Duelly CakeFaeries and Cambridge Safer Spaces Waterfighting (CSSW) Rules

0 Introduction to What We Do

0.1 We fight around Cambridge with waterpistols.

This activity involves team-work and the occasional last person standing all-on-all. We announce our battles a couple of days in advance on our battle announce email list. To join and receive the battle announce emails, email cssw-cam-safer-space-waterfighting-announce-owner@srcf.net. One on one, two on one and two on two duels are also available by appointment at a time of mutual convenience.
Our battles are usually for around 2 hours on weekend afternoons. Each battle has multiple rounds in which all participants try to attain an objective: sole survivor, Capture the Flag, etc. See the Rules Options below for more. If you are hit (we call this 'marked') you are out until the next round. Unless it's a round for which a resurrection time scale has been set... Rounds usually last between two and ten minutes.
We often take a half-way break for refreshments; for the Squash and in the Easter term, we will probably have a picnic with us.
We use 'one mark and you are out', which means that people are usually only marked with a few drops from the outer edge of an opponent's fire. By this, we seldom get particularly wet. We only use toy weaponry that is both safe and non-alarming to the public. We fight entirely off university property.

0.2 We are dedicated to being inclusive of everyone who turns up to play in a safe and friendly manner.

We change some rules as we go to ensure everyone present can do well in at least some rounds. For instance, walking-only rounds so that athletes don't always win, or equal weapons rounds to not overly favour the owners of expensive toys.
This activity is good for exercise, to the extent to which you wish to exercise. It is good to de-stress from work, and it is good so as to feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. It can be viewed as an alternative sport that is entirely free from gender and gender expression issues. Other good such available here in Cambridge include Ultimate Frisbee.
We also use Nerf guns in some battles, rounds and suitable locations. This is usually as well as, rather than instead of, waterguns. Waterguns are better to keep people far enough away that you can dodge. To ambush, especially ambush a whole group. And to escape. These seldom run out of shots. Dartguns have longer range, which is better for marking opponents, especially if they are unaware that darts are incoming, due to surprise attack or distracted by other fighters. Within range, however, darts are easier to dodge than water. Darts are also better for shooting at people you are chasing. These things also apply to stress balls if you are large enough to throw these comparably far to a Nerf gun shot; if not, just use a Nerf gun! Some scenery is only effective cover against one of water or darts. Turn up and find out which and why!
With water, it is particularly clear if someone has been hit, and where, because water leaves a mark. One can ask a person to check themselves for such marks, or to check them e.g. if they've been shot in hard to self-check parts like the back or ankle. One cannot mark people while they are checking themselves, or another, for marks.

0.3 We have spare toy weaponry that people can borrow at the battles.

You are free to bring your own weaponry so long as it conforms to our standards. See the Banned Weapons section for details, especially about Nerf guns or similar. As a first brief check, we disallow nerf darts or guns modified to enhance range, anything firing 30 metres or further, and 'throwing pens' as well. Anything near the edge of what is safe (including our standards of eye safety) must be checked by an Organiser, and they always have the final say.
We may also lend weapons out for the rest of term to people who ask us nicely, This is for the Cakefaerie Duelling activity. So long as, firstly, the weapons aren't used on the grounds of the university, or to shoot noncombatents (we call these passers-by, taken to include our town's adorable ducks!) Secondly, that the weapons are returned to us in good condition,

0.4 We have two types of rules: Frivolous Rules of Combat and Serious Rules.

The Frivolous Combat Rules detail the rules of play, options for individual rounds, and a procedure for discussing unsure events in a friendly manner. They're probably not completely watertight, nor do they need to be! Reading them will help give you an idea of what goes on at our events.
The Serious Rules give details on safety, security, conduct, and awareness. We are explicitly a Safer Space, and certain rules in this section go beyond what would normally be expected in other kinds of society as a result of this.
In cases where the Serious Rules contradict the Frivolous Combat Rules, the Serious Rules are determined to have precedence every time.

1 Frivolous Combat Rules

1.1 Basic Combat

1.1.1 Weapons We Use

Waterguns and Water Status: Our battle events can be Full Water, Small Water or No Water. Some battle events may have rounds that restrict to Small Water or No Water. Small Water guns have small output and are always under 40 cm long. E.g. the Water Warriors Hornet, Viper, Shark; the Storm 750 or the supersoaker xp 240; anything smaller than any of these is definitely fine too. Full Water is for larger waterguns and other water-based weaponry (e.g. hoses, water balloons). If needs be, the Organisers present decide where the Small Water / Full Water barrier lies. If in doubt, test shots will be fired.
Some rounds also permit water rifles (these are of arbitrary size but have only up to 3 times the output of Small Water guns. E.g. the Supersoakers xp-105, xp-310, or the Water Warriors Python, Lightning, Gorgon, Blazer, Gargantua... The other full water guns ('cannons') have 5 or more times the output. Most of these are actual classic CPS supersoakers.
Attack Animals and Stress Balls can be thrown at opponents. These are fluffy toy Attack Animals with no undue hard bits. If hand-held, both can be used to block, as can throwing hats. Attack Animals are more versatile than stress balls, since they can make Ping marks (see below). However, animal shaped stress balls count as Attack Animals, as can stress balls with enough animal features drawn on them.
Ping marks: You can also mark by pointing a toy gun at someone and saying "Ping!" from within a metre. This avoids point-blank shots. This can be used in combat and does not require surprise. This rule may occasionally be turned off if it has been leading to undue amount of unsure events. We also allow Ping marks with Attack Animals by making an appropriate animal noise. (You may have to clarify that this was a Ping mark if your opponent just moos, mewls, or growls back!)
Other harmless toy guns: We have at some points also used Nerf guns and rubber band guns, often simultaneously with waterguns. Though some rounds have been Water Only and others No Water Weapons. On days with a lot of dartgun rounds, there may be rounds which are not only Small Water but also with Small Dartguns. This usually means spring-primed dartguns with at most 8 shots loaded into them at once. What rounds with Full Dartguns have in addition is guns that have more barrels, machinegun type clips, flywheel motors, air pressure bladders, and/or higher accuracy.
Some years we allowed use of approved melee weapons to mark at close quarters. LARP swords, light sabres, rolled up newspaper coshes... In such rounds, moreover, participants can opt out of being attackable with melee weapons, including without saying why.
For darts/bands/throwing weapons: If a person brings their own ammunition, it is their responsibility to retrieve it at the end of rounds or the event. When using darts similar to another persons', try to keep track of how many have been fired where. If this is an issue, people might each label their ammo in a distinct way.
Our rounds are often Water-Only, for a variety of reasons. Fights next to an environmental hazard (a river, a chainlink fence) make darts implausible to retrieve. In dusk or after-dark fights searching for darts is impractical. Fast-moving Urban fights are intended for travel from one area to another: stopping to retrieve ammunition would significantly slow the pace of the round. Fights with large numbers of people, or fights where unsure events are more likely to arise, go a lot more smoothly when watermarks can be used as evidence.

