The “X-Card” for RPGs
So, I was reading through a horror RPG book so I could prep something for my playgroup come Halloween, and they had a section discussing the X-Card.
It’s simply just a notecard with an X on it that each player has and can use to indicate when something is going on that they can’t handle. The book talks about how, while it isn’t required, they recommend it because the story is super improv heavy and it’s horror stems from preying upon your own fears and self doubts - things can get unintentionally personal really fast, and there’s no good way to establish what will or won’t happen ahead of time.
The X-card allows someone to indicate when something goes into that territory so that the story can immediately be redirected, no questions asked and no discussion needed.
More information about it is here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SB0jsx34bWHZWbnNIVVuMjhDkrdFGo1_hSC2BWPlI3A/edit
I don’t know if I’d always use it, because I avoid taking stories into any areas that I don’t know for sure my players are comfortable with. But especially for horror things it makes sense.
And it can be a HUGELY helpful tool if you’re DM-ing groups of new players who you may not know well, and who may not know one another. You may not know what will set them off, and they may not want to have to divulge traumas that may be irrelevant to someone new.
Just thought it was kind of interesting, and thought some people here might be interested as well!
