Hello, I keep hearing about the X card in this community and I wanted to start using it! The trouble is I play online and i think everywhere I’ve seen talk about it is face to face play. How do you facilitate using the X card in online play? Are there tricks to take away the cognitive load? I know for games over video chat I’ve heard folks can put up their arms in an X but this doesn’t work over audio or text roleplay. Also you still have to think about it whereas an X card on the table gives you a constant reminder that it is there.
Hello, I keep hearing about the X card in this community and I wanted to start using it!
Hello, I keep hearing about the X card in this community and I wanted to start using it!
I generally play with a text chat in parallel with the audio, so putting X CARD in the chat would put a marker down. I’m generally careful about where my games go to begin with, and haven’t had an X card actually played in one of my sessions ever.
I generally play with a text chat in parallel with the audio, so putting X CARD in the chat would put a marker down. I’m generally careful about where my games go to begin with, and haven’t had an X card actually played in one of my sessions ever.
rollforyour.party has an x-card function that also benefits from anonymity – something that can’t even be accomplished face-to-face. I do miss having the physical card there as a constant reminder. This is why it is very important to mention its presence at the start of the game, even if, as Andrew mentioned, you don’t expect it will be used.
rollforyour.party has an x-card function that also benefits from anonymity – something that can’t even be accomplished face-to-face. I do miss having the physical card there as a constant reminder. This is why it is very important to mention its presence at the start of the game, even if, as Andrew mentioned, you don’t expect it will be used.
Just saying “X card” suffices. If they’re comfortable explaining the particular content with the group, take care of it that way, else call for a break while the player (usually) can have a 1-1 chat with the GM (perhaps in a separate channel or via text?) Another way to think of it is calling for a “time out”. I’ve seen other games call it that, and use the same “T” gesture used in sports. If you’re using rollforyour.party for rolling dice, it has the added benefit of letting anyone use the X-card or “script change” tools anonymously, as well. Cheers!
Just saying “X card” suffices. If they’re comfortable explaining the particular content with the group, take care of it that way, else call for a break while the player (usually) can have a 1-1 chat with the GM (perhaps in a separate channel or via text?) Another way to think of it is calling for a “time out”. I’ve seen other games call it that, and use the same “T” gesture used in sports. If you’re using rollforyour.party for rolling dice, it has the added benefit of letting anyone use the X-card or “script change” tools anonymously, as well. Cheers!
What Michael G. Barford said! Also, for those looking for physical form factors, this is something I’ve whipped up before, print out on index cards, and carry around in my convention bag: http://tinyurl.com/RPG-socialcontract-cs-3×5 and http://tinyurl.com/RPG-socialcontract-cs
drive.google.com – RPG safety mechanics (3×5).pdf
What Michael G. Barford said! Also, for those looking for physical form factors, this is something I’ve whipped up before, print out on index cards, and carry around in my convention bag: http://tinyurl.com/RPG-socialcontract-cs-3×5 and http://tinyurl.com/RPG-socialcontract-cs
drive.google.com – RPG safety mechanics (3×5).pdf
Another technique that works well for both online and f2f play is the CATS discussion: http://proleary.com/2016/04/25/the-cats-method-a-story-telling-game-opening-ritual/ This helps put everyone on the same page, which is useful when interrupting each other isn’t as acceptable or easy. Ending it with, “and the X card is in play, here’s how that works…” is common in Gauntlet games.
Another technique that works well for both online and f2f play is the CATS discussion: http://proleary.com/2016/04/25/the-cats-method-a-story-telling-game-opening-ritual/ This helps put everyone on the same page, which is useful when interrupting each other isn’t as acceptable or easy. Ending it with, “and the X card is in play, here’s how that works…” is common in Gauntlet games.
I’ve seen people make an X with their hands or forearms on camera.
I’ve seen people make an X with their hands or forearms on camera.
When using the X card mechanic in live action play, players put our index fingers or our arms in an X shape in front of us, sorta like this emoji: emojipedia.org – Face With No Good Gesture Emoji
When using the X card mechanic in live action play, players put our index fingers or our arms in an X shape in front of us, sorta like this emoji: emojipedia.org – Face With No Good Gesture Emoji
http://rollforyour.party has the X-Card built in.
http://rollforyour.party has the X-Card built in.
When I run a game, I run a list options. Everyone’s covered parts of it. Here’s my script, which is almost identical to how Jason Cordova does it.
If something is happening that makes you uncomfortable in an un-fun way, say “X-Card” or make an X gesture with your arms [I demonstrate] or type xcard into the chat. We’ll stop–without judgement–and we’ll go a different route. If you see someone else becoming uncomfortable, it’s OK for you to X-Card for them or to ask for a pause in the action
The X-Card functionality in Roll For Your Party is good, but is only useful if your facilitator has that window open and visible. Even with my two monitors it can get pushed to the back sometimes.
When I run a game, I run a list options. Everyone’s covered parts of it. Here’s my script, which is almost identical to how Jason Cordova does it.
If something is happening that makes you uncomfortable in an un-fun way, say “X-Card” or make an X gesture with your arms [I demonstrate] or type xcard into the chat. We’ll stop–without judgement–and we’ll go a different route. If you see someone else becoming uncomfortable, it’s OK for you to X-Card for them or to ask for a pause in the action
The X-Card functionality in Roll For Your Party is good, but is only useful if your facilitator has that window open and visible. Even with my two monitors it can get pushed to the back sometimes.
It’s also helpful to check in 1:1 after the game to see if there were any un-reported safety lapses. As the child of a safety engineer, it’s been drilled into my head that safety tools are only safe if they are used, practiced, and reviewed.
Sometimes it can help to review the safety tools after a break.
I’ve also seen people explain how they’ve used it in the past “I can’t handle body horror, so as a GM, I don’t bring that into my games. When I’ve played before and stuff reached into that territory, I did this [X-gesture] and we hit rewind.”
It’s also helpful to check in 1:1 after the game to see if there were any un-reported safety lapses. As the child of a safety engineer, it’s been drilled into my head that safety tools are only safe if they are used, practiced, and reviewed.
Sometimes it can help to review the safety tools after a break.
I’ve also seen people explain how they’ve used it in the past “I can’t handle body horror, so as a GM, I don’t bring that into my games. When I’ve played before and stuff reached into that territory, I did this [X-gesture] and we hit rewind.”
Hm… Now that I’m thinking about it, you could have everyone put an X-Card next to their computer. Say, post it to the edge of the monitor via a sticky note, or make something like a name tent with an X on it to remind you.
Hm… Now that I’m thinking about it, you could have everyone put an X-Card next to their computer. Say, post it to the edge of the monitor via a sticky note, or make something like a name tent with an X on it to remind you.
River Williamson I think the x card function from rollforyour.party – Roll For Your Party is pushing a pop up window, so everybody should see it immediately. However, some people might have pop ups disabled. So I wouldn’t rely on it.
I was X carded once and that was through the Hangout chat btw.
River Williamson I think the x card function from rollforyour.party – Roll For Your Party is pushing a pop up window, so everybody should see it immediately. However, some people might have pop ups disabled. So I wouldn’t rely on it.
I was X carded once and that was through the Hangout chat btw.