1.1.2 How to mark people

One hit marks: If hit anywhere on your clothing or body, except when stated otherwise below, you are immediately marked. Note: in fighting with safe toy weaponry, most shots miss, especially when the person being shot at sees them coming or is running around.
Being marked: If you know you've been 'marked', say so. Other conventions include ceasing fighting or running. Holding the gun point down or placing it on the floor. Sitting on the ground. Or returning to the weapons pile to help look after it. You needn't do all these things! If asked if you've been marked, you must say 'Yes'. When turnout is large and battle rounds are open combat, there are team headbands and if shot you remove yours. This is very helpful with avoiding confusion and unsure events!
You can't claim to be marked, or officiating, unless it's true. Mimicking marked combatents is also not allowed. If you can see that an elsewise highly probably marking hit has in fact just missed you, the onus is on you to state clearly that it 'missed!'.
Claimed marks: if you think you marked someone but they remain unaware of that or think otherwise, then you can ask if they have been marked. At ours, this is a question, not an assertion, like a Cricket appeal that someone may be out: Owzat? In this case one has an Unsure Event, and further rules indicate the kind of Discussion Procedure by which we deal with these.
Watermarks: A wet patch the size of a 5p (Small Water) or 50p (Full Water) coin usually counts as a mark. Because of this permanence, water weapons causes a lot less Unsure Events per shot than non-water weapons. This is one of the ways in which water is rather more convenient.

1.1.3 Exceptions

Marks to hand-held weapons don't count. Indeed, you can block shots in this way. If your gun just deflects the shot onto you, however, the mark still counts. Hint: if one spots incoming darts or stress balls, one can often block them, but one can almost never block water. Modifying your weapon to increase its effectiveness as a shield is not allowed.
Marks to the hands and feet don't count. (These are too hard to discern: shoes get wet too and are thick, and it's hard to distinguish between hitting a gun or the hand it's in.) Ricochets off scenery do not count as hits; ricochets off other players, while rare, mark both of you!
Only shots you fired before you were marked count. It is possible for one's marking shots to still be in the air as one expires...
Marked Limb is additionally the default rules option. If shot in an arm or leg, you can't use it for the rest of the round for game actions. You can obviously still use your legs to stay away from traffic, not inconvenience passers-by etc. Elsewise, hop :) (You can always give yourself out as dead rather than use this rules option.)

1.1.4 Passers-by and Helpers

You can both passively and actively deny being a participant, until you are shot, at which point you must admit you are a participant. This is particularly relevant in 'Urban rounds', see rules options, and newbies or less fighty people may find this a useful way to mark more veteran fighters. Rounds needing this, obviously, have to have a signal other than taking off the team headband to clarify that they are dead! People are welcome to join any of our battles by attacking as a 'lone wolf' ambusher. Provided that they have read our rules and, in particular, aren't using any kind of toy weapon that may at all need prior safety inspection.
You obviously can't go round shooting genuine passers-by. Remember a 'passer-by' can't shoot you out of a round without making it clear they're not a passer-by! As such, the way to defend against fake passers-by is to politely stay away from passers-by, see through disguises etc. We hold that it is people who can't take being shot at by newer, shyer people who use this style that have the attitude problem, and not those who use this approach. For this is how anyone can make an impact without big guns, athleticism or a ton of fighting experience. We remind people that laying ambushes round corners also results in passers-by being shot unless one gets one's attitude and priorities right. As does fighting with passers-by in the line of fire behind one's dodging opponent.
(Non-combatant) helpers are allowed. They can however be shot at as much as players, and will be encouraged to become participants and be able to shoot back. They must abide by the same rules as participants. They must 'belong' to one or more participants, who will be held in part responsible for bringing this person along if anything goes wrong. If the accomplice becomes a combatant, this responsibility dissolves.

1.1.5 This ruleset is also used by Duelly CakeFaeries.

Wherever the rules mention CSSW, they apply to the Duelly CakeFaeries as well, unless these are mentioned separately.

2 Serious Rules

The current ruleset contains four types of Serious Rule: Safety (staying out of Danger), Security (staying out of Trouble), Conduct Rules (Common Decency / Friendliness), and Safer Space Rules. It makes clear distinction of which Serious Rules are Safer Space Rules, and which are Common Decency / Friendliness Rules. While all Serious Rules are important, some of the most important are highlighted in red.
Common Decency/Friendliness Rules can be expected in many other societies, groups, activities and events around Cambridge. Safer Space Rules go above and beyond this, so as to accommodate a wide range of people who don't feel safe enough in most other places.
If you are a CakeFaerie in the Sheila and Her Dog Society, or the CakeFaeries' Scavenger Hunt, the general Safer Space rules are the same for all four :)

