Community Created Content Policy

TPI Community Created Content Policy

At The Pandemonium Institute, we’re constantly amazed and inspired by the creativity of our community. Your passion for Blood on the Clocktower fuels everything we do, and we love seeing what you create – whether it’s strategy guides, custom game aids, live streams, art, or cosplay.

To support this creativity while protecting the world we’ve built, we’ve created this Community Created Content Policy. Please read it carefully if you’re planning to make or share community created content that includes any TPI intellectual property.

Our Three Golden Rules

1. Don’t Impersonate TPI

Your content must be clearly community-made and must never appear to be official TPI content.

• Don’t use our company name, logos, or trademarks in a way that suggests your work is officially made by or endorsed by TPI.
• Instead, please make it very obvious that your content is community-made. For instance, you may use our official “Community Created Content” logo (available in both “sleeve” and “parchment” styles) and display it clearly on your work. This helps everyone – including new players – understand the difference between official content and community-made content.
• Your project title, branding, or social handles must not confuse users into thinking it’s an official TPI product.
• Don’t publish any kind of BotC or TPI app in Google Play, the Apple App Store, or any other app distribution platform.

2. Don’t Commercialise It

Community content must be created and shared for free.

• You may not sell your community content or use it as a major source of income.
• You may not crowdfund projects (e.g. Kickstarter, Patreon, etc) that involve TPI intellectual property.
• If there is any commercial aspect to your work, you must seek a licence or contract with TPI first. We’re open to partnerships – but we need to talk first.

3. Don’t Compete

Community-made content must not directly compete with current or upcoming TPI offerings.

• Don’t recreate or distribute games, products, or services that are the same type as those offered or announced by TPI.
• For example, if TPI produces official merchandise, a mobile app, a digital rules compendium, or live shows, community-made versions of those must not be created or distributed.
• If you're unsure whether your idea might cross this line, we encourage you to contact us first at butler@thepandemoniuminstitute.com.

Licensing and Revenue Threshold – “Grassroots Creators”

In general, the three golden rules apply to everyone using TPI content:

1. Don't impersonate TPI.
2. Don't commercialise TPI content.
3. Don't compete with TPI offerings.

However, we understand that some creators may wish to share their love of Blood on the Clocktower through community-made videos, livestreams, or other media – and that some of those creators may receive limited financial support through ads, sponsorships, or platforms like Patreon and similar.

TPI supports this type of content and does not require a license for community (“grassroots”) creators who meet all of the following criteria:

• Their content is primarily non-commercial, i.e., produced as a personal or community project, not a business;
• Their regular videos or streams featuring Blood on the Clocktower average fewer than 20,000 views per episode (across all platforms);
• They do not solicit or receive sponsorships or revenue tied to the use of TPI intellectual property as a primary driver of content.

Any community creators may also display the "Community Created Content" logo on-screen or in their video description, to clearly identify their content as non-TPI content.

Creators exceeding any of these thresholds or producing content as part of a commercial entity (e.g., a production company, channel, or media brand) must contact TPI to arrange a formal license agreement.

If you're unsure whether your content qualifies as "grassroots" or "commercial," we invite you to contact us for clarification. We're happy to help support genuine community creators and work with commercial content partners who help grow the Blood on the Clocktower universe.

What You Can Do

If you follow the rules above, we’re happy for you to:

• Share your community-made strategy guides, player aids, or story ideas
• Create podcasts, streams, or fan art
• Translate characters or rules into your language where no official translation is available (just don’t charge for access)
• Run non-commercial community events or teaching sessions
• Make videos or content discussing the lore, characters, or gameplay

And we encourage you to show your love for the game! Just make sure it’s clearly community-created, non-commercial, and not in competition with official TPI offerings.

Please Don’t Support Projects That Break the Rules

If you see a project that violates this policy, we ask you not to promote or support it. These rules exist to protect the future of Blood on the Clocktower and ensure we can continue creating and sharing it with the world. Supporting unofficial, commercial, or competing projects can damage the community and make it harder for us to keep going.

TPI’s Rights

We reserve the right to revoke or modify this policy at any time. If you create content that doesn’t follow the rules, we may ask you to take it down – and we really hope we don’t have to.

This policy is not a licence, and it does not grant you any legal rights in TPI intellectual property. It’s simply a statement of what we’ll allow and encourage as long as you stay within the rules.

Questions?

If you're not sure whether your project complies, or if you'd like to talk about commercial partnerships or licensing, feel free to reach out to butler@thepandemoniuminstitute.com.

Find the TPI 'community created content' badge and other logos here.

 

FAQ

Can I stream games on Twitch, YouTube, or similar platforms?

Absolutely! We’re delighted when groups share their games online - the more diverse the content, the better. Some fans worry this might break our golden rules (like monetisation or competing with TPI), but for most grassroots channels, that’s not an issue. If you’re running a larger channel with over 20k subscribers, or if these are being shared as your primary source of income, we may reach out to discuss a fair licensing arrangement.

Can I use the Blood on the Clocktower (and Puck) logo in my video thumbnails?

Yes, this is one of the few times we’ll allow use of our trademark logo, however your own channel logo should always be equally or more prominent, so there’s no confusion about whether it’s official TPI content.

Can I use the official token art in my videos? 

