Have You Used The X Card Or Seen It Used In Person?

[Umbran]

Sure, but the open door policy has the benefit of allowing one to use it without broadcasting that they have a problem to complete strangers.

Yep.

Have you missed that I said that there's nothing wrong with an open door policy, and that we can use them and X Cards at the same table?

Nobody is arguing against the open door policy. Nor is anyone arguing that you must choose only one.

These are tools in a toolbox. Pick what combination works for you - none, all, some. Flex to what works for you and your table.

 

[Umbran]

I feel like there is some discrepancy regarding the Xcard as a conversation starter. I thought it explicitly was NOT a conversation starter, but a trigger stopper, no questions asked.

Well, folks use variations.

The most recent and constructive conversations I've seen about it are that the person who invokes the X Card does not have to explain. But they may, to the extent they want, if they are okay with doing so and feel it would help.

And, yes, it helps the GM if there's some information. If you can tap the X Card and say, "Spiders!" or "Please don't shout at me!" the GM knows what to avoid. In neither case is the player required to go into depth why - maybe shouting hurts their ears, maybe it triggers their PTSD, doesn't matter, just lower your voice already.

If you tap the X Card, and can say nothing more, well, that's more difficult to manage, but most of the time it is going to be something proximate to the invocation. Like, they're probably not tapping the card over something that happened 15 minutes ago. It is unlikely to be a huge mystery.

 

[Reynard]

As an aside, I have only ever had a player say something to me about content that they found inappropriate or uncomfortable. It was at a con and the event was marked as 18+ (mostly because I tend to tread the PG-13/R line in my games, and if I am being honest I just don't like playing with kids much). This person signed up with their 12-ish year old son (because while the con listed the age range, it did not actually check). There was a scene in which a femme fatale style villain was taunting/seducing a PC and the kid's parent pulled me aside after and half asked, half scolded. I was fine toning it down (and it was the only scene like that anyway). The irony, as you might guess, was that the kid (whose character was NOT the subject, just to be clear) was fully engaged and enjoying the scene.

I am sure if I had an X-card on the table and dad flashed it during that scene, I would have pivoted.

 

[Bae'zel]

Not doubting your experience in any way, but that kind of rule is wild to me. It seems like an anti-safety rule. I would not attend or run for any convention where that was the case. In that case I can see the X card being useful.

Exactly, that's why I stopped attending that specific con. It was utterly stupid.