Hello Developers, I would like to ask if something is allowed.
Would flowers/herbs be allowed for consumption for in-game buffs (more health, more damage, etc).
By consumption I mean eating the actual item. The herbs/flowers would look something like the image attached.
I was thinking about selling these items in a flower shop for buffs when fighting each other. I want a way so players can consume buffs in a realistic way as the game is set in modern times. I feel like potions would be too fantasized/futuristic.
In my opinion I donât think this would be against TOS as it is consuming normal herbs and isnât drug related.
Hello! As long as you arenât explicitly referencing drugs or showing similarities to the real items (e.g. Walking funny, etc.) you would probably be fine. But since you said they are buffs, I wouldnât see a reason to make those effects in the first place.
If youâre just making it a buff power up youâre gonna be fine as long as you only use the term âherbâ.
This is a topic touched upon by a few documents Iâve written about game development projects including the use of items to improve the playerâs in-game status or abilities.
As long as drugs, their consumptions and effects, etc. are not explicitly referred to or encouraged, you may use consumable flowers or herbs. There is absolutely no problem with it.
I find topics like this pretty complicated, Iâve seen Roblox games have syringes/injectors even that give you a stamina or muscle power boost, etc. Although, they donât give any other effects besides that.
Even though they are injectors/syringes, they often donât have it in the name or refer to it, itâs simply a injection tool that makes a hissing noise and then suddenly you have a health regen boost.
I am not entirely sure what the rules are as theyâre kind of unclear to me in ToS but I assume that as long as you donât refer to actual drugs and donât encourage players to use it, no weird tripping or dizziness effect whatsoever and is simply just a stamina or health boost, I think youâd be fine with it.
Same goes for herbs and plants, I mean, ye, Iâve seen games were herbs are mixed in some kind of soup and where drinking the soup gives you all kinds of buffs.
I want to be quite frank with you. If a drug is directly referenced or used, your game will be up for moderation review.
However, people misunderstand this rule. It is perfectly fine to use items that may have the same positive effects. By positive, I mean a strength or speed boost, something along those lines. Changing screen colour isnât exactly a reference to drugs, either.
What I would worry about is the negative effects. By that I mean the characterâs ability to move or interact, anything that you would expect of a drug junkie or the drunk guy you found in the corner of the street.
Direct references to drugs, for example cocaine, are obviously not allowed.
It is a very difficult topic, but just ask yourself this question: Does your game directly refer to or encourage the use of stimulants or narcotics? If yes, then you better remove all elements responsible for this; if no, then your game is perfectly fine.
I would try to avoid ambiguous terms such as âherbâ as it could mean you are using it to imply something you are not.
I would go with specific names that do not exist in reality to be on the safe side and be clear with how you describe the item, its effects, and itâs name in the game.
There is no problems with taking drugs in games that are for healing, such as in hospital games. It is intoxication that is the main problem to avoid I believe.
Then it is absolutely fine, and you have nothing to worry about. You are, however, as @icunicu1983 suggested, better off using a term that is not as ambiguous as âherbâ. Use a less ambiguous term or make it up.