2.1 Some of the most Important Rules

Be Friendly at all times during this society's activity.
[Conduct] Our waterfighting activity is Only a Game. Thus there is No Excuse for Nasty or Inappropriate Behaviour during the activity or over its organizing. Real Life Issues override issues internal to our games. In particular, Nasty and Irresponsible are adjudicated by real-life criteria.
(Being marked, betrayed, lied to or plotted against in a game are no grounds for taking real-life offence. By the same token, there's nothing real-life wrong with ‘revenge' by similar real-life acceptable game methods in other of our activities.)
[Security] Our activities being only a game, they are No Excuse for Trouble or Nuisance. In particular, do nothing illegal, or which may be mistaken by onlookers as highly illegal. If you can't provide a reasonable explanation for exactly what you are doing to any Porters, Fellows or Police Officers who challenge you over doing it, then you shouldn't be doing it.
Since the start of 2004, it has been illegal to mess around with (or even just carry) replica or realistic weapons in public in the UK. Using such shall therefore not be contemplated.
[Safety] Our activities are all Harmless. So do nothing at all likely to cause injury to anyone, whether passer-by or participant (including yourself) or cause material damage.
To Be Involved in these societies is to Consent To Be Met. But not a card to intrude beyond welcome. It is a Promise that all actions carried out in connection with these societies is Grounded on Friendly Conduct.
[Security] Exercise common sense at all times. Participants are entirely responsible for their behaviour. CSSW does not condone any course of action that leads to confrontation with people in authority. Avoid inconveniencing other people, especially Police, the general public, Porters and other uni staff.
All Duelly CakeFaeries and CSSW activities with toy weaponry must be done off university grounds.
One of the principal reasons for this is the following.
In late 2015, the university made it clear that toy weapons activities are not allowed on the grounds of the university.
Comment 1. Duelly CakeFaeries and CSSW activities were not done on university grounds prior to that either...
Comment 2. This prohibition is only partial in the sense that requirement for anyone intending to use toy weapons in a college to enter via the main porters' lodge, inform the porters of their intent to do this, and obtain their leave was stated.
Comment 3. This is however a rather stringent prohibition in practise, because not that many porters are likely to say yes. Some have no choice in the matter in that e.g. their Dean, or College Rules, prohibits such, whether explicitly or implicitly. Indeed, various colleges had previously let it be known they were not having any more toy weapons stuff in some or any of their grounds. So had various Departments, Libraries, and Sites. There is moreover a stringent prohibition on toy weapons activities on university grounds without proceeding in accord with Comment 3 and succeeding in obtaining porters' permission on each occasion.
Comment 4. This prohibition includes not openly carrying toy weaponry on the grounds of the university.
Comment 5. 'In a room booked for that stated purpose', would moreover very much appear to be within Comment 2's allowed terms.
[Conduct] We are inclusive of and friendly toward all legally protected minorities: women, LGBT+, BME, the Disabled... We are also Women's Safety Conscientious, and Personal Safety Conscientious more generally. Personal safety concerns of anyone present always take precedence over tactics, rules of splitting up, or weapons choices. Note that e.g. some female participants may interpret some toy weapons attacks or actions as physically cornering people or entering our personal space. Also, people new to Cambridge may become lost if left alone in a large urban area, and everyone has a different threshold for 'I'm okay with being shot at by that thing'.
[Conduct and Safety] No-Force Rule This activity is not about physical strength or violence. There is no excuse whatsoever for pushing people around or forcing them out of your way. Most specifically, you are not allowed to move anything that someone else is holding still. If someone is holding a gate or door open or shut, you should not attempt to move it. Nor can you use any strength whatsoever to grasp any weapon away from a person holding it. Anyone breaching this rule may find any consequent in-game actions disallowed.
You are not to photograph or video people at or around CSSW events without the explicit permission of all the people featured.
[Safer Spaces] We are explicitly a Safer Space. Here is our Mission Statement and Safer Space Rules.
Raising Serious Rules concerns - Safety, Security, Common Decency, Friendliness, Inclusion, Safer Space - is No Excuse to be unfriendly.
[Conduct, without which Safety and Security falls apart also] All the rules stated for this activity apply also to the organizing of the activity.

2.2 General Safety and Security

'Trouble', 'nuisance', ‘harmless', and 'at all likely to cause injury or material damage' are assessed as risk rectangles: (likelihood) x (consequences). For instance, consequences include how much material damage, and, among injuries, place much more weight on those which may be permanent: eye safety, traffic accidents... This means that some Safety and Security Rules consider very likely occurrences with relatively minor consequences, but also highly unlikely occurrences with very bad consequences. Suppose additionally that a group setting up a toy weapons society only thinks in terms of likely occurrence events and very bad consequence events, rather than in term of risk. Then they would likely miss out comparable risks which are ‘square': somewhat less severe consequences for occurrences that are unfortunately somewhat likely.

Remember that while you might know a weapon or action is safe, members of the public may not. Do not cause alarm.

CSSW do Not mark/shoot at/scare/annoy passers-by and always promptly and respectfully leave premises from which they are asked to leave. Look like and act like a civilized human being :) We do not cause any actual worries to passer-bys, by which our activity remains tolerated. Remember: the line of fire between you and your opponent includes the area behind the opponent that is in range also...

CSSW's activities are based on what happens to work whilst staying within the corresponding Friendliness Rules and within what the Public and the Police tolerate. And not on things like 'what looks good' or 'what better approximates real-life violent situations with real guns'. We are not about pretending the fighting is real and not about being realistic in any detail.

Be aware that both the security forces and the public are particularly easily alarmed at present. Avoid behaviour that may cause you to be mistaken for a criminal, let alone a terrorist: do not wear a balaclava or other suspicious clothing; do not unnecessarily bear weapons in public (to and from Events); remember that even toy guns can look real in the dark or on CCTV; where possible, do not lurk suspiciously; be particularly cautious anywhere outside central Cambridge, where university people and societal activities are less common.

In early 2020, an anti-terrorism barrier was installed in the centre of the city. Because of this, we have placed a blanket ban on any of our toy weapons activities occurring on the main street from Corpus Plodge to St John's plodge.

You are strongly encouraged to hoard opaque carrier bags and keep some in your handbag, backpack, coat pocket etc as very portable cover for emergencies, as well as usually keeping your toy gun in such a bag. You are also strongly encouraged to not use two or three foot long water guns in urban battles, unless you have the means and discipline to put away such awkward things when and where prudent.

At present, when we fight in streets, we never allow Melee Weapons or Rubber Band Guns.

