Tabletop Roleplaying Games (D&D, Pathfinder, CoC, ETC.)

[A Useless Fish]

What is the point of the x-card anyway? Can't you just talk with the DM if there is something you don't want in game? Why make a system for this?

It was written by people with a catalogue of 'mental illnesses', who assume that everyone is as undeveloped, histrionic, and unable to act like a functioning adult as they are. Campaigns demand communication, both between players and the DM, as well as some very basic common sense. If you are incapable of this, you should stick to playing videogames solo.

 

[TigerGoblin]

that's why I don't think it's a big of a deal (at least worthy an explanation than just a sticker), but then I'm not recruiting out of the wokest parts of the country which might color my judgement. it also helps that the CR crowd doesn't play anything else than dnd5, same for woke attention whores because it's the most popular, so they already filter themselves.

I have the exact same experience. Every type of player that described here being drawn to PF2E because of obscure rules for DMs only appeared in DnD 5e games and talked about CR. Because these people are not really interested in the vast world of TTRPGs, they just wannat play their fetishes like that popular trendy thing they saw on YT.

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

Having a long term group also highlights one of my problems with the X card, oddly enough. One of my players lost his parents about a year ago and still hasn't recovered from it. In one of the last games I ran, his backstory included that his father was a great warrior who died defending their village, and he wanted to live up to that. Me, unthinking, had a villain talk smack during combat and say something like "and you'll die just like your father did!" It messed him up a bit to the point he had to walk away from the table for the night. Obviously I didn't mean for that to happen; he's my friend, we've all had a laugh at those silly "what will you allow in a game?" questionnaires. But even if we did have an X card, the damage was already done. It's all performative bullshit, like trigger warnings on social media when people post the pictures right below.

That shit can happen anywhere though. The best thing you can do is buy him a drink and apologize. And if he's worth a damn, he'll accept it wasn't directed at him personally.

Life is hard. You can't go through it wrapped in bubble wrap.

I have the exact same experience. Every type of player that described here being drawn to PF2E because of obscure rules for DMs only appeared in DnD 5e games and talked about CR. Because these people are not really interested in the vast world of TTRPGs, they just wannat play their fetishes like that popular trendy thing they saw on YT.

Fetish is definitely the word for it.

There was a D&D game I played, long ago, where I finagled my way into running an actual dragon PC. There were a couple others (this was an online game), but much to my irritation at least one was more interested in the fetish aspects than just doing absurd dragon stuff (I modeled my mannerisms off cats, which some players were rather fascinated by). Can't a dragon sit and count his hoard in peace?

 

[Adamska]

The "X card" never really works IMO, since you have to run into that thing that makes you sob before you can state "X that out". Even during events, I'd probably state a quick chat does that better and gives a good warning ahead of time.

 

[Mr. Manchester]

The "X card" never really works IMO, since you have to run into that thing that makes you sob before you can state "X that out". Even during events, I'd probably state a quick chat does that better and gives a good warning ahead of time.

I think the X card works in situations when someone is running a game at a convention like Gen Con. Say some girl wants to run a rules light thing and she's getting a table of randos, the X Card is there to make sure the weird autistic man doesn't start talking about the tranny rape character he invented, at the very least he can be told via the rules of the game to shut up or leave. It has no use in a standard group of people but in large gatherings I can see how it would be an effective way to get rid of an idiot.

 

[Kup]

Not to these people. You cannot like someone's company without wanting to coom in them; Unless you are asexual.
So when they accuse you of queerbating just call them bigots for erasing Demisexual people. Or fire the Fujo players who are thirsting for manlove, either way.

They are such deeply unhappy and insecure people the only reason they can fathom for people spending time with them is to coom. They are so shallow and coom-obsessed narcissists they cannot fathom spending time with anyone else unless the end result/goal is cooming.

Had a guy like that in my current game, we’re playing “Deus Vult Paladins” and almost all of our friendly NPCs are men, squires, sworn brothers, The Grand Master, servants, armorers….. you get it. He really couldn’t grasp that it’s brotherhood.

Like he had an instance where a fellow Knight got cleaved shoulder to hip and begged his PC not to leave him. Dying knight holds out his hand and the DM intended for this PC, the most bloodthirsty of our group to comfort a fallen brother in his last moments before getting into rage mode.

Rather than do this he walks away and after his turn he says “That was pretty gay.”

We voted that his character pay penance for abandoning Brother Geoffrey.

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

Had a guy like that in my current game, we’re playing “Deus Vult Paladins” and almost all of our friendly NPCs are men, squires, sworn brothers, The Grand Master, servants, armorers….. you get it. He really couldn’t grasp that it’s brotherhood.

Like he had an instance where a fellow Knight got cleaved shoulder to hip and begged his PC not to leave him. Dying knight holds out his hand and the DM intended for this PC, the most bloodthirsty of our group to comfort a fallen brother in his last moments before getting into rage mode.

