Misfit Hobbies Code of Conduct

Everyone is welcome at the table, provided they welcome everyone at the table.

Misfit Hobbies exists to provide a friendly, inclusive and enjoyable place for people to play games, discover new hobbies, meet other people and spend time together.

You do not need to be an expert. You do not need to know anyone already. You do not need to play a particular game, belong to a particular group or spend a particular amount of money to be welcome here.

What we do expect is that everyone using the store treats other customers, staff and the space itself with respect.

This Code of Conduct applies to everyone while attending Misfit Hobbies, including customers, members, event attendees, spectators, visitors and organised play participants.

Membership, regular attendance, friendship with staff, tournament experience or the amount somebody spends in the store does not give them preferential treatment or exemption from these standards.

1. Treat People With Respect

Everyone at Misfit Hobbies should be treated with basic dignity and respect.

We will not tolerate:

1. Bullying or intimidation.
2. Harassment.
3. Threatening or aggressive behaviour.
4. Discriminatory comments or behaviour.
5. Deliberately humiliating or belittling another person.
6. Unwanted sexual comments or attention.
7. Persistent personal insults.
8. Deliberately making another customer feel unwelcome.
9. Targeting somebody because they are new, inexperienced or unfamiliar with a game.
10. Encouraging other people to exclude or gang up on another customer.

Friendly banter is part of many gaming groups, but "it was only a joke" does not automatically make behaviour acceptable.

If the person on the receiving end clearly isn't enjoying it, stop.

2. Everyone Was New Once

Misfit Hobbies welcomes experienced players and complete beginners alike.

Players should make reasonable efforts to help others understand the game they are playing and should not deliberately exploit somebody's lack of rules knowledge.

In particular, experienced players should not:

1. Mock somebody for not knowing a rule.
2. Deliberately conceal information that they would reasonably be expected to explain.
3. Pressure a new player into making decisions they do not understand.
4. Treat casual games as an opportunity to embarrass inexperienced players.
5. Gatekeep a game or hobby based on perceived skill, knowledge, age or experience.

Competitive play is competitive. It does not need to be hostile.

3. Play Fairly

Cheating is not welcome at Misfit Hobbies.

Players are expected to play honestly and in accordance with the rules of the game, event or organised play system they are participating in.

This includes being truthful about:

1. Dice rolls.
2. Scores.
3. Life totals.
4. Measurements.
5. Cards, rules or abilities.
6. Army or deck contents.
7. Game state.
8. Tournament results.
9. Any other information required by the game.

Mistakes happen. A genuine rules mistake is not automatically cheating.

Deliberately misleading an opponent, falsifying information or knowingly breaking rules to gain an advantage may result in removal from a game or event and further action under this Code of Conduct.

4. Be Clear About What Your Game Pieces Do

In games involving hidden rules knowledge, army abilities, cards, special abilities or similar information, players should answer reasonable questions honestly.

You are expected to explain relevant capabilities when asked.

Winning because an opponent made a tactical mistake is part of gaming.

Winning because you deliberately misrepresented what your models, cards or abilities could do is not.

5. Rules Disputes

Rules disagreements happen.

When they do, keep the disagreement about the rule rather than the person.

For casual games, players should attempt to resolve disagreements calmly.

For organised play, a judge or member of staff should be called where appropriate.

Once a judge or event organiser has made a ruling, players are expected to accept that ruling for the purposes of the game and continue playing.

You may ask for clarification or raise a concern afterwards, but prolonged arguing, shouting at a judge or disrupting an event because you disagree with a ruling is not acceptable.

6. Declare Intent Where Appropriate

For games where precise positioning matters, we encourage players to clearly communicate their intended positioning before completing a move.

For example:

"This model is intended to be wholly within this terrain."

"I'm placing this unit outside line of sight."

"I'm keeping this model outside your charge range."

Clear communication prevents avoidable disputes.

Both players should make reasonable efforts to understand and acknowledge declared intent where the rules of the game allow it.

Declared intent cannot be used to override the actual rules or make an impossible position legal.

7. Win Well and Lose Well

Competition is welcome.

Poor sportsmanship is not.

Winning does not give you permission to humiliate your opponent.

Losing does not give you permission to become aggressive, insulting or disruptive.