No firing darts into traffic, or into the river, or within range of passer-bys. No littering by losing or leaving behind ammo...

2.2.1 No-Fighting Zones

CSSW only meets in terrains selected by experienced Safety and Security Officials, so it doesn't presently require a long No-Fighting Zone list. They'll mention any places within or next to the area in question that are No Fighting.

Our organizers will usually brief you on any particular safety or security issues in or right next to battle terrain that is unfamiliar to some participants.
1) Foremost, the grounds of Cambridge University and its constituent Colleges are No-Fighting Zones.
2) So is the main street from Corpus plodge to St John's plodge.
Duelly CakeFaeries and CSSW neither fight nor openly bear arms in 1) or 2).
3) Other universities' grounds, schools, and other educational establishments, or places where teaching is occurring. Or the grounds of (possibly or definitely) private laboratories, or places studies or surveys are being conducted.
4) The grounds of places of worship, including burial grounds.
. 5) Shops, bars, restaurants and food vans, including whatever parts of these, or queues for these, are on the pavement. Shopping centres are No-Fighting Zones as well. The grounds of government buildings, banks, likewise, ditto ATM queues.
6) Anyone in sight of the Police, protests, news cameras or of zones taped up by the emergency services.
7) London
8) Motor vehicles. Stations (including bus stations) and public transport.
9) Noncombatents on bicycles, and whichever combatents ask not to be shot at whilst cycling. Even combatent cyclists can never be engaged with melee weapons, throwing weapons, or Full Weapons.
10) People doing their jobs, in uniform, or teaching / being taught (which uncommonly might be off university grounds).
11) People bearing large amounts of tech equipment, musical instruments, or societal equipment.
12) Plays, concerts and other performances (these can be outdoors as well as indoors).
13) Official sports (including sporting boats), and team sports training (often not on uni grounds).
14) Safe(r) spaces other than our own (or the non-combatent parts of ours).
15) Other societies' meetings.
16) Balls, garden parties and the immediate vicinity of picnics (including our own ones!)
We require you to carry your uni ID if you possess any. In going from your room to an event or duel of ours with a toy weapon, you must carry it stowed away in an opaque bag.

2.3 Weapons Safety

Don't use any toy guns that the Police, the Public or the Organisers consider to look like real guns. Don't use any weapons that bruise or are eye-unsafe. (We take bruising to mean that there's any mark at all half an hour after the shot or later). By both of the preceding, actual weapons, BB guns, pellet guns, Airsoft guns and paintball guns are banned.

2.3.1 Water Weapon Safety

Be particularly careful not to crash into any waterguns, for they are hard and dense.
Clean water only. In particular, do not use river water, or water with stuff dissolved in it. Also ambient temperature water only. (A few blasters have 'compartments for inserting ice cubes'. Don't. And don't fill up with hot water either.)
Water balloons cannot be used in or around the river, nor are the bits of rubber they create to be left as litter.
Water balloons in excess of half a litre cannot be dropped directly onto participants. They must rather hit a patch of ground next to participants.

2.3.2 Eye Safety

As eyes are possibly the most vulnerable part of the body, a weapon's potential damage to an eye limits the weaponry we use. Wearing safety masks/paintball googles is not an option because, firstly, we fight in places which can have passer-bys, who then obviously don't have eye protection. Secondly, by choice. Other groups do that elsewhere (usually requiring motorized transport and fees). But our activity is free, uses nearby accessible public locations, where we use safe and unalarming weaponry well within what the public tolerates. This choice of setting, toys and being within what the public tolerates, is important for many of our Safer Space purposes and so is an unalterable part of our Society.

We do not allow anything that has a 45 degree windless range of 30 metres or further (35 standard-sized paces).
No modified darts either. Or hard rubber darts, vinyl tipped darts, chalk darts or darts with hard noses, hard nose cores or added stabilizer fins. No ammo containing metal, stone, wood or similar.
The default is that guns modified to increase range are disallowed, because this may take them outside the risk analysis of the manufacturer. If a usually low powered gun has had minor alterations, you can ask the organizers to test it and license it if it still lies well within safety standards. Organizers' word on this matter is final.
One cannot get a gun licensed and then make further modifications to it. Likewise one cannot use a modified gun under the pretense that it isn't. Anything looking like it fires further than its model usually does is subject to being disallowed until tested.
We do not allow guns that use paintball technology to fire things other than paintballs either.
No catapults (or other 'assisted means' of launching throwing weapons, such as, but not restricted to tennis rackets or atlatls!)
Do not aim at the head or neck.
Do not fire a weapon at anyone less than one metre away. Use a Ping mark instead :)

Banned guns By one or more of the above, e.g. the Nerf Rival series (fire round balls faster/further than standard Nerf), the WipeOut gun and other Discovery Store products, the Buzz Bee Ultra Tek Sentinel, the Xploderz line of water-pellet guns and the Dart Zone Scorpion are disallowed.

Banned ammo So are Stefan, FVJ, VTN, silicone-tip, chalk-tip or home-made darts, knotted or beaded bands, or any ammo/throwable modified to have stabilizer fins.

