Creating a fun, inclusive, and respectful game environment starts with safety—both at physical and virtual tables. While most groups emphasize communication and mutual respect, sometimes difficult topics can arise unexpectedly during play. That’s where the Table Safety module for Foundry VTT comes in.
Designed with player comfort in mind, Table Safety provides a simple and effective set of tools to help GMs and players communicate boundaries and check in with each other during sessions—especially when playing remotely. It enables non-disruptive safety signaling, supports consent-based storytelling, and ensures everyone at the table has the tools they need to feel safe and heard.
What Is the Table Safety Module?
The Table Safety module adds a set of safety tools to your Foundry VTT interface that replicate common in-person tools like the X-Card, Lines and Veils, and anonymous check-ins. These are mechanisms widely used in TTRPG communities to help players set boundaries and signal when something in the game is making them uncomfortable.
The goal is not to censor or limit creativity, but to promote trust, collaboration, and open communication—especially in games that explore serious, intense, or unexpected emotional themes.
Key Features
X, N, and O Cards
These digital cards function as safety signals that players can click during a session:
- X Card: Indicates a hard stop—something needs to immediately pause or change.
- N Card: Signals that a player is nearing a boundary and things should be toned down.
- O Card: Confirms that everything is okay, especially useful after a moment of intensity.
When a player presses one of these buttons, a discreet message is displayed to the group or GM, depending on the configuration.
Discreet Notifications
The module supports silent or visible alerts. Players can flag concerns without calling attention to themselves, allowing the game to shift naturally without singling anyone out.
Customizable Interface
GMs can choose where to place the card buttons on the screen and whether notifications are public or private. This flexibility makes it easy to adapt the system to your group’s preferences.
Anonymous Check-Ins
Table Safety can also include periodic check-in messages to the players, helping gauge comfort levels during intense scenes. This promotes ongoing dialogue about how the game is going for everyone at the table.
Why Use Table Safety?
Even in groups where players know each other well, intense scenes can be unpredictable. Introducing safety tools doesn’t mean you expect something to go wrong—it means you’re giving everyone at the table the tools they need if something comes up.
Here are a few situations where the Table Safety module can make a difference:
- Exploring darker themes (e.g., horror, trauma, moral dilemmas)
- Playing with newer groups where not everyone’s comfort levels are known
- Running sensitive content with emotional or real-world parallels
- Encouraging inclusivity by offering tools for less vocal players to express boundaries
By implementing a system like this, you're making a clear statement: everyone's safety and enjoyment matters equally.
Installation and Setup
- Open Foundry VTT’s Module Browser.
- Search for Table Safety, install, and enable the module.
- Access the module settings to choose which tools to display (X/N/O cards, check-ins, etc.).
- Inform your players how and when to use the tools so they understand what each option means and when to use them.
It’s a good idea to discuss these tools in a session zero or before gameplay begins—framing them as standard tools, just like dice or maps.
Best Practices for Use
- Normalize the Tools: Mention them regularly, even if they’re not used. This builds trust and shows players that safety is part of the session culture.
- Respect Every Signal: If someone presses the X card, stop immediately and pivot without asking for justification. Debrief later if needed—but never in the moment.
- Pair with Lines and Veils: Use the module alongside written tools like Lines & Veils or the TTRPG Consent Form to create a broader safety framework.
- Follow Up Privately: If a player uses a safety tool, a quick check-in between sessions can help clarify concerns and improve future gameplay.
Final Thoughts
The Table Safety module is one of the most important tools you can add to your Foundry VTT setup—not because it adds flashy features, but because it reinforces trust. Great storytelling requires vulnerability and emotional investment. Safety tools create space for that investment to happen in a respectful and responsible way.
Whether you’re running lighthearted adventures or exploring intense themes, this module ensures that everyone at your table knows their well-being matters.