So long as you are staying in line with our three golden rules, that’s absolutely fine! Whether you’re overlaying tokens in post-production or using them in thumbnails, we’re happy for our art to be used in ways that make your playthroughs clearer and more engaging.

Can I make my own app or script tool? 

You can make what you like for personal use, but we don’t allow distribution of tools that compete with the official app or script tool (Golden Rule #3). Our official script tool supports two-column printing, mobile compatibility, translations (in progress), viewing homebrew content, and more.

What if the official app or script tool doesn’t support my language? 

Translations are in progress! If your language isn’t yet supported, you’re welcome to contribute via our translation portal to help us to create a translated version of the official BotC app and script tool.

Why was another project approved but mine wasn’t?

We receive a lot of requests to approve fan-made digital tools, and the guidance given here can’t cover every eventuality. Every request is reviewed case by case. Even if two projects look similar, the details matter. What we agree with one creator doesn’t set a precedent for others.

Can I create a storyteller or player aid? 

It depends on the nature of the aid. Tools that directly compete with official resources or attempt to provide definitive rulings on character interactions won’t be approved. Ambiguity is a deliberate design choice in Blood on the Clocktower - it empowers storytellers and creates space for bluffing. Tools that override this philosophy won’t be allowed. Other types of player aid will be judged on a case-by-case basis but in all cases must follow the golden rules.

Can I make and sell merch?

So long as you are not simply recreating existing TPI merchandise, you are not using any official TPI artwork or trademarks (such as the BotC logo), and your design will not be mistaken by the average person as an "official" product, you are good to go. The use of the "Community Created Content" logo may help you differentiate your product from official TPI merchandise. You may not use TPI channels (Discord, Twitch, YouTube, or the app, etc) to promote your merchandise.

Can I make and sell BotC-themed products using my own artwork?

Yes! Some of our favourite fan creations come from original designs inspired by the game. If it’s your own artwork, it’s yours to share - just make sure it doesn’t break any of the golden rules or use our trademarks or copyrighted materials.

Can I sell stuff at conventions?

There are specific contracts in place for TPI-endorsed conventions (Clocktower Cons), and any merchandise sold at those conventions is governed by those contracts. Get in touch with TPI or the convention organisers for details.

Can I charge for Storytelling?

Storytelling is a core part of the Blood on the Clocktower experience – and the game is sold strictly for “non-commercial” purposes. You’re not allowed to trade off the game’s name for personal profit without a licence from TPI. Covering costs (like venue hire or travel) is fine, but charging for your time, expertise, or presence as a Clocktower storyteller is not allowed without a licence.

Can I list my in-person game event anywhere official?

We’ll soon be introducing a “where to play” section on our website for community-run games - stay tuned for further info!

I run a board game café - can I charge for games? 

Yes. We love seeing Clocktower played in cafés, pubs, and community spaces. You’re welcome to charge a modest fee to cover the costs for use of your space when running Blood on the Clocktower games. While the café technically benefits from hosting, we want to support brick and mortar stores and don’t consider this to be “commercial use” that would require a licence.

Can we run Clocktower games as part of an escape room business? 

If hosting  Blood on the Clocktower becomes part of a paid escape room experience, that counts as commercial use and you’ll need to talk to us about licensing.

Is licensing available? 

Yes. For commercial events, we offer licensing agreements that set out fees and also the support you’ll receive from us (promotion, artwork etc.) - just get in touch with your proposal.

What counts as a commercial event? 

It’s not always simple, but here’s how we see it:

Community events (no licence needed):

• Free to play games in public spaces
• Community group games where players chip in to cover room hire (non-profit)
• Games at a local game store with a modest entry fee to cover costs
• Free games at established board-game conventions with a general entrance fee (e.g. Spiel, UKGE, Origins) - assuming games would be run in an open gaming space or similar
• General social deduction events or conventions, provided they do not trade off the Blood on the Clocktower brand to get people to attend those events

Commercial events (licence required):

• Games run by a local business other than a game store
• Paid community games where the storyteller profits (fees exceed venue costs)
• Paid/ticketed Clocktower games at conventions (over and above the entrance fee)
• Events or conventions that heavily lean on the Blood on the Clocktower brand to advertise and promote the event
• Paid online games in the app (not permitted, even under licence)

Can I run Clocktower games at a gaming convention (e.g. Origins, Spiel, UKGE)?

Of course! We love seeing Clocktower run at conventions and many of us love to go along and play Clocktower with new and old friends alike. Just don’t charge extra for the games beyond the convention entry fee, and make sure it’s clear your games are fan-run, not official demos.

Can I put on an official Clocktower convention?

Yes! We’re thrilled to see Blood on the Clocktower conventions popping up around the world - and we’re always open to more. If there isn’t an official Clocktower con near you and you’d like to run one, we’d love to hear your proposal. We have straightforward licensing agreements that typically include:

• Event promotion via our website, social media, and Twitch
• Permission to advertise as an official Blood on the Clocktower event
• Access to additional artwork and assets
• Possible support with merch, grimoires, or even TPI attendance

Can I run an unofficial social deduction convention that features Clocktower?

You're free to do so, but you can’t advertise it as a Blood on the Clocktower convention, use our logo or assets to promote it, or call it “Clocktower Con.” It would need to be branded as a general social deduction event, and we won’t be able to provide support or promotion for these types of unlicensed events.