The 5-zone intensity framework
Having a good system to communicate degrees of intensity is very important. Among other reasons, it ensures that play partners are on the same page as to what’s happening in their play session, and it helps avoid many problems that arise from mismatched expectations of how a particular activity might feel for the bottom.
For people who don’t find the 10-point scale useful for communicating how intense something is in play, the 5-zone intensity framework may offer a helpful alternative.
The 5-zone framework allows people who play together to
Have a conversation about the intention for the play session before it begins.
Communicate the desired and/or felt degree of intensity during a play session.
The 5 zones
The zones progress from least to most intense. These zones look very different (range of intensity, activities, reactions, etc.) for each bottom.
Zone 1 - Bored
As the name suggests, play in this zone offers no discernable stimulation for the bottom. Bottoms usually don’t react to play in this zone. Staying in this zone for an extended period allows the bottom an opportunity to go deep into thought to contemplate questions like “Is this what I got off my couch for?”
Zone 2 - Entertained
Intensity in this zone offers enough stimulation for most bottoms to have an experience that is enjoyable in the moment and sustainable for a long time. Usually, this is Type 1 Fun (i.e. Pleasant in the moment and pleasant in retrospect). Most bottoms would have reactions in this zone and are present in the moment.
Zone 3 - Challenged
Being “Challenged” crosses into Type 2 Fun (i.e. Arduous in the moment but pleasant in retrospect). This is where bottoms want to spend time to push themselves outside of their comfort zone, connect with their toughness, and maybe show it off to others.
After “overcoming” what they face in this zone, bottoms feel proud of themselves and have a sense of accomplishment.
Usually, bottoms who seek heavy play want to spend time in this zone. If they don’t get to this level of intensity, they might leave the play session feeling unfulfilled.
Staying in this zone for a long time requires the top to modulate intensity. Without such mindfulness from the top, the bottom is likely to stop play (e.g. because play got too intense for longer than the bottom can handle). Additionally, the bottom may require some breaks to return to their baseline, hydrate, or replenish their blood sugar.
Zone 4 - Suffering
Intensity in this zone is more than the bottom seeks for their own sense of accomplishment. This is intensity that the bottom withstands; not something they overcome.
Unlike zone 3, this is not a zone where bottoms choose to spend time to exercise their toughness. What you do in this zone is physically and psychologically very taxing to the bottom. They don’t emerge from it feeling triumphant. They emerge feeling battered and exhausted.
To be in this zone, bottoms usually require a strong connection with the top. Some bottoms would only do this for the top. They may also require encouragement, affirmation, praise, urging, goading, or some other kind of motivation to stay in this zone.
Zone 5 - Nope
Simply put, this is the zone where intensity is too great for the bottom to bear and therefore they stop play.
Not all bottoms are the same
Shocking!
Remember that the goal of this framework is to facilitate communication not to come to play with preset ideas.
The zones look very different for each bottom. For example, some bottoms may have some very wide zones. A wide zone is a zone where intensity can keep increasing for a while and still remain in the same zone.
For most bottoms, different zones have different widths and some zones can be so narrow that a top can cross them with a very small increase in intensity. Also, some zones may overlap, and the size of the overlapping area is different for different bottoms.
Moreover, while most bottoms have the above 5 zones, some bottoms may have additional or fewer zones. Examples:
Entertained → Nope.
Bored → Entertained → Engaged → Challenged → Suffering → Dissociated
Etc.
Figure out what the zones look like before play.
How to use this framework
The uses are endless. The general idea is to have a shared frame of reference that facilitates communication. Here are some things to consider.
During pre-play discussion, you can agree on zones in which you want to spend your time or what your goals are. Examples:
“I want a light-hearted experience. I would like to spend most of our play in the Entertained zone”.
“I want a little bit of a challenge today, but we need to work up to it.”
“I want to see how many times we can get to my Nope”.
You can also discuss aftercare needs depending on the zones you play in. Examples:
“Because I will tie you in a way that takes you into the Suffering zone, I need you to reassure me on the same day after we play that we’re still friends.”
“Since I’m going to be in the Entertained zone for a while, I need some time right after play to go bounce around the party and expend some social energy then I would like us to cuddle.
“Given that I will go into the Suffering zone, I need you to be available to chat for 3 days after we play”.
During the play session, the zones can be used to check what the current state is or to communicate it. Examples:
The bottom can update the top “Just letting you know that we crossed from the Entertained zone into Challenged”.
The top can ask the bottom “Are we still in the Entertained zone or did we accidentally slip into Bored?”
The top can yell “Are you not entertained?”.
We hope you find this useful. Please get in touch with any questions.