Players should avoid:

1. Gloating.
2. Rage quitting.
3. Throwing or damaging gaming components.
4. Aggressive arguments.
5. Blaming opponents personally for losing.
6. Deliberately running down clocks or wasting time.
7. Refusing normal sporting interaction because a game is going badly.

A handshake is not compulsory. Respect is.

8. Personal Hygiene

Misfit Hobbies is a shared indoor environment where people often spend several hours sitting close together.

Customers are therefore expected to maintain a reasonable standard of personal hygiene.

This includes taking reasonable steps to avoid strong body odour that materially affects other customers' enjoyment of the store.

Where a hygiene issue becomes noticeable or generates complaints, a member of staff may speak privately with the customer and ask them to address it.

This may include asking somebody to use deodorant, freshen up or, where the problem cannot reasonably be resolved at that time, leave the store and return once it has been addressed.

These conversations will be handled as discreetly and respectfully as possible.

Ignoring a reasonable request from staff may result in being asked to leave.

9. Language and Conversation

Misfit Hobbies is used by people of different ages and backgrounds.

Normal adult conversation and occasional swearing are not automatically a problem, but customers should remain aware of who is around them.

Excessively loud, aggressive, sexual, discriminatory or deliberately offensive language may be challenged by staff.

Explicit sexual material, graphic conversations or other adult content should not be introduced into public areas of the store where it is inappropriate for the people present.

Staff may ask customers to moderate a conversation or change the subject.

10. Noise

Gaming can be noisy and enthusiasm is welcome.

However, customers should remain aware that other games, events and conversations may be taking place nearby.

Repeated shouting, screaming, deliberately disruptive noise or excessively loud behaviour may be challenged by staff.

If staff ask a group to reduce their volume, we expect them to do so.

11. Respect Personal Boundaries

Do not touch another person's:

1. Cards.
2. Miniatures.
3. Dice.
4. Books.
5. Models.
6. Phone.
7. Bags.
8. Gaming equipment.
9. Other personal property

without permission.

If you want to inspect something, ask first.

Likewise, do not touch another person without their consent.

12. Respect the Store and Its Equipment

Customers should take reasonable care of Misfit Hobbies property.

This includes:

1. Tables.
2. Chairs.
3. Terrain.
4. Games.
5. Books.
6. Demo products.
7. Fixtures.
8. Toilets.
9. Gaming accessories.

Do not deliberately damage, misuse or remove store property.

Customers may be responsible for the cost of deliberate or reckless damage.

13. Tables and Shared Space

A booking gives you use of the space you have booked. It does not give you unrestricted use of surrounding tables, chairs or store space.

Do not:

1. Spread belongings across other customers' tables.
2. Take chairs from another table without permission.
3. Move tables without staff permission.
4. Block walkways.
5. Obstruct doors or fire exits.
6. Leave bags or cases somewhere that creates a trip hazard.

Follow the Misfit Hobbies Events & Table Booking Policy when using gaming tables.

14. Food and Drink

Customers are welcome to bring outside food into Misfit Hobbies where we do not offer a reasonable equivalent for sale in-store.

This means customers are generally welcome to bring in meals such as takeaway food, sandwiches, pizza or similar food while using the store.

Outside drinks are different.

Where Misfit Hobbies sells a reasonable equivalent drink in-store, customers should purchase that drink from us rather than bringing their own.

For example, customers should not normally bring in:

1. Cans of energy drinks or soft drinks where equivalent drinks are sold in-store.
2. Bottled drinks where equivalent drinks are available from us.
3. Coffee or other hot drinks purchased elsewhere where equivalent drinks are sold in-store.

Reasonable exceptions may be made for medical requirements, dietary needs or circumstances where we do not sell a suitable alternative.

Customers are expected to use reasonable judgement and may be asked by staff not to consume an outside drink in the store where an equivalent is available to purchase from Misfit Hobbies.

Food and drink should always be consumed responsibly around gaming products, store property and other people's belongings.

Customers must:

1. Clean up after themselves.
2. Dispose of rubbish appropriately.
3. Avoid leaving food, cups or packaging on tables after use.
4. Take reasonable care not to damage cards, miniatures, books, terrain or other gaming materials.

Spillages should be reported to staff immediately so they can be dealt with safely.

Staff may ask customers to stop eating or drinking something where it is causing a significant mess, smell, safety issue or disruption to other customers.

15. Children and Young People

Children and young people are welcome at Misfit Hobbies.

Adults should behave appropriately around younger customers and should be conscious of their language, conversation and behaviour.

