I was thinking about Annalise and My Life with Master in which the main characters are either vulnerable from dysfunctional relationships in the past or are currently in a dysfunctional relationship. In those, sex can be escape from ones feelings or an offering to another character to achieve an outcome (such as preventing anger or forging loyalty) In Venger Satanisms games, such as Islands of Purple Haunted Putrescence or Alpha Blue, sex is everywhere. Its inspired by Adult fantasy comics like Heavy Metal and exploitation schlock where characters are already wearing flimsy, skimpy, or skintight outfits and are happy to taste new flesh as soon as there are no monsters around. In the case of Vengers games, I would still want the seduction to be roleplayed before fading to black unless there's a freaky alien involved. Then I would include exotic details. For the former, there would be hope and fear. "I satisfied her but did I make her trust me?" Or "Do you feel satiated or empty?"
I don't personally use it in any of my games. I guess both out of a desire to keep things tasteful and to stay focused on the story I'm trying to play. I've seen quite a few RP sessions (especially online) devolve into an ERP-fest as soon as that particular box is cracked open.
I do know that some games, such as Apocalypse World and especially Monsterhearts, have sex as a game mechanic. I've never tried something as overtly sexual as Monsterhearts and I'm honestly a bit nervous to try. Seems like it would turn game night into... something else.
Absolutely use sex in my solo games... I mean one of the benefits of solo play is being able to game out things that can be awkward in a group setting. Typically I play those scenes out in my head, and gloss over them in my notes except for where it's important for the story.
As for what purpose it serves? Entertainment mostly. I mean that's why I play RPGs in the first place.
I tend to agree with Litvyak's approach, more or less. Most of what I create is created with an eye towards entertaining myself (and if other people are entertained that's wonderful too). But level of comfort is a thing.
I do find it hilarious about myself that I'm far more comfortable describing someone get skewered in full color detail with a sword than a-- ha. You get the picture.
And for some reason I'm just fine calling for combat when "it's obvious" but have to get the oracle's permission for a sex scene.
I think, partly, it's that such games end up being either introspective -- "what does this say about the player?" -- or exploitative -- mechanical depictions of physical acts with no context. It's an interesting topic to tackle; how to give meaning without digging into the player's psyche.
I've used it in one story, it might come up in another, and if I ever start up a Monsterhearts solo game I'll probably have to beat it off with a stick. I may or may not have played The Beast. There is no evidence to confirm or deny that. :-)
I use sex in my games. How i use it depends on the game, what i'm going for in terms of genre or feeling. (I don't really know how to separate this from purpose actually) It can serve at least two purposes from the top of my head. One is motivation. Characters can be motivated by sex in some fashion, directly or indirectly. Motivation can stay off-camera, but it can be fun to make it an active part of the fiction because it says so much about different characters. Knowing that sex motivates an NPC can also alter the PC's view of that NPC. Second purpose is as a framing motif. The atmosphere of a scene can change quite dramatically if framed in a different context. Sex is great for this. Being given a mission by the Star Empress standing in her opulent court room is different from being given a mission by the Star Empress when you are lying in her equally opulent bed... I don't think my solo games are more sex heavy than my group games, but it is easier to be more explicit (is that even relevant if it's all in your head?) beacuse you don't have to worry about the other players comfort level. (Which is important to do in games with other ppl)
The interesting kink in that last line of thought is that while we are talking about solo games, some of those stories are indeed shared. I can see the shared stories getting veiled or filtered, or being given appropriate warnings, or even having a link to two versions of the same scene as the author sees fit.
I don't avoid it, but I prefer it to happen mostly off-camera, as 'twere. Besides, I think it's infinitely more fun to write subtext and innuendo than it is to write out anything explicit.
This also seems like a good time to mention that I once did a re-write of the Mythic action & subject event meaning tables based on word frequency in Cleland's Fanny Hill. So if you want sex in your games... dropbox.com - Mythic_GME_Events_Fanny_Hill.pdf
Gerard Nerval That's awesome! I've had an Alpha Blue inspired game on the back burner. When I get around to playing it, I will definitely be making use of those tables.
Litvyak Cool! I was never sure if anyone would use it,I just needed a practice run to see how the process worked before I made the one that I needed (based on Matthew Lewis' The Monk). I'd love to hear how it works in practice.
