Sometimes a game can go in an unexpected direction, or explore difficult subjects, and situations or topics may come up that cause players to feel uncomfortable, scared, or even trigger memories of traumatic events.
Here are some mechanisms that promote clear communication to help avoid these situations and give players tools to address them when they occur.
The Cards
| Card |
Meaning |
| X-Card |
edits out content scenes content, no questions asked |
| Fast Forward |
skips over part of a scene. |
| Frame by Frame |
scenes are played with great care. Pause and check in with each other often. |
| Instant Replay |
allows you to relish in a great moment or clarify details |
| Pause |
gives the players a quick breather before continuing the scene without making any changes. |
| Resume |
to return to play after you've called a break |
| Rewind |
backs up a scene to revise the content. |
Lines and Veils
A line is a hard limit and indicates the topics we don’t want to explore in our game.
A veil is a “pan away” or “fade to black” moment. When we veil something, we’re making it a part of the story, but keeping it out of the spotlight. Think of it as a way to still deal with certain themes while avoiding having to describe them in graphic detail.