Staff may impose supervision or age requirements for particular events, activities or periods of store use.

Parents and guardians remain responsible for children at all times while they are in the store and should remain with them, even if they are taking part in an organised activity.

Concerns regarding the welfare or treatment of a child should be reported to a member of staff immediately.

16. Photography and Recording

Do not deliberately photograph or record another customer who has asked not to be included.

Customers should be particularly careful when photographing events where children or young people may be present.

Misfit Hobbies may occasionally photograph or record store events for promotional purposes. Where practical, customers will be made aware when this is happening, and anyone who does not wish to appear should tell a member of staff.

17. Staff Instructions

Customers are expected to follow reasonable instructions given by Misfit Hobbies staff relating to:

1. Safety.
2. Store capacity.
3. Behaviour.
4. Table use.
5. Events.
6. Organised play.
7. Opening and closing.
8. Noise.
9. Access.
10. Store policies.

If you disagree with a staff decision, you are welcome to raise the matter calmly.

You are not entitled to shout at, threaten, intimidate or abuse a member of staff because you disagree with a decision.

Where an immediate decision is required, the staff member responsible for the store at that time has authority to make it.

The matter can be reviewed afterwards if necessary.

18. Members and Regular Customers

Being a Misfit Hobbies member or regular customer does not provide additional authority within the store.

Members and regular customers do not:

1. Have authority over other customers.
2. Speak on behalf of Misfit Hobbies.
3. Receive preferential treatment in disputes.
4. Receive different disciplinary standards.
5. Automatically receive priority for tables, events or products.

The same standards apply to everyone.

19. Don't Police the Store for Us

If you believe another customer is breaking this Code of Conduct, speak to a member of staff.

Do not turn a minor issue into a confrontation by attempting to discipline another customer yourself.

Where immediate action is required for somebody's safety, use reasonable judgement and get a staff member as quickly as possible.

20. Raising a Concern

If somebody's behaviour is making you uncomfortable, disrupting your experience or appears to breach this Code of Conduct, please speak to a member of staff.

You do not need to confront the person yourself.

Where possible, concerns will be dealt with discreetly.

We will listen to the people involved, consider the available information and make whatever decision we believe is appropriate for the store and community.

Making a complaint does not automatically mean another person has done something wrong, and Misfit Hobbies will not automatically take sides based solely on who raised an issue first.

Likewise, knowingly making malicious or deliberately false complaints about another customer may itself be considered misconduct.

21. Consequences for Breaching the Code

Not every breach requires the same response.

Depending on the circumstances, Misfit Hobbies may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Give a quiet reminder or request that behaviour changes.
2. Give a formal warning.
3. End a game or table booking.
4. Remove somebody from an event.
5. Ask somebody to leave the store for the remainder of the day.
6. Suspend participation in particular events or activities.
7. Suspend or terminate a Misfit Hobbies membership.
8. Temporarily prohibit somebody from entering Misfit Hobbies.
9. Permanently prohibit somebody from entering Misfit Hobbies.
10. Apply or report organised play penalties where required by the relevant publisher or organised play system.
11. Contact the police or another appropriate authority where circumstances warrant it.

These steps do not have to be followed in order.

A sufficiently serious incident may result in immediate removal or a ban without previous warnings.

22. Refunds Following Removal

A customer who is removed from an event, table booking or other paid activity because of their own misconduct is not normally entitled to a refund.

Membership fees are also not refundable where a membership is suspended or terminated because of misconduct or misuse.

This does not affect the customer's statutory rights.

23. Serious Incidents

Violence, credible threats of violence, deliberate serious harassment, theft, deliberate significant property damage or other behaviour that creates an immediate safety concern may result in immediate removal from the premises.

Where appropriate, Misfit Hobbies may also contact the police or other relevant authorities.

24. Our Aim

The purpose of this Code is not to turn Misfit Hobbies into a place where everyone is worried about breaking a rule.

Quite the opposite.

We want people to relax, make friends, roll dice, paint models, play cards, try new games and enjoy being part of the hobby.

Most people will never need to think about this Code of Conduct.

It exists so that when somebody's behaviour begins to undermine that experience for everyone else, there is a clear standard we can point to.

Everyone is welcome at the table, provided they welcome everyone at the table.

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Misfit Hobbies

Nothing in this Code of Conduct limits any rights or obligations that apply under applicable law.