2.3.3 Melee Weapons Safety (Melee weapons are currently disallowed here anyway)

You are meant to only touch, not strike, the opponent.
No attacks to the head are allowed, and, if one were to occur by accident, it does not count as a hit. Do not hit anyone in the head or neck, and do not aim in such a way that your weapon could bounce and hit them in the head.
You also need to understand and adhere to the No Force Rule. I.e. you cannot gain any advantage in close-quarters combat by putting in any strength, so little and large can play side by side both safely and fairly. For CSSW battles, this usually means: You can never push through a parry. Consequently you need put no strength into parries either. Crossing blades is an automatic parry. And you can never grab a weapon off somebody who is to any extent at all holding that weapon.
You cannot use guns as melee weapons. In particular, you cannot strike, parry or block melee weapons with any kind of toy gun. Bayonets, or any other kind of attaching of melee weapons to your gun, are disallowed as blatently unsafe. You also cannot simultaneously use a melee weapon while holding any other kind of weapon in the same hand. If you're within melee range of someone and you're holding a gun, you can make a Ping mark instead.
You can only use a cored LARP weapon if you have passed the corresponding LARP weapons safety. Even if you have passed LARP weapons safety, bear in mind that at ours you may be up against people with other kinds of weapons like light sabres. So you need to exercise more caution than usual. Also remember that parrying is different in activities with a No Force Rule. Finally, only touching with blows is somewhat more stringent than your usual standard of 'pulling your blows'. That said, those who know how to pull blows the Cambridge LARP way are usually also those who adhere best to our safer still standard.
For now, all Melee Weapons Only rounds and rounds with a person using a Melee Weapon are Walking Only. If we succeed in avoiding bruising and head shots this way, maybe in some future term we'll move up to allowing jogging or allowing people to run whenever they are not in range of exchanging blows. So you'd run up behind them, stop, and then backstab them. Or run ahead to block the other team further up the path with stationary fighting.
No particularly pointy, sharp, heavy or impactful Melee weapons. This includes no LARP polearms or gigantic hammers (too much momentum), and possibly some battleaxes and quarterstaves.

2.3.4 Banned Weapons

All banned weapons and ammo so far mentioned in this section.
Realistic replica guns - illegal to have in public by UK Law - include e.g. rubber pellet guns, visually similar to guns e.g. Firewheel bandguns.
Aerosol-based weapons, including poison gas and silly string, due to allergies.
Thrown CDs, playing cards, 'grenades', or any other kind of fragmentary weapon or weapon which has the possibility of dispersing into small pieces. We allow water balloons in some zones only if the mess is picked up afterwards.
Anything labelled with the word 'bomb' or even vaguely similar in meaning and/or spelling.
Rubber balls, ball-bearings, or anything else that is hard and similarly smaller than the eye socket (> 2 inch radius).
Weapons which target the neck, e.g. 'fake garottes' of any kind.
Whatever else the public doesn't tolerate seeing people firing it and/or it looks too realistic including in bad light and through CCTV. This includes any other realistic looking weapons, including what were unalarming bright coloured toys which have now been painted black/silver/gun-metal/camouflage etc, and including vaguely realistic looking toy knives. This also includes LARP bows and crossbows.
Laser pointers.

2.4 General Safety

You participate in CSSW at your own risk, including that of any property you turn up with, right down to your pet goldfish!

Nobody else is responsible for stopping you from doing something silly and getting yourself hurt (though we'll do our best to help you!) It's up to you and your own knowledge of your abilities to determine what you're capable of and okay with doing. If you jump in the river, or throw yourself to the ground in an elaborate but leg-breaking fashion, then it's your own fault. If you are injured or tired or feel unwell, you should remove yourself from play and / or tell an organiser. Use common sense.

If you have a condition or circumstance that may cause a safety issue but still wish to play, consider informing the organisers so they can tell everyone how to keep you safe. We're willing to be discreet and we don't ask why :)

To avoid falls, always wear appropriate footwear, especially if it is muddy or icy. Falls hurt more onto concrete, which is part of why we don't use melee weapons in the urban setting.

You must take the traffic seriously as a place not to fight through, stand in, or run through.

You have the right to opt out of carrying around heavy equipment during a CSSW event. This includes not using any weapon you're not comfortable handling! We will usually establish a 'base camp' that at least one of us will always remain in sight of. (Valuables are left there at your own risk.)

We fight all year round in many different types of weather! If it is cold, remember to dress warmly. If it's rainy, bring a waterproof coat and / or an umbrella. If it is sunny, consider sunscreen and sunglasses. Spare weather-appropriate accessories will often be brought along by the organisers on days when the climate is somewhat extreme.

2.5 The Safer Spaces Mission Statement

2.5.1 "A person is upset if they say they are, and without having to say why. Apologies are expected, as are non-repeats of what caused it."

We are explicitly a Safer Space. Our Mission Statement and the Safer Space rules shared across all of our societies are here. Please read, understand, and respect it if you wish to participate in our activities.

2.5.2 Some Interpretations Relevant to CSSW

By the form of our Safer Space Mission Statement:
our battles are a game in the explicit the sense of 'icebreaker game' and not of gaming.
We are also explicitly not a competition, being rather a cooperative activity.
We are finally explicitly not a roleplaying club.
We take a decidedly secular view about roleplaying and competitivity. While you are free to roleplay or to keep score, you may not put pressure on or coerce anyone else into doing so, and real-life nastiness or irresponsibility will never be able to be excused by either.
(For example, roleplayers wanting to use realistic looking weaponry or being 'in-character nasty' are not allowed. Nor are competitive people wanting to use unsafe weapons for game advantage or shaming people for not doing well.)
It is also not OK to become offended by real-life acceptable actions of other participants under the guise of 'that's not the right way to have fun').
Meeting people and making friends, inclusion and being a Safer Space are more important than our activity or outcome. That is, we are a 'Why Society", not a 'What Society': why we do activities is more important than what the activities are (or the outcomes of games or who 'marked' who).
Many of these Safer Space issues, and the nature of SafeOuts (see below), are necessary in practice for the inclusion of elsewhere little-known, understood or served, 'legal-and-consensual and yet not legally-protected' minorities such as, but not limited to, Closeted people, Survivors and Socially Anxious people.
Participants can opt out of being attackable with melee weapons, (or any other kind of weapon), including without saying why. This is particularly relevant for melee weapons because of personal space and no-contact issues.

2.6 Using 'SafeOut'

In the unlikely event that you know or feel that there is a breach of Serious Rules during a CSSW encounter, the immediate way to deal with it is by clearly stating the word "SafeOut".

i) SafeOut stops the activity until all participants and organizers present understand why it was evoked and that the reason for it no longer applies.

ii) SafeOut covers all Conduct and Safety matters , immediately stopping the activity to nip the problem in the bud. Be it Safety or Security matters, Common Decency, Friendliness, Inclusion, or Safer Space matters.

iii) SafeOut moreover includes "SafeOut: one of us is causing it".

"A person is upset if they say they are, and without having to say why. Apologies are expected, as are non-repeats of what caused it." is our motto when dealing with internal issues caused by our own members.

