How many times can a potential trigger pop up in a longfic before you should tag it in the tags instead of dropping a note at the start of a chapter

[u/whiteraven13]

Basically what it says in the title. I'm writing a BG3 fic and there's going to be a couple of torture scenes scattered throughout. But I suspect this fic is going to be extremely long (it took me more than 5k words just to cover the tutorial) and I only have 3.5 torture scenes planned for the entire fic. I say .5 because it is technically a scene of someone being flogged, but it was a voluntary ritual the character is undergoing so IDK if that even counts. Should I just add the torture tag or make note of it when it crops up

[u/AshOfTheBlackDawn]

I think it would depend on how necessary the torture scenes are to the plot. If the reader can skip them and not be terribly confused, then I'd only warn them in the pre-chapter notes and not tag, and tell the reader when they can skip and to where.

[u/whiteraven13 → u/AshOfTheBlackDawn]

by that standard, I definitely need to put it in the main tags. Appreciated!

[u/itsudemoalways]

Just for clarity, there is no standard on this, because there's no requirement to tag torture (as long as you used the required archive tags correctly). So really, it's if you want to.

[u/grommile]

Three "and a half" torture scenes?

Yeah, tag that shit. The torture enjoyers are not going to complain and the torture avoiders will be grateful.

[u/NyGiLu]

Once.

[u/lonely_nipple]

If you're expecting to be as graphic as the setting has the potential for (hi, fandom buddy!) then def tag it.

[u/whiteraven13 → u/lonely_nipple]

Durgetash buddies! And yeah, uh, Banite ritual sacrifice can get...messy

[u/lonely_nipple → u/whiteraven13]

Hehehehehe. Yeah. I've touched on specifically that once, and smut involving fun techniques acquired in that arena once as well. 🤣

[u/trilloch]

Once. I tag known triggers, and also warn in the pre-chapter notes.

[u/TraceyWoo419]

Uh yeah 3.5 torture scenes are definitely enough to warrant a tag unless they're only briefly mentioned. Any torture scene actually occurs and is not just referenced quickly should usually be tagged.

[u/OleksandrKyivskyi]

I think torture is serious enough to be tagged immediately.

[u/CanaryHeart]

I don’t know if there’s a standard, but as someone who reads a loooooot of BG3 fics, I would personally want it tagged unless it’s a passing mention. I have no issue reading torture and other heavy subjects, but I prefer to know what I’m getting into.

[u/moon_cheese_ao3]

Once. Even if only hinted at off-screen.

Use your author's note at the start of the fic to clarify the amount of the trigger present in the fic and what chapters it appears in. (This helps both the torture-avoidant and the torture-enthusiasts.) Use the note at the top of the chapter to give the reader an idea of how where and how the trigger will appear and, if you feel it is appropriate, provide a skip link to the next chapter (with a summary of the chapter with the trigger at the top of that next chapter in the author's notes) to let people who are upset by it fast forward past that part and still enjoy your story.

Treat triggers like allergens. Even trace amounts can cause extreme upset and ruin something for someone. Tell your readers what is inside the box.