An anonymous, 3-Minute session 0
With the explosive growth of tabletop gaming, the Deck of Player Safety (DOPS) was created to ensure all participants, whether they are good friends or complete strangers, have a quick and anonymous method to signal hot-button topics they want to exclude from their gaming experience. Most importantly, they can do so without being in the spotlight. Incorporating the DOPS at your table demonstrates you respect your fellow gamers and want to avoid compromising anyone's comfort. It can also head off problems before they arise, allowing for a smoother session for the Game Master.
What is it?: The DOPS is a Tabletop Roll Playing Game (TTRPG) player safety tool in the form of a casino-quality poker card deck of "hot-button" cards, along with several "Anything Goes" cards. For online games, the FREE digital version is available at Demiplane DOPS.
Where to use it?: DOPS was initially designed with in-person convention and organized play in mind, particularly when the participants may be strangers and you don't have time for a Session 0. The digital version is FREE to use with any online game regardless of the Virtual Table Top used.
Who should use it?: Anyone running a TTRPG game.
When to use it?: The DOPS should be used at the start of a gaming session. This can head off difficult topics and their consequences BEFORE they happen.
How long does it take?: About 3 minutes, depending on the size of the group and if they've used the Deck of Player Safety before.
How to use it?: See the INSTRUCTIONS and DEMOS pages on how to incorporate the DOPS into your in-person games, and Demiplane DOPS for the digital version.
The Deck of Player Safety consists of:
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30 hot-button cards, each with a different hot-button topic
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12 "Anything Goes" cards
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8 short-form instructional cards to hand out to remind your players of the process
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2 blank cards upon which you, the GM, can write custom hot-buttons specific to your game session (these cards are reusable with wet erase markers, but not dry erase)
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2 "X-Cards" to implement the optional X-Card** Safety Tool
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A swanky box to hold your deck of cards
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This website and its instructions for adding the Deck of Player Safety to any game and recommendations for adjusting your game on the fly based on the process