Rather than do this he walks away and after his turn he says “That was pretty gay.”

We voted that his character pay penance for abandoning Brother Geoffrey.

That player is a dipshit.

What the hell? Has he never seen Saving Private Ryan? Band of Brothers? What a dweebus. How'd he react to being told he had to pay penance? Ragequit?

 

[Kup]

That player is a dipshit.

What the hell? Has he never seen Saving Private Ryan? Band of Brothers? What a dweebus. How'd he react to being told he had to pay penance? Ragequit?

For a bit of context, this guy was introduced to tabletop shit through his GF, who is a regular in our “group” so that’s how we know him. I don’t think he quite “gets it” but he didn’t rage to his credit. He just seemed genuinely confused.

She works out of town for long stretches so she wasn’t there to explain things in between breaks, felt kinda bad for the guy.

 

[Techpriest]

For a bit of context, this guy was introduced to tabletop shit through his GF, who is a regular in our “group” so that’s how we know him. I don’t think he quite “gets it” but he didn’t rage to his credit. He just seemed genuinely confused.

She works out of town for long stretches so she wasn’t there to explain things in between breaks, felt kinda bad for the guy.

This sounds like a dude who has been raised to be a man by showing no emotion. That sucks.

 

[Snekposter]

This sounds like a dude who has been raised to be a man by showing no emotion. That sucks.

Yeah, its a shame. Man needs to learn that its okay to cry for your fallen friends after the killing's done.

 

[EnemyStand]

Yeah, its a shame. Man needs to learn that its okay to cry for your fallen friends after the killing's done.

Or to be a REAL man and stand on the Wall afterward, reciting all the names of the fallen at the top of your voice as manly tears slowly trickle from your eyes.

 

[Kup]

Or to be a REAL man and stand on the Wall afterward, reciting all the names of the fallen at the top of your voice as manly tears slowly trickle from your eyes.

To his credit he did learn…. kinda, his GF explained it to him that his character would’ve comforted a dying comrade even if he (the player) didn’t care.

His character did redeem himself by undergoing penance, having verses of our codex carved into his bare back….. then putting on his armour for fighting.

 

[Snekposter]

To his credit he did learn…. kinda, his GF explained it to him that his character would’ve comforted a dying comrade even if he (the player) didn’t care.

His character did redeem himself by undergoing penance, having verses of our codex carved into his bare back….. then putting on his armour for fighting.

Okay, that's about the best redemption arc I've seen in ages.

 

[Kup]

Okay, that's about the best redemption arc I've seen in ages.

And that’s all I care about. The good story.

My best one, the one I’ve used to show how tabletop is more than just neckbeards and numbers is the story of Guardsman Barrick.

Spoiler: The story itself

Guardsman Barrick was born on the far-off world of Fethor VI and lived a fairly simple life, ultimately enlisting in the Imperial Guard for “adventure” and to “see the galaxy.”

His first deployment (alongside the other PCs in the Fethorian Trench Beasts regiment) was on the toxic world of Quaxell, his rebreather was faulty and he contracted throat cancer at the ripe old age of twenty five, saw his best friend be reverse-vored by a Daemon and ultimately….. fell head over heels in love with the Sister of Battle who saved him from his possessed friend.

For the rest of campaign (crusade) he made every attempt to impress this woman, it wasn’t forceful, perverse or obsessive. He was a country boy who endeavoured to court the uncourtable. In between engagements he would saunter over to the Sororitas encampment and ask for Sister Talia, being turned away every time. He still did it after having most of his cancer-riddled throat cut out and losing his original voice.

Campaign goes on, other PC guardsmen are on their own paths, literally placing in-game bets that Barrick is going to servitored, branded a heretic or worse. They all lost their bets when Sister Talia ordered Guardsman Barrick to “patrol the battlements” with her.

The “patrol” was the start of a crusade-long affair that ended with a kiss before the final battle, promises were made and there was a loose plan, an almost comical plan to stowaway on her Order’s vessel and become a priest.

He died in that battle, not in a noble last stand, not in a defiant act of heroism and not in the arms of the woman he loved. Guardsman Barrick was shot in the back of the head by an Alpha Legion spy (one of the PCs) and thrown into a ditch.

Sister Talia and the two surviving PCs buried him on that world. Peak 40k

 

[Snekposter]

And that’s all I care about. The good story.

My best one, the one I’ve used to show how tabletop is more than just neckbeards and numbers is the story of Guardsman Barrick.

Spoiler: The story itself

Guardsman Barrick was born on the far-off world of Fethor VI and lived a fairly simple life, ultimately enlisting in the Imperial Guard for “adventure” and to “see the galaxy.”

His first deployment (alongside the other PCs in the Fethorian Trench Beasts regiment) was on the toxic world of Quaxell, his rebreather was faulty and he contracted throat cancer at the ripe old age of twenty five, saw his best friend be reverse-vored by a Daemon and ultimately….. fell head over heels in love with the Sister of Battle who saved him from his possessed friend.

