Community Guidelines

The Tavern exists so strangers can become a party. That only works if everyone can trust the room. These guidelines apply everywhere on The Tavern: listings, profiles, messages, table chats, voice, ratings, and the map marketplace.

The short version

Be excellent to each other. Play hard at the table; be kind around it. If you wouldn't say it at a friendly local game store, don't say it here.

Never allowed

• Harassment, bullying, or hate speech targeting anyone's race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or identity — in or out of character.
• Any sexualization of minors, in any form. Zero tolerance: immediate permanent ban and reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and law enforcement where required.
• Threats, incitement, or glorification of real-world violence.
• Sharing anyone's private information (doxxing), or photos of people without their consent.
• Sexual content in public spaces, or unwanted sexual advances anywhere.
• Scams and spam, including charging for seats off-platform, fake listings, and pyramid-anything.
• Manipulating reputation: fake ratings, retaliatory reviews, attendance fraud, or review-bombing a table you never joined.
• Impersonating another person, table, or The Tavern staff.
• Anything illegal where you live or where we operate.

Meeting in person

In-person tables are for adults (18+) only. Players under 18 use The Tavern strictly online: in-person listings never appear on their board, their accounts can't host or join in-person tables, and a table that includes a minor stays on-platform. For adults who do meet:

• Hold first sessions in public places — game stores are perfect, and they like the business.
• Tell someone where you're going and when you'll check in.
• You never owe anyone your address, workplace, or last name.
• If your gut says leave, leave. You can report afterward; you don't have to explain first.
• Tables marked 18+ are for adults only, and minors never see them.
• Never attempt to arrange an offline meeting with a user under 18 — in or out of character, on or off the platform. Zero tolerance: permanent ban, and a report to law enforcement where required.

Your safety tools

• Report any listing, profile, or message — every report goes to a human reviewer.
• Block anyone. They lose the ability to message you and their listings disappear from your board.
• Your content limits are shared with a DM when you apply, and honoring them is mandatory.

Enforcement

Depending on severity, violations lead to content removal, warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent bans. Severe harm — child safety, credible threats, doxxing — skips the ladder and goes straight to a permanent ban. You can appeal any action by writing to safety@thetavernapp.com.