The way this case is handled is our Safer Spaces' prime rule (1) is our motto when dealing with internal issues caused by our own members.

If there is, or should have been, a SafeOut Inform Great CakeFaeries or other Safer Space Custodians of what has occurred if no such is present. These can ensure all is OK and understood as regards avoiding future similar occurrences. In the event of a member not being OK with saying why, 'understood' is within what that allows.

SafeOut is the most significant practical rule in the entire set: if there is any Serious Rules problem, immediately freeze play and nip it in the bud.

LARPers, your equivalent is 'Stop the Game' (or, formerly, and possibly still elsewhere than Cambridge, 'Man Down'). If you state 'Stop the Game' instead of SafeOut, organizers will heed these as meaning 'there is a serious rules issue that needs to be dealt with immediately'. This covers e.g. some people feel silly or anxious using safety words in general, and are happier using ones they've seen successfully used elsewhere. If at a Safer Space anyone uses 'Stop the Game' etc, it is still Safer Space Rules and jurisdiction which apply. The clarification process might now conceivably need to ascertain which group the person making the call thinks we are. This is so that it is confirmed to be a SafeOut in our jurisdiction, rather than a wanderer who literally meant 'Stop the Game' because they thought it was that other society's picnic. This matters because, jurisdictions aside, different safety words cover different ranges of situations.

What counts on our turf is "A person is upset if they say they are, and without having to say why. Apologies are expected, as are non-repeats of what caused it."

It being possible for another activity, society or group to be triggering, however, a SafeOut might need to include explaining that we'd much rather they use some other safeword that is not triggering in our Safer Spaces in future. This can include jointly searching for another safeword that all involved are ok with.

SafeOut can solely be used to defend oneself and not to personally attack anyone else. Like all other Safer Space things, SafeOut is an abuse-free zone. SafeOut's is to ensure that anybody causing upset, deliberately or otherwise, backs off and apologizes. That anything acquired by such means is returned (be it material or event-related, such as marks, wins, points, or accolades). And that there are no repeats of what caused it.

You are obviously not allowed to make a SafeOut only for "game profit" (e.g. simply to reload your gun!) But if you notice a serious rules issue at a time when a SafeOut would give you 'competitive edge', remember that CSSW is explicitly not a competition and that serious rules issues always override any in-event scenario.

Do not hesitate to start a SafeOut. It does not matter if you think it the matter might be 'too trivial', or something that 'I could probably solve myself', or 'about a past occurrence' or because there's been another SafeOut recently or there's been none for ages.

If you're not comfortable making a SafeOut yourself, you can bring the issue up quietly with a Safer Space Custodian and they'll sort things out on your behalf. (Asking them "Can I talk to you for a moment?" and then immediately walking away from the group is an easy way to get them alone.) The 'Not having to say why' includes not having to state that SafeOut is being evoked on behalf of someone else.

You can use "SafeOut: Must leave now" if you have to leave immediately for unspecified personal reasons. Such are not to be impeded from leaving on any grounds.

You may not ignore or trivialise current or past SafeOuts, nor hold them against anyone in any way (e.g. gossiping or joking about it after the fact). In fact, it is technically possible to be banned from the Safer Spaces solely for disrespecting a SafeOut.

2.7 Disclaimer

Whilst we seldom need to use it, our Disclaimer is entirely and immutably part of the serious rules.

3 Unsure Events

Most usually, a person can check if they have left watermarks on another, without either being shot at in the process. Sometimes further discussion is required.

3.6.1 Further principles of this are as follows.

Be Friendly: At CSSW, the most important thing about these is that these remain friendly. If anyone involved considers that such a discussion has ceased to be friendly, they are welcome to evoke SafeOut. Dealing with the unfriendliness takes precedence over dealing with the unsure event itself. Once friendliness is reassured or reinstated as appropriate, we can if desired return to discussing the unsure event.
Establishing a shared truth is the essence of discussions, not always insisting that oneself is right.
Unsure events are quite common. People move around faster than most of our safe toy bullets fly, and only notice some things, so it's entirely possible for different people to give entirely honest accounts which don't match up. Details of the timing of shots and where they landed are often imprecise by nature. Thus unsure events are common, even in the absense of gamesmanship, and thus in no way by themselves imply gamesmanship. So, as well as not indulging in gamesmanship, don't automatically assume that an account that does not match up with your own is the result of gamesmanship. It is unfriendly to call people names such as 'liar' or 'cheat'. Unsure events are No Excuse for this.
A new participant not knowing about unsure events or the discussion procedure is not an excuse for not following it. In this case, evoke SafeOut or fetch an Organizer to do so, and then the new person is informed of whichever of the following are relevant. That we are a Safer Space, make use of SafeOut, have no kind of unfriendliness, that this activity quite often has unsure events, and that there is a particular procedure for dealing with these.

3.6.2 Any use of loudness, strength of personality or refusal to ask for or listen to others' opinion are unacceptable at our activities. People feeling they're being out-louded etc are to know they have explicit right to take the uncertain event to the Organizer, especially if they couldn't voice their own opinion at all.

