The X Card, invented by John Stavropoulos and popular in some game circles, but it could be more popular. Simply put, if a scene in a TTRPG disturbs you then all you have to do is to touch the card. No questions are asked, the scene is edited out, and the game resumes without fuss.
Led by Flat Cap Games, a Kickstarter is looking to raise NZ$500 for a set of printable (but not printed) artist-created X Cards. You can see progress on the pitch page.
Safety tools are optional and, weirdly, evoke some strong reactions from people, but I see the Flat Cap Games logic; if the cards are gorgeous, they’ll get used more.
There will be printed cards, but not for backers. Yes, really. Money raised through Kickstarter will go toward making and giving out free X Cards at conventions. The result? Even greater X Card use.
The artists offering their talent to get this done are;
- Paul Tobin
- Claire Hackett
- Trish Matson
- Marco Staines
- Katey Bolter
- Midas
- The Ben Corlett
- Jenna-Lee Roberts
- Emily Pearson
- Amanda Price
- Mark Kaneko (of Flat Cap)
Mark notes;
I would however love to hear from conventions and event organisers who would like to have our X-Cards to give away. I’d also like to hear recommendations or directly from printers in US and Europe who might like to quote me on printing and helping distribute them to where they need to go.
Backers at NZ$5, about £3, get a set of digital and ready to print X Cards and safety tools.
Alternatively, backers can get a set of A3 poster files of X Card designs.
It’s possible to splash the cash, pay a whopping NZ$9 and get both.
Flat Cap Games estimate delivery in September and the Kickstarter runs until the 7th of August.
What are your thoughts? Strike up a discussion and leave a comment below.
