinned post.
✅ Keep all content safe for work. This includes Discord profiles and avatars as well as posts and live conversations.

🚫 Do not discriminate or harass anyone based on their race, gender (identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, religion, country of origin, etc.
🚫 Spamming through DMs to server members or in-server is not allowed.
🚫 Do not send unsolicited direct messages (DMs) to any user you don’t know who has 💬Ask Before DMing at the bottom of their server profile roles list. This includes DMs to Moderators and Organizers.

If you need to talk privately with a server admin, use these instructions to contact them through @Front Desk.

If you’d like to send someone you don’t know with the 💬Ask Before DMing role a direct message, ask their permission through public text channels in this server.

Convention Rules

The following rules are most applicable to activities that will be going on during our playtesting convention open hours.

Golden Rule of Protospiel

Aim to give as much playtesting time as you get.
See #golden-rule in our Discord server for more info.

Virtual Table Space

We have several Hall channel categories where Table voice channels are available for playtesting only during convention open hours.

You may not sit alone in a Table voice channel with your digital prototype loaded up waiting for players to join you. If you camp by yourself in a Table voice channel for an extended period of time, an Organizer or Moderator will ask you to return to the LFG Voice channel to find a playtest to participate in.

Solicitation

All of the activity in the server during Protospiel Online convention weekends is centered around playtesting tabletop games and general conversation in service to making the presented prototypes the best games they can be. Do not conduct any sales transactions or approach other attendees with sales pitches for products or services.

Sponsors

Protospiel Online may enlist sponsors and partners to help create the best event experience possible. We will choose sponsors and partners we feel support the designers and projects presented at Protospiel. Joining as a sponsor or partner is the only way to get offers posted in our read-only partners channel.

Marketing

Marketing materials such as links shared to your projects are allowed at Protospiel Online as long as these links are not over-shared (spammed) in any text channel and are not used in an invasive way.

For example, going from table to table to share a link or posting the same link multiple times to the general text channel is considered invasive. Placing a link in your current table’s private text channel for your project while you are in the middle of your playtest or giving playtesters an opportunity to sign up for your email list during your feedback session is not considered invasive. See the FAQ at the bottom of this page for more info. Use your best judgement, and, when in doubt, ask event staff.

Alcohol

Alcohol is allowed, subject to all laws and other rules of this COC. In consideration for server members abstaining from alcohol, if you decide to have a drink, please keep it in an opaque container or off camera and avoid focusing attention on the alcohol itself.

Staff Instructions

Attendees must follow instructions and directions given to them by a Protospiel Online staff member. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the Discord server without a refund.

Refunds

Full details of our refund policy are available here: https://protospiel.online/refund-policy

Inappropriate Content

Explicitly sexual or gory imagery is considered inappropriate for this event. Please use discretion when presenting themes that may be considered offensive or disturbing to others.

Special Considerations for Virtual Playtesting

There are a few pieces of etiquette specific to virtual meeting and board gaming platforms we ask all attendees to keep in mind:

Playtester Availability Based on Platform

Not all playtesters will have access to every virtual board game platform. Our supported platforms include Tabletop Playground (TTP), Screentop.gg, Tabletopia, and PlayingCards.io. Designers should not expect playtesters to be able to use any platforms outside of this supported list.

Sharing Digital Players Wanted Cards

The only posts allowed in #looking-for-a-game are Players Wanted cards using Protospiel Online’s provided template. The information shown on these cards must be truthful and non-deceptive.

Digital Prototype Access

During online playtesting sessions, designers will share access to their digital prototypes with playtesters through various means. If the playtesting platform requires players to save a local copy of a game, they must delete it when the playtest is over. Playtesters may not save an access point to a digital prototype for any reason without the explicit consent of the prototype’s creator.

Avoid Overloading the Simulation

Although “fiddling” with game pieces on a physical table surface is a harmless habit, doing something similar inside a board game simulation puts unnecessary load and strain on the program running the simulation, creating lag and other frustrations for your fellow players. Please refrain from interacting with virtual table spaces in any way that is not necessary for playing a game or demonstrating an idea/suggestion.

Keep Your Head in the Game

Even though you and your table mates are not sharing a physical space, everyone is expected to be fully present and engaged with the group they are playtesting with. Please keep side conversations and activities to a minimum while you are actively playtesting.

Limit Noise Interference

Since everyone’s main connection will be via voice chat, it is important that you ensure your microphone is set up to capture your voice clearly and to obscure distracting background noises or echo. Please be aware of possible background noise on your end, and use headphones/earbuds and/or the Discord push-to-talk option to keep background noise to a minimum.

Be Responsible About Your Tech Issues & Be Patient with Others

Virtual playtesting often relies on many pieces of technology in many different locations to function properly. Internet connections get overloaded, head set batteries run out — and attendees may be using a piece of software that is still new to them.

Whether you are the one struggling with your tech or you are trying to help a fellow attendee with their tech issues, patience is the key virtue here.

If others tell you they can’t hear you, believe your mic is causing echo, or bring any other problem with your tech to your attention, put in the effort to resolve the issue. You can get troubleshooting help by messaging @Front Desk.

Prioritize Human Connection

Virtual playtesting is, by its nature, less connected than playing together in the same room around the same table. Taking a little time for all players to introduce themselves before a playtest can help everything start off on the right foot. Turning on your video when possible also makes it easier to connect, take turns speaking, and understand one another.

It’s wise to disable video while everyone’s focus is on a virtual tabletop. When you are using voice chat only, try to make room for everyone to speak without interrupting or talking over one another. Although it’s impossible to completely avoid doing this, when it does happen, acknowledging it and apologizing can help keep the conversation welcoming and productive.

Harassment

No attendee shall harass a guest, staff member, volunteer, another attendee, or other individual present in the Discord server. Any such behavior may lead to expulsion from the Discord server and revocation of your badge without refund.

The convention reserves the right to remove any posts or individuals displaying or acting in a way it considers offensive or in disagreement with its policies and philosophy, including, but not limited to, any promotion of hate, slander, religious/anti-religious proselytization, unauthorized solicitation of products or services, anti-feminism, or similar.

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, political affiliation, body appearance, race, religion, or gender identity; sexual images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation; stalking; following; harassing photography or recording; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If you feel harassed, notice that someone else is being subjected to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, please message @Front Desk inside the Protospiel Online Discord server to report the incident to a Protospiel team member as soon as possible, and we will address the situation.

Inclusivity

Protospiel Online strives to create a safe and inclusive space that welcomes gamers from all walks of life. We hope to build a community space that includes all gamers.

We celebrate all races, ethnicities, body types, the full spectrum of genders, all sexual identities, and persons with all ranges of abilities and ability challenges. While this list of identities is not complete or perfect, we function with a spirit of inclusiveness.

We believe that a diverse range of experiences and perspectives is absolutely necessary in building a thriving and healthy gaming community. We welcome you to share your perspective and experiences with us at Protospiel.​

Information Collection, Use, and Sharing

We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to or collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone. We will use your information to respond to you regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization. Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.

A Final Word

We ask that all attendees of Protospiel Online operate with the assumption of good intentions on the part of other gamers. Make new friends, playtest with enthusiasm, and enjoy the convention!

Code of Conduct FAQ