Social Dynamics Guides
We’re introducing a new program to help STs gain insight into and navigate social dynamics in games! A small group of community members will be available as Social Dynamic Guides throughout the convention. If they are wearing a purple sash, you can approach them for quick advice for questions such as:
- Setting the tone for a group
- Handling player behavior
- Managing tough emotional moments during games.
This role is about offering support to primarily Storytellers when needed. And it’s also not about therapy or rules expertise. Guides are available only when wearing the sash, and they’re here to help support with specifically with social situations, not to take on rules questions or complaints. Look for the guides and feel free to ask for social dynamics advice during your games!
If you are in the middle of a game, please do not ask them to intervene or observe your game. Instead, briefly excuse yourself to ask them a question in private.
What kinds of questions are suitable to ask the Social Dynamics Guides?
Social Dynamics Guides are here to help support STs with social situations, not to take on rules questions or complaints. Here are some examples of questions that are within the scope of the Guides:
- What do you think are good ways to create a welcoming environment at the beginning of a game?
- What are some ways to moderate overtalking in an effective and respectful way?
- What do you do to mitigate a single player dominating the conversation?
- Do you have any advice for making quieter players feel welcome in my games?
- How do you recommend navigating a situation where misunderstandings or misaligned expectations led to a difficult emotional moment between players?
- What do you generally consider to be the social responsibilities of an ST?
What kinds of questions are NOT suitable?
The Social Dynamics Guides are NOT here to be rules experts, therapists, or moderators.
It is NOT within the scope of their role to:
- Judge who was wrong or right in a disagreement
- Listen to you vent about a difficult situation
- Make a ruling on mechanics
- Intervene in your game
- Resolve a conflict between players
Please limit your questions or asks to something that can be answered in about 2 minutes. Many of these topics are not topics that can be fully covered in 2 minutes, but asking questions to the Guides is meant to be a beginning point for starting open conversations about navigating the complex social dynamics in Clocktower.
Our Guides are volunteers and attendees too! Please respect their time, and please do not ask them social dynamics questions if they do not have the purple sash on.