X-Card
Definition
A safety tool where players can tap or hold up a card marked 'X' to immediately skip content that makes them uncomfortable, no questions asked.
Example
“The scene is getting intense. A player taps the X-card. The GM says 'Okay, we skip ahead - you're now outside the building. What do you do next?'”
Common Mistakes
- Requiring justification when someone uses it (the whole point is no explanation needed)
- Only introducing it during uncomfortable content (set it up at session zero)
- Thinking it means you can't have mature themes (it's about consent, not avoidance)
Origin & History
Created by John Stavropoulos in 2012 as a simple, universal safety tool.