I am aware that this question may come across as ignorant or as an attempt at trolling. While I cannot prove it, I hope enough people believe that this question was asked in good faith and with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding in how to make the game more accessible for players.
I would like to emphasize again that this question is not an underhanded attempt at invalidating how players play a game, or what measures they take to ensure that they feel comfortable while playing.
I have recently come across the TTRPG Safety Tools Toolkit. The idea is that players have either physical cards, or a standardized form of communication to signal that they are not feeling comfortable with something that is happening or about to happen.
A quick summary of the three cards are:
- The X card can be used at any point if a participant is uncomfortable with the content happening in-game. When the X card is used by tapping the card or typing an "X" in the chat, the group can change, rewind, or skip the content.
- The N card can be used at any point if a participant feels like they are headed towards an X. When the N card is used by tapping the card or typing an "N" in the chat, the group can change the content or have the scene "fade to black."
- The O card can be used at any point if a participant wants to continue with the content. When the O card is used by tapping the card or typing an "O" in the chat, the group is OK to continue with the content. They can also regularly be prompted by an "O?" asked out loud or in the chat to check-in if everyone is still OK.
The toolkit offers more than those three cards, but I am most curious about the cards. I want to know what benefits this somewhat rigid system offers, in comparison to more informal out-of-character conversations with the GM?
As this question is somewhat subjective in nature, please adhere to the community guidelines for answering subjective questions. In short, please back your answer with personal experience, not speculation.