People who feel there's been gamesmanship are welcome to tell the Organizers as well.
At CSSW we largely don't actually care who marked who first - that's not a necessary part of being Friendly. The Organizers' main input is ensuring there's no unfriendliness. Organizers' rulings on unsure events themselves will usually be something like the following: "Duel for it!" "You've had too many unsure events of late so you lose this time!" (This includes toward people who may have been indulging in gamesmanship.) "You didn't give them their fair say, so you lose regardless of whether your facts might be more correct, because this is a friendly game."
At our activities, we do not favour assertiveness and loudness over who is right and who has demonstrated rightful skills. If stating 'I shot you' were to sufficient to eliminate people (as it does in cetain other places), it unduly favours the assertive and the loud. Instead, with us, all people are welcome to ask "Did I hit you?" If they say "No", people can reply "I wish to check if there's water on you". And quickly carry out such a check whilst neither is a licit target for anyone else. So neither checking nor being checked result in people being unceremoniously shot (unlike in certain other places). This system is properly inclusive of new and shy people. It works better for water than for foam darts or rubber bands, so at times we may have rounds with just water. E.g. when there's a large proportion of new participants, or after there's been too many unsure events or any unfriendly occurrence.
Suppose a participant's mark, or conduct in an unsure event, are in breach of the serious rules. Then who marked who is between of little consequence and totally irrelevant. The infringer is given out as dead, and, in serious cases, play will be stopped by SafeOut until an on-the-spot decision is made by the Safer Space Custodians as to whether that person can continue. As well as marks obtained via disrespecting passer-bys, major disrespect of No-Fighting Zones or with unsafe/realistic weaponry, this certainly applies to anyone screaming abuse or using/threatening actual violence during an unsure event. In the event of such a difficulty, we may prefer to suspend that round, and / or call its 'activity outcome' a draw. Because we are primarily a Safer Space, not a game, it's entirely consistent for more serious matters to override the outcome of a particular round.

3.6.3The practical procedure for dealing with unsure events are as follows:

Mark Cleanly: If you want your mark to stand, definitely strike first, to the middle of the Target with a sufficient burst of ammunition. Else, you might get an unsure event rather than a mark. So Mark Cleanly is an Avoid! defense to some unsure events occurring in the first place...
Appeal for marks rather than expect to have all claims granted. There is nothing wrong with appealing if you yourself are unsure of it landing so long as the Target was ‘within the box' in which the shots were landing. Most appeals for hits between experienced waterfighters are found to be incorrect or inaccurate.
If someone's asking if you've been marked with water, check yourself. If they don't believe you or they're suggesting their water is on your back, they can check you themselves. If checking is not enough (it's darts, their gun leaks...) then there may be a more extended discussion rather than an immediate check.
People checking themself, or another, or further discussing an unsure event, can't be shot at until they've returned to their pre-discussion positions. If someone accidentally does this, then just tell them you're having a discussion phase so the shots weren't valid :) (Obviously, you're not allowed to have a discussion just to get out of being attackable!)

3.6.4 Discussions are based on probable ballistics (and probable dodging, blocking) and not on assertions, repetitions, getting louder or name-calling. Probable means reasonably repeatable.

Establish by firing (dodging, blocking) one to ten times under similar circumstances. Some common examples are as follows:
If the person says 'I wasn't even in range!', test this claim by firing various shots from the same relative separation.
If the person says 'my gun leaks', it is for them to demonstrate how much their gun leaks where. You and others may keep track of where it does and does not leak onto. One can also repeat fire with a watergun to see if its watermarks are heavier or much more numerous than the watermarks on the target.
If the person was well within dart range and there are darts in front of them, then these probably have hit something; this still doesn't distinguish being marked out from lowing a marked limb from blocked shots, though. However, darts and bands that hit can still end up behind the target person by glancing.
If a person is hit from behind with NWW, they can't comment on not being hit. They can however confirm feeling the hit. Other participants with line of sight of such an unsure event are also welcome to comment.
Keep track of where you were shot in previous rounds. Older water marks are more spread and fainter... If it's hot and you are sweating, keep track of this too; sweat falling from the forehead can be countered with a towelled headband. If it's raining, you'll have to hit with more water, usually from 2/3rds the usual distance, to get clear enough watermark patterns.

3.6.5 Common scenarios in an unsure event and their usual resolutions:

For Marked Limb rounds, we define the shoulder but not the arse to be part of limbs.
If two people mark someone else at the same time, at ours you share the mark as a 'full mark' each :)
If two people shoot each other at the same time (within 0.4 of a second or so), the result is normally a double-mark, with both given out as marked.

3.6.6 The final outcome of a friendly unsure events discussion often takes one of the following forms:

All People involved's accounts agree. Or one party is freely willing to concede that there is actually strong evidence against enough of their suggestion of what happened. Or one party does not want to go through the process of discussion for unspecified personal reasons and is happy to withdraw their claim because of this. Then the prevailing account is the Accepted Truth (distinct from the actual truth) and is not to be subjected to further counter-claims, whinging etc.
If not, in the event of each person involved having probable ballistics(dodging/blocking) points that don't concur, use balance of probabilities to determine the Accepted Truth.
If that's not enough either, the Organizers will adjudicate unbiasedly when possessing an account from all people involved in the incident. All Participants will likewise abide by this Accepted Truth. The Organizers also have license to reverse or nullify an agreed truth between Players if the latter overlooked any serious rules breaches.
The Optional Duel Rule. Some Battles or Rounds' Rulesets allow for participants to mutually agree to duel over an unsure event. This generally applies to rarer situations than who has been marked by water. Because such duels can be lengthy, this is most suited to when they're the last two alive. It should elsewise be set up to be quick affairs with equal weapons. (E.g. on very small pieces of ground, and certainly face-to-face rather than hiding.) It may also help if duellists keep on saying 'duel' or put their team headbands round their arm so as to not be interrupted by other participants. This duelling rule will not always be in use, for some days we may well wish for many quick rounds.
Suppose a battle's last two participants are in a duel that looks to last any length of time. Then the other participants are entitled to start the next round. Or to pair up for their own quick duels on adjacent but non-obstructing ground. Or accepting these may end in a draw when the actual duel. They may also act as unbiased corner judges for the duel. The duel's outcome then becomes the Accepted Truth for the original event.

The concept of an Accepted Truth is distinct from an actual truth in that players can still have a sincere belief that a different scenario occurred, but must still abide by the results of the Accepted Truth. They are not required to admit they were wrong, but they are not allowed to insist they were right either. In scenarios where this disconnect occurs, the proper procedure is, firstly, for everyone involved to recognise that it's Only a Game. Secondly, that there aren't really any consequences for dying here, and to put the dispute behind them and not bring it up again, neither to whine about it, nor to poke fun at it.

3.6.7 Most importantly, this is a friendly activity, and all unsure events should be resolved in a friendly manner. Regardless of whether you feel the outcome is fair on you, there is no excuse for nastiness towards the other party, the Organisers, or anyone else at the event. Doing such is in breach of the Serious Rules.