Well, there's at least one solo RPG where a combination of sex and horror is kind a the point. beast.nakedfemalegiant.pl - The Beast
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about Annalise and My Life with Master in which the main characters are either vulnerable from dysfunctional relationships in the past or are currently in a dysfunctional relationship. In those, sex can be escape from ones feelings or an offering to another character to achieve an outcome (such as preventing anger or forging loyalty)
ReplyDeleteIn Venger Satanisms games, such as Islands of Purple Haunted Putrescence or Alpha Blue, sex is everywhere. Its inspired by Adult fantasy comics like Heavy Metal and exploitation schlock where characters are already wearing flimsy, skimpy, or skintight outfits and are happy to taste new flesh as soon as there are no monsters around.
In the case of Vengers games, I would still want the seduction to be roleplayed before fading to black unless there's a freaky alien involved. Then I would include exotic details.
For the former, there would be hope and fear. "I satisfied her but did I make her trust me?" Or "Do you feel satiated or empty?"
I don't personally use it in any of my games. I guess both out of a desire to keep things tasteful and to stay focused on the story I'm trying to play. I've seen quite a few RP sessions (especially online) devolve into an ERP-fest as soon as that particular box is cracked open.
ReplyDeleteI do know that some games, such as Apocalypse World and especially Monsterhearts, have sex as a game mechanic. I've never tried something as overtly sexual as Monsterhearts and I'm honestly a bit nervous to try. Seems like it would turn game night into... something else.
Absolutely use sex in my solo games... I mean one of the benefits of solo play is being able to game out things that can be awkward in a group setting. Typically I play those scenes out in my head, and gloss over them in my notes except for where it's important for the story.
ReplyDeleteAs for what purpose it serves? Entertainment mostly. I mean that's why I play RPGs in the first place.
I tend to agree with Litvyak's approach, more or less. Most of what I create is created with an eye towards entertaining myself (and if other people are entertained that's wonderful too). But level of comfort is a thing.
ReplyDeleteI do find it hilarious about myself that I'm far more comfortable describing someone get skewered in full color detail with a sword than a-- ha. You get the picture.
And for some reason I'm just fine calling for combat when "it's obvious" but have to get the oracle's permission for a sex scene.
I think, partly, it's that such games end up being either introspective -- "what does this say about the player?" -- or exploitative -- mechanical depictions of physical acts with no context. It's an interesting topic to tackle; how to give meaning without digging into the player's psyche.
I want to dig in my psyche. All day long.
ReplyDelete"Too deep we delved there, and woke the nameless fear."
ReplyDeleteI've used it in one story, it might come up in another, and if I ever start up a Monsterhearts solo game I'll probably have to beat it off with a stick. I may or may not have played The Beast. There is no evidence to confirm or deny that. :-)
ReplyDeleteI use sex in my games.
ReplyDeleteHow i use it depends on the game, what i'm going for in terms of genre or feeling. (I don't really know how to separate this from purpose actually)
It can serve at least two purposes from the top of my head. One is motivation. Characters can be motivated by sex in some fashion, directly or indirectly. Motivation can stay off-camera, but it can be fun to make it an active part of the fiction because it says so much about different characters. Knowing that sex motivates an NPC can also alter the PC's view of that NPC.
Second purpose is as a framing motif. The atmosphere of a scene can change quite dramatically if framed in a different context. Sex is great for this. Being given a mission by the Star Empress standing in her opulent court room is different from being given a mission by the Star Empress when you are lying in her equally opulent bed...
I don't think my solo games are more sex heavy than my group games, but it is easier to be more explicit (is that even relevant if it's all in your head?) beacuse you don't have to worry about the other players comfort level. (Which is important to do in games with other ppl)
The interesting kink in that last line of thought is that while we are talking about solo games, some of those stories are indeed shared. I can see the shared stories getting veiled or filtered, or being given appropriate warnings, or even having a link to two versions of the same scene as the author sees fit.
ReplyDeleteI don't avoid it, but I prefer it to happen mostly off-camera, as 'twere. Besides, I think it's infinitely more fun to write subtext and innuendo than it is to write out anything explicit.
ReplyDeleteThis also seems like a good time to mention that I once did a re-write of the Mythic action & subject event meaning tables based on word frequency in Cleland's Fanny Hill. So if you want sex in your games...
ReplyDeletedropbox.com - Mythic_GME_Events_Fanny_Hill.pdf
That was a fun read. Lots of double entendres and clever euphemism.
ReplyDeleteGerard Nerval That's awesome! I've had an Alpha Blue inspired game on the back burner. When I get around to playing it, I will definitely be making use of those tables.
ReplyDeleteLitvyak Cool! I was never sure if anyone would use it,I just needed a practice run to see how the process worked before I made the one that I needed (based on Matthew Lewis' The Monk). I'd love to hear how it works in practice.
ReplyDelete