Adventuring while pregnant

[S'mon]

I tend to assume that the female adventurer PCs IMC are the ones who _don't_ get randomly pregnant against their wishes...

 

[Shroomy]

And who among us can forget the series finale of FARSCAPE?!?

And I was hoping to be the first one to mention Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.

 

[Wystan]

Hmm, I can just imagine that conversation when the kid turns 16:

"Mom, I've decided to become a BARD."
"But Justin, I thought we'd agreed you'd become a paladin. Everyone knows BARDS never amount to anything. I need a cohort who can detect evil and lay on hands!"
"STOP TRYING TO RUN MY LIFE!" [Slams bedroom door, begins to play loud music]

I fixed it for you.

 

[pawsplay]

Actually, in pre-modern times, people had easy access to fairly reliable birth control and abortificants. The lambskin condom was available in the Elizabethan era, although at that time they were considered reusable. Various herbs, such as rosemary, anise, and others were an easy fix for an unwanted pregnancy.

As far as adventuring... sure. Just don't run, over-exert yourself, lift anything over 25 pounds, or expose yourself to the living spaces (and hence feces) of animals. It's also not a bad idea to avoid demonic or undead entities that can possess the living.

 

[Wik]

We had a pregnant character in one of my games, years and years ago. It was 2e, and one thing the player really wanted to do was play a "player" who hit on bartenders and the like just like many male characters hit on barmaids. It became her "thing".

I have a strict "no sexual discussions" rule (I find it very annoying to try to "be the barmaid" while another -male- player is hitting on "her"), so her "questing" was usually met up with "yeah, you got the guy into the sack. How'd it go?" and leave it at that.

After the third or fourth time, I realized she was looking for something to add, and we decided on a pregnant character. The player loved it - she was a ranger or a druid (I think she may have been both... it was 2e, and I forget now) who was very connected to the seasons. The character did keep on adventuring until the last two months - I just assigned a little bit of ability "Damage" after a few months in.

The biggest problem I remember is that one of the group's main tactics - using Haste in big battles - had to be abandoned, after it was pointed out that aging a year wouldn't go over well in regards to the baby (or the mother - I think a baby ripping out the womb would kill, wouldn't you?). Some side-effects of spells in 2e were so co cool.

As a DM, though, I wouldn't have a character become pregnant or get an STD unless it was something they wanted - it seems like punishing a player for role-playing their character

 

[Lanefan]

I've had various PCs and noteable NPCs become pregnant in my games. I haven't bothered with ovulation charts etc., instead, if I know characters are having sex I just roll for results if any.

As far as early pregnancy detection, I allow "Detect Life" to pull it if specifically cast for such.

I've yet to see a pregnant PC try adventuring deep into the pregnancy. I have had to make one significant ruling, though: if a pregnant character dies and is revived, the fetus miscarries immediately. Other than that, what happens to the mother happens to the fetus as far as saves etc. are concerned.

Where I *have* had to come up with a chart is for what ends up being born. Gender, number (twins? triplets?), health, etc., all varied somewhat by race. And in the unlikely event a PCs child ends up reaching maturity, I've also dreamed up a way of determining its stats based on those of its parents and some randomizing. (right now, in fact, one player in our new game is playing her old PC's daughter...)

Lanefan