Server Safety Tools

Sometimes games have content or situations where a player or the GM may feel stressed out, unsafe, or otherwise not having fun. Safety tools are a way for players and GMs to communicate and check-in before, during, and after a game in order to make sure everyone is still having fun, and to provide the right support when needed.

The key to safety tools is communication and trust. There needs to be an open and respectful line of communication alongside an environment of trust for these to work.

As a GM, player, or organizer, you can create this environment by making it clear that the care and well-being of everyone at the table comes before the game or story. This can be done by actively listening to everyone, offering accommodations and safety tools, implementing actions when asked while not prying (nobody owes you their trauma as explanation), and actively checking in before, during, and after a game.

Text RP Tools
Based on the work by Abe Mendes, we use the following custom Discord emojis for providing Emoji reaction/chat-related safety visibility tools for text RP.

In-Game Tools
DMs will use a similar system in their sessions but making use of standard emoji and macros in Roll20.

Macros
&{template:default} &{template:default} &{template:default} &{template:default} &{template:default} &{template:default}
 * ⏪ Rewind: A player would like to back up, revisit, or talk about what just happened.
 * ⏹️ Stop: A player would like to move away from the current scene. The player stopping is welcome to share at the end of the session why they stopped, if they would like. We will not otherwise revisit it.
 * ▶️ Play/Continue: A player has indicated they would like to keep exploring this scene or moment, even if they do not otherwise appear to be comfortable.
 * ⏸️ Pause: A player would like to pause the game to discuss what just happened.
 * ⏩ Fast-Forward: A player would like to move away from the current scene. Please try to quickly wrap up this scene, or "zoom out" to discuss how it wraps up in third-person.
 * 🖐️ Raised Hand: A player doesn't want to interrupt but would like to participate in the scene as soon as there's a narrative window!

Safety Toolkit Attribution
''The TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a resource created by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk. The TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a compilation of safety tools that have been designed by members of the tabletop roleplaying games community for use by players and GMs at the table. You can find it here.''