4 Rules Options

The Organizers may well introduce such, and Participants are welcome to suggest them. The main point of these is ensuring everyone does well at least sometimes. They include walking-only, equal-weapons, staying in sight, extra preparation time, pairs where both are marked when one is shot. Compensatory balancing rules to even out the field (the more experienced the participant, the lesser the gun, and/or the strongest participants having to walk, hop or start at great disadvantage: such as surrounded, cornered or totally aligned against the wind. In some games people will have multiple lives, and then more experienced participants could start with less. Finally, it could be equal weapons with amount of water given to each in opposite order of experience or of success so far that day. We wish for any such changes between rounds to be brief and understandable by all: a single clear sentence.

Resurrection. Some rounds - particularly Objective-based ones - have resurrection on a 30 second or 1 minute timer. You are trusted to count this for yourself. Limbs also resurrect on the same timescale. However, being marked out with an already marked mark does not mean that this mark resurrects earlier than the rest of your body :) You may choose to stay where you are or to move away from enemy players to resurrect, but you cannot move towards them.
Marked Limbs. In many rounds we play, when you are marked on an arm or a leg you may choose to keep playing without the use of that limb. Real-life safety considerations must be taken into account. E.g. if you are on a road when both your legs are marked, you can walk to the pavement but then have to crawl around if you wish to continue play. You can always choose not to use this rule by stating that you are marked.
Equal Weaponry. These rounds can be one of two types. Either all weapons are of comparable type and strength. Or smaller weapons are given to the more experienced players (e.g. a Small Water weapon in a Full Water round) so other players get a chance to shine. If you bring your own weapon, you may be asked not to use it for these rounds. However, we will never give your weapon to someone else to use unless you give explicit permission.
Walking-Only To favour the smaller and / or less athletic people we will sometimes have walking-only rounds. In these, attempting to stretch the definition of 'walking' is generally looked down upon.
Other Balancing Rules. We have many other, less-used types of balancing rules and we will also stack them on people who are doing particularly well. If we do this to you, consider it a compliment and a challenge. Examples include: Disadvantageous starting positions (downwind). Having to hop. Limiting the amount of ammunition. Fewer lives or longer resurrection times. Or having all members of a team marked when one of them is shot. We also use this system to accommodate people who would be disadvantaged by normal play, including people with disabilities or injuries.
If you have an idea for an additional rule that you'd like to try, ask the Organisers. Generally, if it's real-life safe, friendly, easy to explain and implement, and helps those who might normally do less well, we'll give it a try at least once.

4.6.1 Duelly CakeFaeries' preferred option.

As many of these are interested in personal security, the preferred rules option for these is Urban (avoiding ambushes, losing tails...). For this, Small Water is the most ideal option, sometimes supplemented by Small Dartguns. This choice removes from contention many other issues, such as melee weapon safety, eye safety, or larger guns overpowering smaller ones in direct rather than ambushy/chasy combat.
If you sign up for this activity, we'll tell you which places in your part of town, off university property, make for good chasing and ambushing.

4.6.2 Rules Options emphasizing Unsure Events Discussions.

The Organizers are free to declare that Discussion Phase stops all play that day, rather than further combatants accidentally piling into people having discussions. This declaration is a response to prioritizing Discussion Phase over 'fluency of play'. In big battles, each team captain ensuring all their members know SafeOut and Discussion Phase is probably more convenient.
Similar applies if people aren't pulling their blows enough in Melee.
If there is need to discuss pertinent safety or security issues to do with the current terrain, this will usually be a quick briefing at the start of the event. (E.g. nearby No-Fighting Zones, possible hazards or areas where weapons should be concealed to avoid attracting undue attention.) If you arrive late to an event, ask if there's anything you need to know about.
If we wish to talk about e.g. how SafeOut works or what the Safer Spaces do, we can pause for a few minutes to do so between rounds. Possibly at the same time as refreshments...

4.6.2 If given more time, we'll write something here about forms taken by the following fairly common 'themed' Frivolous Rules variants.

Capture the Flag
Humans versus Vampires
Admirals with Bodyguards
Challenge the Mystery Knight
Rebels versus Armies
Hunger Games
Woodland Battles
Shields and fins for blocking.
Quests
Pirate Punting

Disclaimers

The following disclaimers are added to the disclaimers listed in Section 2.7:

Disclaimer A

We are specifically an apolitical space, rather than any kind of politicized space.

Disclaimer B

We are not, and never have been a student society at Cambridge University.

We are, rather, a tolerant society in Cambridge (the city).

B.1) One salient difference between these two things is that we are in no way associated with Cambridge University. Or for that matter with any other university, or college or department subset thereof. Most of what we run is in the geographical location of Cambridge. However we only meet off university property. As such our society meetings are unrelated to any university, or college or department subset thereof. As such, our society meetings lie outside the scope of any appointees, representatives, regulators, or officials of (in each case) universities.

B.2) Another salient difference is that we treat members of Cambridge's other university - Anglia Ruskin University - exactly the same as members of Cambridge University, and likewise with alumns of either. Our activities are for people of at least university age, on the grounds that the legal situation would be different elsewise. Our activities are furthermore in no way restricted against those who are no longer at university. Nor are they in any way restricted against those that are no longer undergraduates, or some other 'elsewhere approved' list of 'types of student'. Item B.2) is what we mean in saying that we are a tolerantly-run society rather than a student society.

B.3) To be explicit, we are not registered with the university or student union.

B.4) What we do is exercise our freedom of association, by meeting off university property, lawfully, for entirely peaceful purposes, and abiding within COVID regulations. This includes meeting not more than 2 at a time when required and not more than 6 at a time when required. We have never even vaguely come close to having meetings involving person numbers that require informing local authorities of a planned gathering under non-pandemic legislation.

B.5) To be clear, we do icebreakers and relaxation. We do not run debates, give seminars or invite speakers. We are entirely unofficial, and our meetings are neither on university premises nor in any way registered with any university, college or department. We are not, and never have been a student society at Cambridge University.

We are, rather, a tolerant society in Cambridge (the city).