For the rest of campaign (crusade) he made every attempt to impress this woman, it wasn’t forceful, perverse or obsessive. He was a country boy who endeavoured to court the uncourtable. In between engagements he would saunter over to the Sororitas encampment and ask for Sister Talia, being turned away every time. He still did it after having most of his cancer-riddled throat cut out and losing his original voice.

Campaign goes on, other PC guardsmen are on their own paths, literally placing in-game bets that Barrick is going to servitored, branded a heretic or worse. They all lost their bets when Sister Talia ordered Guardsman Barrick to “patrol the battlements” with her.

The “patrol” was the start of a crusade-long affair that ended with a kiss before the final battle, promises were made and there was a loose plan, an almost comical plan to stowaway on her Order’s vessel and become a priest.

He died in that battle, not in a noble last stand, not in a defiant act of heroism and not in the arms of the woman he loved. Guardsman Barrick was shot in the back of the head by an Alpha Legion spy (one of the PCs) and thrown into a ditch.

Sister Talia and the two surviving PCs buried him on that world. Peak 40k

Those damned AL spies. I don't have it handy, but there's a Deathwatch greentext where every single player completely independently asks the GM if their char can be an AL infiltrator with the goal of killing the rest of the party. Needless to say the GM began cackling harder than an insane Tzeentchian once he had some private time. And surprisingly, given such an auspicious start... the players didn't cock it up. Total mission success, complete with all loose ends eliminated.

 

[Kup]

Those damned AL spies. I don't have it handy, but there's a Deathwatch greentext where every single player completely independently asks the GM if their char can be an AL infiltrator with the goal of killing the rest of the party. Needless to say the GM began cackling harder than an insane Tzeentchian once he had some private time. And surprisingly, given such an auspicious start... the players didn't cock it up. Total mission success, complete with all loose ends eliminated.

I remember reading that one! Brilliant on the DM’s part, 40k campaigns are always crazy fun. In Barrick’s campaign the AL spy was turned over to the Inquisitor WHO INTENDED TO EXECUTE BARRICK.

Barrick seeing that possession sealed his fate, the AL spy ended up suffering in Barrick’s place though.

 

[Snekposter]

I remember reading that one! Brilliant on the DM’s part, 40k campaigns are always crazy fun. In Barrick’s campaign the AL spy was turned over to the Inquisitor WHO INTENDED TO EXECUTE BARRICK.

Barrick seeing that possession sealed his fate, the AL spy ended up suffering in Barrick’s place though.

I would say all's well that ends well, but... this is 40k. So he at least died in the Emperor's name as opposed to being purged for possible taint. And the traitor responsible suffered long and hard.

 

[Adamska]

He died in that battle, not in a noble last stand, not in a defiant act of heroism and not in the arms of the woman he loved. Guardsman Barrick was shot in the back of the head by an Alpha Legion spy (one of the PCs) and thrown into a ditch.

Nope, that's a cunt move, especially since this is Only War, not fucking Black Crusade. I'd have just left the table, especially if this was thrown at me with no warning. I'd still walk if I knew this could happen, but I'd come back after cooling off.

Sure Grimderp is the norm for the setting, but fuck off, some levity has to exist to illuminate that shit.

Those damned AL spies. I don't have it handy, but there's a Deathwatch greentext where every single player completely independently asks the GM if their char can be an AL infiltrator with the goal of killing the rest of the party. Needless to say the GM began cackling harder than an insane Tzeentchian once he had some private time. And surprisingly, given such an auspicious start... the players didn't cock it up. Total mission success, complete with all loose ends eliminated.

Or... they could've JUST played Black Crusade.

 

[Kup]

Nope, that's a cunt move, especially since this is Only War, not fucking Black Crusade. I'd have just left the table, especially if this was thrown at me with no warning. I'd still walk if I knew this could happen, but I'd come back after cooling off.

Sure Grimderp is the norm for the setting, but fuck off, some levity has to exist to illuminate that shit.

Or... they could've JUST played Black Crusade.

I should clarify, the DM made it very clear that in the final battle the “levity” would be removed, death could come from anywhere and anything. There was a subtle hint that we had a traitor, I did not suspect one of my fellow players and I got burned for it.

That’s 40k, a Guardsman’s life is a dime a dozen.

 

[Adamska]

I should clarify, the DM made it very clear that in the final battle the “levity” would be removed, death could come from anywhere and anything. There was a subtle hint that we had a traitor, I did not suspect one of my fellow players and I got burned for it.

That’s 40k, a Guardsman’s life is a dime a dozen.

See that confirms to me it was a cunt move, since that's not a hint IMO. Any DM worth their salt has the climax be the part most likely to kill off characters, so this only indicates difficulty to me. That does not indicate in the slightest that a PC decides to play this game like Black Crusade but only reading the "conspire against the peers" part.

Fuck that; I'd walk. Wouldn't come back either.