That's only the most basic #EmotionalSafety. Further along, it allows communication and discussion of these tension boundaries, and pushing toward them if it is unanimously deemed enjoyable. The power to set limits is to the most vulnerable persons. (At least, it should be, if the ES is true.)

So, for me, right now and about tension and release, there is no boundary between ES and gameplay. If a boundary arises, it would rather be because the desired gameplay is not ES-compatible. Right?

Now, #emotionalSafety and gameplay.

I will speak of gameplay in terms of tension and release. In my eyes, tension and release is one of the important elements of an enjoyable game. And I’d say ES is needed when there is too much tension, most often in an asymmetric way.

ES needs and will lead to tension release. However, many gameplay tools/advices are for building asymmetric tension and keeping it. (Hence, in my mind, one of the points that lead to opposition to ES.)

Are you with me?

For me, #emotionalSafety is about feeling safe and being safe to: open up, speak up, disagree, express needs, ask for changes, surface concerns or vulnerability during the game, without fear or pressure.

It’s about knowing what to do, respectfully, and not being lost without guides, in difficult (gaming) situations.

What do you think? Would you agree with that? Am I missing obvious points, making assumptions? Overgeneralizing? Forgetting important parts? Does anything needs to be nuanced?